Devine Scripture

Matthew 10:14

What does Matthew 10:14 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 10:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 10:14 means

If a household or city refused to receive the apostles or their message, Jesus commanded them to "shake off the dust of your feet" as they departed. This symbolic act was a public declaration of disassociation, indicating that they were leaving the uncleanliness and judgment of that place behind. It served as a testimony against those who rejected the kingdom, signifying that the apostles bore no further responsibility for their unbelief and that the consequences of rejection rested solely on the resistors. This was an act of judgment, foreshadowing the greater judgment to come.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And whoever will not take you in, or give ear to your words, when you go out from that house or that town, put off its dust from your feet.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And whoever may not receive you nor hear your words, coming forth from that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words: going forth out of that house or city shake off the dust from your feet.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Context

This instruction directly follows the protocol for individual households, expanding the principle of rejection to an entire city. It provides the specific, symbolic action the apostles are to take when their message is universally rejected. This grave act of disassociation then leads directly into Jesus' solemn warning about the severe judgment awaiting such unresponsive communities.

v.13And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

v.14This passage

v.15Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 13:20

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

  • Mark 6:11

    And whatsoever place shall not receive you, and they hear you not, as ye go forth thence, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony unto them.

  • Mark 9:37

    Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

  • Acts 18:6

    And when they opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook out his raiment and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

  • Matthew 18:5

    And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me:

  • Nehemiah 5:13

    Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that performeth not this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the assembly said, Amen, and praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise.

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