New International Version“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
New Living TranslationHe replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
English Standard VersionHe answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
Berean Standard Bible“I tell you,” He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.”
Berean Literal BibleAnd answering He said, "I say to you that if these will be silent, the stones will cry out."
King James BibleAnd he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
New King James VersionBut He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
New American Standard BibleJesus replied, “I tell you, if these stop speaking, the stones will cry out!”
NASB 1995But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”
NASB 1977And He answered and said, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”
Legacy Standard BibleBut Jesus answered and said, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones will cry out!”
Amplified BibleJesus replied, “I tell you, if these [people] keep silent, the stones will cry out [in praise]!”
Christian Standard BibleHe answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.”
Holman Christian Standard BibleHe answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!”
American Standard VersionAnd he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.
Contemporary English VersionBut Jesus answered, "If they keep quiet, these stones will start shouting."
English Revised VersionAnd he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationJesus replied, "I can guarantee that if they are quiet, the stones will cry out."
Good News TranslationJesus answered, "I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will start shouting."
International Standard VersionHe replied, "I tell you, if they were quiet, the stones would cry out!"
NET BibleHe answered, "I tell you, if they keep silent, the very stones will cry out!"
New Heart English BibleHe answered them, "I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out."
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd he answered and said to them, I tell you, that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Weymouth New Testament"I tell you," He replied, "that if *they* became silent, the very stones would cry out." Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“I tell you,” He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.”
World English BibleHe answered them, “I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand He answering said to them, “I say to you that if these will be silent, the stones will cry out!”
Berean Literal BibleAnd answering He said, "I say to you that if these will be silent, the stones will cry out."
Young's Literal Translation and he answering said to them, 'I say to you, that, if these shall be silent, the stones will cry out!'
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd having answered, he said to them, I say to you, that if these should be silent, the stones shall cry out. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleTo whom he said: I say to you, that if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd he said to them, “I tell you, that if these will keep silent, the stones themselves will cry out.”
New American BibleHe said in reply, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!”
New Revised Standard VersionHe answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHe said to them, I say to you, that if these should keep silent, the stones would cry out.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishHe said to them, “I say to you that if these would be silent, the stones would be crying out loud.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd he answered, and said to them: I say to you, that if these had been silent, the stones would have cried out.
Godbey New Testament
and He responding said to them,I say unto you, that if these may keep silent, the rocks will cry out.
Haweis New Testament
And he replying said to them. I tell you that, should these be silent, the very stones would cry out.
Mace New Testament
but he answer'd them, if they should be silent, the stones would exclaim.
Weymouth New Testament
"I tell you," He replied, "that if *they* became silent, the very stones would cry out."
Worrell New Testament
And, answering, He said,"I tell you that, if these shall be silent, the stones will cry out!"
Worsley New Testament
And He answered them,I tell you, that if these were silent, thevery stones would cry out.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Triumphal Entry… 39But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!” 40“I tellyou,”He answered,“iftheyremain silent,the verystoneswill cry out.”41As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it…
Cross References Habakkuk 2:11For the stones will cry out from the wall, and the rafters will echo it from the woodwork.
Psalm 96:11-12Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea resound, and all that fills it. / Let the fields exult, and all that is in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
Psalm 98:7-9Let the sea resound, and all that fills it, the world, and all who dwell in it. / Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy / before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.
Isaiah 55:12You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Psalm 148:7-13Praise the LORD from the earth, all great sea creatures and ocean depths, / lightning and hail, snow and clouds, powerful wind fulfilling His word, / mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, ...
Romans 8:19-22The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. / For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope / that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. ...
Psalm 19:1-4For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. / Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. / Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard, ...
Isaiah 44:23Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.
Psalm 66:1-4For the choirmaster. A song. A Psalm. Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth! / Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious. / Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cower before You. ...
Psalm 150:6Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Hallelujah!
Matthew 3:9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Matthew 21:15-16But the chief priests and scribes were indignant when they saw the wonders He performed and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” / “Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”
Revelation 5:13And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!”
Psalm 145:10-11All You have made will give You thanks, O LORD, and Your saints will bless You. / They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might,
Isaiah 49:13Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break forth in song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.
Treasury of Scripture And he answered and said to them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. Psalm 96:11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Psalm 98:7-9 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein… Psalm 114:1-8 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language; … Jump to Previous CryCryingHoldImmediatelyJesusPeaceQuietSilentStonesJump to Next CryCryingHoldImmediatelyJesusPeaceQuietSilentStonesLuke 19 1.Of Zacchaeus a tax collector.11.The ten minas.28.Jesus rides into Jerusalem with triumph;41.weeps over it;45.drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple;47.Teaching daily in it. The rulers seek to destroy him, but fear the people.“I tell you,” He answered,This phrase indicates Jesus' authoritative response to the Pharisees who were objecting to the praises of His disciples. The use of "I tell you" underscores His role as a teacher and prophet, speaking with divine authority. In the Gospels, Jesus often uses this phrase to introduce important truths or to correct misunderstandings, emphasizing His role as the ultimate source of truth. “if they remain silent,”
The "they" refers to Jesus' disciples and the crowd praising Him as He entered Jerusalem. This moment is part of the Triumphal Entry, a fulfillment ofZechariah 9:9, where the Messiah is prophesied to enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The Pharisees' request for silence reflects their rejection of Jesus' messianic claims and their fear of Roman reprisal. The cultural context here is significant, as public acclamation of a king could be seen as a political threat to Roman authority. “the very stones will cry out.”
This hyperbolic statement emphasizes the inevitability and necessity of Jesus being recognized as the Messiah. The imagery of stones crying out is a powerful metaphor, suggesting that creation itself testifies to Jesus' identity and mission. This can be connected to Old Testament themes where creation is personified to praise God, such as inPsalm 19:1 andIsaiah 55:12. The stones could also symbolize the enduring witness of God's truth, as seen inJoshua 24:27, where a stone serves as a witness to the covenant between God and Israel. Theologically, this phrase underscores the idea that God's purposes will be fulfilled regardless of human opposition. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is making His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He is recognized as the Messiah by His followers, who are praising Him loudly. 2. PhariseesA group of Jewish religious leaders who are present during Jesus' entry. They are concerned about the public acclamation of Jesus as the Messiah and ask Him to rebuke His disciples. 3. Disciples and FollowersThose who are accompanying Jesus and praising God joyfully for all the miracles they have seen, acknowledging Jesus as the King. 4. JerusalemThe city where this event takes place, significant as the center of Jewish worship and the location of the Temple. 5. StonesUsed metaphorically by Jesus to illustrate that creation itself would testify to His identity if His followers were silenced. Teaching Points The Unstoppable Praise of GodGod's glory and truth will be proclaimed, even if human voices are silent. This emphasizes the inevitability of God's praise and the futility of trying to suppress it. Creation's TestimonyThe natural world bears witness to God's power and majesty. Believers are encouraged to see God's handiwork in creation and join in its testimony. Courage in WitnessingJust as the disciples boldly proclaimed Jesus as King, believers today are called to courageously witness to their faith, regardless of opposition. The Rejection of JesusThe Pharisees' attempt to silence the disciples reflects a broader rejection of Jesus' messianic identity. Believers should be aware of similar rejections in today's world and respond with grace and truth. The Role of Joy in WorshipThe disciples' joyful praise is a model for worship. Believers are encouraged to express their joy in the Lord openly and without reservation. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Luke 19:40?
2.How does Luke 19:40 emphasize the importance of praising Jesus in our lives?
3.What does "the stones will cry out" reveal about God's creation and power?
4.How can we ensure our worship is genuine, as implied in Luke 19:40?
5.Connect Luke 19:40 with other scriptures emphasizing creation's role in worship.
6.How can we apply the urgency of praise from Luke 19:40 today?
7.What does Jesus mean by "the stones will cry out" in Luke 19:40?
8.How does Luke 19:40 challenge the understanding of divine authority?
9.Why is the imagery of stones significant in Luke 19:40?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Luke 19?
11.What does "the rocks will cry out" mean?
12.What does 'the rocks will cry out' mean?
13.Why does the angel appear to the donkey first rather than Balaam in Numbers 22:23–25, suggesting the animal has greater insight than the prophet?
14.What events define the Triumphal Entry in Volume 23?What Does Luke 19:40 Mean I tell you,Jesus opens with a firm, personal declaration. Whenever the Lord prefaces a statement with “I tell you,” He is asserting unassailable authority (Matthew 5:18;John 3:11). • His words are never speculative; they are absolute truth (John 14:6). • He is speaking as Creator and King, so what follows is not merely a possibility but a certainty (Colossians 1:16–17).
He answered,The context is the triumphal entry. Some Pharisees demanded that Jesus quiet His rejoicing disciples (Luke 19:39). Christ’s reply exposes their misplaced reverence for decorum over deity. • By answering, He reveals that hearts resistant to praise actually need correction (Mark 11:28–33). • The response also fulfills prophecy that Messiah would be openly acclaimed (Zechariah 9:9;Psalm 118:26).
If they remain silent,The “they” refers to the crowd of disciples celebrating Jesus as King (Luke 19:37–38). • Praise is the fitting, inevitable reaction when the Redeemer is revealed (Psalm 96:4–9). • Suppressing testimony is impossible for those who have truly seen His mighty works (Acts 4:20). • Silence in the face of God’s revelation invites judgment (Romans 1:20–21).
The very stones will cry out.Jesus states that inanimate creation would break into audible praise rather than allow His triumph to pass unheralded. • Scripture repeatedly pictures creation praising its Maker (Psalm 19:1–4;Isaiah 55:12). • Stones have served as witnesses before: Joshua set up a stone that “has heard all the words of the LORD” (Joshua 24:27); Habakkuk warned that “the stones will cry out” against injustice (Habakkuk 2:11). • Christ’s words are literal: the God who made man from dust can give stones a voice if necessary (Matthew 3:9). • The statement exposes the hardness of unbelieving hearts—rocks would prove more responsive than the prideful Pharisees (Ezekiel 36:26).
summary• Jesus speaks with divine authority. • His answer confronts religious opposition to rightful worship. • If human praise were suppressed, creation itself would fill the void. Luke 19:40 assures us that the glory of the Messiah cannot be silenced; God will receive His praise, whether from willing lips or from the very stones under our feet. (40) If these should hold their peace.--Here, then, at the very moment when He foresaw most clearly His own approaching end, and the failure of all earthly hopes of the city over which He wept, our Lord accepted every word that disciples or multitude had uttered of Him as being in the fullest sense true. The stones would immediately cry out.--The startling imagery had a precedent in the language of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 2:11), "The stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek “I tellΛέγω(Legō)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3004:(a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.you,”ὑμῖν(hymin)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.He answered,ἀποκριθεὶς(apokritheis)Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 611:From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.“ifἐὰν(ean)Conjunction
Strong's 1437:If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.theyοὗτοι(houtoi)Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3778:This; he, she, it.remain silent,σιωπήσουσιν(siōpēsousin)Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4623:To keep silence, be silent, either voluntarily or involuntarily. From siope; to be dumb; figuratively, to be calm.the veryοἱ(hoi)Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.stonesλίθοι(lithoi)Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3037:A stone; met: of Jesus as the chief stone in a building. Apparently a primary word; a stone.will cry out.”κράξουσιν(kraxousin)Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2896:To cry aloud, shriek. A primary verb; properly, to 'croak' or scream, i.e. to call aloud.
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NT Gospels: Luke 19:40 He answered them I tell you that (Luke Lu Lk) |
