Then Jesus *said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.
- KJV Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
- BSB “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
- NKJV But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
- NLT “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword.
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
Jesus commands the disciple to sheathe his sword, warning that violence breeds violence. He rejects the way of force for His kingdom.
Overview
Jesus stops the bloodshed and teaches that those who live by the sword will perish by it. His kingdom advances not through violence but through His own sacrificial death. The command reveals the peaceable character of Christ's mission and rebukes any attempt to defend Him by carnal means.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Gen 9:6Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in his own image.
- Rev 13:10If anyone is to go into captivity, he will go into captivity. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, he must be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.
- Rom 12:19Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”
- 1 Pet 2:21–23For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,
- Rev 16:6For they poured out the blood of the saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.”
- 1 Pet 3:9not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing.
- Ps 55:23But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.
- Ezek 35:5–6Because you have had a perpetual hostility, and have given over the children of Israel to the power of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time of the iniquity of the end;
- Matt 23:34–36Therefore behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;
- 1 Cor 4:11–12Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.
- 1 Th 5:15See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good, for one another, and for all.
- Matt 5:39But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
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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 26:52 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.