Matthew 9 · Verse 6

Matthew 9:6

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
Matthew 9:6, King James Version

Matthew 9:6 in other translations

BSBBut so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
WEBBut that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.”
ASVBut that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the sick of the palsy), Arise, and take up thy bed, and go unto thy house.
YLT‘But, that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power upon the earth to forgive sins--(then saith he to the paralytic) --having risen, take up thy couch, and go to thy house.'
DARBYBut that ye may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (then he says to the paralytic,) Rise up, take up thy bed and go to thy house.
BBEBut so that you may see that on earth the Son of man has authority for the forgiveness of sins, (then said he to the man who was ill,) Get up, and take up your bed, and go to your house.
WebsterBut that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick with the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go to thy house.

What does Matthew 9:6 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 6.

(y) "forgive sins" Mic 7:18

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 But that ye may know, etc. - External miracles are the proofs of internal ones. Three miracles are wrought in this case. (I mean, by miracle, something produced or known that no power is capable of but that which is omnipotent, and no knowledge adequate to but that which is omniscient). The miracles are these: 1st. The remission of the poor man's sins. 2d. The discernment of the secret thoughts of the scribes. 3d. The restoring of the paralytic, in an instant, to perfect soundness. Thus one miracle becomes the proof and establishment of another. Never was a clearer proof of omnipotent energy and mercy brought under the senses of man. Here is an absolutely perfect miracle wrought; and here are absolute incontestable proofs that the miracle was wrought; and the conclusion is the fullest demonstration of the Divinity of the ever-blessed Jesus. Arise, take up thy bed - Being enabled to obey this command was the public proof that the man was made whole. Such a circumstance should not pass without improvement. A man gives proof of his conversion from sin to God who imitates this paralytic person. He who does not rise and stand upright, but either continues grovelling on the earth, or falls back as soon as he is got up, is not yet cured of his spiritual palsy. When we see a penitent enabled to rejoice in hope of God's glory, and to walk in the way of his commandments, he affords us all the proof which we can reasonably require, that his conversion is real: the proof sufficient to satisfy himself is the witness of the Holy Spirit in his own heart; but this is a matter of which those who are without cannot judge: they must form their opinion from his conduct, and judge of the tree by its fruits.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 9:1-8

The faith of the friends of the paralytic in bringing him to Christ, was a strong faith; they firmly believed that Jesus Christ both could and would heal him. A strong faith regards no obstacles in pressing after Christ. It was a humble faith; they brought him to attend on Christ. It was an active faith. Sin may be pardoned, yet the sickness not be removed; the sickness may be removed, yet the sin not pardoned: but…

Read the full comment on Matthew 9:1-8 →

Matthew 9:6 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.

ἵναinaSo thatG2443
δὲdehoweverG1161
εἰδῆτεeidēteyou may know
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἐξουσίανexousianauthorityG1849
ἔχειecheihasG2192
ὁhotheG3588
υἱὸςhuiosSonG5207
τοῦtou<the>G3588
ἀνθρώπουanthrōpouof ManG444
ἐπὶepionG1909
τῆςtēstheG3588
γῆςgēsearthG1093
ἀφιέναιaphienaito forgiveG863
ἁμαρτίας,hamartiassins..,G266
τότεtoteThenG5119
λέγειlegeiHe saysG3004
τῷtōto theG3588
παραλυτικῷ·paralutikōparalytic;G3885
ἐγερθεὶςegertheisHaving arisenG1453
ἆρόνarondo take upG142
σουsouyourG4771
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
κλίνηνklinēnmatG2825
καὶkaiandG2532
ὕπαγεhupagedo goG5217
εἰςeistoG1519
τὸνtontheG3588
οἶκόνoikonhouseG3624
σου.souof you.G4771

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

Cross references for Matthew 9:6

  • Isaiah 43:25

    I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

  • Matthew 9:5

    For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

  • 2 Corinthians 5:20

    Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

  • John 20:21-23

    Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:10

    To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

  • John 5:21-23

    For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

  • Acts 7:59-60

    And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

  • Mark 2:7

    Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

  • John 10:28

    And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

  • Colossians 3:13

    Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

  • Luke 5:21

    And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

  • Mark 2:10

    But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that the.
Isa 43:25; Mic 7:18; Mr 2:7,10; Lu 5:21; Joh 5:21-23; 10:28; 17:2
Joh 20:21-23; Ac 5:31; 7:59,60; 2Co 2:10; 5:20; Eph 4:32; Col 3:13
Arise.
5; Lu 13:11-13; Ac 9:34

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

Context

  • Matthew 9:5

    For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

  • Matthew 9:6

    But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

  • Matthew 9:7

    And he arose, and departed to his house.

Read all of Matthew 9

Matthew 9:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Pues para que sepáis que el Hijo del hombre tiene potestad en la tierra de perdonar pecados, (dice entonces al paralítico): Levántate, toma tu cama, y vete á tu casa.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Or, afin que vous sachiez que le fils de l’homme a le pouvoir sur la terre de pardonner les péchés…; alors il dit au paralytique: Lève-toi, prends ton lit, et va dans ta maison.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Auf daß ihr aber wisset, daß der Sohn des Menschen Gewalt hat auf der Erde Sünden zu vergeben. dann sagt er zu dem Gelähmten: Stehe auf, nimm dein Bett auf und geh nach deinem Hause.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Ut autem sciatis, quia Filius hominis habet potestatem in terra dimittendi peccata, tunc ait paralytico: Surge, tolle lectum tuum, et vade in domum tuam.