Matthew 25:32
New International Version
All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

New Living Translation
All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

English Standard Version
Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Berean Standard Bible
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Berean Literal Bible
And all the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

King James Bible
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

New King James Version
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

New American Standard Bible
And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

NASB 1995
“All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

NASB 1977
“And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

Legacy Standard Bible
And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

Amplified Bible
All the nations will be gathered before Him [for judgment]; and He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats;

Christian Standard Bible
All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

American Standard Version
and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats;

Contemporary English Version
The people of all nations will be brought before him, and he will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats.

English Revised Version
and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The people of every nation will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Good News Translation
and the people of all the nations will be gathered before him. Then he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

International Standard Version
All the nations will be assembled in front of him, and he will cull them out, one from another, like a shepherd separates sheep from goats.

Majority Standard Bible
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

NET Bible
All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

New Heart English Bible
Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Webster's Bible Translation
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

Weymouth New Testament
and all the nations will be gathered into His presence. And He will separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

World English Bible
Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and all the nations will be gathered together before Him, and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,

Berean Literal Bible
And all the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Young's Literal Translation
and gathered together before him shall be all the nations, and he shall separate them from one another, as the shepherd doth separate the sheep from the goats,

Smith's Literal Translation
And all nations shall be gathered together before him, and he shall separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the kids.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And all nations shall be gathered together before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And all the nations shall be gathered together before him. And he shall separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

New American Bible
and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

New Revised Standard Version
All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And all nations will gather before him; and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And all the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd who separates sheep from goats.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and all nations shall be gathered before him; and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats.

Godbey New Testament
and all nations shall be gathered before Him: and He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats:

Haweis New Testament
and before him shall all the nations be gathered together; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats:

Mace New Testament
then all nations shall be assembled before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats.

Weymouth New Testament
and all the nations will be gathered into His presence. And He will separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

Worrell New Testament
and there will be gathered before Him all the nations; and He will separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

Worsley New Testament
and all nations shall be assembled before Him; and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sheep and the Goats
31When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.…

Cross References
Revelation 20:12-15
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. / The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. / Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. ...

Matthew 13:49-50
So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous / and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Ezekiel 34:17-22
This is what the Lord GOD says to you, My flock: ‘I will judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and the goats. / Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink the clear waters? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? / Why must My flock feed on what your feet have trampled, and drink what your feet have muddied?’ ...

Daniel 7:9-10
As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. / A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.

Revelation 14:14-20
And I looked and saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was One like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. / Then another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the One seated on the cloud, “Swing Your sickle and reap, because the time has come to harvest, for the crop of the earth is ripe.” / So the One seated on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. ...

Joel 3:12-14
Let the nations be roused and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down to judge all the nations on every side. / Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full; the wine vats overflow because their wickedness is great. / Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the Day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

Romans 14:10-12
Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. / It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.” / So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.

John 5:22-29
Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, / so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. / Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life. ...

Acts 17:31
For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

Psalm 96:13
before the LORD, for He is coming—He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.

Psalm 98:9
before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.

Zechariah 14:5
You will flee by My mountain valley, for it will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him.

Malachi 3:18
So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

1 Peter 4:5
But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.


Treasury of Scripture

And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats:

before.

Psalm 96:13
Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

Psalm 98:9
Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

Acts 17:30,31
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: …

he shall separate.

Matthew 3:12
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Matthew 13:42,43,49
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth…

Psalm 1:5
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

as.

Psalm 78:52
But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

John 10:14,27
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine…

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Matthew 25
1. The parable of the ten virgins,
14. and of the talents.
31. Also the description of the last judgment.














All the nations
This phrase indicates the universal scope of the judgment. The Greek word for "nations" is "ethne," which can refer to ethnic groups or Gentiles. Historically, this reflects the inclusivity of God's judgment, transcending Israel to encompass all humanity. Theologically, it underscores the belief that every person, regardless of nationality or ethnicity, will stand before Christ, emphasizing the global reach of the Gospel and the accountability of all people to God's standards.

will be gathered
The passive voice here suggests divine action, implying that God Himself orchestrates this gathering. The Greek root "synago" means to bring together, indicating a purposeful assembly. This gathering is not random but a deliberate act of divine sovereignty, reflecting the eschatological belief that God will bring all people together for judgment at the end of the age.

before Him
The pronoun "Him" refers to Jesus Christ, who is depicted as the judge. This is significant in Christian theology, as it affirms the deity and authority of Christ. The imagery of standing "before Him" conveys a sense of accountability and the solemnity of the occasion, where all will be laid bare before the righteous judge.

and He will separate
The act of separation is a deliberate and discerning action. The Greek word "aphorizo" means to set apart or divide. This separation is not arbitrary but based on divine wisdom and justice. It reflects the biblical theme of holiness, where God distinguishes between the righteous and the unrighteous, akin to the separation of light from darkness in creation.

the people one from another
This phrase emphasizes individual accountability. While "nations" are gathered, the separation is personal, highlighting that each person will be judged on their own merits and relationship with Christ. It underscores the biblical principle that salvation is a personal decision and relationship with God, not merely a corporate identity.

as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats
The imagery of a shepherd is rich in biblical tradition, symbolizing care, guidance, and authority. In ancient Near Eastern culture, sheep and goats often grazed together but were separated at night. Sheep, often seen as obedient and valuable, represent the righteous, while goats, more independent and less valuable, symbolize the unrighteous. This metaphor illustrates the discernment and authority of Christ in judgment, as well as the ultimate destiny of each group based on their response to His call. The shepherd's role reflects Christ's pastoral care and His rightful authority to judge, rooted in His sacrificial love and intimate knowledge of His flock.

(32) Before him shall be gathered all nations.--Better, all the nations, or even better, perhaps, all the Gentiles. The word is that which, when used, as here, with the article, marks out, with scarcely an exception, the heathen nations of the world as distinguished from God's people Israel (as, e.g., in Romans 15:11-12; Ephesians 2:11). The word, thus taken, serves as the key to the distinctive teaching that follows. We have had in this chapter, (1) in the Wise and Foolish Virgins, the law of judgment for all members of the Church of Christ; (2) in the Talents, that for all who hold any office or ministry in the Church: now we have (3) the law by which those shall be judged who have lived and died as heathens, not knowing the name of Christ, and knowing God only as revealed in Nature or in the law written in their hearts. Every stage in what follows confirms this interpretation.

As a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.--Elsewhere the shepherd's work is the symbol of protective, self-sacrificing love, and, as such, our Lord had emphatically claimed for Himself the title of the Good Shepherd (John 10:14). Here we are reminded that even the shepherd has at times to execute the sentence of judgment which involves separation. The "right" hand and the "left" are used, according to the laws of what we might almost call a natural symbolism, as indicating respectively good and evil, acceptance and rejection.

Verse 32. - Shall be gathered (Matthew 24:31). The angels shall gather them, the dead being first raised to life. All (τὰ, the) nations. Not the heathen only, but all mankind (see preliminary note). The criteria upon which the judgment proceeds, in the following verses, seem to imply that all men have the opportunity of receiving or rejecting the gospel (Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10; Romans 11:32). How this can apply to those who died before the incarnation of Christ and the consequent evangelization of the world, we know not, though we may believe that, ere the end comes, Christ will have been preached in every quarter of the globe. That some process of enlightenment goes on in the unseen world we learn from the mysterious passage, 1 Peter 3:18-20; but we have no reason to suppose that probation is extended to the other life, or that souls will there have the offer of accepting or repelling the claims of Jesus (but see Philippians 2:10; 1 Peter 4:6). By describing mankind as "all the nations," Christ shows the minute particularity of the judgment, which will enter into distinctions of country, race, etc., and while it is universal will be strictly impartial. He is the Shepherd of all mankind, whether considered as sheep or goats, and can therefore distinguish and class them perfectly. Those who have never heard of Christ (if such there shall be) can be tried only by the standard of natural religion (Romans 1:20). Shall separate them (αὐτοὺς). Individuals of all the nations. Hitherto good and bad had been mingled together, often indistinguishable by man's eye or judgment; now an eternal distinction is made by an unerring hand (Matthew 13:49). The ideals already found in Ezekiel 34:17, "Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats." As a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. The flocks of sheep and goats generally keep together during the day (Genesis 30:33), but are separated at night or when being driven. The Syrian goat is usually black. The Lord delights in employing simple pastoral illustrations in his teaching.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
All
πάντα (panta)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

the
τὰ (ta)
Article - Nominative 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.

nations
ἔθνη (ethnē)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1484: Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one.

will be gathered
συναχθήσονται (synachthēsontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4863: From sun and ago; to lead together, i.e. Collect or convene; specially, to entertain.

before
ἔμπροσθεν (emprosthen)
Preposition
Strong's 1715: From en and pros; in front of (literally or figuratively) or time).

Him,
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

He will separate
ἀφορίσει (aphorisei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 873: To rail off, separate, place apart. From apo and horizo; to set off by boundary, i.e. limit, exclude, appoint, etc.

[the people]
αὐτοὺς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

one from another,
ἀλλήλων (allēlōn)
Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 240: One another, each other. Genitive plural from allos reduplicated; one another.

as
ὥσπερ (hōsper)
Adverb
Strong's 5618: Just as, as, even as. From hos and per; just as, i.e. Exactly like.

a shepherd
ποιμὴν (poimēn)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4166: A shepherd; hence met: of the feeder, protector, and ruler of a flock of men. Of uncertain affinity; a shepherd.

separates
ἀφορίζει (aphorizei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 873: To rail off, separate, place apart. From apo and horizo; to set off by boundary, i.e. limit, exclude, appoint, etc.

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.

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.

from
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

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

goats.
ἐρίφων (eriphōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 2056: A goat. Perhaps from the same as erion; a kid or goat.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 25:32 Before him all the nations will be (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 25:31
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