Matthew 5:12

Matthew 5:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
• New International Version (NIV)Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Context of Matthew 5:12

10“Blessed [comforted by inner peace and God’s love] are those who are persecuted for doing that which is morally right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever]. 11“Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness] are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of [your association with] Me. Be glad and exceedingly joyful, for your reward in heaven is great [absolutely inexhaustible]; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people [when the walkways are wet and slippery]. 14“You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

Matthew 5:12 word by word

χαίρετε καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅτι ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς· οὕτως γὰρ ἐδίωξαν τοὺς προφήτας τοὺς πρὸ ὑμῶν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Rejoiceχαίρωchairō · to rejoiceG5463
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• be exceeding gladἀγαλλιάωagalliaō · to rejoiceG21
• forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• greatπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• yourσύsu · youG4771
• rewardὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• rewardμισθόςmisthos · wageG3408
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• persecuted theyδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
• the prophetsπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
• beforeπρόpro · beforeG4253

Cross-references for Matthew 5:12

• Luke 6:23Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for your reward in heaven is great [absolutely inexhaustible]; for their fathers used to treat the prophets in the same way.
• Acts 5:41So they left the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy [dignified by indignity] to suffer shame for [the sake of] His name.
• Acts 16:25But about midnight when Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;
• Romans 5:3And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance;
• 2 Corinthians 4:17For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]!
• Philippians 2:17But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith [for preaching the message of salvation], still I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
• Colossians 1:24Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church.
• James 1:2Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials.
• 1 Peter 4:13But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, keep on rejoicing, so that when His glory [filled with His radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may rejoice with great joy.
• Matthew 6:1“Be [very] careful not to do your good deeds publicly, to be seen by men; otherwise you will have no reward [prepared and awaiting you] with your Father who is in heaven.
• Matthew 10:41He who receives and welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous (honorable) man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
• Matthew 16:27For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory and majesty of His Father with His angels, and then He will repay each one in accordance with what he has done.
• Genesis 15:1After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; Your reward [for obedience] shall be very great.”
• Ruth 2:12May the Lord repay you for your kindness, and may your reward be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
• Psalms 19:11Moreover, by them Your servant is warned [reminded, illuminated, and instructed]; In keeping them there is great reward.
• Psalms 58:11Men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely there is a God who judges on the earth.”

Commentaries on Matthew 5:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Rejoice - In the testimony of a good conscience; for, without this, suffering has nothing but misery in it. Be exceeding glad - , leap for joy. There are several cases on record, where this was literally done by the martyrs, in Queen Mary's days. Great is your reward in heaven - In the Talmudical tract Pirkey Aboth, are these words: "Rabbi Tarpon said, The day is short: the work is great: the laborers are slow: the Reward Is Great: and the father of the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad - Regard it as a great privilege thus to be persecuted and to suffer - a thing not to be mourned over, but as among the chief blessings of life. For great is your reward in heaven - That is, your reward will be great in the future world. To those who suffer most, God imparts the highest rewards. Hence, the crown of martyrdom has been thought to be the brightest that any of the redeemed shall wear; and hence many of the early…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-12Verses 3-12 Our Saviour here gives eight characters of blessed people, which represent to us the principal graces of a Christian. 1. The poor in spirit are happy. These bring their minds to their condition, when it is a low condition. They are humble and lowly in their own eyes. They see their want, bewail their guilt, and thirst after a Redeemer. The kingdom of grace is of such; the kingdom of glory is for them. 2. Those that mourn are happy. That godly…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12The great … reward Jesus talks about is not earned by suffering for doing right. It is God's blessing for those who show his grace to others (see Matthew 10:41–42; 20:1–16). The ancient prophets are closely connected with the New Testament apostles (see also 13:16–17; 23:29–36; Ephesians 2:20).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad--"exult." In the corresponding passage of Luke (Lu 6:22, 23), where every indignity trying to flesh and blood is held forth as the probable lot of such as were faithful to Him, the word is even stronger than here: "leap," as if He would have their inward transport to overpower and absorb the sense of all these affronts and sufferings; nor will anything else do it. for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 5:12

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Constancy
• Happiness
• Heaven
• Instruction
• Persecution
• Readings, Select
• Religion
• Righteous
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Agree
• Communication
• Despitefully
• Enemy
• Fornication
• Forswear
• Gift
• Hunger
• Inherit
• Jot

Commentaries on Matthew 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings