Matthew 10 28

Matthew 10:28 kjv

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28 nkjv

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28 niv

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28 esv

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28 nlt

"Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10 verses

Matthew 10 28 Meaning

Matthew 10:28 instructs Jesus' disciples not to fear those who can only harm the physical body. Their power is limited to temporal life and cannot affect a person's eternal soul. Instead, disciples are commanded to fear God alone, who possesses ultimate authority over both the soul's eternal destiny and the body's future state, having the power to justly destroy them in eternal judgment in Gehenna (hell). This verse underlines God's supreme sovereignty over all life, emphasizing that earthly persecution, though severe, cannot thwart divine purposes or ultimately harm a believer's eternal well-being. It is a call to courageous, steadfast faithfulness amidst trials, recognizing God as the ultimate judge and protector.

Matthew 10 28 Context

Matthew 10:28 is an integral part of Jesus' "Discourse on Mission" to His twelve disciples. He has just empowered them to preach, heal, and cast out demons (Matt 10:1-8). The preceding verses (Matt 10:16-25) directly warn the disciples about the severe persecution, rejection, and betrayal they will face from both authorities and even family as they carry out their ministry. Jesus assures them they are not above their Master (Matt 10:24-25). This specific verse acts as a crucial spiritual exhortation, bolstering their courage in the face of these predicted tribulations. Historically, Jesus's Jewish disciples were familiar with the distinction between the physical body (sōma) and the enduring soul or life-principle (psychē). They also understood "Gehenna" as a symbolic reference to the Valley of Hinnom, a place associated with defilement and judgment, which had become synonymous with ultimate divine punishment. The teaching challenges the common fear of human authority and suffering by elevating God's ultimate judicial power over the entirety of human existence.

Matthew 10 28 Word analysis

• And fear not (καὶ μὴ φοβηθῆτε - kai mē phobethete): An imperative command to cease or prevent undue anxious concern or terror. It also warns against idolizing or giving undue reverence to human power or earthly threats. This sets a directive to overcome fear of man.
• them which kill (τῶν ἀποκτεννόντων - tōn apoktennontōn): Refers to human persecutors or any earthly authority that can inflict physical death. This highlights their immediate but limited destructive capacity.
• the body (τὸ σῶμα - to sōma): The physical, mortal, tangible part of a human being. The focus is on its vulnerability to physical harm and death.
• but are not able to kill the soul (τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν μὴ δυναμένων ἀποκτεῖναι - tēn de psychēn mē dynamenōn apokteinai): This phrase underscores the fundamental limitation of human power. The "soul" (psychēn) here refers to the essential, animating life-principle or the immaterial aspect of a person that endures beyond physical death. This signifies that the true essence of a person cannot be destroyed by human agency.
• but rather fear him (φοβήθητε δὲ μᾶλλον τὸν - phobethete de mallon ton): A direct and strong contrast, identifying "Him" as God. This "fear" (phobethete) implies profound reverence, awe, and humble submission, but also a healthy dread of God's righteous judgment and punitive power. It calls for proper prioritization of allegiances.
• which is able to destroy (δυνάμενον...ἀπολέσαι - dynamenon...apolesai): "Able" (dynamenon) speaks of God's omnipotence and sovereign authority. "Destroy" (apolesai), from apollymi, does not necessarily mean annihilation. In contexts of eternal judgment, it conveys the sense of ruin, utter loss of well-being, eternal damnation, and a state of complete spiritual and physical incapacitation or condemnation, rather than cessation of existence.
• both soul and body (καὶ ψυχὴν καὶ σῶμα - kai psychēn kai sōma): This highlights God's comprehensive dominion over both the spiritual and material components of a person. It speaks to a holistic judgment that affects every part of one's being, implying a resurrection of the body for judgment.
• in hell (ἐν γεέννῃ - en geennē): Gehenna (derived from the Hebrew for the Valley of Hinnom) was a garbage incinerator outside Jerusalem, metaphorically associated with filth and unending fire. In the New Testament, it exclusively signifies the place of eternal punishment, unquenchable fire, and intense suffering for the unrighteous, symbolizing the final and ultimate divine judgment.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul": This segment sets up a crucial spiritual distinction and contrast, asserting the limited reach of human hostility. It functions as a reassurance, telling the disciples not to be deterred by the ultimate threat human beings can pose – physical death – because this is not the ultimate end of a person.
• "but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell": This second part provides the imperative and the profound theological justification for it. It reorients the disciple's ultimate dread and reverence towards God, whose power transcends physical death to include comprehensive and eternal judgment over the entirety of a person (spirit and body) in a place of final punishment. It underscores God's ultimate authority and righteousness.

Matthew 10 28 Bonus section

The distinction between the "body" and "soul" in this verse speaks to a common ancient understanding of human constitution, prevalent in both Jewish and Hellenistic thought. For Christians, it affirms that God's power is not confined to the earthly realm or physical life. The unique phrasing "destroy both soul and body" ensures the comprehensiveness of God's judgment, indicating that the consequences of eternal separation are total and involve every aspect of a person. It dispels any notion that physical death provides an escape from divine justice or that only the physical form faces retribution. This serves as a potent reminder of the gravity of God's wrath and His complete sovereignty, especially vital for those called to preach a message that might invite intense opposition and ultimate self-sacrifice.

Matthew 10 28 Commentary

Matthew 10:28 is a powerful and essential instruction for believers facing any form of opposition or persecution. Jesus redirects His disciples' natural fear from limited human adversaries to the all-powerful God. Human beings can inflict only physical death, a temporal cessation of bodily life, but they cannot touch the immortal soul. In stark contrast, God holds absolute dominion over both body and soul, possessing the unique power to justly sentence both to eternal destruction in Gehenna—a state of ultimate ruin and unending separation, not mere annihilation. This verse demands courage and faith in discipleship, reinforcing that true fear belongs to God alone. It encourages an eternal perspective, enabling believers to endure earthly suffering and even martyrdom, understanding that physical death is not the finality but that one's ultimate and everlasting destiny is solely in God's hands. It underscores that spiritual faithfulness outweighs physical preservation in God's eternal economy.