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

14If anyone doesn’t welcome you or listen to what you say, leave that house or city, and shake its dust off your feet. 15I can guarantee this truth: Judgment day will be better for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city. “I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as snakes but as innocent as doves. 17Watch out for people who will hand you over to the Jewish courts and whip you in their synagogues. 18Because of me you will even be brought in front of governors and kings to testify to them and to everyone in the world.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• sendἀποστέλλωapostellō · to sendG649
• youσύsu · youG4771
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• sheepπρόβατονprobaton · sheepG4263
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the midstμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
• of wolvesλύκοςlukos · wolfG3074
• be yeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• wiseφρόνιμοςphronimos · thoughtfulG5429
• serpentsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• serpentsὄφιςophis · snakeG3789
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• harmlessἀκέραιοςakeraios · innocentG185
• dovesπεριστεράperistera · doveG4058

Cross-references for Matthew 10:16

• Luke 10:3Go! I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves.
• Acts 20:29I know that fierce wolves will come to you after I leave, and they won’t spare the flock.
• Genesis 3:1The snake was more clever than all the wild animals the Lord God had made. He asked the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must never eat the fruit of any tree in the garden’?”
• Luke 21:15I will give you words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to oppose or prove wrong.
• Romans 16:19Everyone has heard about your obedience and this makes me happy for you. I want you to do what is good and to avoid what is evil.
• 1 Corinthians 14:20Brothers and sisters, don’t think like children. When it comes to evil, be like babies, but think like mature people.
• 2 Corinthians 11:3However, I’m afraid that as the snake deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
• Ephesians 5:15So then, be very careful how you live. Don’t live like foolish people but like wise people.
• Colossians 1:9For this reason we have not stopped praying for you since the day we heard about you. We ask ⌞God⌟ to fill you with the knowledge of his will through every kind of spiritual wisdom and insight.
• Colossians 4:5Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside ⌞the Christian faith⌟. Make the most of your opportunities.
• Romans 16:18People like these are not serving Christ our Lord. They are serving their own desires. By their smooth talk and flattering words they deceive unsuspecting people.
• 2 Corinthians 1:12We are proud that our conscience is clear. We are proud of the way that we have lived in this world. We have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity, especially toward you. It was not by human wisdom that we have lived but by God’s kindness.
• 2 Corinthians 8:20We don’t want anyone to find fault with the way we are administering this generous gift.
• Philippians 2:15Then you will be blameless and innocent. You will be God’s children without any faults among people who are crooked and corrupt. You will shine like stars among them in the world
• 1 Thessalonians 2:10You and God are witnesses of how pure, honest, and blameless we were in our dealings with you believers.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:22Keep away from every kind 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