King James Version

What Does Matthew 21:7 Mean?

Matthew 21:7 in the King James Version says “And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon .” — study this verse from Matthew chapter 21 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon .”

Matthew 21:7 · KJV

Context

5

Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

6

And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

7

And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon .

8

And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

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.

Read Matthew 21 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes—The disciples improvised a makeshift saddle (ἱμάτια, himatia—outer garments) for the unbroken colt. They set him thereon uses an ambiguous pronoun: Jesus rode the colt (as Mark/Luke specify), while garments covered both animals.

Matthew alone mentions both mother and colt, perhaps hyper-literalizing Zechariah's Hebrew parallelism ('on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass'). This detail emphasizes Jesus's gentle authority—mounting an unbroken colt that would normally be untamed, yet it bore Him peacefully into Jerusalem.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Colts were considered unrideable until trained. No king had ridden an animal before (Num 19:2, Deut 21:3). By riding the unbroken colt, Jesus demonstrated both His creative power (calming the animal) and His qualification as King-Priest (riding what was ceremonially pure).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Jesus's control over the unbroken colt illustrate His sovereignty over untamed areas of your life?
  2. What 'garments'—possessions, comforts, reputation—might God ask you to lay down for Christ's purposes?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 17 words
ἤγαγον1 of 17

“And brought”

G71

properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, (reflexively) go, (specially) pass (time), or (figuratively) induce

τὴν2 of 17
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ὄνον3 of 17

“the ass”

G3688

a donkey

καὶ4 of 17

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

τὸν5 of 17
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πῶλον6 of 17

“the colt”

G4454

a "foal" or "filly", i.e., (specially), a young ass

καὶ7 of 17

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἐπέθηκαν8 of 17

“put”

G2007

to impose (in a friendly or hostile sense)

ἐπάνω9 of 17

“him thereon”

G1883

up above, i.e., over or on (of place, amount, rank, etc.)

αὐτῶν10 of 17

“them”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

τὰ11 of 17
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἱμάτια12 of 17

“clothes”

G2440

a dress (inner or outer)

αὐτῶν13 of 17

“them”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

καὶ14 of 17

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἐπεκάθισεν15 of 17

“they set”

G1940

to seat upon

ἐπάνω16 of 17

“him thereon”

G1883

up above, i.e., over or on (of place, amount, rank, etc.)

αὐτῶν17 of 17

“them”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Matthew. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Matthew 21:7 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Matthew 21:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Kings 9:13Mark 11:4-8Luke 19:32-35

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