Matthew 10:16 nasb — "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.

NASB

""Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves."

— Matthew 10:16, NASB

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Matthew 10:16 in Other Translations

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Matthew 10 — Context

13

"If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace.

14

"Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.

15

"Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

16

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.

17

"But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues;

18

and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

19

"But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.

Matthew 10:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Matthew 10:16 say?
Matthew 10:16 in the NASB reads: “"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.”
Where is Matthew 10:16 in the Bible?
Matthew 10:16 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew, chapter 10, verse 16.
Who wrote Matthew?
Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), tax-collector turned apostle. It was written c. AD 50–70.
What is the book of Matthew about?
Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah — son of David, son of Abraham, fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Structured around five great teaching blocks including the Sermon on the Mount, it ends with the risen King commissioning his disciples to make disciples of all nations.
What are the major themes of Matthew?
Matthew explores themes including Kingdom of Heaven, Messiah, Fulfillment, Discipleship, Great Commission. These themes shape the meaning and context of Matthew 10:16.
What translation should I read Matthew 10:16 in?
Matthew 10:16 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Matthew 10:16?
Matthew 10:16 reads (NASB): “"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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