God’s Word Translation
Matthew 9:38
38So ask the Lord who gives this harvest to send workers to harvest his crops.”
Matthew 9:38 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
- New International Version (NIV)Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Context of Matthew 9:38
36When he saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them. They were troubled and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is large, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord who gives this harvest to send workers to harvest his crops.”
Read all of Matthew 9Matthew 9:38 word by word
δεήθητε οὖν τοῦ κυρίου τοῦ θερισμοῦ ὅπως ἐκβάλῃ ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν θερισμὸν αὐτοῦ.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Pray yeδέομαιdeomai · to prayG1189
- thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- the Lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- of the harvestθερισμόςtherismos · harvestG2326
- thatὅπωςhopōs · thatG3704
- he will send forthἐκβάλλωekballō · to expelG1544
- labourersἐργάτηςergatēs · workerG2040
- intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
Cross-references for Matthew 9:38
- Luke 6:12At that time Jesus went to a mountain to pray. He spent the whole night in prayer to God.
- Acts 13:2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for me. I want them to do the work for which I called them.”
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1Finally, brothers and sisters, pray that we spread the Lord’s word rapidly and that it will be honored the way it was among you.
- Matthew 10:1Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them authority to force evil spirits out of people and to cure every disease and sickness.
- John 20:21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”
- Ephesians 4:11He also gave apostles, prophets, missionaries, as well as pastors and teachers as gifts ⌞to his church⌟.
- Psalms 68:11The Lord gives instructions. The women who announce the good news are a large army.
- Jeremiah 3:15I will give you shepherds after my own heart. They will be shepherds who feed you with knowledge and insight.
- Micah 5:7Then the few people left from Jacob will be among many people like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass. They do not put their hope in humans or wait for mortals.
- Luke 10:1After this, the Lord appointed 70 other disciples to go ahead of him to every city and place that he intended to go. They were to travel in pairs.
- Acts 8:4The believers who were scattered went from place to place, where they spread the word.
- 1 Corinthians 12:28In the church God has appointed first apostles, next prophets, third teachers, then those who perform miracles, then those who have the gift of healing, then those who help others, those who are managers, and those who can speak in a number of languages.
Commentaries on Matthew 9:38
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38That he will send forth laborers - , that he would thrust forth laborers. Those who are fittest for the work are generally most backward to the employment. The man who is forward to become a preacher knows little of God, of human nature, or of his own heart. It is, God's province to thrust out such preachers as shall labor; and it is our duty to entreat him to do so. A minister of Christ is represented as a day-laborer: he comes into the harvest, not to…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. 37-38Harvest refers to the great number of people who are ready to hear and respond to God’s message (see also Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43; Mark 4:26–29; John 4:35–38; Revelation 14:15–20). the Lord of the harvest: God is the true master of the harvest. All ministries are under his call (see Matthew 23:8–10, 13). So Jesus encourages his disciples to pray for God to send out more workers.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3838. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest--the great Lord and Proprietor of all. Compare Joh 15:1, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman." that he will send forth labourers into his harvest--The word properly means "thrust forth"; but this emphatic sense disappears in some places, as in Mt 9:25, and Joh 10:4--"When He putteth forth His own sheep." (See on Mt 4:1).Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 9:38
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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