Matthew 10:34 Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

◄ Matthew 10:34 ►

New International Version
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

New Living Translation
“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.

English Standard Version
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Berean Standard Bible
Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Berean Literal Bible
Do not think that I came to bring peace to the earth; I came not to bring peace, but a sword.

King James Bible
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

New King James Version
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

New American Standard Bible
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

NASB 1995
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

NASB 1977
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Amplified Bible
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and unbelief].

Christian Standard Bible
Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

American Standard Version
Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Contemporary English Version
Don't think I came to bring peace to the earth! I came to bring trouble, not peace.

English Revised Version
Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Don't think that I came to bring peace to earth. I didn't come to bring peace but conflict.

Good News Translation
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the world. No, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

International Standard Version
"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword!

Majority Standard Bible
Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

NET Bible
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword.

New Heart English Bible
"Do not think that I came to send peace on the earth. I did not come to send peace, but a sword.

Webster's Bible Translation
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Weymouth New Testament
"Do not suppose that I came to bring peace to the earth: I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

World English Bible
“Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
You may not suppose that I came to put peace on the earth; I did not come to put peace, but a sword;

Berean Literal Bible
Do not think that I came to bring peace to the earth; I came not to bring peace, but a sword.

Young's Literal Translation
'Ye may not suppose that I came to put peace on the earth; I did not come to put peace, but a sword;

Smith's Literal Translation
Think not that I came to cast peace upon earth; I came not to cast peace, but a sword.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Do not think that I came to send peace upon earth: I came not to send peace, but the sword.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Do not think that I came to send peace upon the earth. I came, not to send peace, but the sword.

New American Bible
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.

New Revised Standard Version
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Do not expect that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Think not that I have come to bring peace in the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
Think not that I have come to send peace on the earth. I have not come to send peace, but a sword.

Godbey New Testament
Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Haweis New Testament
Think not that I am come to bring peace to the earth: I came not to bring peace, but a sword.

Mace New Testament
don't imagine that I am come to bring peace upon the earth: I came not to bring peace, but war.

Weymouth New Testament
"Do not suppose that I came to bring peace to the earth: I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

Worrell New Testament
"Think not that I came to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword;

Worsley New Testament
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to bring peace but division.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Sword of the Gospel
33But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven. 34Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Luke 12:51-53
Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. / From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. / They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Micah 7:6
For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. / Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

John 7:43
So there was division in the crowd because of Jesus.

John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”

Zechariah 13:7
Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.

Luke 2:34-35
Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, / so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”

Revelation 6:4
Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword.

Jeremiah 15:10
Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me, a man of strife and conflict in all the land. I have neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses me.

Malachi 4:5-6
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. / And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.

1 Peter 4:12-14
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. / But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory. / If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Acts 14:22
strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Treasury of Scripture

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

that I.

Jeremiah 15:10
Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.

Luke 12:49-53
I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? …

John 7:40-52
Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet…

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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.

Berean Study Bible

Do not assume
The Greek word here is "νομίσητε" (nomisēte), which means to think or suppose. Jesus is addressing a common misconception about His mission. In a historical context, many Jews expected the Messiah to bring political peace and liberation from Roman rule. Jesus is correcting this assumption, emphasizing that His mission is spiritual and transformative, not political or social in the way they expected.

that I have come
The phrase "ἦλθον" (ēlthon) indicates a purposeful arrival. Jesus is speaking of His divine mission and incarnation. This is not a random occurrence but a fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The historical context of His coming is rooted in the prophecies of the Old Testament, which foretold a Messiah who would bring about a new covenant.

to bring peace
The Greek word for peace is "εἰρήνην" (eirēnēn). In Jewish thought, peace (shalom) is a comprehensive term that includes well-being, harmony, and prosperity. Jesus is clarifying that His immediate mission is not to establish this kind of earthly peace. Instead, His coming would initially result in division as people respond differently to His message.

to the earth
The term "γῆν" (gēn) refers to the physical world and its inhabitants. Jesus' mission has global implications, affecting all of humanity. The earth, in this context, represents the realm of human existence where His teachings would challenge existing beliefs and systems.

I have not come to bring peace
This reiteration emphasizes the contrast between expectation and reality. Jesus' mission involves confronting sin and calling for repentance, which naturally leads to conflict. The peace He offers is ultimately spiritual and eternal, not necessarily immediate or worldly.

but a sword
The Greek word "μάχαιραν" (machairan) signifies a sword, often used metaphorically to represent division or conflict. In the scriptural context, the sword symbolizes the penetrating and dividing nature of Jesus' message. Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word of God as sharper than any two-edged sword, indicating its power to discern and divide. Historically, Jesus' teachings have indeed caused division, even among families and communities, as individuals choose to follow Him or reject Him.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(34) Think not that I am come to send peace.--Truth appears again in the form of seeming paradox. Christ is "our peace" (Ephesians 2:14), and came to be the one great Peacemaker; and yet the foreseen consequences of His work involved strife and division, and such a consequence, freely accepted for the sake of the greater good that lies beyond it, involves, in fact, a purpose. The words are the natural expression of such a thought; and yet we can hardly fail to connect them with those which, in the earliest dawn of His infancy, revealed to the mother of the Christ that "a sword should pass through her own soul also" (Luke 2:35).

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 34-39. - Fellowship with me will involve separation from the dearest upon earth, yet the reward is great. (Cf. ver. 5, note.) The progress of thought in these verses seems to be as follows: Do not be surprised at the contradiction that appears between my teaching and the immediate result; I allowed for this when I began my work (ver. 34). There will, indeed, be separation in the closest earthly ties (vers. 35, 36). But my claims are paramount (vers. 37, 38). And on your relation to them depends everything hereafter (ver. 39). Verse 34. - Parallel passage: Luke 12:51. Think not. Christ here removes another mistaken opinion (Matthew 5:17, note). There the mistake was about his relation to the Law; here about the immediate result of his coming. The Prince of Peace did not come to cast in peace as something from outside. It would show itself eventually, but from within outwards. That which he cast from without was fire (Luke 12:49), a sword (infra). Chrysostom ('Hem.,' 35.) points out, among other illustrations, that the confusion of tongues at the Tower of Babel was better than the peace which preceded it, and itself produced a better peace. That I am come; that I came (Revised Version); cf. further, Matthew 5:17, note. To send peace (βαλεῖν εἰρήνην). The verb was probably chosen because in the other form of the utterance Christ had already said πῦρ βαλεῖν, where the figure is of throwing a firebrand (Luke 12:49). By a natural transition, that phrase led to the thought of "throwing" peace or a sword. St. Luke, on the contrary, softened the metaphor to δοῦναι. On (the, Revised Version) earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

{Do} not
Μὴ (Mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

assume
νομίσητε (nomisēte)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3543: From nomos; properly, to do by law, i.e. To accustom; by extension, to deem or regard.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

I have come
ἦλθον (ēlthon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

to bring
βαλεῖν (balein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 906: (a) I cast, throw, rush, (b) often, in the weaker sense: I place, put, drop. A primary verb; to throw.

peace
εἰρήνην (eirēnēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1515: Probably from a primary verb eiro; peace; by implication, prosperity.

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

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative 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.

earth;
γῆν (gēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1093: Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.

I have not come
ἦλθον (ēlthon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

to bring
βαλεῖν (balein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 906: (a) I cast, throw, rush, (b) often, in the weaker sense: I place, put, drop. A primary verb; to throw.

peace,
εἰρήνην (eirēnēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1515: Probably from a primary verb eiro; peace; by implication, prosperity.

but
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

a sword.
μάχαιραν (machairan)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3162: A sword. Probably feminine of a presumed derivative of mache; a knife, i.e. Dirk; figuratively, war, judicial punishment.

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NT Gospels: Matthew 10:34 Don't think that I came to send (Matt. Mat Mt)