Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.
- KJV And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
- NKJV “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
- NASB “Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
- NLT “A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Allegiance to Christ will divide even families, with some betraying loved ones to death. The gospel exposes the deepest loyalties of the heart.
Overview
Jesus soberly predicts that the gospel will fracture natural family bonds, echoing Micah 7:6. Such betrayal reveals that loyalty to Christ surpasses every earthly tie and that hostility to Him runs deep. The warning prepares disciples for costly faithfulness while implicitly calling for a love that endures even familial rejection.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Luke 21:16–17You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.
- Mic 7:5–6Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms.
- Mark 13:12–13Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
- Matt 24:10At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,
- Luke 12:51–53Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.
- Zech 13:3And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not remain alive, because you have spoken falsely in the name of the LORD.’ When he prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will pierce him through.
- Matt 10:34–36Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
- 2 Sam 17:1–4Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
- 2 Sam 16:11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.
- Job 19:19All my best friends despise me, and those I love have turned against me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 10:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.