Matthew 8 · Verse 5

Matthew 8:5

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
Matthew 8:5, King James Version

Matthew 8:5 in other translations

BSBWhen Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came and pleaded with Him,
WEBWhen he came into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking him for help,
ASVAnd when he was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
YLTAnd Jesus having entered into Capernaum, there came to him a centurion calling upon him,
DARBYAnd when he had entered into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, beseeching him,
BBEAnd when Jesus was come into Capernaum, a certain captain came to him with a request,
WebsterAnd when Jesus had entered into Capernaum, there came to him a centurion, beseeching him,

What does Matthew 8:5 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. Capernaum. Mt 4:13.

There came unto him a centurion. A centurion was a commander of a hundred men, in the Roman armies. Judea was a Roman province, and garrisons were kept there to preserve the people in subjection. This man was probably by birth a pagan. See Mt 8:10.

(v) "a centurion" Lk 7:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Capernaum - See Mat 4:13. A centurion - Εκατονταρχος. A Roman military officer who had the command of one hundred men.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 8:5-13
This centurion was a heathen, a Roman soldier. Though he was a soldier, yet he was a godly man. No man's calling or place will be an excuse for unbelief and sin. See how he states his servant's case. We should concern ourselves for the souls of our children and servants, who are spiritually sick, who feel not spiritual evils, who know not that which is spiritually good; and we should bring them to Christ by faith and prayers. Observe his self-abasement. Humble souls are made more humble by Christ's gracious dealings with them. Observe his great faith. The more diffident we are of ourselves, the stronger will be our confidence in Christ. Herein the centurion owns him to have Divine power, and a full command of all the creatures and powers of nature, as a master over his servants. Such servants we all should be to God; we must go and come, according to the directions of his word and the disposals of his providence. But when the Son of man comes he finds little faith, therefore he finds little fruit. An outward profession may cause us to be called children of the kingdom; but if we rest in that, and have nothing else to show, we shall be cast out. The servant got a cure of his disease, and the master got the approval of his faith. What was said to him, is said to all, Believe, and ye shall receive; only believe. See the power of Christ, and the power of faith. The healing of our souls is at once the effect and evidence of our interest in the blood of Christ.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 8:5 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.

ΕἰσελθόντοςEiselthontosWhen was enteringG1525
δὲdenowG1161
εἰςeisintoG1519
ΚαφαρναοὺμKapharnaoumCapernaumG2584
προσῆλθενprosēlthencameG4334
αὐτῷautōto HimG846
ἑκατόνταρχοςhekatontarchosa centurionG1543
παρακαλῶνparakalōnimploringG3870
αὐτὸνautonHimG846

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

Cross references for Matthew 8:5

  • Luke 7:1-10

    Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: …

  • Acts 27:43

    But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:

  • Matthew 27:54

    Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

  • Acts 27:31

    Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

  • Acts 10:1-33

    There was a certain man in Cesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. …

  • Acts 23:17

    Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

  • Matthew 4:13

    And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

  • Mark 15:39

    And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

  • Acts 23:23

    And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

  • Mark 2:1

    And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

  • Acts 27:13

    And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

  • Matthew 9:1

    And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
entered.
4:13; 9:1; 11:23; Mr 2:1; Lu 7:1
a centurion.This was a Roman military title; and therefore this officer may be concluded to have been a Gentile. (See fuller particulars under Mark 15:39.)
27:54; Mr 15:39; Lu 7:2-10; Ac 10:1-33; 22:25; 23:17,23; 27:13,31,43

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

Context

  • Matthew 8:4

    And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

  • Matthew 8:5

    And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

  • Matthew 8:6

    And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

Read all of Matthew 8

Matthew 8:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y entrando Jesús en Capernaum, vino á él un centurión, rogándole,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et comme il entrait dans Capernaüm, un centurion vint à lui, le suppliant,
German
Elberfelder 1871
Als er aber in Kapernaum eintrat, kam ein Hauptmann zu ihm, der ihn bat
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Cum autem introisset Capharnaum, accessit ad eum centurio, rogans eum,