Matthew 8 · Verse 9

Matthew 8:9

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

Matthew 8:9, King James Version

Matthew 8:9 in other translations

BSB	For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”
WEB	For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and tell another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and tell my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
ASV	For I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
YLT	for I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers, and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth, and to another, Be coming, and he cometh, and to my servant, Do this, and he doth it.'
DARBY	For I also am a man under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say to this one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my bondman, Do this, and he does it.
BBE	Because I myself am a man under authority, having under me fighting men; and I say to this one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it.
Webster	For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

What does Matthew 8:9 mean?

Barnes' Notes

Verse 9. I am a man, etc. He had full confidence in the ability of Jesus to heal his servant, and requested him simply to give the command. This request he presented in a manner appropriate to a soldier. I am a man, says he, under authority. That is, I am subject to the commands of others, and know how to obey. I have also under me soldiers who are accustomed to obedience. I say to one, go, and he goes; and to another, come, and he comes. I am prepared, therefore, to believe that your commands will be obeyed. As these obey me, so do diseases, storms, and seas obey you. If men obey me, who am an inferior officer, subject to another, how much more shall diseases obey you--the original Source of power-- having control over all things! He asked, therefore, simply that Christ would give commandment, and he felt assured he would be obeyed.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 9 For I am a man under authority - That is, under the authority of others. This verse has given considerable embarrassment to commentators and critics. I believe the paraphrase given above to be the true meaning of the evangelist. To make this matter more plain, let it be observed, that the Roman foot was divided into three grand parts, Hastati, Principes, and Triarii. Each of these grand divisions was composed of thirty manipuli or companies; and every manipulus made two centuries or companies of one hundred men. Every manipulus had two centurions; but these were very far from being equal in rank and honor, though possessing the very same office. The Triarii and Principes were esteemed the most honorable, and had their centurions elected first; and these first elected centurions took precedency of the centurions of the Hastati, who were elected last. The centurion in the text was probably one of this last order; he was under the authority of either the Principes or Triarii, and had none under him but the hundred men whom he commanded, and who appear to have been in a state of the most loving subjection to him. The argument of the centurion seems to run thus. If I, who am a person subject to the control of others, yet have some so completely subject to myself, that I can say to one, Come, and he cometh, to another, Go, and he goeth, and to my slave (τω δουλω μου) Do this, and he doeth it; how much more then canst thou accomplish whatsoever thou willest, being under no control, and having all things under thy command: He makes a proper use of his authority, who, by it, raises his mind to the contemplation of the sovereign power of God, taking occasion from it to humble himself before Him who has all power in heaven and earth, and to expect all good from him. There are two beautiful passages in Arrian that tend much to illustrate this speech of the centurion. Καταταγεις Αγαμεμνων, λεγει μοι, πορευου προς τον Αχιλλεα, και αποσπασον την Βρισηιδα, πορευομαι. Ερχου, ερχομαι. "He who personates Agamemnon says to me, Go to Achilles, and bring hither Briseis: I go. He says, Come hither: I come." Dissert. l. i. c. 25. p. 97. Οταν ο Θεος ειπῃ τοις φυτοις ανθειν, ανθει. Οταν ειπῃ βλαϚανειν, βλαϚανει. Οταν εκφερειν τον καρπον, εκφερει. Οταν πεπαινειν, πεπαινει. Οταν παλιν αποβαλλειν, και φυλλορροειν, και αυτα εις αυτα συνειλουμενα εφ' ησυχιας μενειν, και αναπαυεσθαι, μενει και αναπαυεται. "When God commands the plants to blossom, they bear blossoms. When he commands them to bear seed, they bear seed. When he commands them to bring forth fruit, they put forth their fruits. When he commands them to ripen, they grow ripe. When he commands them to fade, and shed their leaves, and remain inactive, involved in themselves, they thus remain, and are inactive." Cap. 14. p. 62. See Raphelius. This mode of speech fully marks supreme and uncontrolled power, and that power put forth by a sovereign will to effect any purpose of justice or mercy. And God said, let there be light, and there was light, is a similar expression.

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…

Read the full comment on Matthew 8:5-13 →

Matthew 8:9 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.

καὶkaiAlsoG2532

γὰρgarforG1063

ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473

ἄνθρωπόςanthrōposa manG444

εἰμιeimiamG1510

ὑπὸhupounderG5259

ἐξουσίανexousianauthorityG1849

ἔχωνechōnhavingG2192

ὑπ᾽hup᾽underG5259

ἐμαυτὸνemautonmyselfG1473

στρατιώταςstratiōtassoldiersG4757

καὶkaiandG2532

λέγωlegōI sayG3004

τούτῳ·toutōto this [one];G3778

πορεύθητι,poreuthētido go,G4198

καὶkaiandG2532

πορεύεται,poreuetaihe goes,G4198

καὶkaiandG2532

ἄλλῳ·allōto another;G243

ἔρχου,erchoudo come,G2064

καὶkaiandG2532

ἔρχεται,erchetaihe comes,G2064

καὶkaiandG2532

τῷtōto theG3588

δούλῳdoulōservantG1401

μου·mouof mine;G3165

ποίησονpoiēsondo enactG4160

τοῦτο,toutothis,G3778

καὶkaiandG2532

ποιεῖ.¶poieihe enacts [it].G4160

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

Cross references for Matthew 8:9

Titus 2:9
Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
Psalms 107:25-29
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. …
Psalms 119:91
They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
Psalms 148:8
Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
Luke 4:39
And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
Luke 7:8
For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Colossians 3:22
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
Luke 4:35-36
And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
Ezekiel 14:17-21
Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it: Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves. Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast: Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness. …
Job 38:34-35
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
Jeremiah 47:6-7
O thou sword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still. How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.
Mark 4:39-41
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Go.
Job 38:34,35; Ps 107:25-29; 119:91; 148:8; Jer 47:6,7; Eze 14:17-21
Mr 4:39-41; Lu 4:35,36,39; 7:8
Do.
Eph 6:5,6; Col 3:22; Tit 2:9

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

Context

Matthew 8:8
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
Matthew 8:9
For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Matthew 8:10
When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Read all of Matthew 8

Matthew 8:9 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque también yo soy hombre bajo de potestad, y tengo bajo de mí soldados: y digo á éste: Ve, y va; y al otro: Ven, y viene; y á mi siervo: Haz esto, y lo hace.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	car moi aussi, je suis un homme placé sous l’autorité d’autrui, ayant sous moi des soldats; et je dis à l’un: Va, et il va; et à un autre: Viens, et il vient; et à mon esclave: Fais cela, et il le fait.
German Elberfelder 1871	Denn auch ich bin ein Mensch unter Gewalt und habe Kriegsknechte unter mir; und ich sage zu diesem: Gehe hin, und er geht; und zu einem anderen: Komm, und er kommt; und zu meinem Knechte: Tue dieses, und er tuts.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Nam et ego homo sum sub potestate constitutus, habens sub me milites, et dico huic: Vade, et vadit: et alii: Veni, et venit: et servo meo: Fac hoc, et facit.