Matthew 7:6 kjv

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Matthew 7:6 nkjv

"Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

Matthew 7:6 niv

"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Matthew 7:6 esv

"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Matthew 7:6 nlt

"Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don't throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

Matthew 7 verses

Matthew 7 6 Meaning

Matthew 7:6 is a call to spiritual discernment, cautioning believers against indiscriminately sharing profound or sacred truths with those who are actively hostile, contemptuous, or incapable of valuing them. It warns that such a misuse of divine revelation would not only lead to the truth being defiled and devalued, but also to potential harm for the one who delivers it. It emphasizes wise stewardship of the precious treasures of God's Kingdom.

Matthew 7 6 Context

Matthew 7:6 is a pivotal verse within Jesus's Sermon on the Mount (Matthew Chapters 5-7), delivered to his disciples and a broader crowd. It immediately follows the instruction not to judge others (Mt 7:1-5) and precedes the encouragement to ask, seek, and knock (Mt 7:7-11) and the Golden Rule. While the preceding verses warn against hypercritical judgment, this verse acts as a necessary counter-balance, indicating that discernment is essential. It prevents indiscriminately exposing profound spiritual truths to those who are unwilling or unable to comprehend or value them. Historically, the audience, being Jewish or Hellenistic-Jewish, would immediately understand the uncleanliness and contempt associated with "dogs" and especially "pigs" according to Levitical law (Lev 11:7). "Sacred" (τὸ ἅγιον, to hagion) likely refers to sacred things in general, similar to consecrated offerings in the Temple, implying something devoted to God and not to be profaned.

Matthew 7 6 Word analysis

• Do not give: This is a direct command, indicating a prohibition and emphasizing discernment. It’s not about absolute withholding, but careful stewardship.
• dogs (Greek: κυσί, kysi): In the biblical context, especially Jewish culture, dogs were typically scavenger animals, often associated with impurity, aggression, and wildness, unlike cherished pets. They represented the unholy, the hostile, and sometimes even Gentiles who despised the Jewish faith (as per Phil 3:2). Here, it refers to those who are morally impure, hostile, or scornful towards holy things.
• what is sacred (Greek: τὸ ἅγιον, to hagion): Literally "the holy thing." This refers to anything set apart or consecrated for God. It can encompass profound spiritual truths, divine revelation, holy teachings, or perhaps even sacred rituals like the Lord's Supper. It implies that which is precious and devoted to God's glory.
• do not throw: A strong, intentional action, indicating carelessness or reckless abandon in offering something valuable.
• your pearls (Greek: τοὺς μαργαρίτας, tous margaritas): Pearls were highly prized, rare, and valuable gemstones. Here, they symbolize precious, beautiful, and rare spiritual insights, divine wisdom, the deep mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, or the Gospel message itself, particularly its profound implications and value.
• to pigs (Greek: χοίροις, choirois): Swine were strictly forbidden and considered unclean animals in Jewish dietary laws (Lev 11:7). They represent individuals who are profoundly impure, base, or contemptuous of sacred things, inherently unable or unwilling to appreciate or even distinguish the value of what is offered to them, perceiving it as worthless or defiling.
• If you do, they may trample them underfoot: This describes the consequence of misplaced generosity. "Trample underfoot" signifies extreme contempt, defilement, and utter disregard. It means to literally crush and deface the precious things as if they were worthless dirt.
• and turn and tear you to pieces: This speaks of the violent, aggressive retaliation from those who are contemptuous. Not only do they desecrate the truth, but they also turn against and physically or metaphorically attack the one who offered it, showing their profound hatred or hostility. It serves as a warning of personal danger.

• dogs... sacred / pearls... pigs: This pairing emphasizes the parallel analogy. "Dogs" and "pigs" represent different but related types of unworthy or hostile recipients, while "sacred" and "pearls" denote different aspects of divine truth, from the inherently holy to the exceedingly valuable. The first phrase suggests protecting what is inherently sacred from being defiled, the second protecting what is highly valued from being contemptuously destroyed.

Matthew 7 6 Bonus section

This verse is often misunderstood as an excuse to avoid evangelism or categorize people. However, it's about discernment in a spiritual warfare context. "Dogs" and "pigs" are not mere unbelievers or those struggling, but specific types of individuals: those deeply entrenched in sin, open mockers, those overtly hostile to sacred things, or those who consistently treat divine truth with contempt. The warning is particularly relevant for those engaged in teaching or discipleship, where certain profound truths might be profaned by a callous audience. It guides when to press deeper truths and when to recognize profound spiritual antagonism that renders further communication not only fruitless but harmful. It’s not a condemnation of individuals, but a call to assess their disposition towards the divine, particularly when foundational Christian principles are met with derision or violence.

Matthew 7 6 Commentary

Matthew 7:6 serves as a crucial caution within Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, immediately following the teaching on not judging. It highlights the indispensable role of spiritual discernment. This is not an instruction to withhold the basic Gospel message from anyone who will hear, as Christ commissioned his followers to preach to all nations. Instead, it speaks to sharing profound, sanctified truths, sacred doctrines, or precious spiritual wisdom (the "sacred" and "pearls") with those who demonstrably scorn, devalue, or maliciously oppose such things ("dogs" and "pigs").

The core message is about the wise stewardship of God’s truth. Holy things should not be profaned by casting them before those who view them with contempt or hostility, nor should the precious jewels of spiritual revelation be wasted on those who cannot appreciate their worth. The consequences are twofold: the sacred truth is desecrated and rendered worthless in the eyes of the recipient (trampled underfoot), and the one who delivers the message faces aggressive opposition and personal harm (torn to pieces).

This verse instructs believers to recognize when genuine teaching becomes futile, even counterproductive, due to hardened hearts or outright malice. It applies especially to sensitive doctrines, the mysteries of faith, or the deep practices of spiritual life that require a measure of receptivity or hunger. It helps explain why prophets or apostles would "shake the dust off their feet" (Mt 10:14) and move on from those who utterly reject the message and persecute the messenger. It emphasizes wise prioritization and protecting divine truth from desecration while also protecting the minister of truth from unnecessary and dangerous exposure to entrenched hostility. It implies that true love for the truth requires discerning its appropriate distribution.