Translations
Modern
If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Traditional
And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
Literal
And if anyone may ask you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you will say, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’”
Latin
Et si quis vos interrogaverit: Quare solvitis? sic dicetis ei: Quia Dominus operam ejus desiderat.
Original
Greek
English
If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Notes
The Lord needs it: Subjects of a king were expected to make resources available for his use (see 1 Samuel 8:16). The donkey's colt was pure and suitable for a king because no one had ever ridden it.
Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph. This fulfilled Zechariah 9:9–10 and symbolically announced that he was the Messiah, the King of Israel.