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.
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.
- BSB Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them 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 21:16–17And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
- Mic 7:5–6Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
- Mark 13:12–13Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
- Matt 24:10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
- Luke 12:51–53Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
- Zech 13:3And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.
- Matt 10:34–36Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
- 2 Sam 17:1–4Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
- 2 Sam 16:11And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
- Job 19:19All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are 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.