Matthew 10:34

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

Matthew 10:34 · direct translation from the Greek
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34

Matthew 10:34, word by word

thinkνομίσητεnomisēte

think, suppose

Think, suppose, consider something to be so.

Where else “nomisēte” appears
I cameἦλθονēlthon

come as Messiah

The coming of Jesus; "the one who comes" is the awaited one.

Where else “ēlthon” appears
to bringβαλεῖνbalein

throw

To hurl something or someone away from oneself.

Where else “balein” appears
peaceεἰρήνηνeirēnēn

peace with God

The calm God gives: being on good terms with him.

Where else “eirēnēn” appears
the earthγῆνgēn

earth

The whole earth under heaven, where human beings live.

Where else “gēn” appears
a swordμάχαιρανmachairan

sword

Sword.

Where else “machairan” appears

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

Not peace, but a sword

Luke 12:51-53Luke 14:26-27

A similar saying; scholars discuss whether it is the same saying in another setting or a repeated one.

See them side by side

Matthew 10:34-39

34Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36and a person’s enemies will be the members of his household. 37The one who holds father or mother dearer than me is not worthy of me; and the one who holds son or daughter dearer than me is not worthy of me. 38And whoever does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. 39The one who finds his life will lose it, and the one who loses his life for my sake will find it.

Luke 12:51-53

51Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52For from now on there will be five in one house divided, three against two and two against three; 53they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against the mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law.”

Luke 14:26-27

26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and even his own life as well, he cannot be my disciple. 27Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

The context

33but whoever denies me before people, I too will deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

34 · This verse (above)

35For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

Read all of Matthew 10

To study Matthew 10 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What instructions did Jesus give the twelve when he sent them out (vv. 7–10)?

  2. 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. 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?

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