16
Look,ἸδοὺIἐγὼam sendingἀποστέλλωyouὑμᾶςlikeὡςsheepπρόβαταamongἐν μέσῳwolves;λύκωνsoοὖνbeγίνεσθεshrewdφρόνιμοιasὡςserpentsοἱ ὄφειςandκαὶinnocentἀκέραιοιasὡςdoves.αἱ περιστεραί
Matthew 10:16
Study it in the app“Look, I am sending you like sheep among wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.”
With the Greek beneath
Matthew 10:16, word by word
- am sendingἀποστέλλωapostellō
send
To send someone somewhere on an errand, on behalf of the sender.
Where else “apostellō” appears- sheepπρόβαταprobata
flock
The people a shepherd cares for, God's people.
Where else “probata” appears- amongμέσῳmesōi
middle
Middle, in the midst.
Where else “mesōi” appears- wolvesλύκωνlykōn
wolf
Wolf.
Where else “lykōn” appears- beγίνεσθεginesthe
become
To turn into something new, different from before.
Where else “ginesthe” appears- shrewdφρόνιμοιphronimoi
wise, sensible
Sensible, prudent, practically wise; "wise in your own eyes", self-satisfied.
Where else “phronimoi” appears- serpentsὄφειςopheis
snake
Snake, serpent.
Where else “opheis” appears- innocentἀκέραιοιakeraioi
innocent, pure
Innocent, pure, unmixed with evil.
Where else “akeraioi” appears- dovesπεριστεραίperisterai
dove
Dove.
Where else “peristerai” appears
The context
15Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
16 · This verse (above)
17But beware of people; for they will hand you over to councils, and in their synagogues they will flog you;
To study Matthew 10 in a group
1. What it says
What instructions did Jesus give the twelve when he sent them out (vv. 7–10)?
2. What it means
Why does Jesus say not to be afraid, even while he announces that there will be opposition (vv. 26–31)?
3. How I live it
Jesus says whoever gives a cup of cold water will not lose their reward (v. 42). Whom can you serve this way today?