Mat 21:4-9 | RWP | e4.org | By the prophet ( δια του προφητου ). The first line is from , the rest from . John ( .) makes it clear that Jesus did not quote the passage himself. In Matthew it is not so plain, but probably it is his own comment about the incident. It is not Christ's intention to fulfil the prophecy, simply that his conduct did fulfil it.

‏ Matthew 21:4-9

By the prophet ( δια του προφητου ). The first line is from Isa 62:11, the rest from Zec 9:9. John (Joh 12:14f.) makes it clear that Jesus did not quote the passage himself. In Matthew it is not so plain, but probably it is his own comment about the incident. It is not Christ's intention to fulfil the prophecy, simply that his conduct did fulfil it.

The daughter of Zion ( τη θυγατρ Σιων ). Jerusalem as in Isa 22:4 (daughter of my people). So Babylon (Isa 47:1), daughter of Tyre for Tyre (Ps 45:12).

Riding ( επιβεβηκως ). Perfect active participle of επιβαινω, "having gone upon."

And upon a colt the foal of an ass ( κα επ πωλον υιον υποζυγιου ). These words give trouble if κα is here taken to mean "and." Fritzsche argues that Jesus rode alternately upon each animal, a possible, but needless interpretation. In the Hebrew it means by common Hebrew parallelism "upon an ass, even upon a colt." That is obviously the meaning here in Matthew. The use of υποζυγιου (a beast of burden, under a yoke) for ass is common in the LXX and in the papyri (Deissmann, Bible Studies p. 161).

And he sat thereon ( κα επεκαθισεν επανω αυτων ), Mark (Mr 11:7) and Luke (Lu 19:35) show that Jesus rode the colt. Matthew does not contradict that, referring to the garments ( τα ιματια ) put on the colt by "them" ( αυτων ). not to the two asses. The construction is somewhat loose, but intelligible. The garments thrown on the animals were the outer garments ( ιματια ), Jesus "took his seat" ( επεκαθισεν, ingressive aorist active) upon the garments.

The most part of the multitude ( ο πλειστος οχλος ). See 11:20 for this same idiom, article with superlative, a true superlative (Robertson, Grammar, p. 670).

In the way ( εν τη οδω ). This the most of the crowd did. The disciples put their garments on the asses. Note change of tenses (constative aorist εστρωσαν, descriptive imperfects εκοπτον κα εστρωννυον showing the growing enthusiasm of the crowd). When the colt had passed over their garments, they would pick the garments up and spread them again before.

That went before him and that followed ( ο προαγοντες αυτον κα ο ακολουθουντες ). Note the two groups with two articles and the present tense (linear action) and the imperfect εκραζον "were crying" as they went.

Hosanna to the Son of David ( Hοσαννα τω υιω Δαυειδ ). They were now proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah and he let them do it. "Hosanna" means "Save, we pray thee." They repeat words from the Hallel (Ps 148:1) and one recalls the song of the angelic host when Jesus was born (Lu 2:14). "Hosanna in the highest" (heaven) as well as here on earth.