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 were saying, “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” 35Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38Therefore, plead with 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

• Seeingὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• the crowdsὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
• He feltσπλαγχνίζωsplagchnizomai · to pityG4697
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• distressedσκύλλωskullō · to troubleG4660
• and downcastῥίπτωrhiptō̄ · to throw/lay downG4496
• likeὡσείhōsei · like/as/aboutG5616
• withoutμήmē · notG3361
• withoutἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• a shepherdποιμήνpoimēn · shepherdG4166

Cross-references for Matthew 9:36

• Matthew 14:14When He came ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.
• Matthew 15:32Now Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.”
• Mark 6:34When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
• Hebrews 4:15For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.
• Hebrews 5:2he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is clothed in weakness;
• Matthew 10:6but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
• Matthew 15:24But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
• Numbers 27:17who will go out and come in before them, and lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep that have no shepherd.”
• 1 Kings 22:17So he said, “I saw all Israel Scattered on the mountains, Like sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These people have no master. Each of them is to return to his house in peace.’”
• 2 Chronicles 18:16So he said, “I saw all Israel Scattered on the mountains, Like sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These people have no master. Each of them is to return to his house in peace.’”
• Isaiah 56:9All you wild animals, All you animals in the forest, Come to eat.
• Jeremiah 50:6“My people have become lost sheep; Their shepherds have led them astray. They have made them turn aside on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill, They have forgotten their resting place.
• Ezekiel 34:3You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock.
• Zechariah 10:2For the household idols speak deception, And the diviners see an illusion And tell deceitful dreams; They comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep, They are wretched because there is no shepherd.
• Zechariah 11:16For behold, I am going to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken, or provide for the one who is exhausted, but will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hoofs.
• Zechariah 13:7“Awake, sword, against My Shepherd, And against the Man, My Associate,” Declares the Lord of armies. “Strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered; And 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