New International Version
Matthew 26:31
31Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
Matthew 26:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
- New Living Translation (NLT)On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
Context of Matthew 26:31
29I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
Read all of Matthew 26Matthew 26:31 word by word
Τότε λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· πάντες ὑμεῖς σκανδαλισθήσεσθε ἐν ἐμοὶ ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ταύτῃ· γέγραπται γάρ· πατάξω τὸν ποιμένα, καὶ διασκορπισθήσονται τὰ πρόβατα τῆς ποίμνης.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenτότεtote · thenG5119
- saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- yeσύsu · youG4771
- shall be offendedσκανδαλίζωskandalizō · to cause to stumbleG4624
- because ofἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- nightνύξnux · nightG3571
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- it is writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
- I will smiteπατάσσωpatassō · to strikeG3960
- the shepherdποιμήνpoimēn · shepherdG4166
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- the sheepπρόβατονprobaton · sheepG4263
- of the flockποίμνηpoimnē · flockG4167
- shall be scattered abroadδιασκορπίζωdiaskorpizō · to scatterG1287
Cross-references for Matthew 26:31
- Matthew 26:56But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
- Matthew 11:6Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
- Matthew 24:9“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
- Mark 14:27“You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
- Luke 22:31“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.
- John 16:32“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
- Isaiah 53:10Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
- Zechariah 13:7“Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!” declares the Lord Almighty. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
- Job 6:15But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow
- Job 19:13“He has alienated my family from me; my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.
- Psalms 38:11My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.
- Psalms 69:20Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.
- Psalms 88:18You have taken from me friend and neighbor— darkness is my closest friend.
- Lamentations 1:19“I called to my allies but they betrayed me. My priests and my elders perished in the city while they searched for food to keep themselves alive.
- Ezekiel 34:5So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.
Commentaries on Matthew 26:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31All ye shall be offended - Or rather, Ye will all be stumbled - - ye will all forsake me, and lose in a great measure your confidence in me. This night - The time of trial is just at hand. I will smite the shepherd - It will happen to you as to a flock of sheep, whose shepherd has been slain - the leader and guardian being removed, the whole flock shall be scattered, and be on the point of becoming a prey to ravenous beasts.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31-35Verses 31-35 Jesus foretells the fall of Peter - This is also recorded in Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-34; John 13:34-38. Matthew 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them - The occasion of his saying this was Peter‘s bold affirmation that he was ready to die with him, John 13:36 Jesus had told them that he was going away - that is, was about to die. Peter asked him whither he was going. Jesus replied that he could not follow him then, but should afterward. Peter…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 31-35Verses 31-35 Improper self-confidence, like that of Peter, is the first step to a fall. There is a proneness in all of us to be over-confident. But those fall soonest and foulest, who are the most confident in themselves. Those are least safe, who think themselves most secure. Satan is active to lead such astray; they are most off their guard: God leaves them to themselves, to humble them.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31I will strike: In Zechariah 13:7–9, a sword strikes God's partner, the Shepherd. Jesus understood this as a prophecy of his own death. From the scattered sheep, a purified group of faithful ones will emerge (Zechariah 13:8–9). In the short term, the disciples would soon scatter and deny knowing Jesus (Matthew 26:34, 56, 69–75).Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 26:31
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 26
- 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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries