The Meaning of Matthew 10:18 Explained

Matthew 10:18

KJV: And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

YLT: and before governors and kings ye shall be brought for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.

Darby: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.

ASV: yea and before governors and kings shall ye be brought for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  ye shall be brought  before  governors  and  kings  for my  sake,  for  a testimony  against them  and  the Gentiles. 

What does Matthew 10:18 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This prediction has caused problems for many interpreters since there is no indication that the disciples appeared before governors and kings during the mission that followed. As mentioned above, Jesus was evidently looking beyond their immediate mission to what His disciples would experience after His death, resurrection, and ascension. [1]

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 10:18 mean?

and before governors also kings you will be brought on account of Me for a testimony to them to the Gentiles
καὶ ἐπὶ ἡγεμόνας δὲ βασιλεῖς ἀχθήσεσθε ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ εἰς μαρτύριον αὐτοῖς τοῖς ἔθνεσιν

ἐπὶ  before 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
ἡγεμόνας  governors 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἡγεμών  
Sense: a leader of any kind, a guide, ruler, prefect, president, chief, general, commander, sovereign.
δὲ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
βασιλεῖς  kings 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: βασιλεύς  
Sense: leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king.
ἀχθήσεσθε  you  will  be  brought 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἄγω  
Sense: to lead, take with one.
ἕνεκεν  on  account  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἵνεκεν 
Sense: on account of, for the sake of, for.
ἐμοῦ  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
μαρτύριον  a  testimony 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: μαρτύριον  
Sense: testimony.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
τοῖς  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἔθνεσιν  Gentiles 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Plural
Root: ἔθνος  
Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together.