New International Version
Matthew 8:9
9For 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.”
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.
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
Context of Matthew 8:9
7Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 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.” 10When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast 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 38:34“Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?
- Psalms 107:25For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves.
- Psalms 119:91Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you.
- Psalms 148:8lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,
- Jeremiah 47:6“ ‘Alas, sword of the Lord, how long till you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still.’
- Ezekiel 14:17“Or if I bring a sword against that country and say, ‘Let the sword pass throughout the land,’ and I kill its people and their animals,
- Mark 4:39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
- Luke 4:35“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
- Luke 7:8For 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.”
- Ephesians 6:5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
- Colossians 3:22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
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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