“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.
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.
- BSB 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.
- 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.
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 invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
- Prov 23:9Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
- Matt 10:14–15Whoever doesn’t receive you, nor hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet.
- Prov 26:11As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
- Acts 13:45–47But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
- Matt 15:26But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
- Phil 3:2Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.
- Heb 10:29How much worse punishment do you think he will be judged worthy of who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
- 2 Pet 2:22But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, “The dog turns to his own vomit again,” and “the sow that has washed to wallowing in the mire.”
- 2 Tim 4:14–15Alexander, the coppersmith, did much evil 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 24:10Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.
- Heb 6:6and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.
- Matt 22:5–6But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise,
- 2 Cor 11:26I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils 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.