The Meaning of Matthew 10:21 Explained

Matthew 10:21

KJV: And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

YLT: 'And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and father child, and children shall rise up against parents, and shall put them to death,

Darby: But brother shall deliver up brother to death, and father child; and children shall rise up against parents and shall put them to death;

ASV: And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child: and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  the brother  shall deliver up  the brother  to  death,  and  the father  the child:  and  the children  shall rise up  against  [their] parents,  and  cause  them  to be put to death. 

What does Matthew 10:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 10:16-23 - Steadfast Under Persecution
The way of the servants and heralds of Christ will never be easy. From the first, it has been lined with jagged flints. On the one hand, they are assailed by the rulers and potentates of this world; and on the other, by the members of their own homes. See Acts 4:25. But all these experiences are permitted in order to secure an entrance for their message into the most unlikely places, 2 Timothy 4:17. The fact of the disciples being driven from city to city brought the gospel within the reach of a much wider audience than if they had remained in peace in one center. See Acts 11:19.
But when we are persecuted for the Lord's sake, the Father bends over us with tender pity and helpfulness, John 12:26. And we are supplied, from the Eternal Light and Love, with a wisdom of speech and an unfailing patience of love that cannot be gainsaid. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 10

1  Jesus sends out his apostles, enabling them with power to do miracles;
5  giving them their charge, teaches them;
16  comforts them against persecutions;
40  and promises a blessing to those who receive them

What do the individual words in Matthew 10:21 mean?

Will deliver up now brother brother to death and father child will rise up children against parents will put to death them
Παραδώσει δὲ ἀδελφὸς ἀδελφὸν εἰς θάνατον καὶ πατὴρ τέκνον ἐπαναστήσονται τέκνα ἐπὶ γονεῖς θανατώσουσιν αὐτούς

Παραδώσει  Will  deliver  up 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: παραδίδωμι  
Sense: to give into the hands (of another).
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἀδελφὸς  brother 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀδελφός  
Sense: a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother.
ἀδελφὸν  brother 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀδελφός  
Sense: a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother.
θάνατον  death 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: θάνατος 
Sense: the death of the body.
πατὴρ  father 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
τέκνον  child 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τέκνον  
Sense: offspring, children.
ἐπαναστήσονται  will  rise  up 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐπανίστημι  
Sense: to cause to rise up against, to raise up against.
τέκνα  children 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: τέκνον  
Sense: offspring, children.
ἐπὶ  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
γονεῖς  parents 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: γονεύς  
Sense: fathers, parent, the parents.
θανατώσουσιν  will  put  to  death 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: θανατόω  
Sense: to put to death.