Matthew 7:10 kjv
Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Matthew 7:10 nkjv
Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Matthew 7:10 niv
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
Matthew 7:10 esv
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
Matthew 7:10 nlt
Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!
Matthew 7 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 7:9 | "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?" | First analogy of God's good gifts. |
| Matt 7:11 | "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more..." | Concluding statement on God's greater goodness. |
| Luke 11:11 | "If a son asks for bread from any of you who is a father, will he give him a stone?" | Parallel passage in Luke's Gospel. |
| Luke 11:12 | "...Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?" | Direct parallel to Matt 7:10 in Luke. |
| Luke 11:13 | "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" | Luke clarifies "good gifts" as the Holy Spirit. |
| Jas 1:17 | "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights..." | God as the source of all good gifts. |
| Ps 103:13 | "As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him." | God's fatherly compassion and care. |
| Ps 84:11 | "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." | God's willingness to give all good things. |
| Matt 7:7 | "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." | Call to prayer and promise of reception. |
| Matt 7:8 | "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." | Assurance of answered prayer. |
| Jer 29:12 | "Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." | God promises to hear prayer. |
| John 14:13 | "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." | Power of asking in Jesus' name. |
| John 15:7 | "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." | Prayer connected to abiding in Christ. |
| 1 John 5:14 | "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." | Prayer according to God's will. |
| Phil 4:6 | "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." | Instruction to pray rather than worry. |
| Matt 7:15 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." | Contrasts with the "serpent" image – warning about those who mislead/harm. |
| Deut 32:6 | "Do you thus deal with the Lord, O foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, who bought you?" | God's fatherhood in the Old Testament. |
| Eph 6:4 | "Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." | Parental example, highlighting care and good intention. |
| Prov 4:1-4 | "Hear, my children, the instruction of a father... he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart retain my words..." | Parental instruction, a good father guides. |
| Heb 12:7 | "If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?" | God's fatherly discipline for good. |
| Isa 49:15 | "Can a woman forget her nursing child... Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you." | God's deep and unforgettable care for His people. |
| Rom 8:32 | "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" | God's ultimate generosity in Christ. |
Matthew 7 verses
Matthew 7 10 Meaning
Matthew 7:10 is a rhetorical question that functions as an analogy to highlight the benevolent character of God as a Father. Following the previous verse where Jesus contrasted giving bread for a stone, this verse continues by questioning if a human father, when asked for a fish, would instead give a dangerous serpent. The implied answer is a resounding "No." It underscores God's unfailing goodness, perfect nature, and unwavering desire to provide beneficial gifts to those who seek Him in prayer, assuring believers that unlike imperfect human parents, the Heavenly Father will never give harmful things in place of what is good and necessary.
Matthew 7 10 Context
Matthew 7:10 is an integral part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, specifically within His teaching on prayer found in Matthew 7:7-11. This short pericope provides assurance that God listens to and answers prayer. Jesus draws a clear distinction between the limitations and potential shortcomings of human parents ("being evil" or imperfect) and the boundless goodness and wisdom of the Heavenly Father.
The analogy used—giving a serpent for a fish—would have been culturally poignant. Fish was a staple food, easily sourced from the Sea of Galilee and a common, nutritious meal for Galilean families. Serpents, on the other hand, were not only inedible but were symbolic of danger, deception (linking to the Genesis narrative), and ritual uncleanness. The thought of a father intentionally giving a child something harmful in place of a vital need was utterly absurd and repugnant to the Jewish audience, powerfully highlighting the absolute contrast to God's character. Jesus here implicitly challenges any perception of God as indifferent, malevolent, or capricious, contrasting Him sharply with pagan deities often perceived as such. He affirms a God who is intimately involved and benevolently inclined toward His children, providing a profound theological foundation for trusting God in prayer.
Matthew 7 10 Word analysis
- Or (Greek: ē - ἤ): Introduces the second analogy, serving as a rhetorical transition that further strengthens the preceding point (bread for a stone). It sets up a parallel illustrative scenario.
- if he ask (Greek: aitēsē - αἰτήσῃ): From aiteō, implying a simple, earnest request from one in need (a child to a father). It carries the sense of humbly petitioning.
- a fish (Greek: ichthyn - ἰχθῦν): A common and beneficial food item, readily available and desired, symbolizing a good and life-sustaining gift. It represents something inherently wholesome and necessary for nourishment.
- will he give him (Greek: epidōsei autō - ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ): From epididomi, meaning "will give additionally" or "will give specifically." In this rhetorical question, it emphasizes the shocking nature of such a potential gift, underscoring the implied negative answer.
- a serpent (Greek: ophin - ὄφιν): Represents something dangerous, harmful, deceptive, and impure. Its use creates a sharp, vivid contrast to a fish, emphasizing the absurdity and malevolence of the implied action from a human father, and thus from the Heavenly Father. This imagery resonates with the ancient understanding of serpents as symbols of evil.
Words-group analysis:
- "Or if he ask a fish": This phrase establishes a relatable scenario of innocent dependence and simple need. It pictures a child seeking a fundamental provision from their parent, appealing to common experience.
- "will he give him a serpent?": This rhetorical question draws a stark contrast between expected parental provision and a malicious act. It invokes the common revulsion to serpents and emphasizes the utter antithesis of giving good versus evil, life versus potential death. The stark opposition of a nourishing "fish" to a dangerous "serpent" powerfully conveys the idea that God, our perfect Father, only provides what is good for us.
Matthew 7 10 Bonus section
- The rhetorical questions in Matt 7:9-10 are a hallmark of Jesus' teaching style, engaging the audience and eliciting immediate, obvious assent to a truth. They served as effective pedagogical tools to implant spiritual truths deeply into the minds of His listeners.
- The connection between "good gifts" (Matt 7:11) and the "Holy Spirit" (Luke 11:13) in the parallel passage underscores that God's greatest provisions for His children are spiritual in nature, far surpassing material benefits. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live out the very Sermon on the Mount principles Jesus taught.
- The core message extends beyond just physical provisions; it speaks to God's trustworthiness in all aspects of life. It implies that when facing trials or uncertainty, believers can trust that God, like a loving Father, will not give them "a serpent" (harm/destruction) but ultimately what leads to spiritual growth and His glory, even if it comes in unexpected forms.
- The implicit promise is that God is utterly reliable, demonstrating His faithful love in contrast to the capriciousness often attributed to human beings or pagan deities. This builds a foundation of faith for kingdom living.
Matthew 7 10 Commentary
Matthew 7:10 is a pivotal statement on the character of God within Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, designed to instill profound confidence in His listeners regarding prayer. It takes a relatable, earthly scenario—a child asking a father for food—to illuminate a divine truth: God is infinitely more benevolent and trustworthy than even the best human parent. The analogy's vivid contrast between a life-sustaining "fish" and a deadly "serpent" highlights the perfect goodness and love of the Heavenly Father, assuring believers that when they petition Him, He will always respond with what is truly good and beneficial, never with malice or harm. This verse powerfully underpins the "ask, seek, knock" admonition by removing any doubt about God's willingness or capacity to provide for His children's genuine needs. It shifts the focus from our merit to God's grace and perfect fatherly nature, encouraging bold and consistent prayer based on His unchanging character. It implies that God is wise enough to give the right good gift, even if it's not always precisely what we think we need, assuring His ultimate beneficence.