Matthew 19 · Verse 25

Matthew 19:25

When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Matthew 19:25, King James Version

Matthew 19:25 in other translations

BSBWhen the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
WEBWhen the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
ASVAnd when the disciples heard it, they were astonished exceedingly, saying, Who then can be saved?
YLTAnd his disciples having heard, were amazed exceedingly, saying, ‘Who, then, is able to be saved?'
DARBYAnd when the disciples heard it they were exceedingly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved?
BBEAnd the disciples, hearing this, were greatly surprised, saying, Who then may have salvation?
WebsterWhen his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

What does Matthew 19:25 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 25 Who can be saved? - The question of the disciples seemed to intimate that most people were rich, and that therefore scarcely any could be saved. They certainly must have attached a different meaning to what constitutes a rich man, to what we in general do. Who is a rich man in our Lord's sense of the word? This is a very important question, and has not, that I know of, been explicitly answered. A rich man, in my opinion, is not one who has so many hundreds or thousands more than some of his neighbors; but is one who gets more than is necessary to supply all his own wants, and those of his household, and keeps the residue still to himself, though the poor are starving through lack of the necessaries of life. In a word, he is a man who gets all he can, saves all he can, and keeps all he has gotten. Speak, reason! Speak, conscience! (for God has already spoken) Can such a person enter into the kingdom of God? All, No!!!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 19:23-30

Though Christ spoke so strongly, few that have riches do not trust in them. How few that are poor are not tempted to envy! But men's earnestness in this matter is like their toiling to build a high wall to shut themselves and their children out of heaven. It should be satisfaction to those who are in a low condition, that they are not exposed to the temptations of a high and prosperous condition. If they live more…

Read the full comment on Matthew 19:23-30 →

Matthew 19:25 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.

ἈκούσαντεςAkousantesHaving heardG191
δὲdenowG1161
οἱhoitheG3588
μαθηταὶmathētaidisciplesG3101
ἐξεπλήσσοντοexeplēssontowere astonishedG1605
σφόδραsphodraexceedinglyG4970
λέγοντες·legontessaying;G3004
τίςtisWhoG5101
ἄραarathenG686
δύναταιdunataiis ableG1410
σωθῆναι;sōthēnaito be saved?G4982

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

Cross references for Matthew 19:25

  • Romans 10:13

    For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

  • Matthew 24:22

    And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

  • Mark 13:20

    And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

  • Luke 13:23-24

    Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

  • Romans 11:5-7

    Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Who.
24:22; Mr 13:20; Lu 13:23,24; Ro 10:13; 11:5-7

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

Context

  • Matthew 19:24

    And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

  • Matthew 19:25

    When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

  • Matthew 19:26

    But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Read all of Matthew 19

Matthew 19:25 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas sus discípulos, oyendo estas cosas, se espantaron en gran manera, diciendo: ¿Quién pues podrá ser salvo?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et les disciples, l’ayant entendu, s’étonnèrent fort, disant: Qui donc peut être sauvé?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als aber die Jünger es hörten, waren sie sehr erstaunt und sagten: Wer kann dann errettet werden?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Auditis autem his, discipuli mirabantur valde, dicentes: Quis ergo poterit salvus esse?