Matthew 10:16

Matthew 10:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
• New International Version (NIV)“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Context of Matthew 10:16

14And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

Matthew 10:16 word by word

ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω ὑμᾶς ὡς πρόβατα ἐν μέσῳ λύκων· γίνεσθε οὖν φρόνιμοι ὡς οἱ ὄφεις καὶ ἀκέραιοι ὡς αἱ περιστεραί.¶Read the interlinear

• Beholdἰδούidou · look!G2400
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• am sending you outἀποστέλλωapostellō · to sendG649
• am sending you outσύsu · youG4771
• likeὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• sheepπρόβατονprobaton · sheepG4263
• amongἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• amongμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
• wolvesλύκοςlukos · wolfG3074
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• beγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• as shrewdφρόνιμοςphronimos · thoughtfulG5429
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• snakesὄφιςophis · snakeG3789
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• as innocentἀκέραιοςakeraios · innocentG185
• dovesπεριστεράperistera · doveG4058

Cross-references for Matthew 10:16

• Luke 10:3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
• Acts 20:29I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
• Genesis 3:1Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”
• Luke 21:15For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
• Romans 16:19Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.
• 1 Corinthians 14:20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
• 2 Corinthians 11:3I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.
• Ephesians 5:15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
• Colossians 1:9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
• Colossians 4:5Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
• Romans 16:18For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
• 2 Corinthians 1:12For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
• 2 Corinthians 8:20We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift.
• Philippians 2:15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
• 1 Thessalonians 2:10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:22Abstain from every form of evil.

Commentaries on Matthew 10:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves - He who is called to preach the Gospel is called to embrace a state of constant labor, and frequent suffering. He who gets ease and pleasure, in consequence of embracing the ministerial office, neither preaches the Gospel, nor is sent of God. If he did the work of an evangelist, wicked men and demons would both oppose him. Wise ( prudent) as serpents, and harmless as doves - This is a proverbial…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16As sheep in the midst of wolves - That is, I send you, inoffensive and harmless, into a cold, unfriendly, and cruel world. Your innocence will not be a protection. Be wise as serpents … - Serpents have always been an emblem of wisdom and cunning, Genesis 3:1. The Egyptians used the serpent in their hieroglyphics as a symbol of wisdom. Probably the thing in which Christ directed his followers to imitate the serpent was in its caution in avoiding danger. No…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-42Verses 16-42 Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution. They were to avoid all things which gave advantage to their enemies, all meddling with worldly or political concerns, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures. Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm their faith. He tells them what they should suffer, and from whom. Thus Christ has dealt fairly…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16Scripture often compares false leaders who exploit people’s spiritual weakness, instead of giving proper care, to wolves (Ezekiel 22:27; Zephaniah 3:3; compare Proverbs 28:15). be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves: This proverb means to be wise and careful, but not deceitful or violent.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Behold, I send you forth--The "I" here is emphatic, holding up Himself as the Fountain of the Gospel ministry, as He is also the Great Burden of it. as sheep--defenseless. in the midst of wolves--ready to make a prey of you (Joh 10:12). To be left exposed, as sheep to wolves, would have been startling enough; but that the sheep should be sent among the wolves would sound strange indeed. No wonder this announcement begins with the exclamation…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 10:16

• Commandments
• Dove, Turtle
• Minister, Christian
• Persecution
• Serpent
• Sheep
• Wolf

In the dictionaries

• Cattle
• Confess
• Darkness
• Freely
• Hell
• Preach
• Provide
• Scrip
• Set
• Sword

Commentaries on Matthew 10

• 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
• 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