Matthew 10:19 kjv
But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Matthew 10:19 nkjv
But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
Matthew 10:19 niv
But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,
Matthew 10:19 esv
When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
Matthew 10:19 nlt
When you are arrested, don't worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time.
Matthew 10 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 6:25 | "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life..." | General teaching on trusting God for provision, extending to speech. |
| Mk 13:11 | "And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over...do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say..." | Parallel passage, reiterating the promise. |
| Lk 12:11-12 | "When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers...do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves...for the Holy Spirit will teach you..." | Explicitly names the Holy Spirit as the one who teaches them. |
| Lk 21:14-15 | "Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom..." | Jesus promises wisdom and a ready utterance. |
| Exod 4:11-12 | The LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth?...I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." | Old Testament parallel: God's promise to Moses to provide words. |
| Jer 1:9 | Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth." | Old Testament parallel: God equipping His prophet Jeremiah with words. |
| Ezek 3:4-5 | "And he said to me, 'Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them.'" | God instructing Ezekiel to speak His specific words. |
| 1 Cor 2:4-5 | "My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." | Paul's emphasis on God's power over human rhetoric. |
| Acts 2:4 | And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. | Example of Spirit-given utterance at Pentecost. |
| Acts 4:8 | Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders..." | Peter's bold Spirit-inspired speech before the Sanhedrin. |
| Acts 5:29 | But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men." | Their obedience and reliance on God when standing before authorities. |
| Acts 6:10 | But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. | Stephen's Spirit-filled wisdom when testifying. |
| Acts 23:11 | The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome." | God's continued support for Paul's testimony. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication...let your requests be made known to God." | General command against anxiety, relating to trust and prayer. |
| Col 4:3 | At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ... | Paul asks for prayer for opportunities and ability to speak God's word. |
| Eph 6:19-20 | ...and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel... | Paul's prayer for divine words and boldness when speaking for Christ. |
| 2 Tim 4:16-17 | "At my first defense no one came to stand by me...but the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed..." | Paul's personal experience of divine aid during trial. |
| 1 Pet 4:10-11 | "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace...If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks oracles of God..." | Implies speech should be divinely inspired/enabled. |
| Rev 2:10 | "Do not fear what you are about to suffer...Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." | Broader encouragement to persevere in persecution, connecting to promise of reward. |
| Isa 50:4 | The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. | A prophetic word about the Servant of the Lord, given words for comfort. |
| Isa 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you... | God's general promise of presence and help during challenging times. |
Matthew 10 verses
Matthew 10 19 Meaning
This verse contains a crucial promise from Jesus to His disciples concerning future persecutions. It instructs them not to worry about what or how they will speak when delivered to authorities. The assurance is that God Himself, through the Holy Spirit, will supernaturally provide the exact words and manner of speech needed for their testimony in that moment of crisis, enabling them to bear witness without human anxiety or reliance on personal intellect.
Matthew 10 19 Context
Matthew chapter 10 records Jesus commissioning His twelve apostles, sending them out with authority to preach, heal, and cast out demons. As part of these instructions, Jesus forewarns them about the severe persecution they will face for His name's sake. He anticipates they will be delivered to local councils, flogged in synagogues, and stand before governors and kings. Verse 19 directly addresses this scenario of public trial and confrontation, assuring the disciples that despite the formidable nature of their accusers and the pressure to defend themselves, they are not to rely on their own wit or preparedness. The immediate historical context points to a time when followers of Jesus, distinct from Judaism and yet often tried in Jewish courts, faced immense pressure to renounce their faith. Roman authority also posed a threat, making trials before kings and governors a reality. Jesus' words serve as both a warning and a profound comfort, setting boundaries on fear and directing their dependence wholly to God.
Matthew 10 19 Word analysis
- But when they deliver you over (ὅταν παραδῶσιν ὑμᾶς - hotan paradōsin hymas): The Greek verb paradidōmi means to hand over, betray, or deliver up. This is a common term used in the Synoptic Gospels for handing over to judicial authorities for prosecution, directly foretelling the hostile reception the disciples would face. It is often used for Jesus' own betrayal (e.g., Mt 26:2, 26:15). Its inclusion here signifies the severity of the opposition – it is not just hostility, but formal accusation and legal prosecution.
- do not worry (μὴ μεριμνήσητε - mē merimnēsēte): A strong prohibition against anxiety or apprehension, aligning with Jesus' broader teachings on trusting God's provision (cf. Mt 6:25-34). The term merimnaō denotes anxious concern, being pulled apart by distracting cares. It highlights that the potential anxiety is not merely about speech, but about the overwhelming nature of the situation and the threat to life.
- about how you are to speak (πῶς - pōs): Refers to the manner, style, or eloquence of speech. In a culture that valued rhetorical skill and persuasive argumentation in public trials, this instructs disciples not to fret over their personal abilities or lack thereof.
- or what you are to say (ἢ τί λαλήσητε - ē ti lalēsēte): Addresses the content or substance of their testimony. This assures them that even the specific arguments, facts, or doctrinal statements they need to present will be supplied by God. The term laleō is broad, meaning simply 'to speak'.
- for what you are to say will be given to you (δοθήσεται γὰρ ὑμῖν - dothēsetai gar hymin): The word "for" (gar) introduces the divine reason for the command not to worry. "Will be given" is a divine passive, implying God (or the Holy Spirit) as the agent who bestows the words. This points to a supernatural inspiration, rather than merely recalling information from memory or training. It emphasizes that the words will not originate from human ingenuity.
- in that hour (ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ - en ekeinē tē hōra): This phrase underscores the immediacy and precise timing of the divine intervention. The assistance will arrive exactly when it is needed, not before or after, stressing reliance on spontaneous divine prompting in critical moments rather than premeditated responses.
Matthew 10 19 Bonus section
This promise by Jesus functions as a polemic against the societal pressures of His time where rhetoric and legalistic knowledge were highly prized in trials. By assuring His disciples that their words would be supernaturally given, Jesus effectively undermines human pride in intellect and eloquence, emphasizing that the effectiveness of their testimony would flow from divine power, not human capability. This promise is primarily about bearing witness to Christ in formal legal settings, often leading to martyrdom or severe penalties, rather than everyday preaching or evangelism which typically benefits from preparation and study (though divine aid is always sought). The phrase "in that hour" means the immediate moment of confrontation, ensuring that God's power is revealed precisely when human resources fail.
Matthew 10 19 Commentary
Matthew 10:19 is a profound assurance to Christ's followers that God actively participates in their witness, particularly during times of intense persecution and legal adversity. It is not an encouragement for laziness or lack of study in ordinary circumstances, but a specific promise of divine empowerment for critical, adversarial moments when a disciple is "delivered over" for the sake of Christ. The verse underscores radical dependence on God's provision rather than human foresight or oratorical skill. It means believers facing trials for their faith can trust that the Holy Spirit will furnish the wisdom, courage, and exact words needed to articulate their testimony, transforming potential anxiety into Spirit-filled proclamation. This promise removes the burden of self-sufficiency from the persecuted disciple, placing it squarely on the shoulders of the sovereign God who sustains His witnesses.