For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink.
Parallel translations
- WEB for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;
- KJV For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
- BSB For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink,
- NKJV for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;
- NASB for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;
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
He charges that they gave him no food or drink when he was in need. Their lack of mercy exposes a heart without true faith.
Overview
The King indicts those on the left for failing to show even basic compassion. Their omission, not gross crimes, reveals the absence of living faith. As mercy marked the righteous, its absence marks the lost. The verse warns that a faith producing no love for the needy is not genuine faith at all.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Jas 2:15–24And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,
- 1 Cor 16:22If any man doesn’t love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. Come, Lord!
- Matt 12:30“He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters.
- John 5:23that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.
- 2 Th 1:8giving vengeance to those who don’t know God, and to those who don’t obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus,
- 1 Jn 4:20If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
- 1 Jn 3:14–17We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death.
- John 8:42–44Therefore Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me.
- Matt 10:37–38He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.
- John 14:21One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”
- Matt 25:35for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in.
- Amos 6:6who drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the best oils; but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 25:42 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.