Matthew 10 · Verse 21

Matthew 10:21

And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Matthew 10:21, King James Version

Matthew 10:21 in other translations

BSBBrother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
WEB“Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
ASVAnd brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child: and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.
YLT‘And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and father child, and children shall rise up against parents, and shall put them to death,
DARBYBut brother shall deliver up brother to death, and father child; and children shall rise up against parents and shall put them to death;
BBEAnd brother will give up brother to death, and the father his child: and children will go against their fathers and mothers, and put them to death.
WebsterAnd the brother will deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children will rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

What does Matthew 10:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death--for example, by lodging information against them with the authorities. The deep and virulent hostility of the old nature and life to the new--as of Belial to Christ--was to issue in awful wrenches of the dearest ties; and the disciples, in the prospect of their cause and themselves being launched upon society, are here prepared for the worst.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 21. And the brother shall deliver up the brother, etc. Were there no evidence that this had been done, it could scarcely be credible. The ties which bind brothers and sisters, and parents and children together are so strong, that it could scarcely be believed that division of sentiment on religious subjects would cause them to forget these tender relations. Yet history assures us that this has been done. If this be so, then how inexpressibly awful must be the malignity of the human heart by nature against religion! Nothing else but this dreadful opposition to God, and his gospel, ever has induced, or ever can induce men to violate the most tender relations, and consign the best friends to torture, racks, and flames. It adds to the horrors of this, that those who were put to death in persecution were tormented in the most awful modes that human ingenuity could devise. They were crucified; were thrown into boiling oil; were burnt at the stake; were roasted slowly over coals; were compelled to drink melted lead; were torn in pieces by beasts of prey; were covered with pitch, and burned, to give light in the gardens of Nero. Yet dreadful as this prediction was, it was fulfilled; and incredible as it seems, parents and children, and husbands and wives, were found wicked enough to deliver up each other to these cruel modes of death on account of their attachment to the gospel. Such is the opposition of the heart of man to the gospel! That hostility which will overcome the strong ties of natural affection, and which will be satisfied with nothing else to show its power, can be no slight opposition to to the gospel of God.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother, etc. - What an astonishing enmity is there in the soul of man against God and goodness! That men should think they did God service, in putting to death those who differ from them in their political or religious creed, is a thing that cannot be accounted for but on the principle of an indescribable depravity. O shame to men! devil with devil damn'd Firm concord holds, men only disagree Of creatures rational; though under hope Of heavenly grace; and, God proclaiming peace, Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife Among themselves, and levy cruel wars, Wasting the earth, each other to destroy! par. Lost, b. ii. l. 496

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 10:16-42

Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution. They were to avoid all things which gave advantage to their enemies, all meddling with worldly or political concerns, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures. Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm their faith. He tells them what they should suffer, and from whom…

Read the full comment on Matthew 10:16-42 →

Matthew 10:21 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.

ΠαραδώσειParadōseiWill deliver upG3860
δὲdenowG1161
ἀδελφὸςadelphosbrotherG80
ἀδελφὸνadelphonbrotherG80
εἰςeistoG1519
θάνατονthanatondeathG2288
καὶkaiandG2532
πατὴρpatērfatherG3962
τέκνον·teknonchild;G5043
καὶkaiAndG2532
ἐπαναστήσονταιepanastēsontaiwill rise upG1881
τέκναteknachildrenG5043
ἐπὶepiagainstG1909
γονεῖςgoneisparentsG1118
καὶkaiandG2532
θανατώσουσινthanatōsousinwill put to deathG2289
αὐτούς.autousthem.G846

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

Cross references for Matthew 10:21

  • Luke 21:16-17

    And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.

  • Micah 7:5-6

    Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.

  • Mark 13:12-13

    Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

  • Matthew 24:10

    And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

  • Luke 12:51-53

    Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

  • Matthew 10:34-36

    Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

  • Zechariah 13:3

    And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the Lord: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.

  • 2 Samuel 17:1-4

    Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

  • 2 Samuel 16:11

    And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him.

  • Job 19:19

    All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the brother shall.
34-36; 24:10; Mic 7:5,6; Zec 13:3; Mr 13:12,13; Lu 12:51-53
Lu 21:16,17
the children.
2Sa 16:11; 17:1-4; Job 19:19

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

Context

  • Matthew 10:20

    For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

  • Matthew 10:21

    And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

  • Matthew 10:22

    And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Read all of Matthew 10

Matthew 10:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y el hermano entregará al hermano á la muerte, y el padre al hijo; y los hijos se levantarán contra los padres, y los harán morir.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le frère livrera son frère à la mort, et le père son enfant; et les enfants s’élèveront contre leurs parents et les feront mourir;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es wird aber der Bruder den Bruder zum Tode überliefern, und der Vater das Kind; und Kinder werden sich erheben wider die Eltern und sie zum Tode bringen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tradet autem frater fratrem in mortem, et pater filium: et insurgent filii in parentes, et morte eos afficient: