Matthew 25:35

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν: ἐδίψησα, καὶ ἐποτίσατέ με: ξένος ἤμην, καὶ συνηγάγετέ με:

Transliteration

Epeinasa for, and edōkate to me to phagein: edipsēsa, and epotisate me: xenos I ēmēn, and synēgagete me:

Grammar Details

• *epeinasa*: aorist active indicative, 1st person singular - I hungered
• *edōkate*: aorist active indicative, 2nd person plural - you gave
• *phagein*: aorist active infinitive - to eat
• *edipsēsa*: aorist active indicative, 1st person singular - I thirsted
• *epotisate*: aorist active indicative, 2nd person plural - you gave drink
• *xenos*: nominative masculine singular - stranger
• *ēmēn*: imperfect active indicative, 1st person singular - I was
• *synēgagete*: aorist active indicative, 2nd person plural - you took in

Word Meanings

• *epeinasa*: I hungered/was hungry
• *edōkate*: you gave/provided/supplied
• *phagein*: to eat/consume
• *edipsēsa*: I thirsted/was thirsty
• *epotisate*: you gave drink/caused to drink
• *xenos*: stranger/foreigner/guest
• *ēmēn*: I was [continuous state]
• *synēgagete*: you took in/welcomed/gathered in

Referenced Verses

• Ezek 18:7 : 7 does not oppress anyone, but gives the debtor back whatever was given in pledge, does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and clothes the naked,
• Ezek 18:16 : 16 does not oppress anyone or keep what has been given in pledge, does not commit robbery, gives his food to the hungry, and clothes the naked,
• 1 John 3:16-19 : 16 We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians. 17 But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person? 18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth. 19 And by this we will know that we are of the truth and will convince our conscience in his presence,
• Deut 15:7-9 : 7 The Spirit of Liberality If a fellow Israelite from one of your villages in the land that the LORD your God is giving you should be poor, you must not harden your heart or be insensitive to his impoverished condition. 8 Instead, you must be sure to open your hand to him and generously lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful lest you entertain the wicked thought that the seventh year, the year of cancellation of debts, has almost arrived, and your attitude be wrong toward your impoverished fellow Israelite and you do not lend him anything; he will cry out to the LORD against you and you will be regarded as having sinned. 10 You must by all means lend to him and not be upset by doing it, for because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you attempt. 11 There will never cease to be some poor people in the land; therefore, I am commanding you to make sure you open your hand to your fellow Israelites who are needy and poor in your land.
• Rom 12:13 : 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality.
• Heb 13:1-3 : 1 Final Exhortations Brotherly love must continue. 2 Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them, and those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment.
• Jas 1:27 : 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their adversity and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
• Jas 2:15-16 : 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them,“Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it?
• 1 Pet 4:9-9 : 9 Show hospitality to one another without complaining. 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.
• Heb 13:16 : 16 And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
• 1 Tim 6:17-19 : 17 Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. 19 In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.
• Rom 12:20 : 20 Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head.
• Rom 16:23 : 23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus the city treasurer and our brother Quartus greet you.
• Job 31:32 : 32 But no stranger had to spend the night outside, for I opened my doors to the traveler–
• Ps 112:5-9 : 5 It goes well for the one who generously lends money, and conducts his business honestly. 6 For he will never be shaken; others will always remember one who is just. 7 He does not fear bad news. He is confident; he trusts in the LORD. 8 His resolve is firm; he will not succumb to fear before he looks in triumph on his enemies. 9 He generously gives to the needy; his integrity endures. He will be vindicated and honored. 10 When the wicked see this, they will worry; they will grind their teeth in frustration and melt away; the desire of the wicked will perish.
• Prov 3:9-9 : 9 Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled completely, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
• Prov 11:24-25 : 24 One person is generous and yet grows more wealthy, but another withholds more than he should and comes to poverty. 25 A generous person will be enriched, and the one who provides water for others will himself be satisfied.
• Prov 14:21 : 21 The one who despises his neighbor sins, but whoever is kind to the needy is blessed.
• Prov 14:31 : 31 The one who oppresses the poor has insulted his Creator, but whoever honors him shows favor to the needy.
• Prov 19:17 : 17 The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the LORD, and the LORD will repay him for his good deed.
• Prov 22:9 : 9 A generous person will be blessed, for he has given some of his food to the poor.
• Prov 25:21 : 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
• Eccl 11:1-2 : 1 Ignorance of the Future Demands Diligence in the Present Send your grain overseas, for after many days you will get a return. 2 Divide your merchandise among seven or even eight investments, for you do not know what calamity may happen on earth.
• Isa 58:7-9 : 7 I want you to share your food with the hungry and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people. When you see someone naked, clothe him! Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood! 8 Then your light will shine like the sunrise; your restoration will quickly arrive; your godly behavior will go before you, and the LORD’s splendor will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call out, and the LORD will respond; you will cry out, and he will reply,‘Here I am.’ You must remove the burdensome yoke from among you and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully. 10 You must actively help the hungry and feed the oppressed. Then your light will dispel the darkness, and your darkness will be transformed into noonday. 11 The LORD will continually lead you; he will feed you even in parched regions. He will give you renewed strength, and you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring that continually produces water.
• 2 Cor 8:1-4 : 1 Completing the Collection for the Saints Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, 2 that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. 3 For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, 4 begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints.
• 2 Cor 8:7-9 : 7 But as you excel in everything– in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you– make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too. 8 I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich.
• 2 Cor 9:7-9 : 7 Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. 9 Just as it is written,“He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.” 10 Now God who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God, 12 because the service of this ministry is not only providing for the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God. 13 Through the evidence of this service they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing with them and with everyone. 14 And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you.
• Eph 4:28 : 28 The one who steals must steal no longer; instead he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need.
• 1 Tim 5:10 : 10 and has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress– as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works.
• Dan 4:27 : 27 Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged.”
• Mic 6:8 : 8 He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the LORD really wants from you: He wants you to carry out justice, to love faithfulness, and to live obediently before your God.
• Matt 10:40-42 : 40 Rewards“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Whoever receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth, he will never lose his reward.”
• Matt 25:40 : 40 And the king will answer them,‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’
• Matt 25:42-43 : 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. 43 I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
• Matt 26:11 : 11 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!
• Mark 14:7 : 7 For you will always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want. But you will not always have me!
• Luke 11:41 : 41 But give from your heart to those in need, and then everything will be clean for you.
• Luke 14:12-14 : 12 He said also to the man who had invited him,“When you host a dinner or a banquet, don’t invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors so you can be invited by them in return and get repaid. 13 But when you host an elaborate meal, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
• John 13:29 : 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him to buy whatever they needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.)
• Acts 4:32 : 32 Conditions Among the Early Believers The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common.
• Acts 9:36-39 : 36 Peter Raises Dorcas Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha(which in translation means Dorcas). She was continually doing good deeds and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became sick and died. When they had washed her body, they placed it in an upstairs room. 38 Because Lydda was near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him and urged him,“Come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived they brought him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him, crying and showing him the tunics and other clothing Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
• Acts 10:31 : 31 and said,‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your acts of charity have been remembered before God.
• Acts 11:29 : 29 So the disciples, each in accordance with his financial ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
• Acts 16:15 : 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us,“If you consider me to be a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house.” And she persuaded us.
• Phlm 1:7 : 7 I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
• Heb 6:10 : 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints.
• Job 29:13-16 : 13 the blessing of the dying man descended on me, and I made the widow’s heart rejoice; 14 I put on righteousness and it clothed me, my just dealing was like a robe and a turban; 15 I was eyes for the blind and feet for the lame; 16 I was a father to the needy, and I investigated the case of the person I did not know;
• Job 31:16-21 : 16 If I have refused to give the poor what they desired, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail, 17 If I ate my morsel of bread myself, and did not share any of it with orphans– 18 but from my youth I raised the orphan like a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow! 19 If I have seen anyone about to perish for lack of clothing, or a poor man without a coat, 20 whose heart did not bless me as he warmed himself with the fleece of my sheep, 21 if I have raised my hand to vote against the orphan, when I saw my support in the court,
• Gen 18:2-8 : 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing across from him. When he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 He said,“My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought so that you may all wash your feet and rest under the tree. 5 And let me get a bit of food so that you may refresh yourselves since you have passed by your servant’s home. After that you may be on your way.”“All right,” they replied,“you may do as you say.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah,“Quick! Take three measures of fine flour, knead it, and make bread.” 7 Then Abraham ran to the herd and chose a fine, tender calf, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. 8 Abraham then took some curds and milk, along with the calf that had been prepared, and placed the food before them. They ate while he was standing near them under a tree.
• Gen 19:1-3 : 1 The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah The two angels came to Sodom in the evening while Lot was sitting in the city’s gateway. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face toward the ground. 2 He said,“Here, my lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house. Stay the night and wash your feet. Then you can be on your way early in the morning.”“No,” they replied,“we’ll spend the night in the town square.” 3 But he urged them persistently, so they turned aside with him and entered his house. He prepared a feast for them, including bread baked without yeast, and they ate.
• 3 John 1:5-8 : 5 The Charge to Gaius Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers(even though they are strangers). 6 They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone forth on behalf of“The Name,” accepting nothing from the pagans. 8 Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become coworkers in cooperation with the truth.