And when the people were gathered thick together,.... Upon this woman's lifting up her voice, and saying the things she did; or rather to see what sign he would give, which some had desired Luk 11:16 he began to say, this is an evil generation. The Alexandrian copy, two copies of Beza's, and the Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions read, "this generation is an evil generation"; and also it was an "adulterous one", as is added in Mat 12:39 they seek a sign; for they had asked one of him, Luk 11:16 and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet; one like unto it: See Gill on Mat 12:39