Matthew 10 · Verse 34

Matthew 10:34

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Matthew 10:34, King James Version

Matthew 10:34 in other translations

BSBDo not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
WEB“Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword.
ASVThink not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
YLT‘Ye may not suppose that I came to put peace on the earth; I did not come to put peace, but a sword;
DARBYDo not think that I have come to send peace upon the earth: I have not come to send peace, but a sword.
BBEDo not have the thought that I have come to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace but a sword.
WebsterThink not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

What does Matthew 10:34 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
34. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword--strife, discord, conflict; deadly opposition between eternally hostile principles, penetrating into and rending asunder the dearest ties.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verses 34-36. Think not that I am come, etc. This is taken from Mic 7:6. Christ did not here mean to say that the object of his coming was to produce discord and contention, for he was the Prince of peace, Is 9:6, 11:6, Lk 2:14; but he means to say that such would be one of the effects of his coming. One part of a family that was opposed to him, would set themselves against those who believed in him. The wickedness of men, and not the religion of the gospel, is the cause of this hostility. It is unnecessary to say that no prophecy has been more strikingly fulfilled; and it will continue to be fulfilled, till all unite in obeying his commandments. Then his religion will produce universal peace.

But a sword. The sword is an instrument of death, and to send a sword is the same as to produce hostility and war.

(v) "whosoever" 2Ti 2:12 (w) "I cam not" Lk 12:49,55

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 34 Think not that I am come to send peace, etc. - The meaning of this difficult passage will be plain, when we consider the import of the word peace, and the expectation of the Jews. I have already had occasion to remark, (Mat 10:12), that the word שלום shalom, rendered by the Greeks ειρηνη, was used among the Hebrews to express all possible blessings, temporal and spiritual; but especially the former. The expectation of the Jews was, that, when the Messiah should come, all temporal prosperity should be accumulated on the land of Judea; therefore την γην, in this verse, should not be translated the earth, but this land. The import of our Lord's teaching here is this, Do not imagine, as the Jews in general vainly do, that I am come to send forth, (βαλλειν), by forcing out the Roman power, that temporal prosperity which they long for; I am not come for this purpose, but to send forth (βαλλειν) the Roman sword, to cut off a disobedient and rebellious nation, the cup of whose iniquity is already full, and whose crimes cry aloud for speedy vengeance. See also on Luk 12:49 (note). From the time they rejected the Messiah, they were a prey to the most cruel and destructive factions; they employed their time in butchering one another, till the Roman sword was unsheathed against them, and desolated the land.

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 10:34 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
νομίσητεnomisētemay you thinkG3543
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἦλθονēlthonI cameG2064
βαλεῖνbaleinto bringG906
εἰρήνηνeirēnēnpeaceG1515
ἐπὶepitoG1909
τὴνtēntheG3588
γῆν·gēnearth;G1093
οὐκouknotG3756
ἦλθονēlthonI cameG2064
βαλεῖνbaleinto bringG906
εἰρήνηνeirēnēnpeaceG1515
ἀλλὰallabutG235
μάχαιραν.machairana sword.G3162

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

Cross references for Matthew 10:34

  • Luke 12:49-53

    I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 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. …

  • Acts 14:4

    But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

  • Acts 13:45-50

    But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. …

  • Acts 14:2

    But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

  • John 7:40-52

    Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division among the people because of him. …

  • Jeremiah 15:10

    Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that I.
Jer 15:10; Lu 12:49-53; Joh 7:40-52; Ac 13:45-50; 14:2,4

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

Context

  • Matthew 10:33

    But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

  • Matthew 10:34

    Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

  • Matthew 10:35

    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.

Read all of Matthew 10

Matthew 10:34 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No penséis que he venido para meter paz en la tierra: no he venido para meter paz, sino espada.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ne pensez pas que je sois venu mettre la paix sur la terre; je ne suis pas venu mettre la paix, mais l’épée:
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wähnet nicht, daß ich gekommen sei, Frieden auf die Erde zu bringen; ich bin nicht gekommen, Frieden zu bringen, sondern das Schwert.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nolite arbitrari quia pacem venerim mittere in terram: non veni pacem mittere, sed gladium: