Matthew 5 · Verse 12

Matthew 5:12

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:12, King James Version

Matthew 5:12 in other translations

BSBRejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
WEBRejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
ASVRejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.
YLTrejoice ye and be glad, because your reward is great in the heavens, for thus did they persecute the prophets who were before you.
DARBYRejoice and exult, for your reward is great in the heavens; for thus have they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
BBEBe glad and full of joy; for great is your reward in heaven: for so were the prophets attacked who were before you.
WebsterRejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

What does Matthew 5:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad--"exult." In the corresponding passage of Luke (Lu 6:22, 23), where every indignity trying to flesh and blood is held forth as the probable lot of such as were faithful to Him, the word is even stronger than here: "leap," as if He would have their inward transport to overpower and absorb the sense of all these affronts and sufferings; nor will anything else do it. for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you:--that is, "You do but serve yourselves heirs to their character and sufferings, and the reward will be common."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. Rejoice, etc. The reward of such suffering is great. To those who suffer most, God imparts the highest rewards. Hence the crown of martyrdom has been thought to be the brightest that any of the redeemed shall wear; and hence many of the early Christians sought to become martyrs, and threw themselves in the way of their persecutors, that they might be put to death. They literally rejoiced, and leaped for joy, at the prospect of death for the sake of Jesus. Though God does not require us to seek persecution, yet all this shows that there is something in religion to sustain the soul, which the-world does not possess. Nothing but the consciousness of innocence, and the presence of God, could have borne them up in the midst of these trials; and the flame, therefore, kindled to consume the martyr, has also been a bright light, showing the truth and power of the gospel of Jesus.

The prophets, etc. The holy men who came to predict future events, and who were the religious teachers of the Jews. For an account of their persecutions, see the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews.

(g) "great is your reward" 2Cor 4:17

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Rejoice - In the testimony of a good conscience; for, without this, suffering has nothing but misery in it. Be exceeding glad - Αγαλλιασθε, leap for joy. There are several cases on record, where this was literally done by the martyrs, in Queen Mary's days. Great is your reward in heaven - In the Talmudical tract Pirkey Aboth, are these words: "Rabbi Tarpon said, The day is short: the work is great: the laborers are slow: the Reward Is Great: and the father of the family is urgent." The followers of Christ are encouraged to suffer joyfully on two considerations. 1. They are thereby conformed to the prophets who went before. 2. Their reward in heaven is a great one. God gives the grace to suffer, and then crowns that grace with glory; hence it is plain, the reward is not of debt, but of grace: Rom 6:23.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 5:3-12

Our Saviour here gives eight characters of blessed people, which represent to us the principal graces of a Christian. 1. The poor in spirit are happy. These bring their minds to their condition, when it is a low condition. They are humble and lowly in their own eyes. They see their want, bewail their guilt, and thirst after a Redeemer. The kingdom of grace is of such; the kingdom of glory is for them. 2. Those that…

Read the full comment on Matthew 5:3-12 →

Matthew 5:12 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.

χαίρετεchairetedo rejoiceG5463
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀγαλλιᾶσθε,agalliasthedo exult,G21
ὅτιhotiforG3754
ὁhotheG3588
μισθὸςmisthosrewardG3408
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
πολὺςpolus[is] greatG4183
ἐνeninG1722
τοῖςtoistheG3588
οὐρανοῖς·ouranoisheavens;G3772
οὕτωςhoutōsthusG3779
γὰρgarforG1063
ἐδίωξανediōxanthey persecutedG1377
τοὺςtoustheG3588
προφήταςprophētasprophetsG4396
τοὺςtous<the>G3588
πρὸprobeforeG4253
ὑμῶν.¶humōnyou.G4771

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

Cross references for Matthew 5:12

  • Luke 6:23

    Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

  • James 1:2

    My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

  • Colossians 3:24

    Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

  • 1 Peter 4:13

    But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

  • Colossians 1:24

    Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

  • Romans 5:3

    And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

  • Ruth 2:12

    The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

  • Psalms 58:11

    So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

  • Isaiah 3:10

    Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

  • Proverbs 11:18

    The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:16

    But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

  • Matthew 16:27

    For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rejoice.
Lu 6:23; Ac 5:41; 16:25; Ro 5:3; 2Co 4:17; Php 2:17; Col 1:24
Jas 1:2; 1Pe 4:13
for great.
6:1,2,4,5,16; 10:41,42; 16:27; Ge 15:1; Ru 2:12; Ps 19:11; 58:11
Pr 11:18; Isa 3:10; Lu 6:23,35; 1Co 3:8; Col 3:24; Heb 11:6,26
for so.
21:34-38; 23:31-37; 1Ki 18:4,13; 19:2,10-14; 21:20; 22:8,26,27
2Ki 1:9; 2Ch 16:10; 24:20-22; 36:16; Ne 9:26; Jer 2:30; 26:8,21-23
Lu 6:23; 11:47-51; 13:34; Ac 7:51; 1Th 2:15

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

Context

  • Matthew 5:11

    Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

  • Matthew 5:12

    Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

  • Matthew 5:13

    Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Read all of Matthew 5

Matthew 5:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Gozaos y alegraos; porque vuestra merced es grande en los cielos: que así persiguieron á los profetas que fueron antes de vosotros.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Réjouissez-vous et tressaillez de joie, car votre récompense est grande dans les cieux; car on a persécuté ainsi les prophètes qui ont été avant vous.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Freuet euch und frohlocket, denn euer Lohn ist groß in den Himmeln; denn also haben sie die Propheten verfolgt, die vor euch waren.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		gaudete, et exsultate, quoniam merces vestra copiosa est in cælis. Sic enim persecuti sunt prophetas, qui fuerunt ante vos.