For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
For {G1063} as {G5618} Jonas {G2495} was {G2258} three {G5140} days {G2250} and {G2532} three {G5140} nights {G3571} in {G1722} the whale's {G2785} belly {G2836}; so {G3779} shall the Son {G5207} of man {G444} be {G2071} three {G5140} days {G2250} and {G2532} three {G5140} nights {G3571} in {G1722} the heart {G2588} of the earth {G1093}.
For just as Yonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea-monster,f so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the depths of the earth.
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
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Jonah 1:17
Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. -
Matthew 27:63
Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. -
Matthew 27:64
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. -
John 2:19
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. -
Matthew 17:23
And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. -
Matthew 27:40
And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. -
Matthew 16:21
¶ From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Matthew 12:40 is a pivotal verse where Jesus provides a prophetic sign concerning His own death and resurrection. It is part of His response to the Pharisees and scribes who demanded a miraculous sign to validate His authority. Jesus refuses to give them any sign other than what He calls the "sign of Jonas" (Jonah), drawing a direct parallel between Jonah's experience and His own impending burial and resurrection.
Context
This declaration follows immediately after Jesus condemns the "evil and adulterous generation" for seeking a sign (Matthew 12:39). He points them to the ancient prophet Jonah, whose three days and three nights in the great fish served as a miraculous event of divine intervention. Jesus uses this historical account as a powerful foreshadowing of His own unique mission and destiny, indicating that His resurrection would be the ultimate, undeniable proof of His identity as the Messiah.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
Practical Application
Matthew 12:40 offers profound assurance and validation for believers. It underscores the historical reality and prophetic significance of Jesus' death and resurrection, which stands as the cornerstone of the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). For those seeking evidence, Jesus points to His greatest miracle: His triumph over the grave. This verse reminds us that God works through extraordinary means to reveal His truth and that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, who conquered death and offers new life to all who believe.