Matthew 10 · Verse 6

Matthew 10:6

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 10:6, King James Version

Matthew 10:6 in other translations

BSBGo rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
WEBRather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
ASVbut go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
YLTand be going rather unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
DARBYbut go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
BBEBut go to the wandering sheep of the house of Israel,
WebsterBut go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

What does Matthew 10:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel--Until Christ's death, which broke down the middle wall of partition (Ep 2:14), the Gospel commission was to the Jews only, who, though the visible people of God, were "lost sheep," not merely in the sense which all sinners are (Is 53:6; 1Pe 2:25; compare with Lu 19:10), but as abandoned and left to wander from the right way by faithless shepherds (Jr 50:6, 17; Eze 34:2-6, &c.).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 6. But go rather to the lost sheep, etc. That is, to the Jews. He regarded them as wandering and lost, like sheep straying without a shepherd. They had been the chosen people of God; they had long looked for the Messiah; and it was proper that the gospel should be first offered to them.

(w) "go rather" Acts 13:46 (x) "lost sheep" Ps 119:176, Is 53:6, Jer 1:6,17, Eze 34:5,6,8 1Pet 2:25

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 But go rather to the lost sheep, etc. - The Jewish Church was the ancient fold of God; but the sheep had wandered from their Shepherd, and were lost. Our blessed Lord sends these under-shepherds to seek, find, and bring them back to the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 10:5-15

The Gentiles must not have the gospel brought them, till the Jews have refused it. This restraint on the apostles was only in their first mission. Wherever they went they must proclaim, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. They preached, to establish the faith; the kingdom, to animate the hope; of heaven, to inspire the love of heavenly things, and the contempt of earthly; which is at hand, that men may prepare for it…

Read the full comment on Matthew 10:5-15 →

Matthew 10:6 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.

πορεύεσθεporeuesthedo goG4198
δὲdehoweverG1161
μᾶλλονmallonratherG3123
πρὸςprostoG4314
τὰtathoseG3588
πρόβαταprobatasheepG4263
τὰtatheG3588
ἀπολωλόταapolōlotaalready perishingG622
οἴκουoikouof [the] houseG3624
Ἰσραήλ.¶Israēlof Israel.G2474

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

Cross references for Matthew 10:6

  • Jeremiah 50:6

    My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.

  • Ezekiel 34:6

    My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

  • Isaiah 53:6

    All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

  • 1 Peter 2:25

    For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

  • Acts 13:46

    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.

  • Psalms 119:176

    I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

  • Matthew 15:24-26

    But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

  • Luke 15:3-10

    And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. …

  • Acts 3:26

    Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

  • Ezekiel 34:8

    As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;

  • Acts 28:25-28

    And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

  • Romans 11:11-15

    I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
go.
15:24-26; Lu 24:47; Ac 3:26; 13:46; 18:6; 26:20; 28:25-28
Ro 11:11-15
lost.
18:11; Ps 119:176; Isa 53:6; Jer 50:6,17; Eze 34:6,8,16
Lu 15:3-10; 1Pe 2:25

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

Context

  • Matthew 10:5

    These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

  • Matthew 10:6

    But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

  • Matthew 10:7

    And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Read all of Matthew 10

Matthew 10:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Mas id antes á las ovejas perdidas de la casa de Israel.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
mais allez plutôt vers les brebis perdues de la maison d’Israël.
German
Elberfelder 1871
gehet aber vielmehr zu den verlorenen Schafen des Hauses Israel.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
sed potius ite ad oves quæ perierunt domus Israël.