Devine Scripture

Matthew 9:16

What does Matthew 9:16 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 9:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 9:16 means

Jesus employs the parable of putting an undressed, new patch on an old garment. He explains that the new, unshrunk cloth would tear away from the old, making the tear worse. This illustrates the futility and destructive nature of trying to force the innovative, life-giving truth of His new covenant into the rigid, worn-out forms of the old religious system. His teachings cannot simply be mended onto old traditions; they require a complete renewal.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And no man putteth a piece of undressed cloth upon an old garment; for that which should fill it up taketh from the garment, and a worse rent is made.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And no man putteth a piece of undressed cloth upon an old garment; for that which should fill it up taketh from the garment, and a worse rent is made.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And no man puts a bit of new cloth on an old coat, for by pulling away from the old, it makes a worse hole.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And no one doth put a patch of undressed cloth on an old garment, for its filling up doth take from the garment, and a worse rent is made.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And nobody putteth a piece of raw cloth unto an old garment. For it taketh away the fulness thereof from the garment, and there is made a greater rent.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But no one puts a patch of new cloth on an old garment, for its filling up takes from the garment and a worse rent takes place.

Context

This verse presents the first of two parables illustrating the incompatibility of new teachings with old forms, directly following Jesus' explanation about the bridegroom. It serves as a visual metaphor, expanding on why His disciples do not fast under the old religious frameworks. This parable prepares for the similar imagery of new wine, reinforcing the need for a complete transformation rather than mere modification.

v.15And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast.

v.16This passage

v.17Neither do men put new wine into old wine-skins: else the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins perish: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins, and both are preserved.

Cross references

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

  • John 16:12

    I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:13

    But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

  • Psalms 125:3

    For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; That the righteous put not forth their hands unto iniquity.

  • Isaiah 40:11

    He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those that have their young.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:1

    And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Matthew 9

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Matthew 9.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Matthew 9:16.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary