Matthew 10:21

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses His disciples during His commissioning discourse, warning them of the internal family fractures that will accompany their mission. He delivers this statement immediately after promising the Father’s Spirit to guide their defense and just before declaring the universal hatred they will face for His name.

The words — The Greek verb παραδώσει (paradōsei) literally means “will deliver up” or “hand over,” denoting a formal transfer to judicial or hostile authority. This term anchors the betrayal of kin to the inescapable, authoritative nature of the persecution Jesus describes.

The thread — The same pattern of familial betrayal appears in Luke 21:16 and Mark 13:12, while Micah 7:5 provides the prophetic backdrop of broken trust within the home. All four passages treat domestic division as a direct consequence of bearing divine witness.

Why it lands — The text states that discipleship will actively provoke family members to hand each other over to execution. It requires the reader to accept this rupture as a factual marker of loyalty to Christ rather than a sign of spiritual failure.

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

ΠαραδώσειParadōseiWill deliver up δὲdenow ἀδελφὸςadelphosbrother ἀδελφὸνadelphonbrother εἰςeisto θάνατονthanatondeath καὶkaiand πατὴρpatērfather τέκνον·teknonchild;καὶkaiAnd ἐπαναστήσονταιepanastēsontaiwill rise up τέκναteknachildren ἐπὶepiagainst γονεῖςgoneisparents καὶkaiand θανατώσουσινthanatōsousinwill put to death αὐτούς.autousthem.

King James Version

And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

Cross-references

Luke 21:16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.
Micah 7:5 Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms.
Mark 13:12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
Matthew 24:10 At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,
Luke 12:51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.
Zechariah 13:3 And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not remain alive, because you have spoken falsely in the name of the LORD.’ When he prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will pierce him through.
Matthew 10:34 Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
2 Samuel 17:1 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
2 Samuel 16:11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.
Job 19:19 All my best friends despise me, and those I love have turned against me.