Matthew 10:6
New International Version
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

New Living Translation
but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep.

English Standard Version
but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Berean Standard Bible
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

Berean Literal Bible
But go rather to those being the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

King James Bible
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

New King James Version
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

New American Standard Bible
but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

NASB 1995
but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

NASB 1977
but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Legacy Standard Bible
but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Amplified Bible
but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Christian Standard Bible
Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

American Standard Version
but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Contemporary English Version
Go only to the people of Israel, because they are like a flock of lost sheep.

English Revised Version
but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Instead, go to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.

Good News Translation
Instead, you are to go to the lost sheep of the people of Israel.

International Standard Version
Instead, go to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.

Majority Standard Bible
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

NET Bible
Go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

New Heart English Bible
Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Weymouth New Testament
but, instead of that, go to the lost sheep of Israel's race.

World English Bible
Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and be going rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Berean Literal Bible
But go rather to those being the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Young's Literal Translation
and be going rather unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Smith's Literal Translation
But rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But go ye rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
but instead go to the sheep who have fallen away from the house of Israel.

New American Bible
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

New Revised Standard Version
but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But above all, go to the sheep which are lost from the house of Israel.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“But go especially to the sheep that have been lost of the house of Israel.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Godbey New Testament
But go ye rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Haweis New Testament
but go rather to the sheep that are lost of the house of Israel.

Mace New Testament
but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Weymouth New Testament
but, instead of that, go to the lost sheep of Israel's race.

Worrell New Testament
but go ye rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Worsley New Testament
but go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Ministry of the Twelve
5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’…

Cross References
Matthew 15:24
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.

Acts 13:46
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.

John 1:11
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

Romans 11:1-2
I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. / God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel:

Romans 11:11-12
I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. / But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!

Romans 11:25-26
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. / And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob.

Acts 3:25-26
And you are sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers when He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ / When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Isaiah 53:6
We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 49:5-6
And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him—for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength— / He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Jeremiah 50:6
My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, causing them to roam the mountains. They have wandered from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place.

Ezekiel 34:5-6
They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts. / My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. They were scattered over the face of all the earth, with no one to search for them or seek them out.’

Ezekiel 34:11-12
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. / As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.

Ezekiel 34:16
I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak; but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them with justice.’

Jeremiah 31:10
Hear, O nations, the word of the LORD, and proclaim it in distant coastlands: “The One who scattered Israel will gather them and keep them as a shepherd keeps his flock.


Treasury of Scripture

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

go.

Matthew 15:24-26
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel…

Luke 24:47
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Acts 3:26
Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

lost.

Matthew 18:11
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Psalm 119:176
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

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House Instead Israel Israel's Lost Race Rather Sheep Wandering
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House Instead Israel Israel's Lost Race Rather Sheep Wandering
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.














Go rather
The directive "Go rather" is a command from Jesus, emphasizing a specific mission. The Greek word for "go" is "πορεύομαι" (poreuomai), which implies a purposeful journey or mission. This is not a casual suggestion but a divine mandate. The use of "rather" indicates a prioritization, suggesting that the disciples' mission is not to be distracted by other tasks but to focus on this particular group. Historically, this reflects Jesus' initial focus on the Jewish people, aligning with God's covenantal promises to Israel.

to the lost sheep
The phrase "the lost sheep" is rich in metaphorical meaning. In the Hebrew Scriptures, Israel is often depicted as God's flock, with God as the shepherd. The term "lost" (Greek: "ἀπολωλός" - apololos) suggests those who have strayed from the covenantal relationship with God. This imagery evokes compassion and urgency, as sheep without a shepherd are vulnerable and in need of guidance. Theologically, it underscores the mission of Jesus and His disciples to bring spiritual restoration and guidance to those who have wandered from the faith.

of the house of Israel
"The house of Israel" refers specifically to the Jewish people, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This phrase is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where Israel is often referred to as God's chosen people. The Greek word "οἶκος" (oikos) for "house" implies a familial or covenantal relationship. Historically, this mission reflects the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel, as Jesus, the Messiah, comes first to His own people. It highlights the continuity of God's redemptive plan, beginning with Israel and eventually extending to all nations. This focus on Israel first is consistent with the prophetic tradition and the unfolding of salvation history as revealed in Scripture.

Verse 6. - But go. On your daily journeying (πορέεσθε, present). Rather. With conscious preference. To the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Thus also he describes his own mission (Matthew 15:24). The words recall Jeremiah 50:6 (27:6, LXX.), "My people hath been lost sheep." Observe that our Lord implies a special relation of Israel to God (for the house has its owner) which was lacking in the case of all other nations. Yet, their proper teachers having proved faithless, they were now as shepherdless as these (Matthew 9:36). Lost. Notice here the basis of the parable related in Luke 15:4-7; cf. Matthew 18:12, 13 (ver. 11 of the Received Text is a gloss), where the term "wandering" is not so strong (Bengel).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Go
πορεύεσθε (poreuesthe)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4198: To travel, journey, go, die.

rather
μᾶλλον (mallon)
Adverb
Strong's 3123: More, rather. Neuter of the comparative of the same as malista; more) or rather.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

the
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative 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.

lost
ἀπολωλότα (apolōlota)
Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 622: From apo and the base of olethros; to destroy fully, literally or figuratively.

sheep
πρόβατα (probata)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4263: A sheep. Probably neuter of a presumed derivative of probaino; something that walks forward, i.e., a sheep.

of Israel.
Ἰσραήλ (Israēl)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2474: Of Hebrew origin; Israel, the adopted name of Jacob, including his descendants.


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