Matthew 18:12

God's love Salvation Mercy and compassion Repentance

¹⁰ See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?

¹³ And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

¹⁴ In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?
KJV: How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
WEB: “What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray?
ASV: How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray?
DARBY: What think ye? If a certain man should have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, does he not, leaving the ninety and nine on the mountains, go and seek the one that has gone astray?
BLB: What do you⁺ think? If unto any man there should be a hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and, having gone, seek the one going astray?

ÅB: «Hva tror dere? Om et menneske har hundre sauer, og en av dem går seg vill, forlater han ikke da de nittini i fjellet og går for å lete etter den som har gått seg vill?
OTB: «Hva mener dere? Hvis en mann eier hundre sauer og en av dem går seg vill, vil han ikke forlate de nittini på fjellene og gå for å lete etter den som er mistet?
B1930: Hvad tykkes eder? om et menneske har hundre får, og ett av dem forviller sig, forlater han da ikke de ni og nitti i fjellet og går bort og leter efter det som har forvillet sig?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Ezekiel 34:12
As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.
Read in context
Luke 15:4–7
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
Read in context
Ezekiel 34:16
I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak; but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them with justice.’
Read in context
Isaiah 53:6
We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.
Read in context
Ezekiel 34:28
They will no longer be prey for the nations, and the beasts of the earth will not consume them. They will dwell securely, and no one will frighten them.
Read in context
Ezekiel 34:6
My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. They were scattered over the face of all the earth, with no one to search for them or seek them out.’
Read in context
1 Peter 2:25
For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Read in context
Psalms 119:176
I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.
Read in context