Matthew 10:28

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ μὴ φοβηθῆτε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀποκτεννόντων τὸ σῶμα, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν μὴ δυναμένων ἀποκτεῖναι: φοβηθήτε δὲ μᾶλλον τὸν δυνάμενον καὶ ψυχὴν καὶ σῶμα ἀπολέσαι ἐν γεέννῃ.

Transliteration

And mē phobēthēte from the ones apoktennontōn the sōma, the de psychēn mē dynamenōn apokteinai: phobēthēte de mallon the one dynamenon both psychēn and sōma apolesai in geennē.

Grammar Details

• *mē*: negative particle - not
• *phobēthēte*: aorist passive subjunctive, 2nd plural - fear/be afraid
• *apoktennontōn*: present active participle, genitive masculine plural - killing
• *sōma*: accusative neuter singular - body
• *de*: postpositive particle - but/and
• *psychēn*: accusative feminine singular - soul/life
• *dynamenōn*: present middle participle, genitive masculine plural - being able
• *apokteinai*: aorist active infinitive - to kill
• *mallon*: comparative adverb - rather/more
• *dynamenon*: present middle participle, accusative masculine singular - being able
• *apolesai*: aorist active infinitive - to destroy
• *geennē*: dative feminine singular - hell/Gehenna

Word Meanings

• *phobēthēte*: fear/be afraid of/be frightened by
• *apoktennontōn*: killing/slaying/murdering
• *sōma*: body/physical form
• *psychēn*: soul/life/inner self
• *dynamenōn*: being able/having power
• *apokteinai*: to kill/slay/put to death
• *mallon*: rather/more/instead
• *dynamenon*: being able/having power
• *apolesai*: to destroy/ruin/cause to perish
• *geennē*: hell/Gehenna/place of punishment

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} be not{G3361} afraid{G5399} of them that kill{G615} the body,{G4983} but{G1161} are{G1410} not{G3361} able{G1410} to kill{G615} the soul:{G5590} but{G1161} rather{G3123} fear{G5399} him who is able{G1410} to destroy{G622} both{G2532} soul{G5590} and{G2532} body{G4983} in{G1722} hell.{G1067}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} fear{G5399}{(G5676)}{G575} not{G3361} them which{G3588} kill{G615}{(G5723)} the body{G4983}, but{G1161} are{G1410} not{G3361} able{G1410}{(G5740)} to kill{G615}{(G5658)} the soul{G5590}: but{G1161} rather{G3123} fear{G5399}{(G5676)} him which{G3588} is able{G1410}{(G5740)} to destroy{G622}{(G5658)} both{G2532} soul{G5590} and{G2532} body{G4983} in{G1722} hell{G1067}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And feare ye not them which kyll the body and be not able to kyll the soule. But rather feare hym which is able to destroye bothe soule and body into hell.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And feare ye not them that kyll the body, and be not able to kyll the soule. But rather feare hi, which is able to destroye both soule and body in to hell.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And feare yee not them which kill the bodie, but are nor able to kill the soule: but rather feare him, which is able to destroy both soule and bodie in hell.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And feare ye not them, which kyll the body, but are not able to kyll the soule. But rather feare hym, which is able to destroy both soule and body in hell.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `And be not afraid of those killing the body, and are not able to kill the soul, but fear rather Him who is able both soul and body to destroy in gehenna.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And have no fear of those who put to death the body, but are not able to put to death the soul. But have fear of him who has power to give soul and body to destruction in hell.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Referenced Verses

• Isa 8:12-13 : 12 "Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not be terrified. 13 The Lord of Hosts—he is the one you are to regard as holy. He is the one you are to fear; he is the one you are to dread.
• Luke 12:4-5 : 4 I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body but can do nothing more afterward. 5 But I will warn you whom you should fear: Fear the one who, after killing, has the authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!
• Isa 51:12 : 12 I, I am the One who comforts you. Who are you that you should fear mortals who die, or humans who are like grass?
• 2 Thess 1:8-9 : 8 In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might. 10 On that day, when He comes to be glorified among His saints and marveled at by all who have believed—because our testimony to you was believed.
• Rom 8:35-39 : 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: 'For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither powers, neither things present nor things to come, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• Heb 10:31 : 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
• Heb 12:28-29 : 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
• Jas 4:12 : 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
• Rev 2:10 : 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
• Luke 16:22-26 : 22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 25 But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.' 26 And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to cross from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.
• Eccl 5:7 : 7 If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights being denied, do not be surprised at such matters. For one official is watched by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.
• Jer 5:22 : 22 Should you not fear Me? declares the Lord. Should you not tremble in My presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting decree it cannot cross. Though its waves surge, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot cross it.
• Eccl 8:12-13 : 12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and lives a long time, I know that it will be well with those who fear God, who honor Him. 13 But it will not go well for the wicked, nor will they prolong their days like a shadow, because they do not fear God.
• Isa 51:7 : 7 Listen to me, you who know righteousness, you people who have my teaching in your hearts. Do not fear the reproach of men or be dismayed by their insults.
• Isa 66:2 : 2 My hand made all these things, and so all these came into being,' declares the Lord. 'But I will look to this one: to the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.
• Matt 25:46 : 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
• 1 Pet 3:14 : 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be intimidated.
• Heb 11:35 : 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
• Ps 119:120 : 120 My flesh trembles in fear of You, and I stand in awe of Your judgments.
• 2 Tim 4:6-8 : 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.
• Rev 20:10-15 : 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and the one seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them. Each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
• Mark 9:43-48 : 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 44 Where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell, where the fire never goes out. 46 Where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 47 If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 Where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
• John 5:29 : 29 And they will come out: those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.
• Acts 20:23-24 : 23 'Except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that chains and afflictions await me.' 24 'But I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus—to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.'
• Acts 21:13 : 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
• Dan 3:10-18 : 10 You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden statue, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing fiery furnace. 12 But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego—whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon. These men do not pay attention to you, O king; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up. 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, 'Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up?' 15 Now, if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the statue I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace. And who is the god who can rescue you from my hands?' 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego replied to the king, 'Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you concerning this matter. 17 If the God we serve exists, he is able to rescue us from the blazing fiery furnace and deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.'
• Matt 5:22 : 22 But I say to you, everyone who is angry with their brother without cause will be subject to judgment. Whoever says to their brother, ‘Raka!’ will be answerable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
• Matt 10:26 : 26 So do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be made known.