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

MATTHEW 21:18KJV
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Matthew 21:18 (KJV)

What does Matthew 21:18 mean?

Matthew 21:18 describes Jesus returning to the city in the morning and feeling hungry. This verse simply shows a moment in Jesus’ daily life, highlighting his humanity and setting the stage for what happens next in the story.

Jesus is traveling back into Jerusalem after spending the night outside the city. The verse notes that he was hungry, which is a straightforward detail but also prepares the reader for the following event with the fig tree. This moment comes just after Jesus’ triumphal entry, during a tense and significant week in his ministry.

The Greek behind Matthew 21:18

  • πρωῒ (prōi, "morning"): This word often refers to the early part of the day, suggesting Jesus was up and active at daybreak. It sets the time for the events that follow.
  • ἐπείνασεν (epeinasen, "hungered"): This verb means to feel hunger or to be hungry. The use of this word emphasizes that Jesus experienced normal human needs, underlining his true humanity.

Why Matthew 21:18 matters

  • This verse reminds readers that Jesus experienced physical needs like hunger, highlighting his full participation in human life.
  • The mention of hunger prepares the reader for the lesson involving the fig tree in the next verses, showing that the events are connected.
  • By noting the time and Jesus’ condition, Matthew helps the reader picture the scene and understand the flow of events during this important week.

Where else these words appear

“returned” Greek G1877 · used in 3 verses

  • Luke 5:3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
  • Luke 5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

“morning” Greek G4405 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 27:1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
  • John 18:28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
  • John 21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

“hungered” Greek G3983 · used in 23 verses

  • Matthew 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
  • Matthew 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
  • Luke 6:25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.