The Word,
Made Clear
Read the Bible free
The Gospel according to Matthew

Matthew 19

Who, what, why, when, where, and how — read the book introduction

How to use Greek word study

You do not need to read Greek to begin. Tap an underlined word in either the Greek line or the Romanized Greek line: both open the same entry. Where reliable data is available, you will see the dictionary form, grammar, Strong’s number and a definition. Choose “More meaning and grammar” to explore further, then “Close” to return to the passage. Drag the top bar to move the panel and scroll inside it to see more; the Close button stays visible.

A dashed underline marks unavailable parsing; a double underline marks an unavailable dictionary entry. We do not fill these gaps with guesses. Dictionary definitions offer possible meanings; context determines the meaning in the passage. Our Greek text and its Romanization remain unchanged.

Learn about the sources and coverage →
MATTHEW 19:1
TWMC

When Jesus finished teaching these things, He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

KJV

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;

Greek

Καὶ ἐγένετο ὅτε ἐτέλεσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς λόγους τούτους, μετῆρεν ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὰ ὅρια τῆς Ἰουδαίας πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου.

Romanized Greek

Kai egeneto hote etelesen ho Iēsous tous logous toutous, metēren apo tēs Galilaias, kai ēlthen eis ta horia tēs Ioudaias peran tou Iordanou.

MATTHEW 19:2
TWMC

Large crowds followed Him there, and He healed them.

KJV

And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

Greek

Καὶ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ ὄχλοι πολλοί, καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν αὐτοὺς ἐκεῖ.

Romanized Greek

Kai ēkolouthēsan autō ochloi polloi, kai etherapeusen autous ekei.

MATTHEW 19:3
TWMC

Some Pharisees came to test Him.

“Is it lawful,” they asked, “for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

KJV

¶ The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

Greek

Καὶ προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι πειράζοντες αὐτόν, καὶ λέγοντες αὐτῷ, Εἰ ἔξεστιν ἀνθρώπῳ ἀπολῦσαι τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ κατὰ πᾶσαν αἰτίαν;

Romanized Greek

Kai prosēlthon autō hoi Pharisaioi peirazontes auton, kai legontes autō, Ei exestin anthrōpō apolysai tēn gynaika autou kata pasan aitian?

MATTHEW 19:4
TWMC

Jesus answered, “Haven’t you read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female?

KJV

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

Greek

Ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Οὐκ ἀνέγνωτε ὅτι ὁ ποιήσας ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς,

Romanized Greek

Ho de apokritheis eipen autois, Ouk anegnōte hoti ho poiēsas ap’ archēs arsen kai thēly epoiēsen autous,

MATTHEW 19:5
TWMC

And He said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’

KJV

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

Greek

καὶ εἶπεν, Ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὴν μητέρα, καὶ προσκολληθήσεται τῇ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν;

Romanized Greek

kai eipen, Heneken toutou kataleipsei anthrōpos ton patera kai tēn mētera, kai proskollēthēsetai tē gynaiki autou, kai esontai hoi dyo eis sarka mian?

MATTHEW 19:6
TWMC

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being should separate.”

KJV

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Greek

Ὥστε οὐκέτι εἰσὶν δύο, ἀλλὰ σὰρξ μία. Ὃ οὖν ὁ θεὸς συνέζευξεν, ἄνθρωπος μὴ χωριζέτω.

Romanized Greek

Hōste ouketi eisin dyo, alla sarx mia. Ho oun ho theos synezeuxen, anthrōpos mē chōrizetō.

MATTHEW 19:7
TWMC

They asked Him, “Then why did Moses command a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

KJV

They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

Greek

Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ, Τί οὖν Μωσῆς ἐνετείλατο δοῦναι βιβλίον ἀποστασίου, καὶ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν;

Romanized Greek

Legousin autō, Ti oun Mōsēs eneteilato dounai biblion apostasiou, kai apolysai autēn?

MATTHEW 19:8
TWMC

Jesus answered, “Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But that was not how it was from the beginning.

KJV

He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

Greek

Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὅτι Μωσῆς πρὸς τὴν σκληροκαρδίαν ὑμῶν ἐπέτρεψεν ὑμῖν ἀπολῦσαι τὰς γυναῖκας ὑμῶν∙ ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς δὲ οὐ γέγονεν οὕτως.

Romanized Greek

Legei autois hoti Mōsēs pros tēn sklērokardian hymōn epetrepsen hymin apolysai tas gynaikas hymōn; ap’ archēs de ou gegonen houtōs.

MATTHEW 19:9
TWMC

And I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except because of sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery. And whoever marries a woman who has been divorced commits adultery.”

KJV

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

Greek

Λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, μὴ ἐπὶ πορνείᾳ, καὶ γαμήσῃ ἄλλην, μοιχᾶται∙ καὶ ὁ ἀπολελυμένην γαμήσας μοιχᾶται.

Romanized Greek

Legō de hymin hoti hos an apolysē tēn gynaika autou, mē epi porneia, kai gamēsē allēn, moichatai; kai ho apolelymenēn gamēsas moichatai.

MATTHEW 19:10
TWMC

His disciples said to Him, “If that is the situation between a husband and wife, maybe it is better not to marry.”

KJV

¶ His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

Greek

Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ, Εἰ οὕτως ἐστὶν ἡ αἰτία τοῦ ἀνθρώπου μετὰ τῆς γυναικός, οὐ συμφέρει γαμῆσαι.

Romanized Greek

Legousin autō hoi mathētai autou, Ei houtōs estin hē aitia tou anthrōpou meta tēs gynaikos, ou sympherei gamēsai.

MATTHEW 19:11
TWMC

Jesus answered, “Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it has been given.

KJV

But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

Greek

Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Οὐ πάντες χωροῦσιν τὸν λόγον τοῦτον, ἀλλ’ οἷς δέδοται.

Romanized Greek

Ho de eipen autois, Ou pantes chōrousin ton logon touton, all’ hois dedotai.

MATTHEW 19:12
TWMC

Some are eunuchs because they were born that way. Some were made eunuchs by other people. And some have chosen to live unmarried for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this should accept it.”

KJV

For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Greek

Εἰσὶν γὰρ εὐνοῦχοι, οἵτινες ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς ἐγεννήθησαν οὕτως∙ καί εἰσιν εὐνοῦχοι, οἵτινες εὐνουχίσθησαν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων∙ καί εἰσιν εὐνοῦχοι, οἵτινες εὐνούχισαν ἑαυτοὺς διὰ τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν. Ὁ δυνάμενος χωρεῖν χωρείτω.

Romanized Greek

Eisin gar eunouchoi, hoitines ek koilias mētros egennēthēsan houtōs; kai eisin eunouchoi, hoitines eunouchisthēsan hypo tōn anthrōpōn; kai eisin eunouchoi, hoitines eunouchisan heautous dia tēn basileian tōn ouranōn. Ho dynamenos chōrein chōreitō.

MATTHEW 19:13
TWMC

Then people brought little children to Jesus so that He could lay His hands on them and pray for them, but the disciples tried to stop them.

KJV

¶ Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

Greek

Τότε προσηνέχθη αὐτῷ παιδία, ἵνα τὰς χεῖρας ἐπιθῇ αὐτοῖς, καὶ προσεύξηται∙ οἱ δὲ μαθηταὶ ἐπετίμησαν αὐτοῖς.

Romanized Greek

Tote prosēnechthē autō paidia, hina tas cheiras epithē autois, kai proseuxētai; hoi de mathētai epetimēsan autois.

MATTHEW 19:14
TWMC

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me. Do not stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these.”

KJV

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Greek

Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν, Ἄφετε τὰ παιδία, καὶ μὴ κωλύετε αὐτὰ ἐλθεῖν πρός με∙ τῶν γὰρ τοιούτων ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

Romanized Greek

Ho de Iēsous eipen, Aphete ta paidia, kai mē kōlyete auta elthein pros me; tōn gar toioutōn estin hē basileia tōn ouranōn.

MATTHEW 19:15
TWMC

Then He laid His hands on them and went on from there.

KJV

And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

Greek

Καὶ ἐπιθεὶς αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας, ἐπορεύθη ἐκεῖθεν.

Romanized Greek

Kai epitheis autois tas cheiras, eporeuthē ekeithen.

MATTHEW 19:16
TWMC

Suddenly, a man approached Jesus and said, “Good Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?”

KJV

¶ And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

Greek

Καὶ ἰδού, εἷς προσελθὼν εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Διδάσκαλε ἀγαθέ, τί ἀγαθὸν ποιήσω, ἵνα ἔχω ζωὴν αἰώνιον;

Romanized Greek

Kai idou, heis proselthōn eipen autō, Didaskale agathe, ti agathon poiēsō, hina echō zōēn aiōnion?

MATTHEW 19:17
TWMC

Jesus answered him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except One—God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

KJV

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Greek

Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν; Οὐδεὶς ἀγαθός, εἰ μὴ εἷς, ὁ θεός. Εἰ δὲ θέλεις εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν ζωήν, τήρησον τὰς ἐντολάς.

Romanized Greek

Ho de eipen autō, Ti me legeis agathon? Oudeis agathos, ei mē heis, ho theos. Ei de theleis eiselthein eis tēn zōēn, tērēson tas entolas.

MATTHEW 19:18
TWMC

The man asked, “Which ones?”

Jesus answered, “‘You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony.

KJV

He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

Greek

Λέγει αὐτῷ, Ποίας; Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν, Τὸ Οὐ φονεύσεις∙ οὐ μοιχεύσεις∙ οὐ κλέψεις∙ οὐ ψευδομαρτυρήσεις∙

Romanized Greek

Legei autō, Poias? Ho de Iēsous eipen, To Ou phoneuseis; ou moicheuseis; ou klepseis; ou pseudomartyrēseis;

MATTHEW 19:19
TWMC

Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

KJV

Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Greek

τίμα τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὴν μητέρα∙ καί, ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν.

Romanized Greek

tima ton patera kai tēn mētera; kai, agapēseis ton plēsion sou hōs seauton.

MATTHEW 19:20
TWMC

The young man replied, “I have kept all of these from my youth. What am I still missing?”

KJV

The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

Greek

Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ νεανίσκος, Πάντα ταῦτα ἐφυλαξάμην ἐκ νεότητός μου∙ τί ἔτι ὑστερῶ;

Romanized Greek

Legei autō ho neaniskos, Panta tauta ephylaxamēn ek neotētos mou; ti eti hysterō?

MATTHEW 19:21
TWMC

Jesus told him, “If you want to be complete, go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. After that, come and follow Me.”

KJV

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Greek

Ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Εἰ θέλεις τέλειος εἶναι, ὕπαγε, πώλησόν σου τὰ ὑπάρχοντα καὶ δὸς πτωχοῖς, καὶ ἕξεις θησαυρὸν ἐν οὐρανῷ∙ καὶ δεῦρο, ἀκολούθει μοι.

Romanized Greek

Ephē autō ho Iēsous, Ei theleis teleios einai, hypage, pōlēson sou ta hyparchonta kai dos ptōchois, kai hexeis thēsauron en ouranō; kai deuro, akolouthei moi.

MATTHEW 19:22
TWMC

When the young man heard this, he went away grieving because he owned a great deal of property.

KJV

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Greek

Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ νεανίσκος τὸν λόγον ἀπῆλθεν λυπούμενος∙ ἦν γὰρ ἔχων κτήματα πολλά.

Romanized Greek

Akousas de ho neaniskos ton logon apēlthen lypoumenos; ēn gar echōn ktēmata polla.

MATTHEW 19:23
TWMC

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “I tell you the truth: it is difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.

KJV

¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Greek

Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ, Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι δυσκόλως πλούσιος εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν.

Romanized Greek

Ho de Iēsous eipen tois mathētais autou, Amēn legō hymin hoti dyskolōs plousios eiseleusetai eis tēn basileian tōn ouranōn.

MATTHEW 19:24
TWMC

And again I tell you: it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

KJV

And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Greek

Πάλιν δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν, εὐκοπώτερόν ἐστιν κάμηλον διὰ τρυπήματος ῥαφίδος διελθεῖν, ἢ πλούσιον εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ εἰσελθεῖν.

Romanized Greek

Palin de legō hymin, eukopōteron estin kamēlon dia trypēmatos rhaphidos dielthein, ē plousion eis tēn basileian tou theou eiselthein.

MATTHEW 19:25
TWMC

When the disciples heard this, they were completely astonished.

“Then who can possibly be saved?” they asked.

KJV

When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

Greek

Ἀκούσαντες δὲ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἐξεπλήσσοντο σφόδρα, λέγοντες, Τίς ἄρα δύναται σωθῆναι;

Romanized Greek

Akousantes de hoi mathētai autou exeplēssonto sphodra, legontes, Tis ara dynatai sōthēnai?

MATTHEW 19:26
TWMC

Jesus looked directly at them and said, “With human beings, this is impossible. But with God, everything is possible.”

KJV

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Greek

Ἐμβλέψας δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Παρὰ ἀνθρώποις τοῦτο ἀδύνατόν ἐστιν, παρὰ δὲ θεῷ πάντα δυνατά.

Romanized Greek

Emblepsas de ho Iēsous eipen autois, Para anthrōpois touto adynaton estin, para de theō panta dynata.

MATTHEW 19:27
TWMC

Then Peter answered Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You. So what will there be for us?”

KJV

¶ Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

Greek

Τότε ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Ἰδού, ἡμεῖς ἀφήκαμεν πάντα καὶ ἠκολουθήσαμέν σοι∙ τί ἄρα ἔσται ἡμῖν;

Romanized Greek

Tote apokritheis ho Petros eipen autō, Idou, hēmeis aphēkamen panta kai ēkolouthēsamen soi; ti ara estai hēmin?

MATTHEW 19:28
TWMC

Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth: in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

KJV

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Greek

Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ὑμεῖς οἱ ἀκολουθήσαντές μοι, ἐν τῇ παλιγγενεσίᾳ ὅταν καθίσῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ, καθίσεσθε καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐπὶ δώδεκα θρόνους, κρίνοντες τὰς δώδεκα φυλὰς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ.

Romanized Greek

Ho de Iēsous eipen autois, Amēn legō hymin hoti hymeis hoi akolouthēsantes moi, en tē palingenesia hotan kathisē ho huios tou anthrōpou epi thronou doxēs autou, kathisesthe kai hymeis epi dōdeka thronous, krinontes tas dōdeka phylas tou Israēl.

MATTHEW 19:29
TWMC

And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or lands because of My name will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

KJV

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Greek

Καὶ πᾶς ὃς ἀφῆκεν οἰκίας, ἢ ἀδελφούς, ἢ ἀδελφάς, ἢ πατέρα, ἢ μητέρα, ἢ γυναῖκα, ἢ τέκνα, ἢ ἀγρούς, ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός μου, ἑκατονταπλασίονα λήψεται, καὶ ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσει.

Romanized Greek

Kai pas hos aphēken oikias, ē adelphous, ē adelphas, ē patera, ē mētera, ē gynaika, ē tekna, ē agrous, heneken tou onomatos mou, hekatontaplasiona lēpsetai, kai zōēn aiōnion klēronomēsei.

MATTHEW 19:30
TWMC

But many who are first will be last, and those who are last will be first.”

KJV

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Greek

Πολλοὶ δὲ ἔσονται πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι, καὶ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι.

Romanized Greek

Polloi de esontai prōtoi eschatoi, kai eschatoi prōtoi.