The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Matthew 21:1-11
Matt.21.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- οτε: CONJ
- ηγγισαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- Ιεροσολυμα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- ηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- Βηθφαγη: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- Ορος: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- Ελαιων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- τοτε: ADV
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- απεστειλεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δυο: NUM,card
- μαθητας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 11:1 (verbal): Near-verbatim synoptic parallel: Jesus approaches Jerusalem, comes to Bethphage (and Bethany), at the Mount of Olives, and sends two disciples to fetch a colt.
- Luke 19:29 (verbal): Synoptic parallel that likewise places Jesus near Bethphage and the Mount of Olives and records his sending of two disciples as he approaches Jerusalem.
- John 12:12-13 (thematic): John recounts the triumphal entry into Jerusalem (palm-branch acclamation) and situates Jesus' arrival at Jerusalem/Bethany in the days before Passover, thematically parallel to Matthew's setting.
- Zechariah 9:9 (allusion): Old Testament prophetic background often associated with the entry narrative (the coming king riding on a donkey); Matthew will explicitly invoke this prophecy shortly after v.1.
- Psalm 118:25-26 (thematic): Psalm used later in the entry narrative ('Hosanna... Blessed is he who comes'), providing liturgical and messianic context for Jesus' approach to Jerusalem.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples
- And when they drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples,
Matt.21.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- λεγων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,m,sg
- αυτοις·Πορευεσθε: PRON,dat,pl
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- κωμην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- κατεναντι: PREP
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- και: CONJ
- ευθεως: ADV
- ευρησετε: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,pl
- ονον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- δεδεμενην: VERB,perf,pass,part,acc,f,sg
- και: CONJ
- πωλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μετ᾽αυτης·λυσαντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,pl
- αγαγετε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
Parallels
- Mark 11:2-3 (verbal): Near-verbatim Synoptic parallel: Jesus sends disciples into the village to find a tied donkey and colt and instructs them to untie and bring them.
- Luke 19:30-31 (verbal): Luke’s account gives the same instruction to fetch an animal (a colt) — part of the same pericope in the Synoptic tradition.
- John 12:14-15 (quotation): John narrates Jesus’ coming on a young donkey and explicitly cites Zechariah 9:9, linking the procurement of the animal to prophetic fulfillment.
- Zechariah 9:9 (quotation): The prophetic source Matthew (and John) invoke: the king comes humble, riding on a donkey/colt — Matthew’s instruction to fetch the animals sets up fulfillment of this oracle.
Alternative generated candidates
- and said to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me."
- and said to them, 'Go into the village opposite you; and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.'
Matt.21.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εαν: CONJ
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- ειπη: VERB,aor,act,sub,3,sg
- τι: ADV
- ερειτε: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- Ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,3
- χρειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχει·ευθυς: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- αποστελει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 11:3 (verbal): Nearly identical instruction in Mark's account of sending disciples to fetch the colt: if anyone asks, say 'The Lord needs them,' and he will send them at once.
- Luke 19:31 (verbal): Luke's parallel pericope gives the same directive—tell anyone who asks that 'the Lord has need of it'—with only minor wording differences.
- Matthew 21:2 (structural): Immediate context within Matthew's triumphal entry narrative; verse 2 introduces the dispatch to the village and the expectation of finding the animals, forming a single instructional unit with v.3.
- John 12:14-15 (thematic): John narrates Jesus' entry on a young donkey (the same event) and links it to fulfillment, paralleling the procurement/action motif though without the exact saying about 'the Lord's need.'
- Zechariah 9:9 (quotation): The OT prophecy Matthew cites elsewhere in this pericope (Matt 21:5) about the king coming humble on a donkey provides the prophetic framework for the disciples' action to obtain the colt.
Alternative generated candidates
- If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and he will send them at once.
- And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and he will send them at once.
Matt.21.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- δε: CONJ
- γεγονεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- ινα: CONJ
- πληρωθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- ρηθεν: PART,aor,pass,acc,n,sg
- δια: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- προφητου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- λεγοντος·: PART,pres,act,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Zechariah 9:9 (quotation): The prophet Matthew cites immediately after this verse; Zechariah 9:9 predicts a king coming humble and riding on a donkey—the source Matthew claims is fulfilled by Jesus' entry.
- Mark 11:7-10 (structural): Parallel account of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem (crowds spreading garments and shouting 'Hosanna'), providing the Synoptic narrative context that Matthew introduces with a fulfillment formula.
- John 12:14-15 (quotation): John explicitly cites Zechariah 9:9 and states that Jesus' entering on a young donkey fulfilled the prophecy, echoing Matthew's fulfillment claim.
- Matthew 1:22 (verbal): Matthew uses a similar fulfillment formula earlier in the Gospel ('that what was spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled'), showing the evangelist's recurrent theological use of prophecy-fulfillment language.
- Matthew 26:56 (verbal): Another Matthean use of fulfillment language ('this has happened that the scriptures may be fulfilled') applied to Jesus' arrest—illustrates the Gospel's pattern of interpreting events as fulfillment of Scripture.
Alternative generated candidates
- This took place that what was spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled, saying,
- This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
Matt.21.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ειπατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- θυγατρι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- Σιων·Ιδου: NOUN,gen,sg,f+PART
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- βασιλευς: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ερχεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- πραυς: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- επιβεβηκως: VERB,perf,act,part,nom,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- ονον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- πωλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- υιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- υποζυγιου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Zechariah 9:9 (quotation): Matthew explicitly quotes Zechariah’s prophecy about the king coming to Zion humble and riding on a donkey (the source text Matthew cites).
- John 12:15 (quotation): John likewise cites Zechariah 9:9 in his account of the triumphal entry, using similar wording about the king coming on a donkey.
- Mark 11:7-10 (structural): Mark’s parallel triumphal‑entry narrative: Jesus mounts a colt, the crowd spreads garments and branches, and acclaims the coming king (closely parallels Matthew’s scene).
- Luke 19:35-38 (structural): Luke’s account of the entry likewise has Jesus riding on a colt and the crowd’s acclamation of the coming king, echoing Matthew’s fulfillment motif.
- Psalm 118:25-26 (allusion): The crowd’s acclamation in the triumphal entry (‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes…’) echoes Psalm 118, which New Testament writers link with the arrival of Israel’s king alongside Zechariah 9:9.
Alternative generated candidates
- "Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you; he is meek, and seated on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden."
- 'Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king comes to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'
Matt.21.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πορευθεντες: VERB,aor,pass,part,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- ποιησαντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- καθως: CONJ
- συνεταξεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 11:1-7 (verbal): Parallel account of the triumphal entry: Jesus sends two disciples for the colt and they 'go and find' and do exactly as he directed (Mark 11:3–6 corresponds closely to Matt 21:1–7).
- Luke 19:29-35 (verbal): Luke's version of the sending and seizure of the colt: the disciples 'went and found' the colt just as Jesus predicted and brought it to him, mirroring Matthew's phrasing and sequence.
- John 12:14-16 (thematic): John's triumphal entry narrative: Jesus mounts a young donkey and the crowd spreads garments—John emphasizes the disciples' actions in bringing and placing Jesus on the animal and notes their later understanding, echoing the same obedient response to Jesus' instruction.
- Zechariah 9:9 (quotation): OT prophecy cited in the triumphal entry pericope (Matt 21:4–5): the image of the king coming humble on a donkey undergirds the disciples' obedience in fetching and presenting the colt as fulfillment of Scripture.
Alternative generated candidates
- The disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them;
- And the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them,
Matt.21.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ηγαγον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ονον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- πωλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- επεθηκαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- επ᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,3
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- ιματια: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- επεκαθισεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- επανω: PREP
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,3
Parallels
- Mark 11:7 (verbal): Near-identical narrative: disciples bring the colt (and its mother/foal), spread garments on them, and set Jesus on them; closely parallels Matthew's wording and sequence.
- Luke 19:35-36 (verbal): Parallel account: the disciples bring the colt, throw their cloaks on it, and Jesus rides; similar phrasing and ceremonial action.
- John 12:14-15 (quotation): John records Jesus finding and sitting on a young donkey and explicitly cites Zechariah 9:9 — parallels Matthew's action and its presentation as fulfillment of prophecy.
- Zechariah 9:9 (allusion): The prophetic source: the king comes humble, riding on a donkey/colt. Matthew's riding and the garments placed on the animals enact and allude to this oracle (cf. Matt. 21:4–5).
- Psalm 118:25-26 (thematic): Psalm associated with acclamation and blessing the coming king ('Hosanna,' 'blessed is he who comes'); provides the liturgical/celebratory context for the crowd's reception during the entry.
Alternative generated candidates
- they brought the donkey and the colt, put their garments on them, and set Jesus upon them.
- and brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them; and he sat upon them.
Matt.21.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- πλειστος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- οχλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εστρωσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εαυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- ιματια: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- οδω: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αλλοι: PRON,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- εκοπτον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- κλαδους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- δενδρων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- εστρωννυον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- οδω: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 11:8-9 (verbal): Near-identical account of the Triumphal Entry: crowds spread garments and leafy branches in the road to honor Jesus.
- Luke 19:36 (verbal): Parallel narrative: the crowd spreads their garments on the road and cuts branches from the trees as Jesus enters Jerusalem.
- John 12:12-13 (verbal): Crowd takes branches (explicitly palms) to meet Jesus and shouts 'Hosanna,' a closely related description of the same event.
- Psalm 118:25-26 (quotation): The acclamations accompanying the procession ('Blessed is he who comes...') are drawn from this psalm, which the crowd applies to Jesus during the entry.
- Zechariah 9:9 (allusion): Prophetic background to the scene: the arrival of a humble king on a donkey provides the messianic frame that explains the public acclaim and ceremonial gestures (garments/branches).
Alternative generated candidates
- The crowds spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
- Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
Matt.21.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- οχλοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- προαγοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ακολουθουντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- εκραζον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- λεγοντες·Ωσαννα: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m+INTJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- υιω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- Δαυιδ·Ευλογημενος: NOUN,gen,sg,m+VERB,perf,pass,part,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ερχομενος: VERB,pres,mp,part,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- ονοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- κυριου·Ωσαννα: NOUN,gen,sg,m+INTJ
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- υψιστοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 11:9-10 (verbal): Near-identical crowd acclamation at the triumphal entry: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord…” (same wording and sequence).
- Luke 19:38 (verbal): Similar messianic acclamation: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord,” with added phrases (“peace in heaven, glory in the highest”)—same liturgical material.
- John 12:13 (allusion): Crowd waves branches and cries “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” though John renders the blessing as “the King of Israel,” reflecting the same messianic praise.
- Psalm 118:25-26 (quotation): Source of the phrase “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (and the liturgical cry Hosanna); Matthew’s wording is a direct citation/allusion to this psalm.
- Zechariah 9:9 (thematic): Prophetic backdrop for the triumphal entry—messianic king coming to Jerusalem (humble, on a donkey), which frames the crowd’s hosanna acclamation as recognition of fulfillment.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the multitudes that went before him and that followed cried out, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
- And the crowds that went before him and that followed him cried out, 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'
Matt.21.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εισελθοντος: VERB,aor,act,part,gen,m,sg
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- εις: PREP
- Ιεροσολυμα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- εσεισθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- πασα: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- πολις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- λεγουσα·Τις: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,f,sg
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ουτος: PRO,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 11:10 (verbal): Mark's account of the triumphal entry uses very similar language describing the city's reaction and the crowd's question about Jesus.
- Luke 19:37-38 (thematic): Luke records the crowd's loud acclamation as Jesus approaches Jerusalem (the same triumphal-entry scene), paralleling the public excitement and wonder conveyed in Matthew.
- John 12:12-13 (thematic): John's triumphal-entry report (palm branches, hosannas, identification of Jesus) parallels Matthew's account of popular curiosity and acclaim in Jerusalem.
- Matt.21:11 (structural): Immediate parallel within Matthew: the following verse answers the city's question by identifying Jesus as 'the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.'
- Psalm 118:25-26 (quotation): The crowd's acclamations at the triumphal entry (e.g., 'Hosanna,' 'Blessed is he who comes...') quote/echo this psalm, the liturgical backdrop to the scene in Matthew 21.
Alternative generated candidates
- When he entered Jerusalem the whole city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?"
- And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was stirred, saying, 'Who is this?'
Matt.21.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- οχλοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ελεγον·Ουτος: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- προφητης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- Ναζαρεθ: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- Γαλιλαιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- John 6:14 (verbal): After the feeding of the 5,000 the crowds say, “This is truly the Prophet,” using the same Titling of Jesus as 'the prophet' (Greek wording and public acclamation are parallel).
- John 7:40 (verbal): Many in the crowd respond to Jesus’ words with “This is indeed the Prophet,” echoing the identical formula of popular identification found in Matthew 21:11.
- Luke 7:16 (thematic): After the raising of the widow’s son at Nain the crowd declares that a great prophet has appeared among them—connecting miracle-working and popular recognition of Jesus as a prophet.
- Deuteronomy 18:15 (allusion): Moses’ promise that God will raise up ‘a prophet like me’ underlies Jewish expectations; New Testament identifications of Jesus as 'the prophet' allude to this Deuteronomic promise.
- Luke 24:19 (thematic): On the Emmaus road Jesus is referred to as “Jesus of Nazareth… a prophet mighty in deed and word,” combining the same locality (Nazareth) and prophetic title found in Matthew 21:11.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the crowds said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."
- And the crowds said, 'This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.'
And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,
and said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me."
If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and he will send them at once.
All this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
"Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, meek, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'"
The disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them,
and brought the donkey and the colt, and they laid their cloaks on them; and Jesus sat upon them.
A very great crowd spread their cloaks in the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and those that followed cried out, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"
The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."