Matthew 4:6
New International Version
“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “’He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

New Living Translation
and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”

English Standard Version
and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

Berean Standard Bible
“If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ”

Berean Literal Bible
and says to him, "If You are Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it has been written: 'He will give orders to His angels concerning You, and will they bear You up in their hands, lest ever You strike Your foot against a stone.'"

King James Bible
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

New King James Version
and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
and he said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written: ‘HE WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS ORDERS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON THEIR HANDS THEY WILL LIFT YOU UP, SO THAT YOU DO NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’”

NASB 1995
and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’ and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’”

NASB 1977
and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE CONCERNING YOU’;and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, LEST YOU STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, LEST YOU STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’”

Amplified Bible
And he said [mockingly] to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU [to serve, care for, protect and watch over You]’; and ‘THEY WILL LIFT YOU UP ON their HANDS, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’”

Christian Standard Bible
and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: He will give His angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

American Standard Version
and saith unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Contemporary English Version
The devil said, "If you are God's Son, jump off. The Scriptures say: 'God will give his angels orders about you. They will catch you in their arms, and you won't hurt your feet on the stones.'"

English Revised Version
and saith unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: And on their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He said to Jesus, "If you are the Son of God, jump! Scripture says, 'He will put his angels in charge of you. They will carry you in their hands so that you never hit your foot against a rock.'"

Good News Translation
and said to him, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down, for the scripture says, 'God will give orders to his angels about you; they will hold you up with their hands, so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.'"

International Standard Version
He told Jesus, "Since you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, because it is written, 'God will put his angels in charge of you,' and, 'With their hands they will hold you up, so that you will never hit your foot against a rock.'"

Majority Standard Bible
“If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

NET Bible
and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you' and 'with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

New Heart English Bible
and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, 'He will put his angels in charge of you.' and, 'In their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And saith to him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall uphold thee, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Weymouth New Testament
and said, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down; for it is written, "'To His angels He will give orders concerning thee, and on their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any moment thou shouldst strike thy foot against a stone.'"

World English Bible
and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and says to Him, “If You are the Son of God—cast Yourself down, for it has been written that, His messengers He will charge concerning you, and on hands they will bear you up, that you may not dash your foot on a stone.”

Berean Literal Bible
and says to him, "If You are Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it has been written: 'He will give orders to His angels concerning You, and will they bear You up in their hands, lest ever You strike Your foot against a stone.'"

Young's Literal Translation
and saith to him, 'If Son thou art of God -- cast thyself down, for it hath been written, that, His messengers He shall charge concerning thee, and on hands they shall bear thee up, that thou mayest not dash on a stone thy foot.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And says to him, If thou art the Son of God cast thyself down; for it has been written, That to his messengers he will command concerning thee; and in the hands shall they lift thee up, lest that perhaps thou strike thy foot against a stone.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And said to him: If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written: That he hath given his angels charge over thee, and in their hands shall they bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and said to him: “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down. For it has been written: ‘For he has given charge of you to his angels, and they shall take you into their hands, lest perhaps you may hurt your foot against a stone.’ ”

New American Bible
and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

New Revised Standard Version
saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said to him, If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, that he will command his angels concerning you, and they will bear you up on their hands, so that even your foot may not strike a stone.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he said to him, “If you are The Son of God, cast yourself down, for it is written: 'He will command his Angels concerning you, and they will carry you upon their hands, lest you strike your foot on a stone'.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and said to him: If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written: He will give his angels charge concerning you; and in their hands shall they take you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

Godbey New Testament
and says to Him; If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it has been written, That He will give His angels charge concerning thee, and upon their hand they will bear thee, lest thou mayest dash thy foot against a stone.

Haweis New Testament
and saith to him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, “that he shall give his angels a charge concerning thee: and in their hands shall they hold thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

Mace New Testament
if you are the Son of God, throw your self down: for it is written, "he will charge his angels to take care of you, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest you bruise your foot against a stone."

Weymouth New Testament
and said, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down; for it is written, "'To His angels He will give orders concerning thee, and on their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any moment thou shouldst strike thy foot against a stone.'"

Worrell New Testament
and says to Him, "If Thou art a Son of God, cast Thyself down; for it has been written, 'He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee; and on their hands they shall bear Thee up; lest at any time Thou shouldest dash Thy foot against a stone.'"

Worsley New Testament
and saith unto Him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He will give his angels charge concerning thee, and they shall bear thee up as in their hands, least at any time thou shouldst dash thy foot against a stone:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Temptation of Jesus
5Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. 6“If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’” 7Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”…

Cross References
Psalm 91:11-12
For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. / They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Luke 4:10-11
For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You to guard You carefully, / and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

Hebrews 1:14
Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Matthew 26:53
Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

Luke 22:43
Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.

John 10:29
My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Psalm 34:7
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.

Psalm 37:24
Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.

Psalm 121:3
He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.

Isaiah 49:16
Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.

Daniel 6:22
My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”

Exodus 23:20
Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.

2 Kings 6:16-17
“Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” / Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Zechariah 3:1-2
Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. / And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”


Treasury of Scripture

And said to him, If you be the Son of God, cast yourself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning you: and in their hands they shall bear you up, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone.

for.

Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

2 Corinthians 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

He shall.

Psalm 91:11,12
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways…

Luke 4:9-12
And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: …

Hebrews 1:14
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

test.

Job 1:10
Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

Job 5:23
For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

Psalm 34:7,20
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them…

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Matthew 4
1. Jesus, fasting forty days,
3. is tempted by the devil and ministered unto by angels.
12. He dwells in Capernaum;
17. begins to preach;
18. calls Peter and Andrew,
21. James and John;
23. teaches and heals all the diseased.














If You are the Son of God
This phrase is a direct challenge to Jesus' identity and mission. The Greek word for "if" (εἰ) can also be understood as "since," indicating that Satan acknowledges Jesus' divine sonship but is testing His response. The title "Son of God" is significant, affirming Jesus' divine nature and His unique relationship with the Father. This challenge echoes the temptation in the Garden of Eden, where Satan questioned God's word and authority. Here, Satan attempts to sow doubt and provoke Jesus to act outside of His divine mission.

throw Yourself down
Satan tempts Jesus to perform a miraculous act to prove His divinity. The act of throwing Himself down from the temple would be a public spectacle, appealing to human pride and the desire for recognition. This temptation is not just about physical safety but about testing God's protection and Jesus' trust in the Father. The historical context of the temple as a place of divine presence adds to the gravity of this temptation, as it would be a misuse of a sacred space for personal gain.

For it is written
Satan uses Scripture to justify his temptation, quoting Psalm 91:11-12. This highlights the danger of misusing Scripture for personal agendas. The phrase "it is written" (γέγραπται) is a common formula in Jewish tradition, emphasizing the authority of the Scriptures. However, Satan's use of Scripture is selective and manipulative, lacking the full context and intent of God's word. This serves as a warning to believers to discern and rightly divide the word of truth.

‘He will command His angels concerning You
This part of the verse is a promise of divine protection. The Greek word for "command" (ἐντελεῖται) implies a directive from a higher authority, emphasizing God's sovereign care over His Son. The mention of angels reflects the biblical understanding of angels as ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). However, Satan's use of this promise is twisted, suggesting that Jesus should test God's faithfulness rather than trust it.

and they will lift You up in their hands
The imagery of angels lifting Jesus up conveys a sense of divine intervention and protection. The phrase "lift You up" (ἀροῦσιν) suggests a gentle and caring action, reinforcing the idea of God's tender care for His own. In the historical context, angels were often seen as protectors and messengers of God, highlighting the assurance of God's presence and help. Yet, the temptation lies in presuming upon this promise rather than resting in God's timing and will.

so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’
This final part of the verse speaks to God's protection from harm. The phrase "strike Your foot" (προσκόψῃς) implies an accidental stumble, symbolizing the trials and challenges of life. The promise is one of divine safeguarding, yet Satan's misuse of it suggests a reckless testing of God's promises. The historical and scriptural context reminds believers that while God promises protection, it is not a license for presumptuous or irresponsible behavior. Jesus' response to this temptation underscores the importance of trusting God's word in its entirety and living in obedience to His will.

(6) If thou be the Son of God.--In this case, as before, the temptation starts from the attestation of the character of Jesus as the Son of God. With this there is now joined an appeal to familiar and sacred words, and the subtlety of the Tempter lay in his perversion of their true meaning. Here, too, the words throw light on the previous spiritual life of the Son of Man. As in all analogous temptations (and the history would have but little significance or interest for us if it were not analogous to many human experiences) the words which were presented to the soul, with their true meaning obscured and perverted, must have been precisely those that had before been most precious. We can think of Him as having fed on those words, found in them the stay and comfort of His life, without ever dreaming (if one may venture so to speak) of putting them to the test by devices of His own imagining.

In their hands.--Better, on. The angelic hands are thought of as sustaining and up-bearing.

Verse 6. - If thou be the Son of God (ver. 3, note). For it is written. Psalm 91:11, 12, verbally from the LXX., but omitting the clause, "to keep thee in all thy ways." Luke omits only "in all thy ways." The clause, according to either record, was omitted possibly because the devil shrank from reminding Jesus of "ways" which he need not take; more probably because . ' ways" hardly fitted this case (cf. Weiss). Trench ('Studies,' p. 40), following St. Bernard, says that the omission of the clause alters the whole character of the quotation, considering that "ways" implies ways appointed by God. But this appears to be strained. The devil, appealing to Jesus' consciousness of abiding communion with God (Psalm 91:1), bids him enjoy to the full the promise of God's protection. There is no thought here of a "miracle of display" to the multitudes who were assembled, "as a matter of course," on the temple area (Meyer; cf. even Trench). Neither the devil's solicitation nor our Lord's reply hint at anything else than Divine protection. If it be urged that for this any one of the many precipices by the Dead Sea, e.g. those of the Quamntana (ver. 1, note) itself, would have been sufficient, the answer may be found in the fact that at the temple, the seat of God's special manifestation, God's special protection might be looked for. There is a slight doubt whether the ὅτι after γέγραπται is recitative (Westcott and Hort, and most) or part of the quotation (Rheims, Meyer, Weiss). In favour of the latter view is the fact that the recitative ὅτι is not used elsewhere in this section (vers. 4, 7, 10), but as in Luke 4:10 it can hardly be other than recitative (for another ὅτι is inserted before "on their hands"), the probability is that it was recitative in the oral source, and therefore recitative here. In their hands; Revised Version, on; ἐπὶ χειρῶν. The thought is not so much of surrounding care as of physical support through space. Lest at any time; Revised Version, lest haply; and so always, for "in the New Testament use of rids particle (μή ποτέ) the notion of time usual to ποτέ seems to recede before that of contingency" (Thayer).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“If
Εἰ (Ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

You are
εἶ (ei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

[the] Son
Υἱὸς (Huios)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5207: A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.

of God,”
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

he said,
λέγει (legei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

“throw
βάλε (bale)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 906: (a) I cast, throw, rush, (b) often, in the weaker sense: I place, put, drop. A primary verb; to throw.

Yourself
σεαυτὸν (seauton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4572: Of yourself.

down.
κάτω (katō)
Adverb
Strong's 2736: (a) down, below, also: downwards, (b) lower, under, less, of a length of time. Also katotero; adverb from kata; downwards.

For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

it is written:
γέγραπται (gegraptai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1125: A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.

‘He will command
ἐντελεῖται (enteleitai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1781: To give orders (injunctions, instructions, commands). From en and the base of telos; to enjoin.

His
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.

angels
ἀγγέλοις (angelois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 32: From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.

concerning
περὶ (peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

You,
σοῦ (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

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

they will lift You up
ἀροῦσίν (arousin)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 142: To raise, lift up, take away, remove.

in
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

[their] hands,
χειρῶν (cheirōn)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 5495: A hand.

so that You will not strike
προσκόψῃς (proskopsēs)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4350: From pros and kopto; to strike at, i.e. Surge against; specially, to stub on, i.e. Trip up.

Your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

foot
πόδα (poda)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4228: The foot. A primary word; a 'foot'.

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

a stone.’”
λίθον (lithon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3037: A stone; met: of Jesus as the chief stone in a building. Apparently a primary word; a stone.


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