Matthew 10:16
New International Version
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

New Living Translation
“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.

English Standard Version
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Berean Standard Bible
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Berean Literal Bible
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.

King James Bible
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

New King James Version
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

New American Standard Bible
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves.

NASB 1995
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.

NASB 1977
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.

Amplified Bible
“Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves [have no self-serving agenda].

Christian Standard Bible
“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves.

American Standard Version
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Behold, I am sending you as lambs among wolves; be therefore crafty as snakes and innocent as doves.”

Contemporary English Version
I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. So be as wise as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves.

English Revised Version
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I'm sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as snakes but as innocent as doves.

Good News Translation
"Listen! I am sending you out just like sheep to a pack of wolves. You must be as cautious as snakes and as gentle as doves.

International Standard Version
"Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves.

Literal Standard Version
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, therefore be wise as the serpents, and pure as the doves.

Majority Standard Bible
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

New American Bible
“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.

NET Bible
"I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

New Revised Standard Version
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

New Heart English Bible
"Look, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be cunning as snakes and innocent as doves.

Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Weymouth New Testament
"Remember it is I who am sending you out, as sheep into the midst of wolves; prove yourselves as sagacious as serpents, and as innocent as doves.

World English Bible
“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Young's Literal Translation
'Lo, I do send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, be ye therefore wise as the serpents, and simple as the doves.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sheep among Wolves
15Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17But beware of men; for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.…

Cross References
Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'"

Jeremiah 40:16
But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, "Do not do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie."

Hosea 7:11
So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove--calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.

Matthew 24:25
See, I have told you in advance.

Matthew 24:45
Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time?

Matthew 25:2
Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

Matthew 25:4
But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps.


Treasury of Scripture

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the middle of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

as sheep.

Luke 10:3
Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

Acts 20:29
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

wise.

Genesis 3:1,13
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? …

Luke 21:15
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Romans 16:19
For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

harmless.

Romans 16:18,19
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple…

2 Corinthians 1:12
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

2 Corinthians 8:20
Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

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Doves Forth Gentle Guileless Harmless Innocent Midst Prove Prudent Remember Sending Serpents Sheep Shrewd Simple Wise Wolves Yourselves
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Doves Forth Gentle Guileless Harmless Innocent Midst Prove Prudent Remember Sending Serpents Sheep Shrewd Simple Wise Wolves Yourselves
Matthew 10
1. Jesus sends out his apostles, enabling them with power to do miracles;
5. giving them their charge, teaches them;
16. comforts them against persecutions;
40. and promises a blessing to those who receive them.














(16) I send you forth.--The nominative pronoun is emphatic, "It is I who send," and that not so much as an assurance of protection, but, as the words that follow show, as reminding them of their responsibility as His delegates.

As sheep in the midst of wolves.--Nothing can be more striking than the union of this clear foresight of conflict and suffering with the full assurance of victory and sovereignty. The position of the disciples would be as sheep surrounded by a flock of hungry and raging wolves, the wolf being here, as elsewhere in the New Testament, the symbol of the persecutor.

Wise as serpents.--The idea of the serpent as symbolising wisdom, seems to have entered into the early parables of most Eastern nations. We find it in Egyptian temples, in the twined serpents of the rod of 'sculapius and of Hermes, in the serpent-worship of the Turanian races, in the history in Genesis 3 of the serpent that was "more subtle than any beast of the field." For the most part it appears in Scripture as representing an evil wisdom to be fought with and overcome. Here we learn that even the serpent's sinuous craft presents something which we may well learn to reproduce. When St. Paul "caught men with guile" (2Corinthians 12:16), becoming "all things to all men" (1Corinthians 9:22), he was acting in the spirit of his Master's counsels.

Harmless as doves.--Better, simple, sincere--i.e., "guileless." The Greek indicates more than simple harmlessness--a character in which there is no alloy of baser motives. Once again truth appears in the form of paradox. The disciples of Christ are to be at once supremely guileful and absolutely guileless. Our Lord's reference to this symbolism gains a fresh significance when we remember that He had seen the heavens opened, and the Spirit of God descending "like a dove" upon Himself (Matthew 3:16). In and by that Spirit the two qualities that seem so contradictory are reconciled.

Verses 16-39. - The internal conditions of conveying Christ's message. The subdivisions of this section are after ver. 23 and ver. 33 (cf. ver. 5b, note). Verses 16-23. - You will be in the midst; of foes, and simplicity must be accompanied by prudence (ver. 16, a summary of all); you will be ill-treated publicly (vers. 17, 18), but must conduct yourselves with calm faith that you will be guided in your defence (vers. 19, 20), with endurance of family and universal enmity. (vers. 21, 22), with common sense in avoiding unnecessary danger, for wherever you go you will find work to be done (ver. 23). Verse 16-16a, parallel passage: Luke 10:3 (the seventy); 16b, Matthew only. Behold. He calls their attention. I send you forth. I (ἐγω), with the full consciousness of all that will befall you; I, whose message you will carry, whose character you will represent. In this I lies the germ of vers. 40-42. As sheep in the midst of wolves. The 'Midrash' on Esther 8:2 (Parasha 10.) uses the same phrase of the position of Israel amidst a hostile world (cf. Edersheim, 'Life,' 1:645), adding, "How great is that Shepherd who delivers them and vanquishes the wolves?" 'Clem. Romans,' it. § 5, has an interesting addition, "The Lord saith, Ye shall be as lambs in the midst of wolves. But Peter answered and said unto him, What then, if the wolves should tear the lambs? Jesus saith unto Peter, Let not the lambs fear the wolves after they [the lambs] are dead." Be ye therefore. Prove yourselves to he (γίνεσθε). Wise. Prudent (φρόνιμοι). As serpents. אָ,with Ignat., 'Polyc.,' § 2, has the singular, perhaps taking it generically, or perhaps not without reference to the phrase in Genesis 3:1, "The serpent was more subtle," etc. (ὁ δὲ ὄφις η΅ν φρονιμώτατος κ.τ.λ.). The prudence of the serpent is specially apparent in the quickness of its perception of danger and the rapidity with which it escapes from it. Kubel gives Matthew 22:23, sqq., 34, sqq.; John 2:24; John 11:9, 10, as examples of this proper prudence in the case of our Lord. And harmless as doves. Harmless; rather, simple, with Revised Version margin, for ἀκέραιος is literally "unmixed, unadulterated" (cf Bishop Lightfoot, on Philippians 2:15), and emphasizes the idea of simplicity of character. It is thus not active, but passive. Comp. 'Shir. R.' (Song of Solomon 2:14), "With me they [Israel] are simple [תמימים; cf. the 'Etz Ya'akob, which refers to Hosea 7:11 as doves, but among the nations of the world they are subtle as serpents" (cf. Matthew 3:16, note).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Look,
Ἰδοὺ (Idou)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2400: See! Lo! Behold! Look! Second person singular imperative middle voice of eido; used as imperative lo!

I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

am sending you out
ἀποστέλλω (apostellō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 649: From apo and stello; set apart, i.e. to send out literally or figuratively.

like
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

sheep
πρόβατα (probata)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4263: A sheep. Probably neuter of a presumed derivative of probaino; something that walks forward, i.e., a sheep.

among
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

wolves;
λύκων (lykōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3074: A wolf, of perhaps a jackal; often applied to persons of wolfish proclivities. Perhaps akin to the base of leukos; a wolf.

therefore
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

be
γίνεσθε (ginesthe)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

as shrewd
φρόνιμοι (phronimoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5429: Intelligent, prudent, sensible, wise. From phren; thoughtful, i.e. Sagacious or discreet; in a bad sense conceited.

as
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

snakes
ὄφεις (opheis)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3789: Probably from optanomai; a snake, figuratively, an artful malicious person, especially Satan.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

as innocent
ἀκέραιοι (akeraioi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 185: (lit: unmixed) simple, unsophisticated, sincere, blameless. Unmixed, i.e. innocent.

as
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

doves.
περιστεραί (peristerai)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4058: A dove, pigeon. Of uncertain derivation; a pigeon.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 10:16 Behold I send you out as sheep (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 10:15
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