Devine Scripture

Matthew 10:27

What does Matthew 10:27 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 10:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 10:27 means

Jesus commands bold and open proclamation: "What I tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the light; and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the house-tops." This stresses the public, open nature of their mission. What Jesus privately revealed to His disciples, they were to fearlessly declare to everyone. "House-tops" refers to the flat roofs of houses, common in the Middle East, which served as public spaces for announcements. This emphasizes that the Gospel is not a secret doctrine but a message to be shouted from the highest platforms, irrespective of the opposition they might face.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

What I tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the light; and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the house-tops.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

What I tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the light; and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the house-tops.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

What I say to you in the dark, say in the light: and what comes to your ear secretly, say publicly from the house-tops.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

that which I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light, and that which you hear at the ear, proclaim on the house-tops.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

That which I tell you in the dark, speak ye in the light: and that which you hear in the ear, preach ye upon the housetops.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

What I say to you in darkness speak in the light, and what ye hear in the ear preach upon the houses.

Context

Following the encouragement not to fear because of future vindication, this verse provides a specific command for how they are to act: with bold, public proclamation. It instructs them to share openly what they have learned privately. This command for fearless speaking then logically progresses to the deepest reason for such fearlessness: the true object of fear, which is God Himself, not human adversaries.

v.26Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

v.27This passage

v.28And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Cross references

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

  • John 16:1

    These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be caused to stumble.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:12

    Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,

  • Acts 17:17

    So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with them that met him.

  • Matthew 13:1

    On that day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

  • Proverbs 8:1

    Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice?

  • Proverbs 1:20

    Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;

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