Tree of Life Version
Matthew 9:36
36When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
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, “By the prince of demons He drives out demons.” 35Now Yeshua was going around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest that He may send out workers into His harvest field.”
Read all of Matthew 9Matthew 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- when he sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- the multitudesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the multitudesὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
- he was moved with compassionσπλαγχνίζωsplagchnizomai · to pityG4697
- onπερίperi · aboutG4012
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- theyεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- faintedἐκλύωekluō · to faintG1590
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- scattered abroadῥίπτωrhiptō̄ · to throw/lay downG4496
- asὡσείhōsei · like/as/aboutG5616
- sheepπρόβατονprobaton · sheepG4263
- havingἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- noμήmē · notG3361
- shepherdποιμήνpoimēn · shepherdG4166
Cross-references for Matthew 9:36
- Matthew 14:14As Yeshua came ashore, He saw a large crowd and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.
- Matthew 15:32Yeshua called His disciples and said, “I have compassion for the crowd, because they’ve stayed with Me for three days now and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, because they might pass out on the way.”
- Mark 6:34As Yeshua came ashore, He saw a large crowd and felt compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He taught them many things.
- Hebrews 4:15For we do not have a kohen gadol who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all the same ways—yet without sin.
- Hebrews 5:2He is able to empathize with the ignorant and deluded, since he himself also is subject to weakness.
- Matthew 10:6But go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
- Matthew 15:24But He responded, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
- Numbers 27:17to go out and come in before them, who will lead them out and bring them out so that the people of Adonai will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
- 1 Kings 22:17Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills, as sheep without a shepherd. Then Adonai said, ‘These have no master; let each of them return home in peace.’”
- 2 Chronicles 18:16So he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and Adonai said, ‘These have no master—let each man return home in shalom.”
- Isaiah 56:9All you beasts of the field, come to eat, all you beasts in the forest.
- Jeremiah 50:6My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds led them astray. Turning around in the mountains, they went from mountain to hill, and forgot their resting place.
- Ezekiel 34:3You eat the fat. You clothe yourself with the wool. You kill the fat ones. But you do not take care of the sheep.
- Zechariah 10:2The idols utter deceit and diviners see lies. They relate false dreams and comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep, afflicted 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 dying, seek out the young or heal the injured or nourish the healthy. Instead he will eat the meat of the choice sheep, even tearing off their hoofs.”
- Zechariah 13:7Awake, O sword, against My shepherd, against the man who is My companion! It is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot. Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered! 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
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
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