God’s Word Translation
Matthew 8:9
9As you know, I’m in a chain of command and have soldiers at my command. I tell one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I tell my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
Matthew 8:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
- New International Version (NIV)For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
- New King James Version (NKJV)For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Context of Matthew 8:9
7Jesus said to him, “I’ll come to heal him.” 8The officer responded, “Sir, I don’t deserve to have you come into my house. But just give a command, and my servant will be healed. As you know, I’m in a chain of command and have soldiers at my command. I tell one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I tell my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10Jesus was amazed when he heard this. He said to those who were following him, “I can guarantee this truth: I haven’t found faith as great as this in anyone in Israel. 11I can guarantee that many will come from all over the world. They will eat with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Read all of Matthew 8Matthew 8:9 word by word
καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ἄνθρωπός εἰμι ὑπὸ ἐξουσίαν ἔχων ὑπ᾽ ἐμαυτὸν στρατιώτας καὶ λέγω τούτῳ· πορεύθητι, καὶ πορεύεται, καὶ ἄλλῳ· ἔρχου, καὶ ἔρχεται, καὶ τῷ δούλῳ μου· ποίησον τοῦτο, καὶ ποιεῖ.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·καίkai · andG2532
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- a manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- underὑπόhupo · by/under: underG5259
- authorityἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
- havingἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- soldiersστρατιώτηςstratiōtēs · soldierG4757
- meἐμαυτοῦemautou emautō emauton · myselfG1683
- I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- to thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- Goπορεύωporeuomai · to travelG4198
- to anotherἄλλοςallos · anotherG243
- Comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- toὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- toδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
- Doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
Cross-references for Matthew 8:9
- Job 38:34Can you call to the clouds and have a flood of water cover you?
- Psalms 107:25He spoke, and a storm began to blow, and it made the waves rise high.
- Psalms 119:91All things continue to stand today because of your regulations, since they are all your servants.
- Psalms 148:8lightning and hail, snow and fog, strong winds that obey his commands,
- Jeremiah 47:6You cry out, “Sword of the Lord, how long will you keep on fighting? Go back into your scabbard. Stay there and rest!”
- Ezekiel 14:17“Suppose I bring a war against that country by saying, ‘I will let a war go throughout this country.’ Suppose I destroy the people and the animals in it.
- Mark 4:39Then he got up, ordered the wind to stop, and said to the sea, “Be still, absolutely still!” The wind stopped blowing, and the sea became very calm.
- Luke 4:35Jesus ordered the spirit, “Keep quiet, and come out of him!” The demon threw the man down in the middle of the synagogue and came out without hurting him.
- Luke 7:8As you know, I’m in a chain of command and have soldiers at my command. I tell one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I tell my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
- Ephesians 6:5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with proper respect. Be as sincere as you are when you obey Christ.
- Colossians 3:22Slaves, always obey your earthly masters. Don’t obey them only while you’re being watched, as if you merely wanted to please people. Be sincere in your motives out of respect for your real master.
Commentaries on Matthew 8:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9For I am a man under authority - That is, under the authority of others. This verse has given considerable embarrassment to commentators and critics. I believe the paraphrase given above to be the true meaning of the evangelist. To make this matter more plain, let it be observed, that the Roman foot was divided into three grand parts, Hastati, Principes, and Triarii. Each of these grand divisions was composed of thirty manipuli or companies; and every…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9I am a man - He had full confidence in the ability of Jesus to heal his servant, and requested him simply to give the command. This request he presented in a manner appropriate to a soldier. I am a man, says he, under authority. That is, I am subject to the commands of others, and know how to obey. I have also under me soldiers who are accustomed to obedience. I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes. I am “prepared,” therefore…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-13Verses 5-13 This centurion was a heathen, a Roman soldier. Though he was a soldier, yet he was a godly man. No man's calling or place will be an excuse for unbelief and sin. See how he states his servant's case. We should concern ourselves for the souls of our children and servants, who are spiritually sick, who feel not spiritual evils, who know not that which is spiritually good; and we should bring them to Christ by faith and prayers. Observe his…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-10The centurion recognized the authority of Jesus. From his own experience, he knew his soldiers quickly obeyed his orders. He realized that God had given Jesus the authority to perform miracles. The centurion’s faith demonstrates that the kingdom of God includes people from all nations (8:11).Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 8:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 8
- 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
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