Matthew 4 9

Matthew 4:9 kjv

And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Matthew 4:9 nkjv

And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."

Matthew 4:9 niv

"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

Matthew 4:9 esv

And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me."

Matthew 4:9 nlt

"I will give it all to you," he said, "if you will kneel down and worship me."

Matthew 4 verses

Matthew 4 9 Meaning

Satan, displaying "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory," directly proposes to Jesus an offer of immediate universal dominion over these realms. The condition for this immense power is that Jesus must prostrate Himself and worship Satan, thus diverting His devotion from God the Father. This pivotal moment reveals Satan's ultimate aim: to receive the worship due only to God, offering a seductive shortcut to Messiah's reign, bypassing the divine path of suffering and obedience.

Matthew 4 9 Context

This verse occurs as the climax of Jesus' temptations by Satan in the Judean wilderness, immediately following His baptism and divine affirmation as God's beloved Son. For forty days, Jesus fasted, entering a state of profound physical and spiritual readiness. Satan presents Jesus with three temptations designed to subvert His divine identity and mission: self-reliance over reliance on God (bread), presumption upon God (temple pinnacle), and finally, an offer of global dominion for an act of idolatrous worship (Mt 4:8-9). This temptation targets the heart of Jesus' messianic purpose, proposing an immediate, power-driven kingdom apart from God's chosen path of humble service and ultimately, the Cross. The broader historical and cultural context underscores the strict Jewish monotheism that strictly forbade worship of any entity other than the One True God, making Satan's demand the ultimate blasphemy and a direct challenge to the first commandment.

Matthew 4 9 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): This conjunction serves to connect this final temptation directly with the previous scene where Satan displayed the world's kingdoms to Jesus, presenting it as a logical next step in the devil's scheme.
• he said (εἶπεν - eipen): Refers to "the devil" (Satan), indicating his direct and audacious proposition to Jesus.
• to him (αὐτῷ - autō): Designates Jesus as the direct recipient of Satan's explicit command and offer.
• All these (ταῦτα πάντα - tauta panta): Directly references "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory" mentioned in Matthew 4:8, signifying the immense, comprehensive bribe Satan is offering. It encapsulates the entirety of worldly power and allure.
• I will give you (σοι δώσω - soi dōsō): "I will give you" highlights Satan's false claim of ultimate ownership and authority over these kingdoms. While Satan operates as "the god of this world" (2 Cor 4:4), his authority is not inherent but is permitted and ultimately subordinate to God's sovereign will. This offer is an attempt to unlawfully transfer dominion.
• if you will fall down (ἐὰν πεσὼν - ean pesōn): This phrase (a conditional clause with a participle, meaning "if, having fallen down") signifies an act of prostration or complete physical humbling. In ancient contexts, this was a posture of profound submission, homage, and adoration. It denotes an outward expression of complete deference and worship.
• and worship me (προσκυνήσῃς - proskynēses): "Worship" (proskyneō) implies bowing down in reverence, especially as an act of adoration reserved exclusively for God. Satan demands to be glorified as deity, aspiring to receive the veneration due only to the Creator. This exposes the core nature of Satan's rebellion and his coveting of God's unique position.

Words-group Analysis:

• "All these I will give you": This clause reveals the deceitful heart of the temptation. Satan offers an immediate, vast inheritance and kingship over the world. This is a false "shortcut" to Messianic dominion, a subtle attempt to induce Jesus to achieve His destiny through illicit means, bypassing the Father's intended path of suffering, sacrifice, and ultimate exaltation after complete obedience (Heb 2:10). It aims to replace God's rightful giving (Ps 2:8) with Satan's unlawful "handing over."
• "if you will fall down and worship me": This conditional demand is the spiritual price for the proposed worldly power. It reveals Satan's ultimate goal: not just to stop Jesus' mission, but to usurp God's unique place as the sole recipient of worship. This directly assaults Jesus' relationship with the Father and the foundational commandment against idolatry. Satan demands allegiance to himself, revealing the ultimate stakes of the cosmic conflict: where worship is directed and to whom ultimate authority is granted. It highlights that the path to true glory lies in absolute loyalty to God, not in compromise with the adversary for earthly gain.

Matthew 4 9 Bonus section

This temptation is profoundly significant as it underscores the central conflict in spiritual warfare: who receives ultimate worship and exercises true authority. Satan, himself an archetype of rebellion who coveted God's glory, attempts to corrupt the Son of God with the same sin. Jesus' steadfastness establishes Him as the true Israel, the faithful Son who resists where the first Adam failed (Gen 3) and where Israel failed in the wilderness by often succumbing to idolatry. The scene confirms that God's plan for kingship for His Messiah does not involve negotiation with evil but proceeds through the pathway of obedient humility and suffering, demonstrating that divine power operates contrary to worldly ambition and compromise.

Matthew 4 9 Commentary

Matthew 4:9 captures the devil's most profound and brazen assault on Jesus, directly challenging His identity and mission. By offering global dominion in exchange for an act of worship, Satan attempts to tempt Jesus into illegitimate means for attaining His rightful kingdom. This represents a shortcut, avoiding the cross and the divine path of humility and suffering ordained by the Father. Satan's claim to bestow world authority, though possessing temporary influence as "the god of this world," is a counterfeit of God's sovereign authority over all creation. Jesus' unwavering refusal, culminating in His quoting Deuteronomy in the next verse (Mt 4:10), unequivocally affirms that worship and ultimate allegiance are due to God alone. This decisive victory demonstrates Jesus' perfect obedience and uncompromised devotion, solidifying His divine nature and foreshadowing His true, God-given authority and kingdom that will not be established by worldly means or compromise with evil, but through righteousness and the Father's will.