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Matthew 4:2

4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

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When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.

4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

What does Matthew 4:2 mean?

Matthew 4:2 is a verse in the book of Matthew, in the New Testament. In the original Greek, key words include καί (kai), νηστεύω (nesteuo), τεσσεράκοντα (tessarakonta). It connects to 12 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Greek interlinear

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Andκαίkai/kahee/G2532apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
when
he
had
fastedνηστεύωnesteuo/nace-tyoo'-o/G3522from 3523; to abstain from food (religiously):--fast.
fortyτεσσεράκονταtessarakonta/tes-sar-ak'-on-tah/G5062the decade of 5064; forty:--forty.
daysἡμέραhemera/hay-mer'-ah/G2250feminine (with 5610 implied) of a derivative of hemai (to sit; akin to the base of 1476) meaning tame, i.e. gentle; day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context):--age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.
andκαίkai/kahee/G2532apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
fortyτεσσεράκονταtessarakonta/tes-sar-ak'-on-tah/G5062the decade of 5064; forty:--forty.
nights,νύξnux/noox/G3571a primary word; "night" (literally or figuratively):-- (mid-)night.
he
was
afterwardὕστεροςhusteron/hoos'-ter-on/G5305neuter of 5306 as adverb; more lately, i.e. eventually:--afterward, (at the) last (of all).
an
hungred.πεινάωpeinao/pi-nah'-o/G3983from the same as 3993 (through the idea of pinching toil; "pine"); to famish (absolutely or comparatively); figuratively, to crave:--be an hungered.

Commentary on Matthew 4:2

HENRY_FULL · Matthew 4:2
v John Baptist said concerning Christ, He must increase, but I must decrease; and so it proved. For, after John had baptized Christ, and borne his testimony to him, we hear little more of his ministry; he had done what he came to do, and thenceforward there is as much talk of Jesus as ever there had been of John. As the rising Sun advances, the morning star disappears. Concerning Jesus Christ we have in this chapter, I. The temptation he underwent, the triple assault the tempter made upon him, and the repulse he gave to each assault, ver. 1-11 . II. The teaching work he undertook, the places he preached in ( ver. 12-16 ), and the subject he preached on, ver. 17 . III. His calling of disciples, Peter and Andrew, James and John, ver. 18-22 . IV. His curing diseases ( ver. 23, 24 ), and the great resort of the people to him, both to be taught and to be healed. The Temptation of Christ.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 24:18

And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

Exodus 34:28

And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. commandments: Heb. words

Deuteronomy 9:9

When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water:

Deuteronomy 9:18

And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Deuteronomy 9:25

Thus I fell down before the LORD forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first; because the LORD had said he would destroy you.

Deuteronomy 18:18

I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

1 Kings 19:8

And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

Matthew 21:18

Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.

Mark 11:12

And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

Luke 4:2

Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

John 4:6

Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

Hebrews 2:14

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Topics

Christ, Character OfHungerSatanTemptation

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Matthew 4:2.

Luke 4:2

Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

Acts 1:3

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

Matthew 2:14

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

Matthew 5:6

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Matthew 9:15

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Frequently asked questions

What does Matthew 4:2 say?

Matthew 4:2 (King James Version) reads: "And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred."

Is Matthew 4:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Matthew 4:2 is in the New Testament of the Bible, in the book of Matthew.

Reflect

As you read Matthew 4:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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