Matthew 16 · Verse 23

Matthew 16:23

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Matthew 16:23, King James Version

Matthew 16:23 in other translations

BSBBut Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
WEBBut he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.”
ASVBut he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.
YLTand he having turned, said to Peter, ‘Get thee behind me, adversary! thou art a stumbling-block to me, for thou dost not mind the things of God, but the things of men.'
DARBYBut turning round, he said to Peter, Get away behind me, Satan; thou art an offence to me, for thy mind is not on the things that are of God, but on the things that are of men.
BBEBut he, turning to Peter, said, Get out of my way, Satan: you are a danger to me because your mind is not on the things of God, but on the things of men.
WebsterBut he turned, and said to Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan; thou art an offense to me: for thou savorest not the things that are of God, but those that are of men.

What does Matthew 16:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. But he turned, and said--in the hearing of the rest; for Mark (Mr 8:33) expressly says, "When He had turned about and looked on His disciples, He rebuked Peter"; perceiving that he had but boldly uttered what others felt, and that the check was needed by them also. Get thee behind me, Satan--the same words as He had addressed to the Tempter (Lu 4:8); for He felt in it a satanic lure, a whisper from hell, to move Him from His purpose to suffer. So He shook off the Serpent, then coiling around Him, and "felt no harm" (Ac 28:5). How quickly has the "rock" turned to a devil! The fruit of divine teaching the Lord delighted to honor in Peter; but the mouthpiece of hell, which he had in a moment of forgetfulness become, the Lord shook off with horror. thou art an offence--a stumbling-block. unto me--"Thou playest the Tempter, casting a stumbling-block in My way to the Cross. Could it succeed, where wert thou? and how should the Serpent's head be bruised?" for thou savourest not--thou thinkest not. the things that be of God, but those that be of men--"Thou art carried away by human views of the way of setting up Messiah's kingdom, quite contrary to those of God." This was kindly said, not to take off the sharp edge of the rebuke, but to explain and justify it, as it was evident Peter knew not what was in the bosom of his rash speech.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 23. Get thee behind me, Satan. The word Satan means, literally, an adversary, or one that opposes us in the accomplishment of our designs. It is applied to the devil commonly, as the opposer or adversary of man. But there is no evidence that the Lord Jesus meant to apply this term to Peter, as signifying that he was Satan or the devil, or that he used the term in anger. He may have used it in the general sense which the word bore, as an adversary or opposer; and the meaning may be, that such sentiments as Peter expressed then were opposed to him and his plans. His interference was improper. His views and feelings stood in the way of the accomplishment of the Saviour's designs. There was, undoubtedly, a rebuke in this language; for the conduct of Peter was improper; but the idea which is commonly attached to it, and which, perhaps, our translation conveys, implies a more severe and harsh rebuke than the Saviour intended, and than the language which he used would express.

Thou art an offence. That is, a stumbling-block: Your advice and wishes are in my way. If followed, they would prevent the very thing for which I came.

Thou savourest not. That is, thou thinkest not. You think that those things should not be done which God wishes to be done. You judge of this matter as men do, who are desirous of honour; and not as God, who sees it best that I should die, to promote the great interests of mankind.

(x) "Satan:" 2Sam 19:22 (y) "an offence" Rom 14:13

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 Get thee behind me, Satan - Υπαγε οπισω μου σατανα. Get behind me, thou adversary. This is the proper translation of the Hebrew word שטן Satan, from which the Greek word is taken. Our blessed Lord certainly never designed that men should believe he called Peter, Devil, because he, through erring affection, had wished him to avoid that death which he predicted to himself. This translation, which is literal, takes away that harshness which before appeared in our Lord's words. Thou art an offense unto me - Σκανδαλον μου ει - Thou art a stumbling-block in my way, to impede me in the accomplishment of the great design. Thou savourest not - That is, dost not relish, ου φρονεις, or, thou dost not understand or discern the things of God - thou art wholly taken up with the vain thought that my kingdom is of this world. He who opposes the doctrine of the atonement is an adversary and offense to Christ, though he be as sincere in his profession as Peter himself was. Let us beware of false friendships. Carnal relatives, when listened to, may prove the ruin of those whom, through their mistaken tenderness, they wish to save. When a man is intent on saving his own soul, his adversaries are often those of his own household.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 16:21-23

Christ reveals his mind to his people gradually. From that time, when the apostles had made the full confession of Christ, that he was the Son of God, he began to show them of his sufferings. He spake this to set right the mistakes of his disciples about the outward pomp and power of his kingdom. Those that follow Christ, must not expect great or high things in this world. Peter would have Christ to dread suffering…

Read the full comment on Matthew 16:21-23 →

Matthew 16:23 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.

ὉHo<the>G3588
δὲdeAndG1161
στραφεὶςstrapheishaving turnedG4762
εἶπενeipenHe saidG2036
τῷtō<the>G3588
Πέτρῳ·Petrōto Peter;G4074
ὕπαγεhupagedo goG5217
ὀπίσωopisōbehindG3694
μουmouMeG3165
σατανᾶ,satanaSatan!G4567
σκάνδαλονskandalonA stumbling blockG4625
εἶeiyou areG1510
ἐμοῦ,emouto me,G1473
ὅτιhotiForG3754
οὐounotG3756
φρονεῖςphroneisyour thoughts are ofG5426
τὰtathoseG3588
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
ἀλλὰallabutG235
τὰta[of] the [things]G3588
τῶνtōn<the>G3588
ἀνθρώπων.¶anthrōpōnof men.G444

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

Cross references for Matthew 16:23

  • Romans 8:5-8

    For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

  • Colossians 3:2

    Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

  • Philippians 3:19

    Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

  • Mark 8:33

    But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:14-15

    But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

  • Matthew 4:10

    Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

  • John 6:70

    Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

  • Luke 4:8

    And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

  • Genesis 3:17

    And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

  • 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

    And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

  • Zechariah 3:1-2

    And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

  • 1 Chronicles 21:1

    And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Get.
4:10; Ge 3:1-6,17; Mr 8:33; Lu 4:8; 2Co 11:14,15
Satan.
2Sa 19:22; 1Ch 21:1; Zec 3:1,2; Joh 6:70
thou art.
18:7; Isa 8:14; Ro 14:13,21
thou savourest.
Mr 8:33; Ro 8:5-8; 1Co 2:14,15; Php 3:19; Col 3:2

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

Context

  • Matthew 16:22

    Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

  • Matthew 16:23

    But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

  • Matthew 16:24

    Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Read all of Matthew 16

Matthew 16:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces él, volviéndose, dijo á Pedro: Quítate de delante de mí, Satanás; me eres escándalo; porque no entiendes lo que es de Dios sino lo que es de los hombres.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais lui, se retournant, dit à Pierre: Va arrière de moi, Satan, tu m’es en scandale; car tes pensées ne sont pas aux choses de Dieu, mais à celles des hommes.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Er aber wandte sich um und sprach zu Petrus: Geh hinter mich, Satan! du bist mir ein Ärgernis, denn du sinnest nicht auf das, was Gottes, sondern auf das, was der Menschen ist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui conversus, dixit Petro: Vade post me Satana, scandalum es mihi: quia non sapis ea quæ Dei sunt, sed ea quæ hominum.