Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Parallel translations
- WEB and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
- KJV And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- NKJV and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- NASB and he will cut him in two and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- NLT and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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
The master will severely punish the unfaithful servant, assigning him with the hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Unfaithfulness ends in judgment.
Overview
The harsh sentence underscores the seriousness of false, unfaithful service. Being placed 'with the hypocrites' reveals that the servant's outward role masked an unbelieving heart. 'Weeping and gnashing of teeth' is Matthew's recurring image of final condemnation. The passage warns that mere profession without faithful obedience leads to ruin, magnifying the grace that saves the truly faithful.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Matt 8:12But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- Luke 12:46The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
- Matt 22:13Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
- Isa 33:14The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling grips the ungodly: “Who of us can dwell with a consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting flames?”
- Job 20:29This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”
- Luke 13:28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out.
- Matt 25:30And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
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 24:51 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.