Devine Scripture

Matthew 7:27

What does Matthew 7:27 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 7:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 7:27 means

This verse details the tragic end of the foolish builder's house. When the same 'rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house,' it 'fell: and great was the fall thereof.' The house's collapse and the 'great fall' symbolize utter spiritual ruin and destruction. This powerfully illustrates that a life not built on active obedience to Jesus' words cannot withstand the trials of life or the ultimate judgment. It underscores the danger of hearing without doing, leading to devastating consequences.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the rain came down and there was a rush of waters and the winds were driving against that house; and it came down and great was its fall.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the rain did descend, and the streams came, and the winds blew, and they beat on that house, and it fell, and its fall was great.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall thereof.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and the rain came down, and the streams came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell, and its fall was great.

Context

This verse delivers the devastating climax for the foolish builder's house, providing the negative outcome of disobedience. It directly mirrors the trials faced by the wise builder, highlighting that the external pressures are the same, but the internal foundation makes all the difference. This stark contrast brings the parable to its powerful conclusion, underscoring the absolute necessity of living out Jesus' commands, and naturally transitions to the crowd's reaction to His authoritative teaching.

v.26And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand:

v.27This passage

v.28And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching:

Cross references

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

  • Ezekiel 13:10

    Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there is no peace; and when one buildeth up a wall, behold, they daub it with untempered mortar:

  • Hebrews 10:26

    For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,

  • 2 Peter 2:20

    For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:13

    each man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is.

  • Matthew 12:43

    But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not.

  • Matthew 13:19

    When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.

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