God’s Word Translation
Matthew 10:28
28Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.
Matthew 10:28 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Context of Matthew 10:28
26So don’t be afraid of them. Nothing has been covered that will not be exposed. Whatever is secret will be made known. 27Tell in the daylight what I say to you in the dark. Shout from the housetops what you hear whispered. Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell. 29“Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s permission. 30Every hair on your head has been counted.
Read all of Matthew 10Matthew 10:28 word by word
καὶ μὴ φοβεῖσθε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀποκτεννόντων τὸ σῶμα, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν μὴ δυναμένων ἀποκτεῖναι· φοβεῖσθε δὲ μᾶλλον τὸν δυνάμενον καὶ ψυχὴν καὶ σῶμα ἀπολέσαι ἐν γεέννῃ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- fearφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
- ·ἀπόapo · away fromG575
- notμήmē · notG3361
- them which killὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- them which killἀποκτείνωapokteinō · to killG615
- the bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
- butδέde · thenG1161
- areδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- the soulψυχήpsuchē · soulG5590
- ratherμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
- to destroyἀπολλύωapollumi · to destroyG622
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- hellγέενναgeenna · hell: GehennaG1067
Cross-references for Matthew 10:28
- Matthew 10:26So don’t be afraid of them. Nothing has been covered that will not be exposed. Whatever is secret will be made known.
- Isaiah 8:12“Don’t say that everything these people call a conspiracy is a conspiracy. Don’t fear what they fear. Don’t let it terrify you.”
- Isaiah 51:7Listen to me, you people who know righteousness, you people who have my teachings in your hearts. Don’t be afraid of being insulted by people. Don’t be discouraged by their ridicule.
- Daniel 3:10Your Majesty, you gave an order that everyone who hears the sound of rams’ horns, flutes, lyres, harps, and three-stringed harps playing at the same time with all other kinds of instruments should bow down and worship the gold statue.
- Luke 12:4“My friends, I can guarantee that you don’t need to be afraid of those who kill the body. After that they can’t do anything more.
- Acts 20:23However, the Holy Spirit warns me in every city that imprisonment and suffering are waiting for me.
- Acts 21:13Then Paul replied, “Why are you crying like this and breaking my heart? I’m ready not only to be tied up in Jerusalem but also to die there for the sake of the Lord, the one named Jesus.”
- Romans 8:35What will separate us from the love Christ has for us? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or violent death separate us from his love?
- 2 Timothy 4:6My life is coming to an end, and it is now time for me to be poured out as a sacrifice to God.
- Hebrews 11:35Women received their loved ones back from the dead. Other believers were brutally tortured but refused to be released so that they might gain eternal life.
- 1 Peter 3:14But even if you suffer for doing what God approves, you are blessed. Don’t be afraid of those who want to harm you. Don’t get upset.
- Revelation 2:10Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. The devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. Your suffering will go on for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- Psalms 119:120My body shudders in fear of you, and I am afraid of your regulations.
- Ecclesiastes 5:7In spite of many daydreams, pointless actions, and empty words, you should still fear God.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12A sinner may commit a hundred crimes and yet live a long life. Still, I know with certainty that it will go well for those who fear God, because they fear him.
- Isaiah 66:2I have made all these things. “That is why all these things have come into being,” declares the Lord. I will pay attention to those who are humble and sorry ⌞for their sins⌟ and who tremble at my word.
Commentaries on Matthew 10:28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28Fear not them which kill the body - . Those who slay with acts of cruelty, alluding probably to the cruelties which persecutors should exercise on his followers in their martyrdom. But are not able to kill the soul. Hence we find that the body and the soul are distinct principles, for the body may be slain and the soul escape; and, secondly, that the soul is immaterial, for the murderers of the body are not able, , have it not in their power, to injure…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28Them which kill the body - That is, people, who have no power to injure the soul, the immortal part. The body is a small matter in comparison with the soul. Temporal death is a slight thing compared with eternal death. He directs them, therefore, not to be alarmed at the prospect of temporal death, but to fear God, who can destroy both soul and body forever. This passage proves that the bodies of the wicked will be raised up to be punished forever. In…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. 28The disciples of Jesus should only fear God by obeying him and testifying about him. Unlike human authorities, God's authority and judgment have no limits. hell: See study note on Matthew 5:29.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2828. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul--In Lu 12:4, "and after that have no more that they can do." but rather fear him--In Luke (Lu 12:5) this is peculiarly solemn, "I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear," even Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell--A decisive proof this that there is a hell for the body as well as the soul in the eternal world; in other words, that the torment that awaits the lost…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 10:28
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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