Parallel Verses
Moffatt New Testament
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise like serpents and guileless like 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:
Darby Translation
Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves; be therefore prudent as the serpents, and guileless as the 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.
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 I tell you truly, on the day of judgment it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorra than for that town. 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise like serpents and guileless like doves. 17 Beware of men, they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues,
Names
Cross References
Luke 10:3
Go your way; I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
Acts 20:29
I know that when I am gone, fierce wolves will get in among you, and they will not spare the flock; yes.
2 Corinthians 11:3
but I am afraid of your thoughts getting seduced from a single devotion to Christ, just as the serpent beguiled Eve with his cunning.
Philippians 2:15
so as to be blameless and innocent, faultless children of God in a crooked and perverse generation where you shine like stars in a dark world;
1 Corinthians 14:20
Brothers, do not be children in the sphere of intelligence; in evil be mere infants, but be mature in your intelligence.
Luke 21:15
for I will give you words and wisdom that not one of your opponents will be able to meet or refute.
Romans 16:18-19
Such creatures are no servants of Christ our Lord, they are slaves of their own base desires; with their plausible and pious talk they beguile the hearts of unsuspecting people. But surely not of you!
2 Corinthians 1:12
My proud boast is the testimony of my conscience that holiness and godly sincerity, not worldly cunning but the grace of God, have marked my conduct in the outside world and in particular my relations with you.
2 Corinthians 8:20
for I want to take precautions against any risk of suspicion in connection with the administration of this charity;
2 Corinthians 11:14
No wonder they do, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
Ephesians 5:15-17
Be strictly careful then about the life you lead; act like sensible men, not like thoughtless;
Colossians 1:9
Hence, from the day we heard of it, we have never ceased to pray for you, asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and insight,
Colossians 4:5
Let Christian wisdom rule your behaviour to the outside world; make the very most of your time;
1 Thessalonians 2:10
You are witnesses, and so is God, to our behaviour among you believers, how pious and upright and blameless it was,
1 Thessalonians 5:22
and abstaining from whatever kind is evil.