Matthew 10 · Verse 31

Matthew 10:31

Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:31, King James Version

Matthew 10:31 in other translations

BSBSo do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
WEBTherefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
ASVFear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
YLTbe not therefore afraid, than many sparrows ye are better.
DARBYFear not therefore; ye are better than many sparrows.
BBEThen have no fear; you are of more value than a flock of sparrows.
WebsterFear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

What does Matthew 10:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
31. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows--Was ever language of such simplicity felt to carry such weight as this does? But here lies much of the charm and power of our Lord's teaching.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 31 Fear ye not - ye are of more value - None can estimate the value of a soul, for which Christ has given his blood and life! Have confidence in his goodness; for he who so dearly purchased thee will miraculously preserve and save thee. Did the poet intend to contradict Christ when he said: - "He sees with equal eye, as God of all, A Hero perish, or a Sparrow fall?" How cold and meagre is this shallow deistical saying! But could the poet mean, that a sparrow is of as much worth in the sight of God, who regards (if we may believe him) things only in general, as an immortal soul, purchased by the sacrifice of Christ?

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 10:31 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.

μὴmēNotG3361
οὖνounthereforeG3767
φοβεῖσθε·phobeisthedo fear;G5399
πολλῶνpollōnthan manyG4183
στρουθίωνstrouthiōnsparrowsG4765
διαφέρετεdiaphereteare worth moreG1308
ὑμεῖς.¶humeisyou yourselves.G4771

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

Cross references for Matthew 10:31

  • Luke 12:24

    Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

  • Psalms 8:5

    For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

  • Matthew 6:26

    Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

  • Matthew 12:11-12

    And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:9-10

    For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6:26; 12:11,12; Ps 8:5; Lu 12:24; 1Co 9:9,10

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

Context

  • Matthew 10:30

    But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

  • Matthew 10:31

    Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

  • Matthew 10:32

    Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Read all of Matthew 10

Matthew 10:31 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Así que, no temáis: más valéis vosotros que muchos pajarillos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ne craignez donc pas: vous valez mieux que beaucoup de passereaux.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Fürchtet euch nun nicht; ihr seid vorzüglicher als viele Sperlinge.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nolite ergo timere: multis passeribus meliores estis vos.