Matthew 10:27
New International Version
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.

New Living Translation
What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!

English Standard Version
What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

Berean Standard Bible
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.

Berean Literal Bible
What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops!

King James Bible
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

New King James Version
“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.

New American Standard Bible
What I tell you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim on the housetops.

NASB 1995
“What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.

NASB 1977
“What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.

Legacy Standard Bible
What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.

Amplified Bible
What I say to you in the dark (privately), tell in the light (publicly); and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops [to many people].

Christian Standard Bible
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops.

American Standard Version
What I tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the light; and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the house-tops.

Contemporary English Version
Whatever I say to you in the dark, you must tell in the light. And you must announce from the housetops whatever I have whispered to you.

English Revised Version
What I tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the light: and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Tell in the daylight what I say to you in the dark. Shout from the housetops what you hear whispered.

Good News Translation
What I am telling you in the dark you must repeat in broad daylight, and what you have heard in private you must announce from the housetops.

International Standard Version
What I tell you in darkness you must speak in the daylight, and what is whispered in your ear you must shout from the housetops.

Majority Standard Bible
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.

NET Bible
What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.

New Heart English Bible
What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.

Webster's Bible Translation
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that publish ye upon the house-tops.

Weymouth New Testament
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what is whispered into your ear, proclaim upon the roofs of the houses.

World English Bible
What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
that which I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light, and that which you hear at the ear, proclaim on the housetops.

Berean Literal Bible
What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops!

Young's Literal Translation
that which I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light, and that which you hear at the ear, proclaim on the house-tops.

Smith's Literal Translation
What I say to you in darkness, speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the houses.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
That which I tell you in the dark, speak ye in the light: and that which you hear in the ear, preach ye upon the housetops.

Catholic Public Domain Version
What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light. And what you hear whispered in the ear, preach above the rooftops.

New American Bible
What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

New Revised Standard Version
What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
What I tell you in the dark, tell it in the daylight; and what you hear with your ears, preach on the house tops.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Whatever I tell you in the darkness, say it in the light, and whatever you hear with your ears, preach on the rooftops.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
"What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light: and what you hear in the ear, preach on the house-tops.

Godbey New Testament
What I say unto you in the darkness, speak ye in the light: and whatsoever you hear in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops.

Haweis New Testament
What I say unto you in the dark, publish in the light: and what ye hear whispered into the ear, proclaim upon the roofs.

Mace New Testament
what I tell you in private, declare it in publick: and what is whisper'd in the ear, proclaim from the battlements of the house.

Weymouth New Testament
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what is whispered into your ear, proclaim upon the roofs of the houses.

Worrell New Testament
What I am saying to you in the darkness, speak ye in the light; and what ye hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.

Worsley New Testament
What I say to you in private, declare ye in public: and what ye hear as in the ear, preach ye as from the house-tops.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Fear God Alone
26So do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. 27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. 28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.…

Cross References
Luke 12:3
What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.

Mark 4:22
For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.

John 16:13
However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.

Acts 5:20
“Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.”

Acts 18:9-10
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent. / For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”

Romans 16:25-26
Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past / but now revealed and made known through the writings of the prophets by the command of the eternal God, in order to lead all nations to the obedience that comes from faith—

1 Corinthians 2:7-10
No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began. / None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. / Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” ...

Ephesians 3:3-5
that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. / In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, / which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

Colossians 1:26-27
the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. / To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

2 Timothy 1:10
And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,

Hebrews 1:1-2
On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. / But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.

1 John 1:1-3
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life. / And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. / We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 8:11-13
For this is what the LORD has spoken to me with a strong hand, instructing me not to walk in the way of this people: / “Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread. / The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.

Isaiah 30:8
Go now, write it on a tablet in their presence and inscribe it on a scroll; it will be for the days to come, a witness forever and ever.

Jeremiah 1:7
But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak.


Treasury of Scripture

What I tell you in darkness, that speak you in light: and what you hear in the ear, that preach you on the housetops.

I tell.

Matthew 13:1-17,34,35
The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side…

Luke 8:10
And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

John 16:1,13,25,29
These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended…

that preach.

Proverbs 1:20-23
Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: …

Proverbs 8:1-5
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? …

Acts 5:20,28
Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life…

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Dark Darkness Daylight Ear Hear Houses Housetops House-Tops Light Preach Proclaim Publish Roofs Secretly Speak Utter Whispered
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Dark Darkness Daylight Ear Hear Houses Housetops House-Tops Light Preach Proclaim Publish Roofs Secretly Speak Utter Whispered
Matthew 10
1. Jesus sends out his apostles, enabling them with power to do miracles;
5. giving them their charge, teaches them;
16. comforts them against persecutions;
40. and promises a blessing to those who receive them.














What I tell you
This phrase emphasizes the direct communication from Jesus to His disciples. The Greek word for "tell" is "λέγω" (legō), which implies a personal and authoritative declaration. In the context of the Gospel, Jesus is the ultimate authority, and His words are not mere suggestions but divine instructions. This phrase underscores the intimate relationship between Jesus and His followers, where He imparts wisdom and truth directly to them.

in the dark
The term "dark" here is metaphorical, representing private or hidden settings. In the ancient world, teachings often began in secluded places before being shared publicly. The Greek word "σκοτία" (skotia) can also imply a lack of understanding or revelation. Jesus is preparing His disciples to take what they learn in these private moments and bring it into the open, symbolizing the transition from hidden knowledge to public proclamation.

speak in the light
"Light" in biblical terms often symbolizes truth, revelation, and the presence of God. The Greek word "φῶς" (phōs) is used here, which is frequently associated with divine truth and enlightenment. By instructing His disciples to "speak in the light," Jesus is calling them to boldly share the truths they have received, bringing them into the public sphere where they can illuminate and transform lives.

what is whispered in your ear
The imagery of whispering suggests a close, personal communication. The Greek word "οὖς" (ous) for "ear" indicates a direct and intimate form of teaching. In historical context, rabbis would often teach their disciples in a similar manner, conveying deep truths in a personal setting. This phrase highlights the special revelation given to the disciples, which they are entrusted to share with others.

proclaim from the housetops
In ancient times, housetops were flat and often used as platforms for public announcements. The Greek word "κηρύσσω" (kērussō) for "proclaim" means to herald or announce publicly. This phrase captures the urgency and boldness with which the disciples are to share the Gospel. It signifies a fearless and open declaration of the truths they have received, ensuring that the message of Christ reaches as many as possible.

(27) What I tell you in darkness.--The words point to our Lord's method of teaching, as well as to the fact of its being esoteric, and disclosed only to the chosen few, and to them only as they were "able to bear it" (John 16:12). Parables, and dark sayings, and whispered hints, and many-sided proverbs, were among the forms by which He led them on to truth. They, in their work as teachers, were not to shrink through any fear of man from giving publicity to what they had thus learnt. To "proclaim on the housetops"--the flat roofs of which were often actually used by criers and heralds for their announcements--is, of course, a natural figure for the fullest boldness and freedom in their preaching.

Verse 27. - The parallel passage, Luke 12:3, is verbally similar, but of reverse meaning. In Matthew it is a charge to the disciples to proclaim publicly what Christ tells them privately; in Luke it is a statement that what they say privately shall be proclaimed publicly. St. Luke gives only another side of the preceding verse; St. Matthew, a fresh point. The connexion with ver. 26 is - Do not cover up your relation to me, but say out bravely the message that I give you. What I tell you. There is no limitation to the time. Those who believe in the present life of Christ and in the reality of present communications from him cannot fail to see here both the true source of their messages as preachers and the necessity of faithfulness to those messages. Observe that the stress is not upon the personality of the Speaker, but upon the communication (λέγω, not ἐγὼ λέγω). In (the, Revised Version) darkness... in (the, Revised Version) light. Both are pictured to the mind. And what ye hear in the ear (εἰς τὸ οϋς). Possibly a reference to the habit of Jewish rabbis sometimes whispering their teaching in the ear of an "interpreter," who repeated it aloud for all to hear (cf. Lightfoot, 'Hor. Hebr.'), but more probably only the common figure of speech for secret instruction; cf. Talm. Bab., 'Berach.,' 22a, "Nahum of Gamzo, whispered it to. R. Akiba, and R. Akiba whispered it to Ben Azai, and Ben Azai went out and taught it to his disciples in the street." Compare also the Old Testament phrase, "uncover the ear" (1 Samuel 9:15, used of God; 1 Samuel 20:2,12, 13, used of man). That preach ye; proclaim (Revised Version); κηρύξατε. Upon the house-tops. Lightfoot ('Hor. Hebr.') thinks that this is an allusion to the minister of a synagogue blowing a trumpet on the roof of a high house to announce the sabbath; but that was a mere signal of a fact (σαλπίζω), not the articulate expression of a communication (κηρύσσω). The phrase much more probably alludes to the fact that the roofs in Eastern cities are the common place for conversation, and to the rapidity with which an announcement there made spreads throughout the town.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
What
(ho)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

I tell
λέγω (legō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

you
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

dark,
σκοτίᾳ (skotia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4653: Darkness; fig: spiritual darkness. From skotos; dimness, obscurity.

speak
εἴπατε (eipate)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

light;
φωτί (phōti)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5457: Light, a source of light, radiance. From an obsolete phao; luminousness.

what
(ho)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

is whispered
ἀκούετε (akouete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

in
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

[your]
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

ear,
οὖς (ous)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3775: (a) the ear, (b) met: the faculty of perception. Apparently a primary word; the ear.

proclaim
κηρύξατε (kēryxate)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2784: To proclaim, herald, preach. Of uncertain affinity; to herald, especially divine truth.

from
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

housetops.
δωμάτων (dōmatōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 1430: The roof (of a house), the top of the house. From demo; properly, an edifice, i.e. a roof.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in the darkness (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 10:26
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