Matthew 7:9 kjv

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Matthew 7:9 nkjv

Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?

Matthew 7:9 niv

"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?

Matthew 7:9 esv

Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?

Matthew 7:9 nlt

"You parents ? if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?

Matthew 7 verses

Matthew 7 9 Meaning

Matthew 7:9 presents a rhetorical question from Jesus, appealing to common human experience. It highlights the universal principle of parental care, asserting that no father, despite human imperfections, would respond to a child's plea for fundamental sustenance (bread) by giving them something harmful and worthless (a stone). This serves as a foundational argument to underscore the infinitely greater, unwavering goodness and perfect provision of God the Father for His children who ask of Him. It assures believers that God will never mock or harm those who sincerely seek His provision for their true needs.

Matthew 7 9 Context

This verse is part of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, specifically within a passage in Matthew 7 (verses 7-11) that strongly emphasizes God's responsiveness to prayer. It builds upon the promise "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matt 7:7). Jesus uses a common, relatable scenario to illustrate the benevolent nature of God. The rhetorical question here sets up an a fortiori (from the lesser to the greater) argument, which is then explicitly stated in the subsequent verse (Matt 7:11). The immediate historical and cultural context values bread as the absolute staple of life, making the comparison to a stone—a worthless, indigestible, and potentially harmful object—striking and profoundly illustrative of an unnatural act. The entire chapter, Matthew 7, focuses on righteous living, discerning false teaching, and entering the Kingdom of Heaven, with prayer and trust in God's goodness as foundational elements.

Matthew 7 9 Word analysis

• Or (Greek: ē): Functions as a conjunction introducing a rhetorical question, directly connecting to the previous verses' promises about God's responsiveness. It presents a logical follow-up to the assurance of prayer being heard.
• what man (Greek: tis anthrōpos): A generic, rhetorical question appealing to universal human experience and common sense. It refers to "any man," specifically in the context of fatherhood.
• is there among you (Greek: estin ex hymōn): A direct address to the audience, inviting them to consider their own societal norms and values concerning parenting. It highlights shared understanding and experience.
• who, if his son asks (Greek: hon aïtēsei ho hyios autou):
  • son (hyios): Emphasizes the deep, inherent bond and dependency of a child on a parent, especially for basic needs.
  • asks (aïtēsei, from aïteō): Implies a simple, direct request based on need and trust, not necessarily a demanding plea. It's the natural act of a dependent child.
• for bread (Greek: arton): Represents fundamental sustenance. In the ancient world, bread was the absolute staple of life, symbolizing essential physical need and provision. It signifies something good, nourishing, and necessary for survival.
• will give (Greek: didōsei, from didōmi): The verb of giving, setting up the contrast between appropriate provision and an inappropriate substitute.
• him a stone (Greek: autō lithon):
  • stone (lithon): Represents something utterly worthless, indigestible, unhelpful, and potentially deceptive or harmful if mistaken for food. It stands in stark contrast to "bread," symbolizing mockery or callous neglect.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Or what man is there among you": This opening sets up a universal human standard. Jesus isn't asking about an unusual or exceptionally cruel person but challenging the very concept of fatherhood against such an act. It presumes an audience who understands basic parental love and responsibility.
• "who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?": This phrase is the core illustration. The request is for the most basic necessity (bread), implying vulnerability and dependency. The proposed response is not just a refusal but a cruel, useless, and even harmful substitute (a stone). This juxtaposition creates a powerful image of an unnatural and unimaginable act from a father to his hungry child, setting the stage for the unparalleled goodness of God.

Matthew 7 9 Bonus section

• The argument from "lesser to greater" is a common rhetorical device in Jewish teaching and is powerfully employed here to highlight God's unmatched nature.
• This verse counters pagan perceptions of deities as capricious, demanding, or indifferent. Jesus presents a loving, responsive Father.
• The analogy isn't limited to physical needs like food; it extends to all "good gifts" (as seen in Luke's parallel and Matthew 7:11), encompassing spiritual, emotional, and practical provisions necessary for a thriving life in alignment with God's will.

Matthew 7 9 Commentary

Matthew 7:9 serves as a compelling rhetorical question in Jesus's discourse, designed to affirm the character of God as a benevolent and perfectly providing Father. By drawing upon the most fundamental and universally understood aspect of human parent-child relationships—the innate desire of a father to provide good for his child—Jesus builds an undeniable truth. No earthly father, despite human flaws and limitations, would give his child a worthless or harmful object when basic sustenance like bread is requested. This natural, although imperfect, parental instinct to give good gifts is the lesser premise in Jesus's argument a fortiori. If human fathers, with all their imperfections, embody this degree of goodness, how infinitely greater, more dependable, and more loving is God, the perfect Heavenly Father.

The choice of "bread" highlights fundamental needs, while "stone" signifies uselessness and cruelty. The verse dismisses any notion that God might be capricious, neglectful, or maliciously mock the sincere prayers of His children. Instead, it lays a groundwork of assurance: when we approach God in prayer for our needs, we can be confident that He will respond with what is truly good, nourishing, and beneficial for us. It fosters unwavering trust in God's perfect fatherly heart, encouraging believers to pray boldly and consistently.