New Living Translation
Matthew 10:28
28“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:28 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Context of Matthew 10:28
26“But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 27What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear! “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.
Read all of Matthew 10Matthew 10:28 word by word
καὶ μὴ φοβεῖσθε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀποκτεννόντων τὸ σῶμα, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν μὴ δυναμένων ἀποκτεῖναι· φοβεῖσθε δὲ μᾶλλον τὸν δυνάμενον καὶ ψυχὴν καὶ σῶμα ἀπολέσαι ἐν γεέννῃ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- fearφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
- ·ἀπόapo · away fromG575
- notμήmē · notG3361
- them which killὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- them which killἀποκτείνωapokteinō · to killG615
- the bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
- butδέde · thenG1161
- areδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- the soulψυχήpsuchē · soulG5590
- ratherμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
- to destroyἀπολλύωapollumi · to destroyG622
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- hellγέενναgeenna · hell: GehennaG1067
Cross-references for Matthew 10:28
- Matthew 10:26“But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.
- Isaiah 8:12“Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them.
- Isaiah 51:7“Listen to me, you who know right from wrong, you who cherish my law in your hearts. Do not be afraid of people’s scorn, nor fear their insults.
- Daniel 3:10You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments.
- Luke 12:4“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.
- Acts 20:23except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.
- Acts 21:13But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.”
- Romans 8:35Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?
- 2 Timothy 4:6As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.
- Hebrews 11:35Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.
- 1 Peter 3:14But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.
- Revelation 2:10Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
- Psalms 119:120I tremble in fear of you; I stand in awe of your regulations.
- Ecclesiastes 5:7Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off.
- Isaiah 66:2My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.
Commentaries on Matthew 10:28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28Fear not them which kill the body - . Those who slay with acts of cruelty, alluding probably to the cruelties which persecutors should exercise on his followers in their martyrdom. But are not able to kill the soul. Hence we find that the body and the soul are distinct principles, for the body may be slain and the soul escape; and, secondly, that the soul is immaterial, for the murderers of the body are not able, , have it not in their power, to injure…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28Them which kill the body - That is, people, who have no power to injure the soul, the immortal part. The body is a small matter in comparison with the soul. Temporal death is a slight thing compared with eternal death. He directs them, therefore, not to be alarmed at the prospect of temporal death, but to fear God, who can destroy both soul and body forever. This passage proves that the bodies of the wicked will be raised up to be punished forever. In…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-42Verses 16-42 Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution. They were to avoid all things which gave advantage to their enemies, all meddling with worldly or political concerns, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures. Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm their faith. He tells them what they should suffer, and from whom. Thus Christ has dealt fairly…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 28The disciples of Jesus should only fear God by obeying him and testifying about him. Unlike human authorities, God's authority and judgment have no limits. hell: See study note on Matthew 5:29.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2828. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul--In Lu 12:4, "and after that have no more that they can do." but rather fear him--In Luke (Lu 12:5) this is peculiarly solemn, "I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear," even Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell--A decisive proof this that there is a hell for the body as well as the soul in the eternal world; in other words, that the torment that awaits the lost…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 10:28
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 10
- 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
- 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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