Matthew 8:9

7 “I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied.

8 The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”

10 When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”
KJV
For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
WEB
For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and tell another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and tell my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
ASV
For I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
DARBY
For *I* also am a man under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say to this [one], Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my bondman, Do this, and he does it.
BLB
For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does.”
ÅB
For jeg er også en mann som står under overordnede, og som har soldater under meg igjen. Og om jeg sier til den ene: ‘Gå!’ så går han, og til en annen: ‘Kom!’ så kommer han; sier jeg til tjeneren min: ‘Gjør dette!’ så gjør han det.»
OTB
For jeg er også en mann under autoritet, med soldater under meg. Jeg sier til en, ‘Gå,’ og han går; og til en annen, ‘Kom,’ og han kommer; og til tjeneren min, ‘Gjør dette,’ og han gjør det.”
B1930
For jeg er også en mann som står under overordnede, men har stridsmenn under mig igjen; og sier jeg til den ene: Gå! så går han, og til en annen: Kom! så kommer han, og til min tjener: Gjør dette! så gjør han det.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Titus 2:9

    Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,

    Read in context
  • Psalms 107:25–29

    For He spoke and raised a tempest that lifted the waves of the sea.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 119:91

    Your ordinances stand to this day, for all things are servants to You.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 148:8

    lightning and hail, snow and clouds, powerful wind fulfilling His word,

    Read in context
  • Luke 4:39

    and He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and began to serve them.

    Read in context
  • Luke 7:8

    For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”

    Read in context
  • Colossians 3:22

    Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.

    Read in context
  • Luke 4:35–36

    But Jesus rebuked the demon. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” At this, the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without harming him.

    Read in context