Matthew 12:23
New International Version
All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

New Living Translation
The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”

English Standard Version
And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”

Berean Standard Bible
The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?”

Berean Literal Bible
And all the crowds were amazed, and were saying, "Could this be the Son of David?"

King James Bible
And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

New King James Version
And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

New American Standard Bible
And all the crowds were amazed and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?”

NASB 1995
All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?”

NASB 1977
And all the multitudes were amazed, and began to say, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?”

Legacy Standard Bible
And all the crowds were astounded, and were saying, “Can this man really be the Son of David?”

Amplified Bible
All the people wondered in amazement, and said, “Could this be the Son of David (the Messiah)?”

Christian Standard Bible
All the crowds were astounded and said, “Could this be the Son of David? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And all the crowds were astounded and said, “Perhaps this is the Son of David!”

American Standard Version
And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Can this be the son of David?

Contemporary English Version
The crowds were so amazed they asked, "Could Jesus be the Son of David?"

English Revised Version
And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Is this the son of David?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The crowds were all amazed and said, "Can this man be the Son of David?"

Good News Translation
The crowds were all amazed at what Jesus had done. "Could he be the Son of David?" they asked.

International Standard Version
All the crowds were amazed and kept saying, "This man isn't the Son of David, is he?"

Majority Standard Bible
The crowds were astounded and asked, ?Could this be the Son of David??

NET Bible
All the crowds were amazed and said, "Could this one be the Son of David?"

New Heart English Bible
And all the crowds were amazed, and said, "Can this be the son of David?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

Weymouth New Testament
And the crowds of people were all filled with amazement and said, "Can this be the Son of David?"

World English Bible
All the multitudes were amazed, and said, “Can this be the son of David?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Is this the Son of David?”

Berean Literal Bible
And all the crowds were amazed, and were saying, "Could this be the Son of David?"

Young's Literal Translation
And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, 'Is this the Son of David?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And all the crowds were affected, and said, Is not this the son of David?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And all the multitudes were amazed, and said: Is not this the son of David?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And all the crowds were stupefied, and they said, “Could this be the son of David?”

New American Bible
All the crowd was astounded, and said, “Could this perhaps be the Son of David?”

New Revised Standard Version
All the crowds were amazed and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
All the people were amazed and said, Perhaps this man is the son of David?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And all the crowds were astounded and they were saying, “Is this not The Son of David?”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And all the people were amazed, and said: Is not this the son of David?

Godbey New Testament
And all the multitudes were astonished, and continued to say, Is not this the son of David?

Haweis New Testament
And all the multitudes were lost in amazement, and they said, Is not this the son of David?

Mace New Testament
which made the people cry out with amazement, "Is not this the son of David?"

Weymouth New Testament
And the crowds of people were all filled with amazement and said, "Can this be the Son of David?"

Worrell New Testament
And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Can this be the Son of David?"

Worsley New Testament
and all the multitudes were amazed, and said, "Is not this the Son of David?"

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A House Divided
22Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed the man so that he could speak and see. 23 The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”…

Cross References
Matthew 9:27-33
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” / After Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He asked. “Yes, Lord,” they answered. / Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” ...

Mark 3:11
And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”

Luke 11:14-15
One day Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. And when the demon was gone, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed, / but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.”

John 7:31
Many in the crowd, however, believed in Him and said, “When the Christ comes, will He perform more signs than this man?”

John 9:16
Because of this, some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” And there was division among them.

John 10:21
But others replied, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Acts 2:22
Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.

Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

Isaiah 35:5-6
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. / Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

Isaiah 42:1-7
“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations. / He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the streets. / A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. ...

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

Jeremiah 23:5-6
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. / In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.

Jeremiah 33:15-16
In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout for David a righteous Branch, and He will administer justice and righteousness in the land. / In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely, and this is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.

Ezekiel 34:23-24
I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them. He will feed them and be their shepherd. / I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them. I, the LORD, have spoken.

Ezekiel 37:24
My servant David will be king over them, and there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow My ordinances and keep and observe My statutes.


Treasury of Scripture

And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

the people.

Matthew 9:33
And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

Matthew 15:30,31
And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: …

Is not.

Matthew 9:27
And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

Matthew 15:22
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

Matthew 21:9
And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

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Amazed Amazement Astonished Crowds David Filled Multitudes Surprised
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Amazed Amazement Astonished Crowds David Filled Multitudes Surprised
Matthew 12
1. Jesus reproves the blindness of the Pharisees concerning the Sabbath,
3. by scripture,
9. by reason,
13. and by a miracle.
22. He heals a man possessed that was blind and mute;
24. and confronting the absurd charge of casting out demons by Beelzebub,
32. he shows that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall never be forgiven.
36. Account shall be made of idle words.
38. He rebukes the unfaithful, who seek after a sign,
46. and shows who is his brother, sister, and mother.














The crowds were astounded
The reaction of the crowds highlights the extraordinary nature of Jesus' miracles and teachings. In the context of first-century Judea, where many were familiar with the prophecies of a coming Messiah, Jesus' actions were unprecedented. The term "astounded" suggests a deep sense of amazement and wonder, indicating that what they witnessed was beyond ordinary human capability. This reaction is consistent with other instances in the Gospels where Jesus' miracles elicited similar responses (e.g., Matthew 9:33, Mark 1:27). The crowds' astonishment also reflects the growing tension between Jesus' rising popularity and the skepticism of the religious leaders.

and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?”
The title "Son of David" is a messianic term rooted in the Old Testament, particularly in the promises made to King David that his lineage would produce a ruler whose kingdom would be everlasting (2 Samuel 7:12-16). By asking if Jesus could be the "Son of David," the crowd is questioning whether He is the long-awaited Messiah. This reflects the Jewish expectation of a deliverer who would restore Israel's fortunes and establish God's kingdom. The question posed by the crowd indicates a recognition of Jesus' potential messianic identity, which is a central theme in the Gospel of Matthew. This title is significant because it connects Jesus to the Davidic covenant and the fulfillment of prophecy, such as Isaiah 11:1-10, which speaks of a shoot from the stump of Jesse (David's father) who will bring justice and peace. The crowd's question also sets the stage for the ensuing conflict with the Pharisees, who challenge Jesus' authority and seek to discredit Him.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Crowds
A group of people witnessing Jesus' miracles and teachings. Their reaction is one of amazement and curiosity about Jesus' true identity.

2. Jesus
Central figure performing miracles, prompting the crowd's question about His messianic identity.

3. Son of David
A messianic title referring to the expected descendant of King David who would restore Israel. The crowd's question indicates their recognition of Jesus' potential fulfillment of this prophecy.

4. Pharisees
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, they are present in the surrounding context, often opposing Jesus and questioning His authority.

5. Miracle of Healing
The event preceding this verse involves Jesus healing a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, which leads to the crowd's reaction.
Teaching Points
Recognition of Jesus' Identity
The crowd's question reflects a crucial moment of recognition and inquiry into Jesus' true identity. Believers today are called to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and Savior.

Messianic Expectations
Understanding the title "Son of David" helps us appreciate the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in Jesus. This deepens our faith in God's promises and His faithfulness.

Response to Miracles
The crowd's astonishment challenges us to respond to Jesus' works in our lives with faith and acknowledgment of His divine authority.

Discernment and Faith
The crowd's question invites us to discern truth from skepticism. We are encouraged to seek understanding and grow in faith rather than doubt.

Witnessing to Others
Just as the crowd shared their amazement, believers are called to share their experiences of Jesus' power and love with others, pointing them to His identity as the Messiah.(23) Is not this the son of David?--The people use (as the blind man had done in Matthew 9:27) the most popular of all the synonyms of the Christ.

Verse 23. - And all the people; the multitudes (Revised Version); i.e. the various concourses of people that formed themselves at different times of the day and in different parts of the town (cf. Matthew 8:1; Matthew 14:15, notes). Were amazed (ἐξίσταντο); here only in Matthew, but cf. Mark 2:12. And said, Is this (μήτι οῦτός ἐστιν). The form of the question suggests that it seemed altogether too wonderful to allow of an affirmative answer being returned. The American Committee of Revision wished to translate, "Can this be," etc.? The Son of David? (Matthew 9:27, note).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
The
οἱ (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.

crowds
ὄχλοι (ochloi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3793: From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot.

were all amazed
ἐξίσταντο (existanto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1839: From ek and histemi; to put out of wits, i.e. Astound, or become astounded, insane.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

asked,
ἔλεγον (elegon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Could this be
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Son
υἱὸς (huios)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5207: A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.

of David?”
Δαυίδ (Dauid)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 1138: David, King of Israel. Of Hebrew origin; Dabid, the Israelite king.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 12:23 All the multitudes were amazed and said (Matt. Mat Mt)
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