Matthew 10 · Verse 36

Matthew 10:36

And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Matthew 10:36, King James Version

Matthew 10:36 in other translations

BSBA man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
WEBA man’s foes will be those of his own household.
ASVand a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
YLTand the enemies of a man are those of his household.
DARBYand they of his household shall be a man's enemies.
BBEAnd a man will be hated by those of his house.
WebsterAnd a man's foes will be they of his own household.

What does Matthew 10:36 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
36. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household--This saying, which is quoted, as is the whole verse, from Mi 7:6, is but an extension of the Psalmist's complaint (Psa 41:9; 55:12-14), which had its most affecting illustration in the treason of Judas against our Lord Himself (Joh 13:18; Mt 26:48-50). Hence would arise the necessity of a choice between Christ and the nearest relations, which would put them to the severest test.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 36. Mt 10:34

(y) "And a man's foes" Ps 41:9

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 36 A man's foes shall be they of his own household - Our Lord refers here to their own traditions. So Sota, fol. 49. "A little before the coming of the Messiah, the son shall insult the father, the daughter rebel against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and each man shall have his own household fur his enemies." Again, in Sanhedrin, fol. 97, it is said: "In the age in which the Messiah shall come, the young men shall turn the elders into ridicule; the elders shall rise up against the youth, the daughter against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and the man of that age shall be excessively impudent; nor shall the son reverence his father." These are most remarkable sayings, and, by them, our Lord shows them that he was the Messiah, for all these things literally took place shortly after their final rejection of Christ. See the terrible account, given by Josephus, relative to the desolations of those times. Through the just judgment of God, they who rejected the Lord that bought them became abandoned to every species of iniquity; they rejected the salvation of God, and fell into the condemnation of the devil. Father Quesnel's note on this place is worthy of deep attention. "The father (says he) is the enemy of his son, when, through a bad education, an irregular love, and a cruel indulgence, he leaves him to take a wrong bias, instructs him not in his duty, and fills his mind with ambitious views. The son is the father's enemy, when he is the occasion of his doing injustice, in order to heap up an estate for him, and to make his fortune. The mother is the daughter's enemy, when she instructs her to please the world, breeds her up in excess and vanity, and suffers any thing scandalous or unseemly in her dress. The daughter is the mother's enemy, when she becomes her idol, when she engages her to comply with her own irregular inclinations, and to permit her to frequent balls and plays. The master is the enemy of his servant, and the servant that of his master, when the one takes no care of the other's salvation, and the latter is subservient to his master's passions."

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 10:36 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἐχθροὶechthroienemiesG2190
τοῦtouof theG3588
ἀνθρώπουanthrōpoumanG444
οἱhoitheG3588
οἰκιακοὶoikiakoihouseholdG3615
αὐτοῦ.¶autouof him.G846

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

Cross references for Matthew 10:36

  • Micah 7:6

    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.

  • Jeremiah 12:6

    For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.

  • Psalms 41:9

    Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

  • Genesis 4:8-10

    And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.

  • Job 19:13-19

    He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. …

  • Psalms 55:13

    But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

  • Genesis 37:17-28

    And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan. And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. …

  • 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.

  • Genesis 3:15

    And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

  • 1 Samuel 17:28

    And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

  • John 13:8

    Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

  • Jeremiah 20:10

    For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ge 3:15; 4:8-10; 37:17-28; 1Sa 17:28; 2Sa 16:11; Job 19:13-19
Ps 41:9; 55:13; Jer 12:6; 20:10; Mic 7:6; Joh 13:8

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Matthew 10:36

    And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

  • Matthew 10:37

    He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Read all of Matthew 10

Matthew 10:36 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y los enemigos del hombre serán los de su casa.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
et les ennemis d’un homme seront les gens de sa maison.
German
Elberfelder 1871
und des Menschen Feinde werden seine eigenen Hausgenossen sein.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
et inimici hominis, domestici ejus.