Matthew 9:36 kjv

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 9:36 nkjv

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 9:36 niv

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 9:36 esv

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 9:36 nlt

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 9 verses

Matthew 9 36 Meaning

When Jesus observed the vast crowds, His heart was deeply moved with a profound compassion for them. He saw their desperate condition, recognizing that they were distressed, troubled, and scattered, much like sheep who had no shepherd to guide, protect, or nourish them. This deep emotional response stemmed from His understanding of their spiritual and physical plight, largely neglected by their designated religious leaders.

Matthew 9 36 Context

Matthew 9 concludes Jesus' concentrated ministry in Galilee, demonstrating His authority over sickness, demons, and sin through various miracles and His call of Matthew. This chapter portrays a series of healing events and controversial encounters with the Pharisees. Immediately preceding verse 36, Jesus has healed a mute demon-possessed man, which prompts some to acknowledge Him while others attribute His power to Beelzebub (9:32-34). The chapter also features Him eating with sinners (9:10-13) and debating fasting (9:14-17), challenging the established religious norms. Verse 36 acts as a pivotal moment, shifting the focus from Jesus' individual miraculous works to His deep compassion for the overwhelming spiritual need of the people. This verse provides the profound motivation behind His subsequent commissioning of the twelve disciples in chapter 10 to extend His ministry. Historically, the people of Israel were under Roman occupation, and their own religious leaders (Pharisees and Sadducees) often provided ritualistic or legalistic frameworks but lacked the true spiritual nourishment and pastoral care prophesied throughout the Old Testament. The people were, in essence, without true spiritual shepherds.

Matthew 9 36 Word analysis

• But when He saw (Ἰδὼν δὲ - Idōn de): The Greek emphasizes Jesus' direct observation. It is not merely a glance but a focused, empathetic recognition of their condition, serving as the immediate catalyst for His reaction. Jesus' seeing leads to His feeling and subsequent action.
• the multitudes (τοὺς ὄχλους - tous ochlous): Refers to large, often undifferentiated crowds of common people. It highlights their vast number and suggests a certain disorganization or anonymity, emphasizing the scale of the spiritual need. These were the "everyday" people, often overlooked by the religious elite.
• He was moved with compassion (ἐσπλαγχνίσθη - esplagchnisthē): This powerful Greek verb is derived from splanchna, referring to the intestines or inner organs, which were considered the seat of strong emotion in ancient thought. It denotes a deep, gut-level, visceral feeling of pity, mercy, and tender sympathy. This is one of the strongest expressions of mercy in the Greek language and is used exclusively of Jesus or God (except for characters in parables describing godly mercy). It speaks to Jesus' divine empathy and His shared humanity, feeling deeply what others felt.
• for them (περὶ αὐτῶν - peri autōn): Specifies the object of His deep emotion—it was specifically directed toward these crowds, highlighting His personal concern for the individuals within the masses.
• because (ὅτι - hoti): This conjunction clearly indicates the reason or cause for Jesus' profound compassion, connecting His emotion directly to their distressed state.
• they were weary (ἐσκυλμένοι - eskylmenoi): Transliterated as "skylō." This word means to be harassed, troubled, distressed, or worn out. It depicts a state of being mentally and spiritually fatigued, burdened, and perhaps even vexed or bothered. This likely refers to the burdensome legalistic teachings of the religious leaders, the pressure of Roman rule, and the general hardships of life, leaving them without hope or rest.
• and scattered (and ἐριμμένοι - erimmenoi): Transliterated as "erimō." This word means "thrown down," "abandoned," "neglected," or "spread out aimlessly." It portrays a state of disarray, disorientation, and vulnerability. They lacked direction, protection, and true leadership, much like sheep dispersed without a shepherd, easily preyed upon.
• like sheep having no shepherd (ὡσεὶ πρόβατα μὴ ἔχοντα ποιμένα - hōsei probata mē echonta poimena): This is a classical biblical metaphor. "Sheep" (probata) symbolize defenselessness and dependence. "No shepherd" (mē echonta poimena) signifies a complete lack of proper spiritual care, guidance, and protection. Without a shepherd, sheep are susceptible to predators, starvation, and wandering off, perfectly illustrating the lost and vulnerable state of the multitudes who were led by ineffective or exploitative religious leaders, as often critiqued in Old Testament prophecy.

Word-groups analysis:

• "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion": This group establishes a critical sequence: Jesus' observation (seeing with insight) leads directly to a profound, visceral emotional response (compassion), revealing the heart of His ministry. It's not just a detached view but a deeply personal empathy for suffering humanity.
• "because they were weary and scattered": This phrase directly explains why Jesus felt compassion. It articulates the desperate spiritual and social condition of the people. "Weary" speaks to their internal exhaustion and oppression, while "scattered" depicts their external lack of direction and protection.
• "like sheep having no shepherd": This powerful simile crystallizes the diagnosis of their plight. It is a potent Old Testament image used by prophets to condemn corrupt leaders who failed to care for God's flock, now seen embodied in the contemporary situation by Jesus Himself. It underscores the people's helplessness, vulnerability, and spiritual destitution, in dire need of a true leader.

Matthew 9 36 Bonus section

• The metaphor of "sheep having no shepherd" resonates deeply with ancient Near Eastern culture, where shepherds were vital figures embodying protection, provision, and leadership. Its frequent use in the Old Testament, particularly by prophets like Ezekiel (Ezek 34), condemns the failure of earthly leaders (kings, priests) to shepherd God's people effectively, often contrasting their negligence with God's own faithful pastoring of Israel. Jesus, seeing this dire need, steps into the role of the ultimate Good Shepherd.
• Jesus' compassion (esplagchnisthē) is more than human emotion; it is an attribute rooted in God's own character as depicted in the Old Testament (e.g., Ps 103:13). It highlights Jesus' divine identity and mission to manifest God's love and mercy.
• This verse directly sets the stage for Jesus' call for laborers in Matthew 9:37-38 and the subsequent commissioning of the twelve apostles in Matthew 10:1-42. His compassion is not a stopping point, but a launching pad for action and for delegating the mission.

Matthew 9 36 Commentary

Matthew 9:36 unveils the driving force behind Jesus' earthly ministry: His profound, God-like compassion. This wasn't mere pity but a visceral, heart-wrenching empathy, rooted in His observation of the overwhelming spiritual plight of the multitudes. They were spiritually and emotionally "harassed" and "scattered" not by circumstance alone, but by the failure of their religious shepherds—the scribes and Pharisees—to provide true spiritual nourishment, guidance, or protection. These leaders burdened the people with rules (Matt 23:4) but offered no real rest or spiritual food. The image of "sheep having no shepherd" evokes ancient prophetic lament over Israel's leaderless state and vulnerability, highlighting the people's disorientation and exposure to spiritual danger. This compassionate realization immediately precedes Jesus' instruction to His disciples to pray for more laborers for the "harvest" (Matt 9:37-38), underscoring that His empathy wasn't passive sentiment but an urgent call to active, missional engagement to bring healing, rest, and direction to His lost flock. It reflects the heart of the Good Shepherd, who not only seeks the lost but prepares others to join Him in the seeking.