Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
- KJV Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
- NKJV “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
- NASB “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
- NLT “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
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
Don't give what is holy to those who will only trample and attack it. Spiritual discernment is needed in offering sacred truth to the openly hostile.
Overview
After warning against harsh judgment, Jesus balances it by teaching the need for discernment. Holy things and precious 'pearls' should not be pressed upon those who, like dogs and pigs, only despise and assault them. This is not contempt for people but realism about persistent, hardened rejection, calling for wisdom in how and to whom sacred truth is offered. Faithful Christians differ on its precise application, though the call to discernment is clear.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Prov 9:7–8He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
- Prov 23:9Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
- Matt 10:14–15And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
- Prov 26:11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
- Acts 13:45–47But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.
- Matt 15:26But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
- Phil 3:2Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!
- Heb 10:29How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
- 2 Pet 2:22Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
- 2 Tim 4:14–15Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
- Prov 11:22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
- Matt 24:10At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,
- Heb 6:6and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.
- Matt 22:5–6But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, another to his business.
- 2 Cor 11:26In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers,
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 7:6 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.