Matthew 18:26
New International Version
“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’

New Living Translation
“But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’

English Standard Version
So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’

Berean Standard Bible
Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore the servant, having fallen down, was bowing on his knees to him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay everything to you.'

King James Bible
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

New King James Version
The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’

New American Standard Bible
So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’

NASB 1995
“So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’

NASB 1977
“The slave therefore falling down, prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you everything.’

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, the slave fell to the ground and was prostrating himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’

Amplified Bible
So the slave fell on his knees and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’

Christian Standard Bible
“At this, the servant fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“At this, the slave fell facedown before him and said, Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!’

American Standard Version
The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Contemporary English Version
The official got down on his knees and began begging, "Have pity on me, and I will pay you every cent I owe!"

English Revised Version
The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the servant fell at his master's feet and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay everything!'

Good News Translation
The servant fell on his knees before the king. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay you everything!'

International Standard Version
Then the servant fell down and bowed low before him, saying, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything!'

Majority Standard Bible
Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Master, have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’

NET Bible
Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.'

New Heart English Bible
The servant therefore fell down and kneeled before him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all.'

Webster's Bible Translation
The servant therefore fell down, and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Weymouth New Testament
The servant therefore falling down, prostrated himself at his feet and entreated him. "'Only give me time,' he said, 'and I will pay you the whole.'

World English Bible
The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The servant then, having fallen down, was prostrating to him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all;

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore the servant, having fallen down, was bowing on his knees to him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay everything to you.'

Young's Literal Translation
The servant then, having fallen down, was bowing to him, saying, Sir, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all;

Smith's Literal Translation
Then the servant, having fallen, worshipped him, saying, Lord, be slow to anger towards me, and I will give back all to thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But that servant falling down, besought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But that servant, falling prostrate, begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.’

New American Bible
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’

New Revised Standard Version
So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The servant then fell down, worshipped him, and said, My lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And falling down, that servant worshiped him, and he said, “My Lord, be patient with me, and I shall pay you everything.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Therefore, the servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, Lord, and I will pay you all.

Godbey New Testament
Then that servant falling down, continued to worship him, saying, Be patient with me, and I will pay you all.

Haweis New Testament
Then that servant falling prostrate, paid him the most profound homage, saying, Lord, have forbearance with me, and I will pay thee all.

Mace New Testament
the servant therefore fell prostrate before him, and cry'd out, Lord, allow me but time and I will pay the whole.

Weymouth New Testament
The servant therefore falling down, prostrated himself at his feet and entreated him. "'Only give me time,' he said, 'and I will pay you the whole.'

Worrell New Testament
The servant, falling down, therefore, was bowing to him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'

Worsley New Testament
The servant therefore fell prostrate before him, saying, Lord, bear with me a while, and I will pay thee all:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Unforgiving Servant
25Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned. 26Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.…

Cross References
Matthew 18:29
So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’

Luke 7:41-42
“Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. / When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”

Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. / But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.

Luke 17:3-4
Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. / Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

James 2:13
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Romans 12:19
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

Proverbs 19:17
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.

Psalm 86:5
For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.

Psalm 103:8-10
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. / He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever. / He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities.

Exodus 34:6-7
Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, / maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

Nehemiah 9:17
They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them.

Daniel 9:9
To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him


Treasury of Scripture

The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.

worshipped him.

Matthew 18:29
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Luke 7:43
Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

Romans 10:3
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Jump to Previous
Begged Bowing Entreated Face Fallen Falling Feet Fell Ground Homage Imploring Kneeled Knees Patience Patient Pay Payment Prostrated Repay Servant Slave Time Whole Worshiped Worshipped
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Begged Bowing Entreated Face Fallen Falling Feet Fell Ground Homage Imploring Kneeled Knees Patience Patient Pay Payment Prostrated Repay Servant Slave Time Whole Worshiped Worshipped
Matthew 18
1. Jesus warns his disciples to be humble and harmless,
7. to avoid offenses,
10. and not to despise the little ones;
15. teaches how we are to deal with our brothers when they offend us,
21. and how often to forgive them;
23. which he sets forth by a parable of the king who took account of his servants,
32. and punished him who showed no mercy to his fellow servant.














Then the servant fell on his knees before him
The phrase "fell on his knees" is a powerful depiction of humility and desperation. In the Greek, the word for "fell" (πίπτω, piptō) conveys a sudden and complete action, indicating the servant's immediate recognition of his dire situation. Kneeling is a universal posture of submission and supplication, often seen in biblical times as a gesture of respect and earnest plea. This act of falling on his knees symbolizes the servant's acknowledgment of his inability to repay the debt and his total dependence on the master's mercy. Historically, such gestures were common in ancient Near Eastern cultures, where subjects would physically lower themselves to appeal to a higher authority.

Have patience with me
The plea for patience (μακροθυμέω, makrothymeō) is a request for the master to extend time and grace. The Greek root of this word combines "makros" (long) and "thymos" (passion or temper), suggesting a long-suffering or enduring spirit. In a biblical context, patience is a virtue often attributed to God Himself, who is described as "slow to anger" (Exodus 34:6). The servant's request is not just for a delay but for a compassionate understanding of his plight. This appeal to patience reflects a deeper theological truth about God's nature and His willingness to bear with human frailty.

he begged
The act of begging (παρακαλέω, parakaleō) in this context is more than a simple request; it is an earnest entreaty. The Greek term can also mean to exhort or to call to one's side, indicating a deep emotional appeal. This word is often used in the New Testament to describe the Holy Spirit's role as the Comforter or Advocate, suggesting a profound level of intercession. The servant's begging underscores his recognition of his helplessness and his hope in the master's benevolence. It is a reminder of the human condition before God, where one must rely on divine grace and mercy.

and I will pay back everything
The promise to "pay back everything" reveals the servant's intention and desire to make restitution, despite the impossibility of doing so. The Greek word for "pay back" (ἀποδίδωμι, apodidōmi) implies a return or recompense. This phrase highlights the servant's sincerity and his commitment to amend his debt, even though the debt is insurmountable. In a broader scriptural context, this reflects the human tendency to attempt to earn forgiveness through works, contrasting with the biblical teaching of grace. Theologically, it points to the futility of human efforts to achieve salvation without divine intervention.

(26) Fell down, and worshipped him.--The word implies simply the prostrate homage of a servant crouching before his master.

I will pay thee all.--The promise was, under such circumstances, an idle boast, but it describes with singular aptness the first natural impulse of one who is roused to a sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin. He will try to balance the account as by a series of instalments; he will score righteous acts in the future as a set-off against the transgressions of the past. In theological language, he seeks to be "justified by works."

Verse 26. - Worshipped him. Prostrated himself before the monarch, and in this abject attitude sued for mercy. Have patience with me. Be long suffering in my case; give me time. And I will pay thee all. In his terror and anguish, he promises impossible things; even the revenues of a province would not in any convenient time supply this deficiency. The scene is very true to life. To save himself from a present difficulty, a debtor will make any promise that occurs to him, without considering whether he will ever be in a position to fulfil it. The defaulter in the parable must have thought well of the king's generosity and tenderheartedness to make such a proposition at this extreme moment. If we take the spiritual sense of the parable, we see that no sinner could offer to pay, much less pay, the debt due from him to his Lord, "so that must be let alone forever" (Psalm 49:8).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

servant
δοῦλος (doulos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1401: (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.

fell
Πεσὼν (Pesōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4098: A reduplicated and contracted form of peto; probably akin to petomai through the idea of alighting; to fall.

on his knees
προσεκύνει (prosekynei)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4352: From pros and a probable derivative of kuon; to fawn or crouch to, i.e. prostrate oneself in homage.

before him.
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 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.

‘Have patience
Μακροθύμησον (Makrothymēson)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 3114: From the same as makrothumos; to be long-spirited, i.e. forbearing or patient.

with
ἐπ’ (ep’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

me,’
ἐμοί (emoi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

he begged,
λέγων (legōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

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

I will pay
ἀποδώσω (apodōsō)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 591: From apo and didomi; to give away, i.e. Up, over, back, etc.

back
σοι (soi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

everything.’
πάντα (panta)
Adjective - Accusative 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.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 18:26 The servant therefore fell down and kneeled (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 18:25
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