Matthew 21:1-11
Palm Sunday – A Women’s Lectionary
1 When they had come nearI JerusalemII and had reached Bethphage,III at the Mount of Olives, JesusIV sentV two disciples,VI
I “come near” = eggizo. From eggus (nearby or near in time). This is extremely close by – approaching, at hand, immediately imminent.
II “Jerusalem” = Hierosoluma. From Hebrew yerushalaim (probably foundation of peace); {from yarah (to throw, shoot, be stunned; to flow as water so figuratively to instruct or teach) + shalem (to make amends, to be complete or sound)}. This is Jerusalem, dwelling of peace.
III “Bethphage” = Bethphage. 3x in NT – all in Jesus’s Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem. From Aramaic beth phagy (Bethphage, house of unripe figs). This is Bethphage, house of unripe or early figs.
IV “Jesus” = Iesous. From Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua, the Lord is salvation); {from YHVH (proper name of the God of Israel; the self-existent and eternal one); {from havah (to become) or from hayah (to come to pass, become, be)} + yasha (to deliver, defend, help, preserve, rescue; properly, to be open, wide or free, which implies being safe. So, in a causative sense, this is to free someone). This is Jesus or Joshua in Greek – the Lord saves or the Lord is salvation.
V “sent” = apostello. From apo (from, away from) + stello (to send, set, arrange, prepare, gather up); {probably from histemi (to make to stand, stand, place, set up, establish, appoint, stand firm, be steadfast)}. This is to send forth, send away, dismiss, send as a messenger. It implies one that is sent for a particular mission or purpose rather than a quick errand. This is where “apostle” comes from.
VI “disciples” = mathetes. From matheteuo (to make a disciple of); from manthano (to learn key facts, gain knowledge from experience; generally implies reflection as part of the learning process); from math– (thinking things through). This is a disciple, learner, or student. It is where we get “mathematics” from.
2 saying to them, “GoVII into the villageVIII ahead of you, and immediatelyIX you will findX a donkey tied,XI
VII “go” = poreuomai. From poros (ford, passageway). This is to go, travel, journey, or die. It refers to transporting things from one place to another and focuses on the personal significance of the destination.
VIII “village” = kome. This is a village as contrasted with a city that has a wall.
IX “immediately” = eutheos. From euthus (immediately, upright, straight and not crooked). This is directly, soon, at once.
X “find” = heurisko. This is to find, learn, or obtain. It is to discover something, which generally implies a period of searching for it. This is to find in a literal or figurative sense. This is where the word “heuristic” comes from.
XI “tied” = deo. To tie, bind, compel, put in chains. This is to bind in a literal or figurative sense. Can also mean declaring something unlawful.
and a coltXII with her; untieXIII them and bringXIV them to me.
XII “colt” = polos. 12x in NT – all in Jesus’s Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem. This is foal, colt, or young donkey.
XIII “untie” = luo. This is to loose, release, or untie. Figuratively, it can mean to break, destroy, or annul. This is releasing what had been withheld.
XIV “bring” = ago. This is lead, bring, carry, guide, drive, go.
3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The LordXV needsXVI them.’ And he will send them immediately.” 4 This took placeXVII to fulfillXVIII what had been spoken through the prophet,XIX saying,
XV “Lord” = kurios. From kuros (authority, supremacy). This is a respectful address meaning master or sir. It refers to one who has control or power greater than one’s own. So, it was also applied to God and Jesus as Master or Lord.
XVI “needs” = chreia + echo. Literally “has need.” Chreia is from chraomai (to use, make use of, give what is needed, act in a specific way, request); related to chre (what is proper, fitting, or necessary). This is the is task, business, or affair. It can also be need, want, or destitution.
XVII “took place” = ginomai. This is to come into being, to happen, become, be born. It can be to emerge from one state or condition to another or is coming into being with the sense of movement or growth.
XVIII “fulfill” = pleroo. From pleres (to be full, complete, abounding in, occupied with). This is to fill, make full or complete. Properly, this is filling something up to the maximum extent that it can be filled – an appropriate amount for its individual capacity. So, this is used figuratively for furnish, influence, satisfy, finish, preach, perfect, and fulfill.
XIX “prophet” = prophetes. From pro (before, in front of, earlier than) + phemi (to declare, say, use contrasts in speaking to shed light on one point of view); {from phao (to shine) or phaino (to bring light, cause to appear, shine, become visible or clear)}. This is a prophet or poet – one who speaks with inspiration from God.
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,XX
Look,XXI your kingXXII is coming to you,
humble,XXIII and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foalXXIV of a donkey.”XXV
XX “Zion” = sion. 7x in NT. From Hebrew tsiyyon (Zion – a mountain in Jerusalem as well as another name for Jerusalem itself or the people); related to tsyiyyun (signpost, monument); from tsavah (to charge someone, to command, order); from the same as tsiyyah (dryness drought); from a root meaning parched as desert, dry land. This is Zion – the mountain in Jerusalem, the city, or its people. Also used figuratively to refer to the church.
XXI “look” = idou. From eido (to be aware, see, know, remember, appreciate). This is see! Lo! Behold! Look! Used to express surprise and or draw attention to the statement.
XXII “king” = basileus. Probably from basis (step, hence foot; a pace); from baino (to walk, to go). This is king, emperor, or sovereign.
XXIII “humble” = praus. 4x in NT– same as “blessed are the meek” from the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:5). Related to praios (meek, gentle, kind); related to praotes (mildness kindness, meekness; being temperate – gentle, but strong; implies humility). This is gentle, meek, which implies humility.
XXIV “foal” = huios. This is son, descendant – a son whether natural born or adopted. It can be used figuratively for other forms of kinship.
XXV “donkey” = hupozugion. From hupo (by, under, about, one who is subordinate) + zugos (yoke, balance, scales; used metaphorically for a great burden or for that which unites people to perform work in concert; also can connote servitude or obligation); {from zeugnumi (to join, particularly joined with a yoke)}. Literally, this is an animal subject to a yoke or best of burden. So, this can refer to a donkey, mule, or other such animal.
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directedXXVI them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and putXXVII their cloaksXXVIII on them, and he sat on them.
XXVI “directed” = suntasso. 3x in NT. From sun (with together with) + tasso (to arrange, appoint, determine). This is to direct, arrange, prescribe, or instruct.
XXVII “put” = epitithemi. From epi (on, upon, what is fitting) + tithemi (to put, place, set, fix, establish in a literal or figurative sense; properly, this is placing something in a passive or horizontal position). This is to lay on or place on, whether in a friendly or aggressive way.
XXVIII “cloaks” = himation. From heima (garment) OR from ennumi (to put on). This is the outer garment, cloak, robe, or mantle. It is worn loosely over a tunic.
8 A very large crowd spreadXXIX their cloaks on the road,XXX and othersXXXI cutXXXII branchesXXXIII from the trees and spread them on the road.
XXIX “spread” = stronnuo. 6x in NT. This is to spread, strew, make a bed.
XXX “road” = hodos. This is way, road, path, or journey. It can imply progress along a route.
XXXI “others” = allos. This is other, another. Specifically, it is another of a similar kind or type. There is a different word in Greek that speaks of another as a different kind (heteros).
XXXII “cut” = kopto. 8x in NT. This is to cut, strike, cut off. It can also mean beating the chest to lament and so to mourn.
XXXIII “branches” = klados. 11x in NT. From klao (to break in pieces as one breaks bread). This is a branch, twig, or bough. It can also refer to descendants.
9 The crowds that went aheadXXXIV of him and that followedXXXV were shouting,XXXVI
XXXIV “went ahead” = proago. Related to “bring” in v2. From pro (before, first, in front of, earlier) + ago (see note XIV above). This is to lead, go before, bring forward, walk ahead. It can be before in location or in time.
XXXV “followed” = akoloutheo. From a (with, fellowship, union) + keleuthos (road, way). This is to accompany or follow someone, especially the way a disciple does.
XXXVI “shouting” = krazo. This is to cry out, scream, shriek. It is onomatopoeia for the sound of a raven’s call. Figuratively, this means crying out urgently without intelligible words to express something that is deeply felt.
“HosannaXXXVII to the SonXXXVIII of David!XXXIX
Blessed isXL the one who comes in the nameXLI of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
XXXVII “hosanna” = hosanna. Related to “Jesus” in v1. 6x in NT. From Hebrew yasha (see note IV above) + na (particle used for requests or for urging; can be we pray, now, I ask you, oh). This is Hosanna – save, we pray. It started as a call for help, but later became a cry of happiness (anticipating the help coming). It can be save now, please save, or oh, save.
XXXVIII “Son” = huios. Same as “foal” in v5. See note XXIV above.
XXXIX “David” = Dauid. From Hebrew David (David); from the same as dod (beloved, love, uncle); the root may mean to boil, which is used figuratively to describe love. So, this implies someone you love such as a friend, a lover, or a close family member like an uncle. David’s name likely means something like “beloved one.”
XL “blessed is” = eulogeo. From eu (good, well, well done, rightly) + logos (word, statement, speech, analogy; a word that carries an idea or expresses a thought, a saying; a person with a message or reasoning laid out in words; by implication, a topic, line of reasoning, or a motive; can be used for a divine utterance or as Word – Christ); {from lego (to speak, tell, mention)}. Properly, this is speaking well of – speaking so that the other is benefited. It can mean praise, bless, thank, or call for a blessing. This is where “eulogy” comes from.
XLI “name” = onoma. May be from ginosko (know, recognize, learn from firsthand experience). This is a name, authority, cause, character, fame, reputation. The name was thought to include something of the essence of the person so it was not thought to be separate from the person.
10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole cityXLII was in turmoil,XLIII asking, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from NazarethXLIV in Galilee.”XLV
XLII “city” = polis. This is a city or its inhabitants. It is a town of variable size, but one that has walls. This is where “metropolis” and “police” come from.
XLIII “was in turmoil” = seio. 5x in NT. This is shake, move, or quake. Properly, it is shaking back and forth. Figuratively, it can mean to agitate or to cause people to have tremors of fear or worry.
XLIV “Nazareth” = Nazareth. 12x in NT. Perhaps from netser (branch) OR from natsar (to watch, guard, protect). This is Nazareth, meaning perhaps branch or protected. It is a city in Galilee. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazareth
XLV “Galilee” = Galilaia. From Hebrew galil (cylinder, circuit, district); from galal (to roll in a literal or figurative sense, roll away, roll down, wallow, remove, trust). This is Galilee, meaning perhaps region or cylinder.
Image credit: “IMG_5802_LS1_sm” by St. Martin, 2012.