“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.
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.
- BSB Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them 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 handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death.
- Mic 7:5–6Don’t trust in a neighbor. Don’t put confidence in a friend. With the woman lying in your embrace, be careful of the words of your mouth!
- Mark 13:12–13“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.
- Matt 24:10Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.
- Luke 12:51–53Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division.
- Zech 13:3It will happen that, when anyone still prophesies, then his father and his mother who bore him will tell him, ‘You must die, because you speak lies in Yahweh’s name;’ and his father and his mother who bore him will stab him when he prophesies.
- Matt 10:34–36“Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword.
- 2 Sam 17:1–4Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David tonight.
- 2 Sam 16:11David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, “Behold, my son, who came out of my bowels, seeks my life. How much more this Benjamite, now? Leave him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh has invited him.
- Job 19:19All my familiar friends abhor me. They whom I loved 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.