Devine Scripture

Matthew 8:4

What does Matthew 8:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 8:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 8:4 means

Jesus instructs the man not to spread the news widely, likely to avoid turning His ministry into a mere spectacle or attracting undue political attention. Instead, the man is to go directly to the priest and perform the purification ritual commanded by Moses. This act would not only confirm his healing medically and ceremonially but also serve as an undeniable testimony to the priests themselves that God's power was at work through Jesus, fulfilling Old Testament law.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And Jesus said to him, See that you say nothing about this to anyone; but go and let the priest see you and make the offering which was ordered by Moses, for a witness to them.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Jesus saith to him, `See, thou mayest tell no one, but go, thyself shew to the priest, and bring the gift that Moses commanded for a testimony to them.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And Jesus saith to him: See thou tell no man: but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Jesus says to him, See thou tell no man, but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses ordained, for a testimony to them.

Context

This verse concludes the healing of the leper, providing a crucial instruction that highlights Jesus' respect for the Mosaic Law and His strategic control over the news of His miracles. It transitions from a private healing to a command with public implications, setting the stage for later interactions with religious authorities and for further demonstrations of Jesus' power in Capernaum.

v.3And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway his leprosy was cleansed.

v.4This passage

v.5And when he was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 16:20

    Then charged he the disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Christ.

  • Mark 8:30

    And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

  • 2 Kings 5:7

    And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? but consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

  • Matthew 6:1

    Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

  • Leviticus 13:2

    When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, or a scab, or a bright spot, and it become in the skin of his flesh the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:

  • Matthew 3:15

    But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him.

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