Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. New Living Translation “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you. English Standard Version “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Berean Standard Bible Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. Berean Literal Bible Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast your⁺ pearls before the pigs, lest they will trample them among their feet and, having turned, tear you⁺ to pieces. King James Bible Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. New King James Version “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. New American Standard Bible “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. NASB 1995 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. NASB 1977 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Legacy Standard Bible “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Amplified Bible “Do not give that which is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, for they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Berean Annotated Bible Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your⁺ pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you⁺ to pieces. Christian Standard Bible Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces. Holman Christian Standard Bible Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces. American Standard Version Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you. Contemporary English Version Don't give to dogs what belongs to God. They will only turn and attack you. Don't throw pearls down in front of pigs. They will trample all over them. English Revised Version Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Don't give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls to pigs. Otherwise, they will trample them and then tear you to pieces. Good News Translation "Do not give what is holy to dogs--they will only turn and attack you. Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs--they will only trample them underfoot. International Standard Version "Never give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs. Otherwise, they will trample them with their feet and then turn around and attack you." NET Bible Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and turn around and tear you to pieces. New Heart English Bible "Do not give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, or they will trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces. Webster's Bible Translation Give not that which is holy to dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Weymouth New Testament "Give not that which is holy to the dogs, nor throw your pearls to the swine; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and then turn and attack you. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleDo not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. World English Bible “Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionYou may not give that which is [holy] to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before the pigs, that they may not trample them among their feet, and having turned—may tear you apart. Berean Literal Bible Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast your⁺ pearls before the pigs, lest they will trample them among their feet and, having turned, tear you⁺ to pieces. Young's Literal Translation Ye may not give that which is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before the swine, that they may not trample them among their feet, and having turned -- may rend you. Smith's Literal Translation Ye should not give the holy thing to dogs neither should ye cast your pearls before swine, lest they tread them down with their feet, and having turned, should rend you. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleGive not that which is holy to dogs; neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turning upon you, they tear you. Catholic Public Domain Version Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest perhaps they may trample them under their feet, and then, turning, they may tear you apart. New American Bible “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. New Revised Standard Version “Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleDo not give holy things to the dogs; and do not throw your pearls before the swine, for they might tread them with their feet, and then turn and rend you. Aramaic Bible in Plain English Do not give a sacrifice to dogs; neither throw your pearls before wild boars, lest they trample them with their feet, and return to run you through. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentGive not that which is holy to dogs, nor throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and tear you. Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament Give not that which is holy to dogs, nor cast pearls before swine; lest they tread them under foot, and turning round tear you. Mace New Testament Give not that which is holy to the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest these trample them under foot, and those turn upon you and tear you. Weymouth New Testament "Give not that which is holy to the dogs, nor throw your pearls to the swine; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and then turn and attack you. Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Do Not Judge…5You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. 7Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.… Cross References Do not give dogs what is holy; Mark 7:27 “First let the children have their fill,” He said. “For it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 1 Samuel 21:4-6 “There is no common bread on hand,” the priest replied, “but there is some consecrated bread—provided that the young men have kept themselves from women.” / David answered, “Women have indeed been kept from us, as is usual when I set out. And the bodies of the young men are holy even on common missions. How much more so today!” / So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there but the Bread of the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away. Leviticus 22:10-16 No one outside a priest’s family may eat the sacred offering, nor may the guest of a priest or his hired hand eat it. / But if a priest buys a slave with his own money, or if a slave is born in his household, that slave may eat his food. / If the priest’s daughter is married to a man other than a priest, she is not to eat of the sacred contributions. … do not throw your pearls before swine. Matthew 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. / When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it. 2 Peter 2:22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” Proverbs 11:22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, Hebrews 10:29 How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace? Luke 8:5-6 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it. / Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the seedlings withered because they had no moisture. Luke 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. and then turn and tear you to pieces. Psalm 50:22 Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: Psalm 7:2 or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me. Hosea 13:8 Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart. Proverbs 9:7-8 He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself. / Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Proverbs 23:9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. 2 Peter 2:22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” Treasury of Scripture Give not that which is holy to the dogs, neither cast you your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. that. Matthew 10:14,15 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet… Matthew 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. Proverbs 9:7,8 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot… cast. Proverbs 11:22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. turn. Matthew 22:5,6 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: … Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 2 Corinthians 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; Jump to Previous Attack Cast Crushed Dogs Fear Feet Foot Haply Holy Jewels Otherwise Pearls Perhaps Pieces Pigs Rend Round Sacred Swine Tear Throw Trample Turn TurningJump to Next Attack Cast Crushed Dogs Fear Feet Foot Haply Holy Jewels Otherwise Pearls Perhaps Pieces Pigs Rend Round Sacred Swine Tear Throw Trample Turn TurningMatthew 7 1. Do Not Judge7. Ask, Seek, Knock 13. Enter through the Narrow Gate 15. A Tree and Its Fruit 24. The Wise and the Foolish Builders 28. Jesus ends his sermon, and the people are astonished. Do not give dogs what is holy; In biblical times, dogs were not the domesticated pets we know today but were often seen as scavengers and unclean animals. The term "dogs" was sometimes used metaphorically to describe those who were outside the covenant community or who rejected the teachings of God. The "holy" likely refers to sacred teachings or truths, possibly the message of the Gospel. This phrase suggests discernment in sharing spiritual truths, recognizing that not everyone will appreciate or respect them. In the Old Testament, holiness was associated with items set apart for God, such as the temple offerings, which were not to be given to those who would defile them. do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe speaker of this verse, delivering the Sermon on the Mount, a foundational teaching moment in His ministry. 2. Disciples The primary audience of Jesus' teachings, representing all followers of Christ who seek to live according to His instructions. 3. Dogs and Swine Metaphorical representations of those who are hostile or unreceptive to the Gospel and its truths. Teaching Points Discernment in Sharing the GospelBelievers are called to exercise wisdom and discernment in sharing the Gospel, recognizing when an audience is unreceptive or hostile. Value of the Gospel The Gospel is likened to pearls, emphasizing its preciousness and the need to protect it from being devalued or ridiculed. Respect for Sacred Things Christians should maintain a reverence for what is holy and not subject it to scorn or mockery by those who do not understand its worth. Avoiding Fruitless Engagements Engaging with those who are antagonistic to the faith can lead to unnecessary conflict and distraction from fruitful ministry opportunities. Practical Evangelism While sharing the Gospel is a command, believers must also recognize when to move on and seek those who are open and ready to receive the message. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Matthew 7:6?2. How can we discern who are the "dogs" and "pigs" in Matthew 7:6? 3. What does "do not give dogs what is holy" mean for evangelism? 4. How does Matthew 7:6 connect with Proverbs 9:8 about correcting mockers? 5. How can we apply Matthew 7:6 in sharing the Gospel wisely? 6. What practical steps ensure we don't "throw pearls before swine" in ministry? 7. What does Matthew 7:6 mean by "do not give dogs what is holy"? 8. How should Christians interpret "do not throw your pearls before swine" in Matthew 7:6? 9. What historical context influences the understanding of Matthew 7:6? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 7? 11. What is sacred in Matthew 7:6? 12. Why did Jesus advise against casting pearls before swine? 13. What are common questions about proverbs? 14. Proverbs 23:9 says not to speak to a fool; does this conflict with the New Testament’s call to share truth with everyone? What Does Matthew 7:6 Mean Do not give dogs what is holyJesus says, “Do not give dogs what is holy” (Matthew 7:6). In the culture of the day, dogs were not cute house pets but scavengers that roamed the streets, unclean and potentially dangerous. By pairing them with “what is holy,” the Lord draws a sharp line between the sacred and the profane. • “What is holy” evokes the consecrated bread reserved for priests (Exodus 29:33; Leviticus 22:10–16) and, more broadly, every truth, ordinance, and promise God sets apart for His people. • Calling some hearers “dogs” echoes Philippians 3:2, “Beware of the dogs,” and Revelation 22:15, “Outside are the dogs,” referring to those who refuse repentance and persist in evil. • The warning: when a heart is hardened (Proverbs 9:7–8; 23:9), sacred truth will be met with contempt, not gratitude. do not throw your pearls before swine Next He cautions, “do not throw your pearls before swine.” Pearls symbolize the priceless worth of the kingdom (Matthew 13:45–46). Swine were likewise unclean animals (Leviticus 11:7). • Pearls = the gospel message, the wisdom of Scripture, and the personal testimonies of God’s grace. • Swine = those who treat holy things as worthless, preferring the mud of sin (2 Peter 2:22). • Just as a pig cannot appreciate jewelry, a willfully unbelieving heart cannot value divine treasure (1 Corinthians 2:14). Our task is not to withhold truth but to discern where persistent rejection shows that further pleading would only cheapen the message (Acts 18:5–6). If you do, they may trample them under their feet Jesus explains the consequence: “If you do, they may trample them under their feet.” • Trample = belittle, mock, and desecrate (Hebrews 10:29). • When pearls hit a muddy pen, pigs instinctively step on them. Likewise, those dead-set against Christ will stomp on His words, calling good evil and evil good (Isaiah 5:20). • This is not a license to judge hearts harshly; it is a sober realism that some will persistently scorn what is sacred (John 15:22–24). and then turn and tear you to pieces Finally, He adds, “and then turn and tear you to pieces.” • Contempt for truth often morphs into hostility toward the messenger (Acts 7:54–58; 2 Timothy 4:14–15). • Disregarded pearls become a trigger for aggression: what cannot be silenced by ridicule may be attacked by force (John 16:2). • Discernment protects both the message and the servant. Jesus modeled this by leaving Nazareth when they tried to throw Him off a cliff (Luke 4:28–30) and by withdrawing from contentious crowds at times (John 10:39–40). summary Matthew 7:6 teaches that sacred truth is infinitely precious; to treat it lightly or press it on the defiantly unrepentant invites ridicule and even danger. We share the gospel widely (Matthew 28:19–20) yet remain alert: when repeated rejection shows a heart hardened like scavenging dogs or mud-loving pigs, wisdom says to step back, pray, and wait for God to plow the soil. Discernment guards the holiness of the message and the well-being of Christ’s servants while keeping the door open for future repentance. (6) That which is holy.--The words point to the flesh which has been offered for sacrifice, the "holy thing" of Leviticus 22:6-7; Leviticus 22:10; Leviticus 22:16, of which no un clean person or stranger, and a fortiori no unclean beast, was to eat. To give that holy flesh to dogs would have seemed to the devout Israelite the greatest of all profanations. Our Lord teaches us that there is a like risk of desecration in dealing with the yet holier treasure of divine truth. Another aspect of the same warning is brought out in the second clause. The fashion of the time had made pearls the costliest of all jewels, as in the parable of Matthew 13:45 (comp. also 1Timothy 2:9), and so they too became symbols of the preciousness of truth. The "dogs" and the "swine," in their turn, represent distinct forms of evil, the former being here, as in Philippians 3:2, Revelation 22:15, the type of impurity, the latter (as in Psalm 80:13) of ferocity. The second comparison may possibly imply, as in a condensed fable, the disappointment and consequent rage of the swine at finding that what they took for grain was only pearls. We are to beware lest we so present the truth, either in direct teaching or by an undiscerning disclosure of the deeper religious emotions of the soul, to men, that we make them worse and not better than before. . . . Verse 6. - Matthew only. Give not that which is holy, etc. While you are not to be censorious towards brethren (vers. 1-5), you must recognize the great and fundamental differences that there are between men. You must not treat those who are mere dogs and swine as if they were able to appreciate either the holiness or the beauty and wealth of spiritual truth. Give Observe that "give," "cast," are naturally used of feeding dogs and swine respectively. That which is holy (τὸ ἅγιον). The metaphor is taken from the law that the things offered in sacrifice were no longer to be treated as common food (Leviticus 22:1-16, especially ver. 14, τὸ ἅγιον). Unto the dogs. The scavengers of Eastern cities, which by nature and habit love and greedily devour the most unholy of things (cf. Exodus 22:31). Neither cast ye your pearls, Pearls. Only here and Matthew 13:45, 46 in the Gospels. In form not so very unlike swine's food of beans or nuts, they here represent the beauty and precious wealth of the various parts of the Gospel, in which Christ's disciples are accustomed to delight (ὑμῶν). Ignatius ('Ephesians,' § 11) calls his bonds his "spiritual pearls." Before swine; before the swine (Revised Version). Probably in both cases the article is used with the object of bringing the particular dogs and swine to whom these are given more vividly before us. Swine. Which have no care for such things, but rather wallow in filth (2 Peter 2:22). Dogs... swine. The terms seem to so far indicate different classes of men, or more truly different characters in men, as that the one term points to the greedy participation of the wicked in open profanation, the ether to the sottish indifference of sinners to that which is most attractive. Lest they; i.e. the swine. Dogs, even though wild in the East, would not "tread down" the food. Trample them under their feet (Matthew 5:13). In ignorance of their real worth and in disappointment that they do not afford them satisfaction (For the future, καταπατήσουσιν, cf. Matthew 5:25, note.) It here expresses the greater certainty of the trampling than of the rending (aorist subjective). And turn again - Revised Version omits "again" - and rend you. In rage at the disappointment experienced. The clause expresses the personal enmity which those who wilfully reject the gospel often feel towards those that have offered it to them. It might be thought difficult to carry out this command, as it is evident that we cannot know beforehand who will accept the gospel or not. But in cases where the character of the person is not known (e.g. as when St. Paul preached at Athens, etc.), the command does not apply. Our Lord supposes the case where the character is apparent (cf. 1 Timothy 5:24). Theodoret (vide Resch, 'Agrapha,' pp. 103, 168), in quoting this verse, adds, "My mysteries are tot me and mine," which, clearly an adaptation of Symmachus and Theodotion's rendering of Isaiah 24:16, רזי לי (cf. also Targ. Jon.), seems to have become almost an authorized, and certainly a true, interpretation of our verse.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek {Do} notΜὴ (Mē) Adverb Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether. give δῶτε (dōte) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give. dogs κυσίν (kysin) Noun - Dative Masculine Plural Strong's 2965: A dog, universally despised in the East. A primary word; a dog. what is 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. holy; ἅγιον (hagion) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 40: Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred. {do} not μηδὲ (mēde) Conjunction Strong's 3366: And not, not even, neither…nor. From me and de; but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor. throw βάλητε (balēte) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 906: (a) I cast, throw, rush, (b) often, in the weaker sense: I place, put, drop. A primary verb; to throw. your ὑμῶν (hymōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. pearls μαργαρίτας (margaritas) Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural Strong's 3135: A pearl. From margaros; a pearl. before ἔμπροσθεν (emprosthen) Preposition Strong's 1715: From en and pros; in front of (literally or figuratively) or time). swine. χοίρων (choirōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 5519: A swine, hog, sow. Of uncertain derivation; a hog. If you do, ποτε (pote) Conjunction Strong's 4219: When, at what time. From the base of pou and te; interrogative adverb, at what time. they may trample καταπατήσουσιν (katapatēsousin) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 2662: From kata and pateo; to trample down; figuratively, to reject with disdain. them 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. under 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. their αὐτῶν (autōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 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. feet, ποσὶν (posin) Noun - Dative Masculine Plural Strong's 4228: The foot. A primary word; a 'foot'. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. then turn [and] στραφέντες (straphentes) Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 4762: Strengthened from the base of trope; to twist, i.e. Turn quite around or reverse. tear you to pieces. ῥήξωσιν (rhēxōsin) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 4486: To rend, break asunder; I break forth (into speech); I throw or dash down. Links Matthew 7:6 NIVMatthew 7:6 NLT Matthew 7:6 ESV Matthew 7:6 NASB Matthew 7:6 KJV Matthew 7:6 BibleApps.com Matthew 7:6 Biblia Paralela Matthew 7:6 Chinese Bible Matthew 7:6 French Bible Matthew 7:6 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: Matthew 7:6 Don't give that which is holy (Matt. Mat Mt) |
    |