“Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’
Parallel translations
- KJV Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
- BSB Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
- NKJV “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
- NASB Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’
- NLT “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’
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
So don't be consumed by anxious questions about food, drink, and clothing. Such worry does not befit children of a caring Father.
Overview
Jesus draws the practical conclusion from his illustrations: disciples should not be gripped by the anxious refrain of 'what will we eat, drink, or wear?' This repeated worry characterizes those who do not know God's fatherly provision. The verse calls believers to a settled trust that frees them from the tyranny of material anxiety.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Pet 5:7casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
- Luke 12:29Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.
- Matt 4:4But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
- Ps 55:22Cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
- Matt 15:33The disciples said to him, “Where should we get so many loaves in a deserted place as to satisfy so great a multitude?”
- Ps 37:3Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
- 2 Chr 25:9Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “Yahweh is able to give you much more than this.”
- Ps 78:18–31They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire.
- Lev 25:20–22If you said, “What shall we eat the seventh year? Behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase”;
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 6:31 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.