Matthew 10:16

Matthew 10:16

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

a. NLT: “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.

b. NIV: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

c. YLT: '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.

d. Amplified Bible: Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves; be ^[c]waryand wise as serpents, and be innocent (harmless, guileless, and ^[d]without falsity) as doves.

e. Worrell Translation: :Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; become ye, therefore, as wise as the serpents and as innocent as doves.

1. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves…”

a. behold [2400 * idou] [Strong: second person singular imperative middle voice of 1492; used as imperative lo!; --behold, lo, see.]

b. I [1473 * ego] [Strong: a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic):--I, me.]

c. send…forth [649 * apostello] [Strong: from 575 and 4724; set apart, i.e. (by implication) to send out (properly, on a mission) literally or figuratively:--put in, send (away, forth, out), set (at liberty).]

d. you [5209 * humas] [Strong: accusative case of 5210; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).]

e. as [5613 * hos] [Strong: probably adverb of comparative from 3739; which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows):--about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.]

f. sheep [4263 * probation] [Strong: probably neuter of a presumed derivative of 4260; something that walks forward (a quadruped), i.e. (specially), a sheep (literally or figuratively):--sheep(-fold).]

g. in [1722 * en] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

h. the midst [3319 * mesos] [Strong: from 3326; middle (as an adjective or (neuter) noun):--among, X before them, between, + forth, mid(-day, -night), midst, way.]

i. of wolves [3074 * lukos] [Strong: perhaps akin to the base of 3022 (from the whitish hair); a wolf:--wolf.]

2. “…be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

a. be ye [1096 * ginomai] [Strong: a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):--arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.]

b. therefore [3767 * oun] [Strong: apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly:--and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.]

c. wise [5429 * phronimos] [Strong: from 5424; thoughtful, i.e. sagacious or discreet (implying a cautious character; while 4680 denotes practical skill or acumen; and 4908 indicates rather intelligence or mental acquirement); in a bad sense conceited (also in the comparative):--wise(-r).]

d. as [5613 * hos] [Strong: probably adverb of comparative from 3739; which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows):--about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.]

e. serpents [3789 * ophis] [Strong: probably from 3700 (through the idea of sharpness of vision); a snake, figuratively, (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan:--serpent.]

f. and [3225 * kai] [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

g. harmless [185 * akeraios] [Strong: from 1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of 2767; unmixed, i.e. (figuratively) innocent:--harmless, simple.

h. as [5613 * hos] See “as” above.

i. doves [4058 * peristera] [Strong: of uncertain derivation; a pigeon:--dove, pigeon.]