Matthew 10:16

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

BSB Berean Standard Bible

Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

WEB World English Bible

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

ASV American Standard Version

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

‘Lo, I do send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, be ye therefore wise as the serpents, and simple as the doves.

Surrounding context — Matthew 10

13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

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Cross-references

Philippians 2:15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;Luke 10:3Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.1 Corinthians 14:20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.Colossians 4:5Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.Ephesians 5:15-17See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,Romans 16:18-19For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.Luke 21:15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.Acts 20:29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.2 Corinthians 11:3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.2 Corinthians 11:14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.1 Thessalonians 5:22Abstain from all appearance of evil.Genesis 3:1Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?Colossians 1:9For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;2 Corinthians 1:12For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.Genesis 3:13And the LORD God said unto the woman, What [is] this [that] thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.1 Thessalonians 2:10Ye [are] witnesses, and God [also], how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:2 Corinthians 8:20Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION

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CLASSIC COMMENTARY & PREACHING

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