Luke 10 · Verse 19

Luke 10:19

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luke 10:19, King James Version

Luke 10:19 in other translations

BSBBehold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.
WEBBehold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.
ASVBehold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.
YLTlo, I give to you the authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and on all the power of the enemy, and nothing by any means shall hurt you;
DARBYBehold, I give you the power of treading upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall in anywise injure you.
BBESee, I have given you power to put your feet on snakes and evil beasts, and over all the strength of him who is against you: and nothing will do you damage.
WebsterBehold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

What does Luke 10:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. Behold, I give you, &c.--not for any renewal of their mission, though probably many of them afterwards became ministers of Christ; but simply as disciples. serpents and scorpions--the latter more venomous than the former: literally, in the first instance (Mr 16:17, 18; Ac 28:5); but the next words, "and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you," show that the glorious power of faith to "overcome the world" and "quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one," by the communication and maintenance of which to His people He makes them innocuous, is what is meant (1Jo 5:4; Ep 6:16).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. To tread on serpents. Preservation from danger. If you tread on a poisonous reptile that would otherwise injure you, I will keep you from danger. If you go among bitter and malignant enemies that would seek your life, I will preserve you. Mk 16:18.

Scorpions. The scorpion is an animal with eight feet, eight eyes, and a long jointed tail, ending in a pointed weapon or sting. It is found in tropical climates, and seldom exceeds 4 inches in length. Its sting is extremely poisonous, and it is sometimes fatal to life. It is in Scripture the emblem of malicious and crafty men. When rolled up it has some resemblance to an egg, Lk 12:12; Eze 2:6. The annexed cut will give an idea of its usual form and appearance.

The enemy. Satan. The meaning of this verse is, that Jesus would preserve them from the power of Satan and all his emissaries--from all wicked and crafty men; and this shows that he had divine power. He that can control Satan and his hosts--that can be present to guard from all their machinations, see all their plans, and destroy all their designs, must be clothed with no less than almighty power.

(v) "tread on serpents" Mk 16:18, Acts 28:5

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 To tread on serpents, etc. - It is possible that by serpents and scorpions our Lord means the scribes and Pharisees, whom he calls serpents and a brood of vipers, Mat 23:33, (see the note there), because, through the subtilty and venom of the old serpent, the devil, they opposed him and his doctrine; and, by trampling on these, it is likely that he means, they should get a complete victory over such: as it was an ancient custom to trample on the kings and generals who had been taken in battle, to signify the complete conquest which had been gained over them. See Jos 10:24. See also Rom 16:20. See the notes on Mar 16:17, Mar 16:18.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 10:17-24

All our victories over Satan, are obtained by power derived from Jesus Christ, and he must have all the praise. But let us beware of spiritual pride, which has been the destruction of many. Our Lord rejoiced at the prospect of the salvation of many souls. It was fit that particular notice should be taken of that hour of joy; there were few such, for He was a man of sorrows: in that hour in which he saw Satan fall…

Read the full comment on Luke 10:17-24 →

Luke 10:19 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἰδοὺidouBeholdG2400
δέδωκαdedōkaI have givenG1325
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἐξουσίανexousianauthorityG1849
τοῦtou<the>G3588
πατεῖνpateinto treadG3961
ἐπάνωepanōuponG1883
ὄφεωνopheōnserpentsG3789
καὶkaiandG2532
σκορπίωνskorpiōnscorpionsG4651
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐπὶepiuponG1909
πᾶσανpasanallG3956
τὴνtēntheG3588
δύναμινdunaminpowerG1411
τοῦtouof theG3588
ἐχθροῦ,echthrouenemy,G2190
καὶkaiandG2532
οὐδὲνoudenno [thing]G3762
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
οὐoucertainlyG3756
μὴmēnotG3361
ἀδικήσῃ.adikēsēmay injure.G91

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 10:19

  • Psalms 91:13

    Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

  • Mark 16:18

    They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

  • Romans 16:20

    And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

  • Acts 28:5

    And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

  • Revelation 11:5

    And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

  • Luke 21:17-18

    And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

  • Ezekiel 2:6

    And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

  • Romans 8:31-39

    What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. …

  • Hebrews 13:5-6

    Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

  • Isaiah 11:8

    And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I give.
Ps 91:13; Isa 11:8; Eze 2:6; Mr 16:18; Ac 28:5; Ro 16:20
and nothing.
21:17,18; Ro 8:31-39; Heb 13:5,6; Re 11:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 10:18

    And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

  • Luke 10:19

    Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

  • Luke 10:20

    Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Read all of Luke 10

Luke 10:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		He aquí os doy potestad de hollar sobre las serpientes y sobre los escorpiones, y sobre toda fuerza del enemigo, y nada os dañará.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Voici, je vous donne l’autorité de marcher sur les serpents et sur les scorpions, et sur toute la puissance de l’ennemi; et rien ne vous nuira;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Siehe, ich gebe euch die Gewalt, auf Schlangen und Skorpionen zu treten, und über die ganze Kraft des Feindes, und nichts soll euch irgendwie beschädigen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ecce dedi vobis potestatem calcandi supra serpentes, et scorpiones, et super omnem virtutem inimici: et nihil vobis nocebit.