For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”
Parallel translations
- WEB For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”
- KJV For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
- NKJV For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
- NASB For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
- NLT For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
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
Where two or three gather in Jesus' name, he is present among them. Christ himself dwells with even the smallest gathering of his people.
Overview
This cherished promise assures the church of Christ's living presence whenever it assembles around him, undergirding its prayer and discipline. To gather 'in his name' is to come under his authority and for his glory. The verse reveals Jesus' divine omnipresence and his abiding nearness to his people, a comfort flowing from his resurrection lordship.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 1 Cor 5:4When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus,
- Rev 21:3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.
- Matt 28:20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- Zech 2:5For I will be a wall of fire around it, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory within it.’”
- John 20:26Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
- John 20:19It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them.
- Rev 2:1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
- Exod 20:24You are to make for Me an altar of earth, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and cattle. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.
- Gen 49:10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.
- Rev 1:11–13saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
- John 8:58“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
- Phlm 1:2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:
- 1 Th 1:1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 18:20 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.