Parallel Verses
Darby Translation
Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves; be therefore prudent as the serpents, and guileless as the doves.
New American Standard Bible
King James Version
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Holman Bible
International Standard Version
"Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves.
A Conservative Version
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Become ye therefore wise as serpents, and innocent as doves.
American Standard Version
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Amplified
An Understandable Version
Here is how it will be: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore you should be as crafty [Note: The Greek word here is "sensible"] as snakes, yet as harmless [Note: The Greek word is "sincere"] as doves.
Anderson New Testament
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be, therefore, wise as serpents, and guileless as doves.
Bible in Basic English
See, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Be then as wise as snakes, and as gentle as doves.
Common New Testament
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Daniel Mace New Testament
By your mission you will be expos'd like sheep in the midst of wolves: be then as circumspect as serpents, and as inoffensive as doves:
Godbey New Testament
Behold, I send you forth like sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Goodspeed New Testament
"Here I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So you must be wise like serpents, and guileless like doves.
John Wesley New Testament
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Julia Smith Translation
Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore discerning as serpents, and pure as doves.
King James 2000
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Lexham Expanded Bible
"Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Modern King James verseion
Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep among wolves: Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and innocent as doves.
Moffatt New Testament
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise like serpents and guileless like doves.
Montgomery New Testament
"Behold, it is I who am sending you forth like sheep among wolves. Be then as serpents and as guileless as doves.
NET Bible
"I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
New Heart English Bible
"Look, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Noyes New Testament
Lo! I send you forth as sheep into the midst of wolves. Be therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Sawyer New Testament
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
The Emphasized Bible
Lo! I, send you forth as sheep amidst wolves; become ye therefore - prudent, as serpents, and simple, as doves.
Thomas Haweis New Testament
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore prudent as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Twentieth Century New Testament
Remember, I am sending you out as my Messengers like sheep among wolves. So be as wise as serpents, and as blameless as doves.
Webster
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Weymouth New Testament
"Remember it is I who am sending you out, as sheep into the midst of wolves; prove yourselves as sagacious as serpents, and as innocent as doves.
Williams New Testament
"Listen! I am sending you out as sheep surrounded by wolves. So you must be sensible like serpents and guileless like doves.
World English Bible
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Worrell New Testament
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; become ye, therefore, as wise as the serpents and as innocent as doves.
Worsley New Testament
Behold I send you forth as sheep into the midst of wolves: be ye therefore prudent as serpents, and innocent as doves.
Youngs Literal Translation
'Lo, I do send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, be ye therefore wise as the serpents, and simple as the doves.
Themes
Afflictions » Christians being afflicted
Aim in life » Mission, life's » The disciples sent forth to their work
Alertness » What to be aware of
Animals » Lions » Wolves, a type of the wicked
Apostles » Persecutions and sufferings of
Birds » Names of » Doves, a type of purity
Christian ministers » Charge delivered to
Christian ministers » Responsibility of
Christian conduct » Harmlessness
Disciples/apostles » What disciples should be aware of
Doves » Characterized by » Simplicity
turtle Dove » Harmlessness of, typical of Christ's gentleness
Doves » Doves, a type of purity
Symbols of the Holy Spirit » Dove » Gentle
Evangelism » Jesus Christ sending forth disciples to preach
Good and evil adjacent » In the field of Christian work
Mission » Life's » The disciples sent forth to their work
Missionary-work by ministers » Requires wisdom and meekness
Persecution » Who shall face persecution
Prudence » Saints should especially exercise, in their intercourse with unbelievers
Serpents » Characterized as subtle
Sheep » Figurative » Of the defenselessness of servants of God (greek: diakonoi)
God's Sheep » God's people are his sheep
Wolf » Figurative » Of the enemies of the righteous
Wolves » Illustrative » Of the wicked
Topics
Interlinear
Hos
ὡς
Hos
ὡς
Hos
as, when, how, as it were, about,
as, when, how, as it were, about,
Usage: 417
Usage: 417
References
Word Count of 37 Translations in Matthew 10:16
Verse Info
Context Readings
Persecution Of Disciples Predicted
15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in judgment-day than for that city. 16 Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves; be therefore prudent as the serpents, and guileless as the doves. 17 But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to sanhedrims, and scourge you in their synagogues;
Names
Cross References
Luke 10:3
Go: behold I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves.
Genesis 3:1
And the serpent was more crafty than any animal of the field which Jehovah Elohim had made. And it said to the woman, Is it even so, that God has said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Acts 20:29
For I know this, that there will come in amongst you after my departure grievous wolves, not sparing the flock;
2 Corinthians 11:3
But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craft, so your thoughts should be corrupted from simplicity as to the Christ.
Philippians 2:15
that ye may be harmless and simple, irreproachable children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation; among whom ye appear as lights in the world,
1 Corinthians 14:20
Brethren, be not children in your minds, but in malice be babes; but in your minds be grown men.
Genesis 3:13
And Jehovah Elohim said to the woman, What is this thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I ate.
Luke 21:15
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your opposers shall not be able to reply to or resist.
Romans 16:18-19
For such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
2 Corinthians 1:12
For our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and sincerity before God, (not in fleshly wisdom but in God's grace,) we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly towards you.
2 Corinthians 8:20
avoiding this, that any one should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us;
2 Corinthians 11:14
And it is not wonderful, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
Ephesians 5:15-17
See therefore how ye walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise,
Colossians 1:9
For this reason we also, from the day we heard of your faith and love, do not cease praying and asking for you, to the end that ye may be filled with the full knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,
Colossians 4:5
Walk in wisdom towards those without, redeeming opportunities.
1 Thessalonians 2:10
Ye are witnesses, and God, how piously and righteously and blamelessly we have conducted ourselves with you that believe:
1 Thessalonians 5:22
hold aloof from every form of wickedness.