Matthew 10:29
What does Matthew 10:29 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 10:29 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 10:29 means
To reinforce God's providential care, Jesus uses the illustration of sparrows: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father." Sparrows were common and inexpensive birds, considered of little value. Yet, Jesus teaches that even their seemingly insignificant death is known and permitted by God the Father. This emphasizes the meticulous and comprehensive nature of God's sovereign oversight, showing that nothing in creation, no matter how small, escapes His knowledge and purpose. This provides immense comfort to disciples facing danger.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Are not sparrows two a farthing? and not one of them comes to an end without your Father:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Are not two sparrows sold for an assar? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father;
Context
This verse introduces a powerful illustration of God's detailed providential care, directly following the command to fear God above all others. It provides concrete evidence of God's awareness of even the smallest creatures, setting the stage for the powerful application of this truth to the infinitely more valuable lives of His disciples, which comes in the very next verse.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 12:6
Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God.
- Psalms 104:27
These wait all for thee, That thou mayest give them their food in due season.
Related questions readers ask
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Want to dig deeper? Explore Matthew 10
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