Matthew 9:36

Matthew 9:36 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
• New International Version (NIV)When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Context of Matthew 9:36

34But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.” 35Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. 38Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”

Matthew 9:36 word by word

Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους ἐσπλαγχνίσθη περὶ αὐτῶν ὅτι ἦσαν ἐσκυλμένοι καὶ ἐρριμμένοι ὡσεὶ πρόβατα μὴ ἔχοντα ποιμένα.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• when he sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• the multitudesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the multitudesὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
• he was moved with compassionσπλαγχνίζωsplagchnizomai · to pityG4697
• onπερίperi · aboutG4012
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• theyεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• faintedἐκλύωekluō · to faintG1590
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• scattered abroadῥίπτωrhiptō̄ · to throw/lay downG4496
• asὡσείhōsei · like/as/aboutG5616
• sheepπρόβατονprobaton · sheepG4263
• havingἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• noμήmē · notG3361
• shepherdποιμήνpoimēn · shepherdG4166

Cross-references for Matthew 9:36

• Matthew 14:14When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
• Matthew 15:32Jesus called his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they’ve already stayed with me three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, otherwise they might collapse on the way.”
• Mark 6:34When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.
• Hebrews 4:15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
• Hebrews 5:2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also clothed with weakness.
• Matthew 10:6Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
• Matthew 15:24He replied, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
• Numbers 27:17who will go out before them and come back in before them, and who will bring them out and bring them in, so that the Lord’s community won’t be like sheep without a shepherd.”
• 1 Kings 22:17So Micaiah said: I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, “They have no master; let everyone return home in peace.”
• 2 Chronicles 18:16So Micaiah said: I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, “They have no master; let each return home in peace.”
• Isaiah 56:9All you animals of the field and forest, come and eat!
• Jeremiah 50:6My people were lost sheep; their shepherds led them astray, guiding them the wrong way in the mountains. They wandered from mountain to hill; they forgot their resting place.
• Ezekiel 34:3You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened animals, but you do not tend the flock.
• Zechariah 10:2For the idols speak falsehood, and the diviners see illusions; they relate empty dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they suffer affliction because there is no shepherd.
• Zechariah 11:16I am about to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are perishing, and he will not seek the lost or heal the broken. He will not sustain the healthy, but he will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hooves.
• Zechariah 13:7Sword, awake against my shepherd, against the man who is my associate — this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.

Commentaries on Matthew 9:36

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 36Moved with compassion - , from , a bowel. The Jews esteemed the bowels to be the seat of sympathy and the tender passions, and so applied the organ to the sense. signifies, says Mintert, "to be moved with pity from the very inmost bowels. It is an emphatic word, signifying a vehement affection of commiseration, by which the bowels and especially the heart is moved." Both this verb and the noun seem to be derived from , to draw; the whole intestinal canal…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 36But when he saw the multitudes - That followed him from place to place. When he saw their anxiety to be instructed and saved. He was moved with compassion on them - He pitied them. Because they fainted - The word used here refers to the weariness and fatigue which results from labor and being burdened. He saw the people burdened with the rites of religion and the doctrines of the Pharisees; sinking down under their ignorance and the weight of their…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 35-38Verses 35-38 Jesus visited not only the great and wealthy cities, but the poor, obscure villages; and there he preached, there he healed. The souls of the meanest in the world are as precious to Christ, and should be so to us, as the souls of those who make the greatest figure. There were priests, Levites, and scribes, all over the land; but they were idol shepherds, Zec 11:17; therefore Christ had compassion on the people as sheep scattered, as men…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 36Like sheep without a shepherd: Jesus grieved the failure of the Pharisees to guide the people with care (see Matthew 12:11–12; 18:12). Their constant attacks against him showed their hard-hearted rejection of God. Because of this neglect and mistreatment, the crowds suffered greatly (10:5–6; 15:12–14; 23:4; Zechariah 11:16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3636. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted--This reading, however, has hardly any authority at all. The true reading doubtless is, "were harassed." and were scattered abroad--rather, "lying about," "abandoned," or "neglected." as sheep, having no shepherd--their pitiable condition as wearied under bodily fatigue, a vast disorganized mass, being but a faint picture of their wretchedness as the victims of…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 9:36

• Jesus, the Christ
• Sheep

In the dictionaries

• Scattered Abroad
• Bridechamber
• Cheer
• Comfort
• Daughter
• Eat
• Garment
• Harvest
• Hem
• Issue

Commentaries on Matthew 9

• 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