Matthew 3 · Verse 9

Matthew 3:9

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Matthew 3:9, King James Version

Matthew 3:9 in other translations

BSBAnd do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
WEBDon’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
ASVand think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
YLTand do not think to say in yourselves, A father we have--Abraham, for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise children to Abraham,
DARBYAnd do not think to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
BBEAnd say not to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; because I say to you that God is able from these stones to make children for Abraham.
WebsterAnd think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

What does Matthew 3:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father--that pillow on which the nation so fatally reposed, that rock on which at length it split. for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham--that is, "Flatter not yourselves with the fond delusion that God stands in need of you, to make good His promise of a seed to Abraham; for I tell you that, though you were all to perish, God is as able to raise up a seed to Abraham out of those stones as He was to take Abraham himself out of the rock whence he was hewn, out of the hole of the pit whence he was digged" (Is 51:1). Though the stern speaker may have pointed as he spoke to the pebbles of the bare clay hills that lay around (so Stanley's Sinai and Palestine), it was clearly the calling of the Gentiles--at that time stone-dead in their sins, and quite as unconscious of it--into the room of unbelieving and disinherited Israel that he meant thus to indicate (see Mt 21:43; Ro 11:20, 30).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. And think not to say, etc. They regarded it, as sufficient righteousness that they were descended from so holy a man as Abraham. They deemed it as such an honour that it would go far to justify all his descendants, Jn 8:33-37, 53. John assured them that this was a matter of small consequence in the sight of God. Of the very stones of the Jordan he could raise up children to Abraham. The meaning seems to be this: God, from these stones, could more easily raise up those who should be worthy children of Abraham, or be like him, than simply because you are descendants of Abraham make you, who are proud and hypocritical, subjects of the Messiah's kingdom. Or, mere nativity, or the privileges of birth, avail nothing where there is not righteousness of life. Some have supposed, however, that by these stones he meant the Roman soldiers, or the heathen, who might also have attended on his ministry; and that God could of them raise up children to Abraham.

(1) "of these stones" or, "answerable to amendment of life"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 3:7-12

To make application to the souls of the hearers, is the life of preaching; so it was of John's preaching. The Pharisees laid their chief stress on outward observances, neglecting the weightier matters of the moral law, and the spiritual meaning of their legal ceremonies. Others of them were detestable hypocrites, making their pretences to holiness a cloak for iniquity. The Sadducees ran into the opposite extreme…

Read the full comment on Matthew 3:7-12 →

Matthew 3:9 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
μὴmēnotG3361
δόξητεdoxētemay you presumeG1380
λέγεινlegeinto sayG3004
ἐνenwithinG1722
ἑαυτοῖς·he'autoisyourselves;G1438
πατέραpatera[As] fatherG3962
ἔχομενechomenwe haveG2192
τὸνton<the>G3588
Ἀβραάμ·AbraamAbraham;G11
λέγωlegōI sayG3004
γὰρgarforG1063
ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771
ὅτιhotithatG3754
δύναταιdunataiable isG1410
ὁho<the>G3588
θεὸςtheosGodG2316
ἐκekout ofG1537
τῶνtōn<the>G3588
λίθωνlithōnstonesG3037
τούτωνtoutōntheseG3778
ἐγεῖραιegeiraito raise upG1453
τέκναteknachildrenG5043
τῷtō<the>G3588
Ἀβραάμ.¶Abraamto Abraham.G11

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

Cross references for Matthew 3:9

  • Luke 3:8

    Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

  • Romans 9:7-8

    Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

  • Galatians 3:27-29

    For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

  • John 8:33

    They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

  • Acts 13:26

    Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

  • Galatians 4:22-31

    For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. …

  • Romans 4:1

    What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

  • Luke 16:24

    And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

  • Matthew 8:11-12

    And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

  • Mark 7:21

    For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

  • Ezekiel 33:24

    Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.

  • John 8:39-40

    They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
think.
Mr 7:21; Lu 3:8; 5:22; 7:39; 12:17
We.
Eze 33:24; Lu 16:24; Joh 8:33,39,40,53; Ac 13:26; Ro 4:1,11-16
Ro 9:7,8; Ga 4:22-31
God.
8:11,12; Lu 19:40; Ac 15:14; Ro 4:17; 1Co 1:27,28; Ga 3:27-29
Eph 2:12,13

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

Context

  • Matthew 3:8

    Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

  • Matthew 3:9

    And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

  • Matthew 3:10

    And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Read all of Matthew 3

Matthew 3:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y no penséis decir dentro de vosotros: A Abraham tenemos por padre: porque yo os digo, que puede Dios despertar hijos á Abraham aun de estas piedras.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et ne pensez pas de dire en vous-mêmes: Nous avons Abraham pour père; car je vous dis que Dieu peut, de ces pierres, susciter des enfants à Abraham.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und denket nicht bei euch selbst zu sagen: Wir haben Abraham zum Vater; denn ich sage euch, daß Gott dem Abraham aus diesen Steinen Kinder zu erwecken vermag.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ne velitis dicere intra vos: Patrem habemus Abraham. Dico enim vobis quoniam potens est Deus de lapidibus istis suscitare filios Abrahæ.