Matthew 8 · Verse 19

Matthew 8:19

And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Matthew 8:19, King James Version

Matthew 8:19 in other translations

BSBAnd one of the scribes came to Him and said, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”
WEBA scribe came and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
ASVAnd there came a scribe, and said unto him, Teacher, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
YLTand a certain scribe having come, said to him, ‘Teacher, I will follow thee wherever thou mayest go;'
DARBYAnd a scribe came up and said to him, Teacher, I will follow thee whithersoever thou mayest go.
BBEAnd there came a scribe and said to him, Master, I will come after you wherever you go.
WebsterAnd a certain scribe came, and said to him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

What does Matthew 8:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verses 19,20. A certain scribe came, etc. It is not improbable that this man, who had seen the miracles of Jesus, had formed an expectation that by following him he would obtain some considerable worldly advantage. Christ, in reply, proclaimed his own poverty, and dashed the hope of the avaricious scribe. The very foxes and birds, says he, have places of repose and shelter, but the Son of man has no home, and no pillow. He is a stranger in his own world; a wanderer and an outcast from the abodes of men. Comp. Jn 1:11.

Son of man. This means evidently Jesus himself. Not title is more frequently given to the Saviour than this; and yet there is much difficulty in explaining it. The word son is used in a great variety of significations. Mt 1:1. The name Son of man is given to Jesus only three times in the New Testament, (Acts 7:56, Rev 1:13, 14:14). The phrase Son of God, given to Christ, denotes peculiar connexion with God, Jn 10:36. The name Son of man probably denotes a corresponding peculiar connexion with man; his peculiar love and friendship for him; and his willingness to devote himself to the best interests of the race. It is sometimes, however, used as synonymous with Messiah, Mt 16:28 Jn 1:34, Acts 7:37, Jn 12:34.

(f) "Master, I" Lk 9:57,58

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 A certain scribe - Though ἑις γραμματευς, One scribe, may be considered as a Hebraism, yet it is probable that the literal construction of it was intended, to show that few of this class came to the Lord Jesus for instruction or salvation. Master - Rather, teacher, διδασκαλε from διδασκω, I teach, which itself seems to be derived from δεικω, I show, and means the person who shows or points out a particular way or science. I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest - A man who is not illuminated by the Spirit of God thinks himself capable of any thing: he alone who is divinely taught knows he can do nothing but through Christ strengthening him. Every teacher among the Jews had disciples, and some especially that followed or accompanied them wherever they went, that they might have some person at hand with whom they might converse concerning the Divine law.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 8:18-22

One of the scribes was too hasty in promising; he proffers himself to be a close follower of Christ. He seems to be very resolute. Many resolutions for religion are produced by sudden conviction, and taken up without due consideration; these come to nothing. When this scribe offered to follow Christ, one would think he should have been encouraged; one scribe might do more credit and service than twelve fishermen…

Read the full comment on Matthew 8:18-22 →

Matthew 8:19 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
προσελθὼνproselthōnhaving come to [Him]G4334
εἷςheisoneG1520
γραμματεὺςgrammateusscribeG1122
εἶπενeipensaidG2036
αὐτῷ·autōto Him;G846
διδάσκαλε,didaskaleTeacher,G1320
ἀκολουθήσωakolouthēsōI will followG190
σοιsoiYouG4771
ὅπουhopouwhereverG3699
ἐὰνeanifG1437
ἀπέρχῃ.aperchēYou shall go.G565

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

Cross references for Matthew 8:19

  • Luke 22:33-34

    And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

  • Luke 14:33

    So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

  • John 13:36-38

    Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

  • Luke 14:25-27

    And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

  • Mark 12:32-34

    And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:20

    Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

  • Luke 9:57-60

    And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
certain.
Ezr 7:6; Mr 12:32-34; Lu 9:57,58; 1Co 1:20
I will.
Lu 14:25-27,33; 22:33,34; Joh 13:36-38

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

Context

  • Matthew 8:18

    Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

  • Matthew 8:19

    And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

  • Matthew 8:20

    And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Read all of Matthew 8

Matthew 8:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y llegándose un escriba, le dijo: Maestro, te seguiré á donde quiera que fueres.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et un scribe s’approchant, lui dit: Maître, je te suivrai où que tu ailles.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und ein Schriftgelehrter kam herzu und sprach zu ihm: Lehrer, ich will dir nachfolgen, wohin irgend du gehst.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et accedens unus scriba, ait illi: Magister, sequar te, quocumque ieris.