Matthew 9:31 kjv

But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

Matthew 9:31 nkjv

But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.

Matthew 9:31 niv

But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

Matthew 9:31 esv

But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

Matthew 9:31 nlt

But instead, they went out and spread his fame all over the region.

Matthew 9 verses

Matthew 9 31 Meaning

Matthew 9:31 describes the actions of the two men Jesus had just healed from blindness. Despite Jesus' strict command not to tell anyone about their healing, they immediately disobeyed. Upon leaving Him, they extensively spread the news of His actions and, consequently, His reputation throughout the entire surrounding region. This verse highlights the irrepressible nature of Jesus' miracles and the human tendency to proclaim extraordinary experiences, even against explicit instructions.

Matthew 9 31 Context

Matthew chapter 9 opens with Jesus forgiving and healing a paralytic, establishing His divine authority over sin and sickness. This is followed by the call of Matthew and a discourse on new wine in old wineskins, emphasizing a shift in God's work. The chapter then transitions into a series of powerful miracles: the healing of a woman with a chronic flow of blood, the raising of Jairus's daughter from death, and the restoration of sight to two blind men. Just before Matthew 9:31, in verse 30, Jesus has explicitly commanded these two newly sighted men, "See that no one knows about it." Verse 31 directly presents their immediate disobedience to this specific instruction. The events of this chapter collectively build a comprehensive picture of Jesus' power and messianic identity, yet reveal His nuanced approach to its revelation, which human enthusiasm often superseded. This verse sets the stage for the continued widespread acknowledgment of Jesus' miraculous works despite His often-present "Messianic Secret."

Matthew 9 31 Word analysis

• But (οἱ δέ - hoi de): This serves as a strong contrasting conjunction, emphasizing the immediate divergence from Jesus' prior command in verse 30. It marks a shift from Jesus' directive to the men's subsequent action.
• they (autoi): Refers specifically to the two blind men who had just been healed. Their identity as the immediate beneficiaries of Jesus' power underscores their profound motivation to speak.
• when they were departed (ἐξελθόντες - exelthontes): This aorist participle implies an immediate action upon leaving Jesus' presence. There was no delay; their disobedience was prompt, reflecting their overwhelming excitement and inability to contain the news.
• spread abroad (διεφήμισαν - diephēmisan): This verb is a strong term, indicating extensive and widespread proclamation. It means "to noise abroad," "to report throughout," or "to make widely known." The prefix "δι-" (dia) suggests "through and through" or "completely," implying thorough dissemination across the entire region. This word itself encapsulates the notion of making "fame" or a "report" prevalent.
• his fame (αὐτὸν - auton implies "him", meaning his person and reputation through his acts): While often translated as "his fame," the Greek word used directly for "him" (αὐτὸν) means "they spread him abroad." It's not just a rumor about what happened, but a widespread report concerning who He is and what He does. Their actions effectively broadcast Jesus' identity and power, thus building His fame. This aligns with their prior confession of Jesus as "Son of David."
• in all (ἐν ὅλῃ - en holē): Signifies comprehensive coverage, "in the whole" or "entire." It emphasizes the extent of their proclamation, not just a casual mention but a thorough saturation of the area with the news.
• that country (τῇ γῇ ἐκείνῃ - tē gē ekeinē): Refers to the specific geographical region where Jesus was ministering, likely Galilee or the area surrounding Capernaum. This indicates that their proclamation had a specific and far-reaching territorial impact, covering the entirety of that local jurisdiction.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But they, when they were departed": This phrase highlights the direct contrast between Jesus' command and the men's immediate and disobedient response. It emphasizes the human agency involved in spreading the news, independent of – and even contrary to – the divine instruction.
• "spread abroad his fame": This describes the vigorous and widespread proclamation of Jesus Himself, identified through His powerful deeds. The use of "fame" signifies that Jesus' identity and renown were becoming broadly established among the people through these testimonies, even though it wasn't the exact time or method Jesus desired for the full revelation of His messianic office.
• "in all that country": This defines the extensive geographical reach of their actions, indicating that the news about Jesus and His power could not be contained within a small circle but rapidly permeated the entire region. It signifies the unstoppable nature of God's work.

Matthew 9 31 Bonus section

• Divine Plan vs. Human Action: The verse subtly showcases how divine plans interact with human nature. Jesus intended a controlled revelation, but human excitement and inability to contain good news often led to wider, unplanned dissemination, which paradoxically served God's broader purpose of preparing the way for the Gospel's spread.
• The Power of Personal Testimony: While disobedient in the specific context of the command, the action of the blind men underscores the potent and irrepressible nature of a personal testimony of Jesus' transforming power. When one genuinely encounters Christ's miraculous work, the natural inclination is to share it widely.
• Messianic Expectation: The blind men initially addressed Jesus as "Son of David," acknowledging His messianic lineage and implied authority. Their subsequent action of spreading "His fame" (or 'Him' specifically) can be seen as an extension of this initial belief, further fueling the growing popular expectation of a Messiah, even if not fully aligned with Jesus' spiritual kingdom.

Matthew 9 31 Commentary

Matthew 9:31 illustrates the tension between Jesus' strategic command for silence (the "Messianic Secret") and the natural human inclination to proclaim the extraordinary. Jesus' request for discretion, often seen in Mark's Gospel too, was likely multi-faceted: to avoid a premature political uprising based on misinterpreted messianic fervor, to control the timing of His self-revelation, or to ensure that people focused on His spiritual message rather than just His miracle-working power. Despite these divine intentions, the sheer impact of experiencing miraculous healing proved irrepressible for the newly sighted men. Their exuberant disobedience, while a transgression of a direct command, ironically served to advance the spread of Jesus' renown throughout the region. This highlights that God can work through imperfect human vessels and actions, and that the compelling nature of Jesus’ work cannot be ultimately contained by human directives.