Luke 19:40
 Luke 19:40 
New International Version (©2011)
"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

New Living Translation (©2007)
He replied, "If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!"

English Standard Version (©2001)
He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!"

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
He answered, "I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!"

International Standard Version (©2012)
He replied, "I tell you, if they were quiet, the stones would cry out!"

NET Bible (©2006)
He answered, "I tell you, if they keep silent, the very stones will cry out!"

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
He said to them, “I say to you that if these would be silent, the stones would be crying out loud.”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Jesus replied, "I can guarantee that if they are quiet, the stones will cry out."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

American King James Version
And he answered and said to them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

American Standard Version
And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.

Douay-Rheims Bible
To whom he said: I say to you, that if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.

Darby Bible Translation
And he answering said to them, I say unto you, If these shall be silent, the stones will cry out.

English Revised Version
And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.

Webster's Bible Translation
And 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."

World English Bible
He answered them, "I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would 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!'

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he answered and said unto them, I tell you,.... As a truth, which may be depended on, and you may be assured of; this he spake with great earnestness, fervour, and courage:

continued...


Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The stones would ...cry out - It is "proper" that they should celebrate my coming. Their acclamations "ought" not to be suppressed. So joyful is the event which they celebrate - the coming of the Messiah - that it is not fit that I should attempt to impose silence on them. The expression here seems to be "proverbial," and is not to be taken literally. Proverbs are designed to express the truth "strongly," but are not to be taken to signify as much as if they were to be interpreted literally. The sense is, that his coming was an event of so much importance that it "ought" to be celebrated in some way, and "would" be celebrated. It would be impossible to restrain the people, and improper to attempt it. The language here is strong proverbial language to denote that fact. We are not to suppose, therefore, that our Saviour meant to say that the stones were "conscious" of his coming, or that God would "make" them speak, but only that there was "great joy" among the people; that it was "proper" that they should express it in this manner, and that it was not fit that he should attempt to repress it.


Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

If these should hold their peace, the stones would - cry out - Of such importance is my present conduct to you and to others, being expressly predicted by one of your own prophets, Zechariah 9:9, as pointing out the triumph of humility over pride, and of meekness over rage and malice, as signifying the salvation which I bring to the lost souls of men, that, if this multitude were silent, God would give even to the stones a voice, that the advent of the Messiah might be duly celebrated.


Geneva Study Bible

And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.


Wesley's Notes

19:40 If these should hold their peace, the stones, which lie before you, would cry out - That is, God would raise up some still more unlikely instruments to declare his praise. For the power of God will not return empty.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

40. the stones, &c.-Hitherto the Lord had discouraged all demonstrations in His favor; latterly He had begun an opposite course; on this one occasion He seems to yield His whole soul to the wide and deep acclaim with a mysterious satisfaction, regarding it as so necessary a part of the regal dignity in which as Messiah He for this last time entered the city, that if not offered by the vast multitude, it would have been wrung out of the stones rather than be withheld (Hab 2:11).


Luke 19:40 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Triumphal Entry
38Saying, Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said to him, Master, rebuke your disciples. 40And he answered and said to them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Habakkuk 2:11 The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.
Luke 19:41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it