Devine Scripture

Matthew 9:2

What does Matthew 9:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 9:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 9:2 means

A paralytic is brought to Jesus by friends, demonstrating their strong faith. Jesus, perceiving this faith, addresses the man not by first healing his physical condition, but by declaring his sins forgiven. This highlights Jesus' divine authority, as He first addresses the deeper spiritual need, recognizing that sin is the root cause of much human suffering and separation from God. This also foreshadows the controversy that will immediately follow regarding who can forgive sins.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they took to him a man stretched on a bed who had no power of moving; and Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the man who was ill, Son, take heart; you have forgiveness for your sins.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and lo, they were bringing to him a paralytic, laid upon a couch, and Jesus having seen their faith, said to the paralytic, `Be of good courage, child, thy sins have been forgiven thee.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And behold they brought to him one sick of the palsy lying in a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the man sick of the palsy: Be of good heart, son, thy sins are forgiven thee.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, laid upon a bed; and Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, Be of good courage, child; thy sins are forgiven.

Context

Following Jesus' arrival in Capernaum, this verse introduces the central miraculous event: the bringing of a paralytic to Him. The collective faith of those who brought the man immediately engages Jesus, who responds with a statement about forgiveness, a powerful pronouncement that directly precedes the physical healing and sets off the theological debate with the scribes.

v.1And he entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.

v.2This passage

v.3And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 44:22

    I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

  • Acts 14:9

    The same heard Paul speaking: who, fastening his eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,

  • James 2:18

    Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith.

  • Psalms 32:1

    Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.

  • Matthew 4:24

    And the report of him went forth into all Syria: and they brought unto him all that were sick, holden with divers diseases and torments, possessed with demons, and epileptic, and palsied; and he healed them.

  • Mark 1:32

    And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were sick, and them that were possessed with demons.

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