Devine Scripture

Matthew 4:9

What does Matthew 4:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 4:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 4:9 means

The devil revealed his ultimate demand, offering Jesus all the displayed power and glory of the world's kingdoms, but only if Jesus would abandon His loyalty to God and worship the devil instead. This was a direct assault on Jesus' allegiance and status as the Son of God, a blatant attempt to usurp divine authority and tempt Jesus with a shortcut to universal dominion without the path of the cross.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said to him, All these things will I give you, if you will go down on your face and give me worship.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and saith to him, `All these to thee I will give, if falling down thou mayest bow to me.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And said to him: All these will I give thee, if falling down thou wilt adore me.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and says to him, All these things will I give thee if, falling down, thou wilt do me homage.

Context

This verse contains the devil's direct proposition, immediately following the spectacular display of all the world's kingdoms. This is the culmination of the temptations, a clear demand for worship directly challenging Jesus' divine sonship. Jesus' impending response will therefore be a definitive declaration of His unwavering allegiance to God and a full rebuke of the devil's authority.

v.8Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

v.9This passage

v.10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Cross references

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

  • 1 Samuel 2:7

    Jehovah maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, he also lifteth up.

  • Revelation 22:8

    And I John am he that heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that showed me these things.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:4

    in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.

  • Daniel 4:32

    and thou shalt be driven from men; and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

  • John 14:30

    I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me;

  • 1 Timothy 3:6

    not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

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