Limitless Word
And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
Matthew 8:6 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB and saying, “Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented.”
  • BSB “Lord, my servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony.”
  • NKJV saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
  • NASB and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, terribly tormented.”
  • NLT “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”

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

The centurion explained that his servant lay at home paralyzed and suffering terribly. His concern for a servant shows compassion and brings a real need to Jesus.

Overview

The centurion describes his servant's grievous paralysis and torment, bringing the need before Jesus. His care for a household servant reflects genuine compassion, and his coming to Jesus reflects confidence that Jesus can help. The desperate condition sets the stage for the centurion's remarkable expression of faith in Jesus' word.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 11

  • Matt 4:24And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
  • Col 4:1Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
  • Acts 9:33And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
  • Col 3:11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
  • Mark 2:3–12And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
  • Acts 8:7For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
  • Acts 10:7And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
  • 1 Tim 6:2And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
  • Phlm 1:16Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
  • Matt 9:2And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
  • Job 31:13–14If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Matthew videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Matthew 8:6YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on MatthewMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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 8:6 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.