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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Matthew 21:1

When Jesus and his disciples came near Jerusalem, he went to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives and sent two of them on ahead.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Bethphage;   Jesus, the Christ;   Olives, Mount of;   Scofield Reference Index - Christ;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bethphage;   Mountains;   Olives, Mount of;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Judea, Modern;   Olive-Tree, the;   Prophecies Respecting Christ;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Bethphage;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Hosanna;   Messiah;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Christ, Christology;   Praise;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hutchinsonians;   Messiah;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Beth-Phage;   Olves, Mount of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Bethphage;   Olives, Mount of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Animals;   Bethphage;   Colt;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Triumphal Entry;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Bethphage;   Jesus Christ;   Matthew, Gospel According to;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Bethphage ;   Consciousness;   Dispersion ;   Fruit (2);   Interpretation;   Majesty (2);   Mount of Olives ;   Numbers (2);   Poet;   Sorcery;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Bethphage ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Beth-phage;   Hosanna;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Bethphage;   Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Beth-Pha-Ge;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Bethphage;   Olive Tree;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Beth (2);   Bethphage;   Olives, Mount of;   Quotations, New Testament;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Bethphage;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Christianity in Its Relation to Judaism;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples,
King James Version (1611)
And when they drewe nigh vnto Hierusalem, and were come to Bethphage, vnto the mount of Oliues, then sent Iesus two Disciples,
King James Version
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
English Standard Version
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
New American Standard Bible
When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples,
New Century Version
As Jesus and his followers were coming closer to Jerusalem, they stopped at Bethphage at the hill called the Mount of Olives. From there Jesus sent two of his followers
Amplified Bible
When they approached Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples [ahead],
New American Standard Bible (1995)
When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
Legacy Standard Bible
And when they had approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
Berean Standard Bible
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples,
Complete Jewish Bible
As they were approaching Yerushalayim, they came to Beit-Pagei on the Mount of Olives. Yeshua sent two talmidim
Darby Translation
And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus and his followers were coming closer to Jerusalem. But first they stopped at Bethphage at the hill called the Mount of Olives. From there Jesus sent two of his followers into town.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And when they drewe neere to Hierusalem, and were come to Bethphage, vnto the mount of the Oliues, then sent Iesus two disciples,
George Lamsa Translation
WHEN he came near to Jerusalem, he came to Bethphage on the side of the Mount of Olives. Jesus then sent two of his disciples,
Good News Translation
As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives. There Jesus sent two of the disciples on ahead
Lexham English Bible
And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
Literal Translation
And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came into Bethphage, toward the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
American Standard Version
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
Bible in Basic English
And when they were near Jerusalem, and had come to Beth-phage, to the Mountain of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,
Hebrew Names Version
When they drew near to Yerushalayim, and came to Beit-Pagey, to the Mount of Olives, then Yeshua sent two talmidim,
International Standard Version
When they came near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples on ahead andZechariah 14:4; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
AND when he drew nigh to Urishlem, and had come to Beth-phage, at the mount of Olives, Jeshu sent two of his disciples,
Murdock Translation
And as he approached Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, by the side of the mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when they drewe nye vnto Hierusalem, & were come to Bethphage, vnto the mout of Oliues, the sent Iesus two disciples,
English Revised Version
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
World English Bible
When they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethsphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And when they drew nigh to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives,
Weymouth's New Testament
When they were come near Jerusalem and had arrived at Bethphage and the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of the disciples on in front,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne Jhesus cam nyy to Jerusalem, and cam to Bethfage, at the mount of Olyuete, thanne sente he his twei disciplis, and seide to hem,
Update Bible Version
And when they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
Webster's Bible Translation
And when they drew nigh to Jerusalem, and had come to Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
New English Translation
Now when they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,
New King James Version
Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, [fn] at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
New Living Translation
As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead.
New Life Bible
They were near Jerusalem and had come to the town of Bethphage at the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two followers on ahead.
New Revised Standard
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, when they drew near unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, unto the Mount of Olives, then, Jesus sent forth two disciples;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they drew nigh to Jerusalem and were come to Bethphage, unto mount Olivet, then Jesus sent two disciples,
Revised Standard Version
And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Beth'phage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
When they drewe neye vnto Ierusalem and were come to Betphage vnto mounte olivete: then sent Iesus two of his disciples
Young's Literal Translation
And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, unto the mount of the Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Now whan they drew nye vnto Ierusalem, and were come to Bethphage vnto mount Oliuete, Iesus sent two of his disciples,
Mace New Testament (1729)
When they drew nigh to Jerusalem, and were come to Bepthphage, to the mount of Olives, Jesus dispatched two disciples,
THE MESSAGE
When they neared Jerusalem, having arrived at Bethphage on Mount Olives, Jesus sent two disciples with these instructions: "Go over to the village across from you. You'll find a donkey tethered there, her colt with her. Untie her and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you're doing, say, ‘The Master needs them!' He will send them with you."
Simplified Cowboy Version
When they got close to Jerusalem,

Contextual Overview

1 When Jesus and his disciples came near Jerusalem, he went to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives and sent two of them on ahead. 2 He told them, "Go into the next village, where you will at once find a donkey and her colt. Untie the two donkeys and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks why you are doing that, just say, ‘The Lord needs them.' Right away he will let you have the donkeys." 4 So God's promise came true, just as the prophet had said, 5 "Announce to the people of Jerusalem: ‘Your king is coming to you! He is humble and rides on a donkey. He comes on the colt of a donkey.'" 6 The disciples left and did what Jesus had told them to do. 7 They brought the donkey and its colt and laid some clothes on their backs. Then Jesus got on. 8 Many people spread clothes in the road, while others put down branches which they had cut from trees. 9 Some people walked ahead of Jesus and others followed behind. They were all shouting, "Hooray for the Son of David! God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hooray for God in heaven above!" 10 When Jesus came to Jerusalem, everyone in the city was excited and asked, "Who can this be?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

when: Mark 11:1, Luke 19:28

Bethphage: Bethphage was a village on the declivity of Mount Olivet, and somewhat nearer to Jerusalem than Bethany.

the mount: Matthew 24:3, Matthew 26:30, Zechariah 14:4, Luke 19:37, Luke 21:37, John 8:1, Acts 1:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 22:9 - place Nehemiah 8:15 - the mount Luke 19:29 - when John 12:14 - Jesus

Cross-References

Genesis 17:16
I will bless her, and you will have a son by her. She will become the mother of nations, and some of her descendants will even be kings.
Genesis 17:19
But God answered: No! You and Sarah will have a son. His name will be Isaac, and I will make an everlasting promise to him and his descendants.
Genesis 17:21
But your son Isaac will be born about this time next year, and the promise I am making to you and your family will be for him and his descendants forever.
Genesis 18:10
One of the guests was the Lord , and he said, "I'll come back about this time next year, and when I do, Sarah will already have a son." Sarah was behind Abraham, listening at the entrance to the tent.
Genesis 18:14
I am the Lord ! There is nothing too difficult for me. I'll come back next year at the time I promised, and Sarah will already have a son."
Genesis 21:17
When God heard the boy crying, the angel of God called out to Hagar from heaven and said, "Hagar, why are you worried? Don't be afraid. I have heard your son crying.
Genesis 21:20
God blessed Ishmael, and as the boy grew older, he became an expert with his bow and arrows. He lived in the Paran Desert, and his mother chose an Egyptian woman for him to marry.
Genesis 50:24
Before Joseph died, he told his brothers, "I won't live much longer. But God will take care of you and lead you out of Egypt to the land he promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Exodus 3:16
Call together the leaders of Israel and tell them that the God who was worshiped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has appeared to you. Tell them I have seen how terribly they are being treated in Egypt,
Exodus 4:31
and everyone believed. They bowed down and worshiped the Lord because they knew that he had seen their suffering and was going to help them.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem,.... The Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read, "when he drew nigh, or was near"; but not alone, his disciples were with him, and a multitude of people also; as is evident from the following account. They might well be said to be near to Jerusalem, since it is added,

and were come to Bethphage; which the Jews say n was within the walls of the city of Jerusalem, and was in all respects as the city itself, and was the outermost part of it o; and that all within the outward circumference of the city of Jerusalem was called Bethphage p: it seems to me to be part of it within the city, and part of it without, in the suburbs of it, which reached to Bethany, and that to the Mount of Olives. Various are the derivations and etymologies of this place: some say it signifies "the house", or "place of a fountain", from a fountain that was in it; as if it was a compound of "Beth", an house, and πηγη, "pege", a fountain: others, "the house of the mouth of a valley"; as if it was made up of those three words, בית פי גיא, because the outward boundary of it was at the foot of the Mount of Olives, at the entrance of the valley of Jehoshaphat: others say, that the ancient reading was "Bethphage, the house of slaughter"; and Jerom says q, it was a village of the priests, and he renders it, "the house of jaw bones": here indeed they might bake the showbread, and eat the holy things, as in Jerusalem r; but the true reading and signification of it is, פאגי

בית, "the house of figs"; so called from the fig trees which grew in the outward limits of it, near Bethany, and the Mount of Olives; hence we read of s פגי בית היני, "the figs of Bethany"; which place is mentioned along with, Bethphage, both by Mark and Luke, where Christ, and those with him, were now come: the latter says, they were come nigh to these places, for they were come

to the Mount of Olives; near to which were the furthermost limits of Bethany, and Bethphage, from Jerusalem. This mount was so called from the abundance of olive trees which grew upon it, and was on the east side of Jerusalem t; and it was distant from it a sabbath day's journey, Acts 1:12 which was two, thousand cubits, or eight furlongs, and which made one mile:

then sent Jesus two disciples; who they were is not certain, perhaps Peter and John, who were afterwards sent by him to prepare the passover, Luke 22:8.

n Gloss. in T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 14. 2. & Pesach. fol. 91. 1. o Gloss. in T. Bab. Pesach. fol. 63. 2. & 91. 1. p Gloss. in T. Bab. Sota, fol. 45. 1. & Bava Metzia fol. 90. 1. q In loc. & ad Eustoch, fol. 59. 3. Tom. 1. r Misn. Menachot, c. 11. sect. 2. T. Bab. Menachot fol. 63. 1. & 78. 2. Maimon. Hilch. Pesul. Hamukdash, c. 12. sect. 16. Gloss. in Pesach. fol. 63. 2. s T. Bab. Pesach. fol. 53. 1. & Erubin, fol. 28. 2. t Zech. xiv 4. Targum in Ezek. xi. 23. & Bartenora in Misn. Mid. dot. c. 1. sect. 3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem - They were going up now from Jericho.

Matthew 20:29. The distance was about 19 miles. The most of the way was a desert, or filled with caves, and rocks, and woods - a suitable place for robbers. See Luke 10:30. The Mount of Olives, or “Olivet,” is on the east of Jerusalem. Between this and Jerusalem there runs a small stream called the brook Kidron, or Cedron. It is dry in the hot seasons of the year, but swells to a considerable size in time of heavy rains. See the notes at John 18:1. The Mount of Olives was so called from its producing in abundance the olive. It was from Jerusalem about a Sabbath-day’s journey. See the notes at Acts 1:12. On the west side of the mountain was the garden of Gethsemane, Luke 22:39; Mark 14:32. On the eastern declivity of the mountain were the villages of Bethphage and Bethany. Mark and Luke say that he came near to both those places.

He appears to have come first to Bethany, where he passed the night John 12:1, John 12:9-11, and in the morning sent over to the adjacent village Bethphage. Bethany was the place where Lazarus lived, whom he raised from the dead John 11:0; where Martha and Mary lived; and where Mary anointed him with ointment against the day of his burying, John 12:1-7. The Mount of Olives is about a mile in length and about 700 feet in height, and overlooks Jerusalem, so that from its summit almost every part of the city can be seen. The mountain is composed of three peaks or summits. The “olive” is a fruit well known among us as an article of commerce. The tree blooms in June, and bears white flowers. The fruit is small. It is first green, then whitish, and, when fully ripe, black. It encloses a hard stone in which are the seeds. The “wild olive” was common, and differed from the other only in being of a smaller size. There are two roads from Jerusalem to Bethany; one around the southern end of the Mount of Olives, and the other across the summit. The latter is considerably shorter, but more difficult, and it was probably along this road that the Saviour went.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XXI.

Christ rides into Jerusalem upon an ass, and the multitude

receive him joyfully, 1-11.

He enters the temple, and expels the money-changers, c. 12, 13.

The blind and the lame come to him and are healed, 14.

The chief priests and scribes are offended, 15.

Our Lord confounds them, and goes to Bethany, 16, 17.

The barren fig-tree blasted, 18-22.

While teaching in the temple, the chief priests and elders

question his authority he answers and confutes them, 23-27.

The parable of the man and his two sons, 28-32.

The parable of a vineyard let out to husbandmen, 33-42;

applied to the priests and Pharisees, 43-45;

who wish to kill him, but are restrained by the fear of the

people, who acknowledge Christ for a prophet, 46.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXI.

Verse Matthew 21:1. Bethphage — A place on the west declivity of Mount Olivet, from which it is thought the whole declivity and part of the valley took their name. It is supposed to have derived its name from the fig-trees which grew there; בית beeth, signifying a region as well as a house, and פג phag, a green fig.


 
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