Matthew 26 · Verse 52

Matthew 26:52

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Matthew 26:52, King James Version

Matthew 26:52 in other translations

BSB“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
WEBThen Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.
ASVThen saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
YLTThen saith Jesus to him, ‘Turn back thy sword to its place; for all who did take the sword, by the sword shall perish;
DARBYThen saith Jesus to him, Return thy sword to its place; for all who take the sword shall perish by the sword.
BBEThen says Jesus to him, Put up your sword again into its place: for all those who take the sword will come to death by the sword.
WebsterThen said Jesus to him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword, shall perish by the sword.

What does Matthew 26:52 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 52. Thy sword into his place. Into the sheath.

For all they that take the sword, etc. This passage is capable of different significations.

(1.) They who resist by the sword the civil magistrate, shall be punished; and it is dangerous, therefore, to oppose those who come with the authority of the civil ruler.

(2.) These men, Jews and Romans, who have taken the sword against the innocent, shall perish by the sword. God will take vengeance on them. But,

(3.) the most satisfactory interpretation is that which regards it as a caution to Peter. Peter was rash. Alone he had attacked the whole band. Jesus told him that his unseasonable and imprudent defence might be the occasion of his own destruction. In doing it, he would endanger his life, for they who took the sword perished by it. This was probably a proverb, denoting that they who engaged in wars commonly perished there.

(v) Gen 9:6, Eze 35:5,6, Rev 13:10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 52 Put up again thy sword into his place - Neither Christ nor his religion is to be defended by the secular arm. God is sufficiently able to support his ark: Uzzah need not stretch out his hand on the occasion. Even the shadow of public justice is not to be resisted by a private person, when coming from those in public authority. The cause of a Christian is the cause of God: sufferings belong to one, and vengeance to the other. Let the cause, therefore, rest in his hands, who will do it ample justice. Shall perish with the sword - Instead of απολουνται, shall perish, many excellent MSS., versions, and fathers, have αποθανουνται, shall die. The general meaning of this verse is, they who contend in battle are likely, on both sides, to become the sacrifices of their mutual animosities. But it is probably a prophetic declaration of the Jewish and Roman states. The Jews put our Lord to death under the sanction of the Romans - both took the sword against Christ, and both perished by it. The Jews by the sword of the Romans, and the Romans by that of the Goths, Vandals, etc. The event has verified the prediction - the Jewish government has been destroyed upwards of 1700 years, and the Roman upwards of 1000. Confer with this passage, Psa 2:4, Psa 2:9; Psa 110:1, Psa 110:5, Psa 110:6. But how came Peter to have a sword? Judea was at this time so infested with robbers and cut-throats that it was not deemed safe for any person to go unarmed. He probably carried one for his mere personal safety.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 26:47-56

No enemies are so much to be abhorred as those professed disciples that betray Christ with a kiss. God has no need of our services, much less of our sins, to bring about his purposes. Though Christ was crucified through weakness, it was voluntary weakness; he submitted to death. If he had not been willing to suffer, they could not conquer him. It was a great sin for those who had left all to follow Jesus; now to…

Read the full comment on Matthew 26:47-56 →

Matthew 26:52 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
λέγειlegeisaysG3004
αὐτῷautōto himG846
ὁho<the>G3588
Ἰησοῦς·IēsousJesus;G2424
ἀπόστρεψονapostrepsondo returnG654
τὴνtēntheG3588
μάχαιράνmachairanswordG3162
σουsouof youG4771
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὸνtontheG3588
τόπονtoponplaceG5117
αὐτῆς·autēsof it;G846
πάντεςpantesallG3956
γὰρgarforG1063
οἱhoithoseG3588
λαβόντεςlabonteshaving takenG2983
μάχαιρανmachairan[the] swordG3162
ἐνenbyG1722
μαχαίρῃmachairē[the] swordG3162
ἀπολοῦνται.apolountaiwill perish.G622

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

Cross references for Matthew 26:52

  • Genesis 9:6

    Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

  • Revelation 13:10

    He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

  • Romans 12:19

    Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

  • 1 Peter 2:21-23

    For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

  • 1 Peter 3:9

    Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

  • Revelation 16:6

    For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

  • Psalms 55:23

    But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:15

    See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

  • Matthew 23:34-36

    Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

  • Ezekiel 35:5-6

    Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end: Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:11-12

    Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

  • Matthew 5:39

    But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Put.
5:39; Ro 12:19; 1Co 4:11,12; 1Th 5:15; 1Pe 2:21-23; 3:9
they.
23:34-36; Ge 9:6; Ps 55:23; Eze 35:5,6; Re 13:10; 16:6

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

Context

  • Matthew 26:51

    And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.

  • Matthew 26:52

    Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

  • Matthew 26:53

    Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Read all of Matthew 26

Matthew 26:52 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Entonces Jesús le dice: Vuelve tu espada á su lugar; porque todos los que tomaren espada, á espada perecerán.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Alors Jésus lui dit: Remets ton épée en son lieu; car tous ceux qui auront pris l’épée périront par l’épée.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Da spricht Jesus zu ihm: Stecke dein Schwert wieder an seinen Ort; denn alle, die das Schwert nehmen, werden durchs Schwert umkommen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Tunc ait illi Jesus: Converte gladium tuum in locum suum: omnes enim, qui acceperint gladium, gladio peribunt.