BibleWord.ai› Bible› Luke› Chapter 11› Verse 29

Luke 11:29

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 11:29 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, he began to say, This generation is an evil generation: it seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, he began to say, This generation is an evil generation: it seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah.
Luke 11:29 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
26Then goeth he, and taketh [to him] seven other spirits more evil than himself; and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first.
27And it came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the breasts which thou didst suck.
28But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
29And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, he began to say, This generation is an evil generation: it seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah.
30For even as Jonah became a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
31The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and shall condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
32The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.
← Luke 11:28Luke 11:30 →
← Full Chapter 11 Luke Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And when the people were gathered thick together, etc.] Upon this woman's lifting up her voice, and saying the things she did; or rather to see what sign he would give, which some had desired (<421116>Luke 11:16) he began to say, this is an evil generation. The Alexandrian copy, two copies of Beza's, and the Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions read, “this generation is an evil generation”; and also it was an “adulterous one”, as is added in (<401239>Matthew 12:39) they seek a sign; for they had asked one of him, (<421116>Luke 11:16) and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet; one like unto it: (see Gill on “<401239>Matthew 12:39”)”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“(See on Mat 12:39-42.)”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See the notes at Matthew 12:38-42. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“It seeketh - The original word implies seeking more, or over and above what one has already. Luke 11:32”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“11:29-30 The sign of Jonah could refer to the resurrection; Jonah’s time in the fish was a sign to the Ninevites that God had sent him, like Jesus’ time in the grave (see Matt 12:40). It could simply mean that Jonah and Jesus both preached God’s warning to repent (see Luke 11:32).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“when: Luk 12:1, Luk 14:25, Luk 14:26 This is: Luk 11:50, Luk 9:41; Isa 57:3, Isa 57:4; Mat 3:7, Mat 23:34-36; Mar 8:38; Joh 8:44; Act 7:51, Act 7:52 they: Mat 12:38, Mat 12:39, Mat 16:1-4; Mar 8:11, Mar 8:12; Joh 2:18, Joh 6:30; Co1 1:22 Luke 11:30”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Luke 11 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification