Matthew 25 · Verse 33

Matthew 25:33

And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Matthew 25:33, King James Version

Matthew 25:33 in other translations

BSBHe will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.
WEBHe will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
ASVand he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
YLTand he shall set the sheep indeed on his right hand, and the goats on the left.
DARBYand he will set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left.
BBEAnd he will put the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
WebsterAnd he will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

What does Matthew 25:33 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand--the side of honor (1Ki 2:19; Psa 45:9; 110:1, &c.). but the goats on the left--the side consequently of dishonor.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 33. Shall set the sheep, etc. By the sheep are denoted, here, the righteous. The name is given to them because the sheep is an emblem of innocence and harmlessness. See Jn 10:7, 14-16, 27; Ps 100:3, 74:1, 23:1

On his right hand. The right hand is the place of honour, and denotes the situation of those who are honoured, or those who are virtuous. See Eccl 10:2, Eph 1:20, Ps 110:1, Acts 2:25,33.

The goats. The wicked. See Eze 34:17.

The left. That is, the left hand. This was the place of dishonour, denoting condemnation. See Eccl 10:2.

(z) "right hand" Heb 1:3

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 33 He shall set the sheep, etc. - The right hand signifies, among the rabbins, approbation and eminence: the left hand, rejection, and disapprobation. Hence in Sohar Chadash it is said, "The right hand is given, the left also is given - to the Israelites and the Gentiles are given paradise and hell - this world, and the world to come." The right and left were emblematical of endless beatitude and endless misery among the Romans. Hence Virgil: - Hic locus est, partes ubi se via findit in ambas, Dextera, quae Ditis magni sub moenia tendit: Hac iter Elysium nobis; at laeva malorum Exercet poenas, et ad impia Tartara mittit Aen. vi. 540 Here in two ample roads the way divides, The right direct, our destined journey guides, By Pluto's palace, to the Elysian plains; The left to Tartarus, where bound in chains Loud howl the damn'd in everlasting pains. Pitt Of the good and faithful servants he approves, and therefore exalts them to his glory; of the slothful and wicked he disapproves, and casts them into hell. Sheep, which have ever been considered as the emblems of mildness, simplicity, patience, and usefulness, represent here the genuine disciples of Christ. Goats, which are naturally quarrelsome, lascivious, and excessively ill-scented, were considered as the symbols of riotous, profane, and impure men. They here represent all who have lived and died in their sins. See Eze 34:17, and Zac 10:3.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 25:31-46

This is a description of the last judgment. It is as an explanation of the former parables. There is a judgment to come, in which every man shall be sentenced to a state of everlasting happiness, or misery. Christ shall come, not only in the glory of his Father, but in his own glory, as Mediator. The wicked and godly here dwell together, in the same cities, churches, families, and are not always to be known the one…

Read the full comment on Matthew 25:31-46 →

Matthew 25:33 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
στήσειstēseiHe will setG2476
τὰta<the>G3588
μὲνmenindeedG3303
πρόβαταprobatathe sheepG4263
ἐκekonG1537
δεξιῶνdexiōn[the] right handG1188
αὐτοῦ,autouof Him,G846
τὰta<the>G3588
δὲdehoweverG1161
ἐρίφιαeriphiathe goatsG2055
ἐξexonG1537
εὐωνύμων.¶euōnumōn[the] left.G2176

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

Cross references for Matthew 25:33

  • Psalms 100:3

    Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

  • Psalms 45:9

    Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

  • John 10:26-28

    But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

  • John 21:15-17

    So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

  • Psalms 110:1

    A Psalm of David. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

  • Psalms 95:7

    For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,

  • Acts 2:34-35

    For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

  • Mark 16:19

    So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

  • Psalms 79:13

    So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.

  • Hebrews 1:3

    Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

  • Ephesians 1:20

    Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

  • Genesis 48:13-14

    And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him. And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the sheep.
Ps 79:13; 95:7; 100:3; Joh 10:26-28; 21:15-17
his.
Ge 48:13,14,17-19; Ps 45:9; 110:1; Mr 16:19; Ac 2:34,35; Eph 1:20
Heb 1:3

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

Context

  • Matthew 25:32

    And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

  • Matthew 25:33

    And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

  • Matthew 25:34

    Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Read all of Matthew 25

Matthew 25:33 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y pondrá las ovejas á su derecha, y los cabritos á la izquierda.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
et il mettra les brebis à sa droite et les chèvres à sa gauche.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und er wird die Schafe zu seiner Rechten stellen, die Böcke aber zur Linken.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
et statuet oves quidem a dextris suis, hædos autem a sinistris.