Matthew 21:40
New International Version
“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

New Living Translation
“When the owner of the vineyard returns,” Jesus asked, “what do you think he will do to those farmers?”

English Standard Version
When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?”

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore when the master of the vineyard shall come, what will he do to those farmers?"

King James Bible
When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

New King James Version
“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”

New American Standard Bible
Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?”

NASB 1995
“Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?”

NASB 1977
“Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?”

Amplified Bible
Now when the owner of the vineyard comes back, what will he do to those tenants?”

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?"”

American Standard Version
When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

Contemporary English Version
Jesus asked, "When the owner of that vineyard comes, what do you suppose he will do to those renters?"

English Revised Version
When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Now, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those workers?"

Good News Translation
"Now, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" Jesus asked.

International Standard Version
Now when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those farmers?"

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?”

NET Bible
Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"

New Heart English Bible
When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"

Webster's Bible Translation
When therefore the Lord of the vineyard cometh, what will he do to those husbandmen?

Weymouth New Testament
When then the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers?"

World English Bible
When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
whenever therefore the lord of the vineyard may come, what will he do to these farmers?”

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore when the master of the vineyard shall come, what will he do to those farmers?"

Young's Literal Translation
whenever therefore the lord of the vineyard may come, what will he do to these husbandmen?'

Smith's Literal Translation
When, therefore, the lord of the vineyard should come, what will he do to those farmers?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do to those husbandmen?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, when the lord of the vineyard arrives, what will he do to those farmers?”

New American Bible
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”

New Revised Standard Version
Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those laborers?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Therefore, when the Lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those laborers?”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine dressers?

Godbey New Testament
Then when the lord of the vine-yard may come, what will he do to those husbandmen?

Haweis New Testament
When therefore the master of the vineyard cometh, what will he do with these husbandmen?

Mace New Testament
when the master therefore of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?

Weymouth New Testament
When then the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers?"

Worrell New Testament
When, therefore, the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those husband-men?"

Worsley New Testament
When therefore the lord of the vineyard cometh, what will he do to those husbandmen?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
39So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?” 41“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.”…

Cross References
Mark 12:9
What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.

Luke 20:15-16
So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? / He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” And when the people heard this, they said, “May such a thing never happen!”

Isaiah 5:1-7
I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. / He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour! / “And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I exhort you to judge between Me and My vineyard. ...

Psalm 118:22-23
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. / This is from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Acts 4:11
This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

1 Peter 2:7
To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

Romans 9:30-33
What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; / but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. / Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, ...

Matthew 8:12
But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 22:7
The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city.

Matthew 23:37-38
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! / Look, your house is left to you desolate.

John 15:1-8
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. / He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. / You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ...

Hebrews 3:12-19
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. / But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. / We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first. ...

Jeremiah 12:10
Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard; they have trampled My plot of ground. They have turned My pleasant field into a desolate wasteland.

Ezekiel 19:10-14
Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of the abundant waters. / It had strong branches, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick branches, conspicuous for its height and for its dense foliage. / But it was uprooted in fury, cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were stripped off and they withered; the fire consumed them. ...

Hosea 9:10
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the firstfruits of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to Shame; so they became as detestable as the thing they loved.


Treasury of Scripture

When the lord therefore of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?

what.

Mark 12:9
What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

Luke 20:15,16
So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? …

Hebrews 10:29
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

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Farmers Husbandmen Owner Tenants Vine-Dressers Vine-Garden Vine-Growers Vineyard Whenever Workmen
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Farmers Husbandmen Owner Tenants Vine-Dressers Vine-Garden Vine-Growers Vineyard Whenever Workmen
Matthew 21
1. Jesus rides into Jerusalem upon a donkey
12. drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple;
17. curses the fig tree;
23. puts to silence the priests and elders,
28. and rebukes them by the parable of the two sons,
33. and the husbandmen who slew such as were sent to them.














Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?
Therefore
This word serves as a conclusion to the parable Jesus has been telling. In Greek, "οὖν" (oun) is often used to draw a logical conclusion from the preceding narrative. It signals to the listener that a significant point is about to be made, urging them to reflect on the story's implications. In the context of Matthew 21, Jesus is leading His audience to consider the consequences of the tenants' actions, which is a metaphor for the religious leaders' rejection of God's messengers.

when the owner of the vineyard comes
The "owner" in Greek is "κύριος" (kyrios), meaning lord or master, which in this parable represents God. The "vineyard" is a common biblical symbol for Israel, as seen in Isaiah 5:1-7. The imagery of the owner coming suggests divine intervention and judgment. Historically, vineyards were valuable and required careful management, symbolizing God's care and expectations for His people. The coming of the owner implies a time of reckoning, aligning with the prophetic tradition of God visiting His people to assess their faithfulness.

what will he do to those tenants?
The "tenants" are the religious leaders of Israel, entrusted with the care of God's people. The Greek word "γεωργοί" (georgoi) refers to farmers or husbandmen, indicating those who work the land. In the parable, these tenants have acted wickedly, rejecting and killing the servants (prophets) and the son (Jesus) sent by the owner. This question is rhetorical, inviting the audience to acknowledge the justice of the owner's response. It underscores the theme of accountability and the inevitable consequences of rejecting God's messengers. The historical context of tenant farming in ancient Palestine, where landowners often lived far away and relied on tenants to manage their property, adds depth to the parable, highlighting the tenants' betrayal and the owner's rightful expectation of loyalty and fruitfulness.

Verse 40. - When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh; when therefore the lord, etc. Christ asks his hearers, who are both rulers and people, what in their opinion will be the course taken by the lord when he visits his vineyard, knowing all that has transpired. So Isaiah (Isaiah 5:3) makes the people give the verdict: "And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Therefore,
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

when
Ὅταν (Hotan)
Conjunction
Strong's 3752: When, whenever. From hote and an; whenever; also causatively inasmuch as.

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.

owner
κύριος (kyrios)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive 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.

vineyard
ἀμπελῶνος (ampelōnos)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 290: A vineyard. From ampelos; a vineyard.

returns,
ἔλθῃ (elthē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

what
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

will he do
ποιήσει (poiēsei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

to those
ἐκείνοις (ekeinois)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1565: That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed.

tenants?”
γεωργοῖς (geōrgois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1092: From ge and the base of ergon; a land-worker, i.e. Farmer.


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Matthew 21:39
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