Luke 9:5

If anyone does not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that town, as a testimony against them.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus issues this directive to his twelve disciples as he commissions them for a mission to preach and heal. The instruction follows his command to remain in a host's house until departing the region.

The words — δέχωνται (dechōntai) translates literally as "receive" or "welcome," while ἐξερχόμενοι (exerchomenoi) means "going forth" or "leaving." These verbs frame the conditional rejection that triggers the physical gesture.

The thread — The same command appears in Matthew 10:14 and Mark 6:11, and its practical application is recorded in Acts 13:51 when Paul and Barnabas shake off dust in protest. These passages show the instruction functioning as both a commission and a recorded historical action.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that the message carries its own weight regardless of human reception. It demands a clear boundary between the duty to proclaim and the right of the audience to refuse without coercion.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

Cross-references

Matthew 10:14 And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
Mark 6:11 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place, as a testimony against them.”
Acts 13:51 So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
Acts 18:6 But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
Luke 10:16 Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”
Luke 9:53 But the people there refused to welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem.
Luke 10:10 But if you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go into the streets and declare,
Mark 9:37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me.”
Luke 9:48 And He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest.”
Nehemiah 5:13 I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.