Matthew 25 · Verse 37

Matthew 25:37

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Matthew 25:37, King James Version

Matthew 25:37 in other translations

BSBThen the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?
WEB“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?
ASVThen shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink?
YLT‘Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungering, and we nourished? or thirsting, and we gave to drink?
DARBYThen shall the righteous answer him saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungering, and nourished thee; or thirsting, and gave thee to drink?
BBEThen will the upright make answer to him, saying, Lord, when did we see you in need of food, and give it to you? or in need of drink, and give it to you?
WebsterThen will the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

What does Matthew 25:37 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Matthew 25:37-39
37-39. Then shall the righteous answer him, &c.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verses 37-39. Then shall the righteous, etc. This answer is indicative of humility--a deep sense of their being unworthy such commendation. They will feel that their poor acts of kindness have come so far short of what they should have been, that they have no claim to praise or reward. It is not, however, to be supposed that in the day of judgment this will be actually said by the righteous, but that this would be a proper expression of their feelings.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 37 Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, etc. - This barbarous expression, an hungered, should be banished out of the text, wheresoever it occurs, and the simple word hungry substituted for it. Whatever is done for Christ's sake, is done through Christ's grace; and he who does the work attributes to Jesus both the will and the power by which the work was done, and seeks and expects the kingdom of heaven not as a reward, but as a gift of pure unmerited mercy. Yet, while workers together with his grace, God attributes to them that which they do through his influence, as if they had done it independently of him. God has a right to form what estimate he pleases of the works wrought through himself: but man is never safe except when he attributes all to his Maker.

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 25:37 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.

ΤότεToteThenG5119
ἀποκριθήσονταιapokrithēsontaiwill answerG611
αὐτῷautōHimG846
οἱhoitheG3588
δίκαιοιdikaioirighteousG1342
λέγοντες·legontessaying;G3004
κύριε,kurieLord,G2962
πότεpotewhenG4219
σεseYouG4771
εἴδομενeidomensaw weG1492
πεινῶνταpeinōntahungeringG3983
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐθρέψαμενethrepsamenfed [You]G5142
ἢēOrG2228
διψῶνταdipsōntathirstingG1372
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐποτίσαμεν;epotisamengave [You] to drink?G4222

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

Cross references for Matthew 25:37

  • Matthew 6:3

    But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

  • 1 Peter 5:5-6

    Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

  • 1 Chronicles 29:14

    But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

  • Isaiah 64:6

    But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:10

    But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

  • Proverbs 15:33

    The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
when.
6:3; 1Ch 29:14; Pr 15:33; Isa 64:6; 1Co 15:10; 1Pe 5:5,6

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

Context

  • Matthew 25:36

    Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

  • Matthew 25:37

    Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

  • Matthew 25:38

    When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Read all of Matthew 25

Matthew 25:37 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces los justos le responderán, diciendo: Señor, ¿cuándo te vimos hambriento, y te sustentamos? ¿ó sediento, y te dimos de beber?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Alors les justes lui répondront, disant: Seigneur, quand est-ce que nous t’avons vu avoir faim, et que nous t’avons nourri; ou avoir soif, et que nous t’avons donné à boire?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Alsdann werden die Gerechten ihm antworten und sagen: Herr, wann sahen wir dich hungrig und speisten dich? oder durstig und tränkten dich?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tunc respondebunt ei justi, dicentes: Domine, quando te vidimus esurientem, et pavimus te: sitientem, et dedimus tibi potum?