LUKE 10:19 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will harm you at all.

UST Listen! I have given you the power to defeat evil spirits. I have even given you enough power to defeat our enemy, Satan. Nothing will hurt you at all.

BSB Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.

MSB Behold, I am giving[fn] you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.

BLB Behold, I give you the authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.

AICNT Behold, {I have given}[fn] you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will [by no means][fn] harm you.

10:19, I have given: 𝔓75 ℵ(01) B(03) NA28 SBLGNT THGNT ‖ Some manuscripts read “I give.” 𝔓45 A(02) D(05) BYZ TR

10:19, by no means: Absent from some manuscripts. ℵ(01) D(05)

OEB Remember, I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions, and to meet all the strength of the Enemy. Nothing will ever harm you in any way.

WEBBE Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Look, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and on the full force of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you.

LSV behold, I give to you the authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and on all the power of the enemy, and nothing by any means will hurt you;

FBV Yes, I have given you power to tread on snakes and scorpions, and to overcome all the enemy's strength, and nothing will harm you.

TCNT Behold, I [fn]am giving you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and to overcome all the power of the enemy, and nothing at all will harm you.

10:19 am giving ¦ have given CT

T4T Listen! I have given you authority so that if you oppose evil spirits [MET] they will not hurt you. I have given you authority to defeat our enemy, Satan. Nothing shall hurt you.

LEB Behold, I have given you the authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will ever harm you.

BBE See, I have given you power to put your feet on snakes and evil beasts, and over all the strength of him who is against you: and nothing will do you damage.

Moff I have indeed given you the power of treading on serpents and scorpions and of trampling down all the power of the Enemy; nothing shall injure you.

Wymth "I have given you power to tread serpents and scorpions underfoot, and to trample on all the power of the Enemy; and in no case shall anything do you harm.

ASV Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.

DRA Behold, I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall hurt you.

YLT lo, I give to you the authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and on all the power of the enemy, and nothing by any means shall hurt you;

Drby Behold, I give you the power of treading upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall in anywise injure you.

RV Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.

SLT Behold, I give you power to tread above serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall hurt you.

Wbstr Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

KJB-1769 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

KJB-1611 Behold, I giue vnto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and ouer all the power of the enemie: and nothing shall by any meanes hurt you.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps Beholde, I geue vnto you power to treade on serpentes, and scorpions, and ouer all maner power of the enemie, & nothyng shall hurt you.
(Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents, and scorpions, and over all manner power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.)

Gnva Beholde, I giue vnto you power to treade on Serpents, and Scorpions, and ouer all the power of the enemie, and nothing shall hurt you.
(Behold, I give unto you power to tread on Serpents, and Scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. )

Cvdl Beholde, I haue geuen you power to treade vpon serpetes and scorpions, and ouer all power of the enemye, and nothinge shall hurte you.
(Behold, I have given you power to tread upon serpetes and scorpions, and over all power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.)

TNT Beholde I geve vnto you power to treade on serpetes and scorpions and over all maner power of the enimye and no thinge shall hurte you.
(Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpetes and scorpions and over all manner power of the enimye and no thing shall hurt you. )

Wycl And lo! Y haue youun to you power to trede on serpentis, and on scorpyouns, and on al the vertu of the enemy, and nothing schal anoye you.
(And lo! I have given to you power to trede on serpents, and on scorpyouns, and on all the virtue of the enemy, and nothing shall annoy you.)

Luth Sehet, ich habe euch Macht gegeben, zu treten auf Schlangen und Skorpione, und über alle Gewalt des Feindes; und nichts wird euch beschädigen.
(Behold, I have you power(n) given, to/for step(v) on/in/to snakes and Skorpione, and above all violence the enemy; and nothing becomes you beschädigen.)

ClVg Ecce dedi vobis potestatem calcandi supra serpentes, et scorpiones, et super omnem virtutem inimici: et nihil vobis nocebit.[fn]
(Behold I_gave to_you(pl) power calcandi above snakes, and scorpiones, and over all virtue enemies: and nothing to_you(pl) nocebit. )

10.19 Supra serpentes et scorpiones. Serpentes sunt mali homines vel dæmones qui inchoandis virtutibus venena pravæ persuasionis objiciunt. Scorpiones, qui consummandas virtutes ad finem vitiare contendunt.

10.19 Above snakes and scorpiones. Serpentes are evil people/men or demons who/which inchoandis virtues poisons wicked of_persuasion obyiciunt. Scorpiones, who/which consummandas by_virtues to the_end vicesre they_strive.

UGNT ἰδοὺ, δέδωκα ὑμῖν τὴν ἐξουσίαν τοῦ πατεῖν ἐπάνω ὄφεων καὶ σκορπίων, καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ, καὶ οὐδὲν ὑμᾶς οὐ μὴ ἀδικήσῃ.
(idou, dedōka humin taʸn exousian tou patein epanō ofeōn kai skorpiōn, kai epi pasan taʸn dunamin tou eⱪthrou, kai ouden humas ou maʸ adikaʸsaʸ.)

SBL-GNT ἰδοὺ ⸀δέδωκα ὑμῖν τὴν ἐξουσίαν τοῦ πατεῖν ἐπάνω ὄφεων καὶ σκορπίων, καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ, καὶ οὐδὲν ὑμᾶς οὐ μὴ ⸀ἀδικήσῃ.
(idou ⸀dedōka humin taʸn exousian tou patein epanō ofeōn kai skorpiōn, kai epi pasan taʸn dunamin tou eⱪthrou, kai ouden humas ou maʸ ⸀adikaʸsaʸ.)

RP-GNT Ἰδού, δίδωμι ὑμῖν τὴν ἐξουσίαν τοῦ πατεῖν ἐπάνω ὄφεων καὶ σκορπίων, καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ· καὶ οὐδὲν ὑμᾶς οὐ μὴ ἀδικήσῃ.
(Idou, didōmi humin taʸn exousian tou patein epanō ofeōn kai skorpiōn, kai epi pasan taʸn dunamin tou eⱪthrou; kai ouden humas ou maʸ adikaʸsaʸ.)

TC-GNT Ἰδού, [fn]δίδωμι ὑμῖν τὴν ἐξουσίαν τοῦ πατεῖν ἐπάνω ὄφεων καὶ σκορπίων, καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ· καὶ οὐδὲν ὑμᾶς οὐ μὴ [fn]ἀδικήσῃ.
(Idou, didōmi humin taʸn exousian tou patein epanō ofeōn kai skorpiōn, kai epi pasan taʸn dunamin tou eⱪthrou; kai ouden humas ou maʸ adikaʸsaʸ. )

10:19 διδωμι ¦ δεδωκα CT

10:19 αδικηση ¦ αδικησει SCR WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–24: Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples

In Section 9:1–6 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles to preach and to heal. Here in Section 10:1–24 he sent out a larger group of disciples to different towns. Jesus told this larger group of disciples to visit many towns. They would visit the towns to find out which people and towns would receive Jesus and which would not receive him. Jesus ended his instructions to these disciples by telling them that God would punish the towns where the people did not welcome him.

Notice that in Luke 10:1 there is a textual issue concerning the number of disciples Jesus sent. You should make a decision about this textual issue before you decide on the heading for this section.

Another possible heading for this section is:

Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples to preach and to heal people

Luke is the only gospel writer who wrote about this event. However, there are parallel passages for some of the verses in this section in Matthew 9:37–38, 10:7–16, and 11:21–23.Marshall, p. 412.

10:19a

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions,

Listen/Look! I have given you^(plur) the power/authority to walk/step on snakes and scorpions without being harmed.
Indeed/Truly I have authorized you to defeat these evil spirits that are like poisonous snakes and stinging centipedes.

Behold: Luke used the word that the BSB translates as Behold to call attention to the next statement and to emphasize its importance. The word may also imply that the next statement is surprising. Other ways to translate this particle are:

Listen! (GNT)

Look (NLT)

In fact

I have given you authority: Before they left on their trip, Jesus gave his disciples authority to represent him. This authority made them able to do things that they could not do by themselves. Other ways to say this are:

I have given you…power (NCV)

I have authorized/enabled you

The form of the Greek verb that the BSB translates as I have given indicates that Jesus had given the disciples authority. He had given them this authority when they left on their trip, and they continued to have that authority. Use a natural way in your language to express this.

to tread on snakes and scorpions: The phrase that the BSB translates as tread on is literally “walk/step on.” Jesus probably used the phrase to tread on snakes and scorpions in a figurative way to refer to the disciples defeating demons and other evil things without being hurt.Some scholars feel that Jesus may have been alluding to OT passages such as Deuteronomy 8:15 and Psalm 91:13 that describe God’s protection from literal snakes, scorpions, and lions. Most scholars feel that in the context of Luke 10:17–20, Jesus used the phrase “snakes and scorpions” to refer figuratively to Satan and other evil spirits.

Jesus used the phrase snakes and scorpions as a metaphor. He was probably comparing the snakes and scorpions to demons such as the ones the disciples mentioned in 10:17. Demons are like snakes and scorpions because they are dangerous and they harm people.

In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit some of the implied information in this metaphor. For example:

I give you authority to defeat the power of evil spirits that are harmful/dangerous like snakes and scorpions.

Be sure to look at 10:19b before you translate 10:19a. It may help to clarify the metaphor that Jesus used here. See also the General Comment on 10:19a–b below for a suggestion about reversing the order of these two parts of the verse.

snakes: The word that you use for snakes here should refer to (or include) poisonous snakes that can hurt and even kill people. In the Bible a snake is often used to symbolize Satan (Genesis 3:1–5 and Revelation 12:9).

scorpions: The term scorpions describes small creatures that range from 1.3 to 20 centimeters long (½ inch to 8 inches long). Scorpions have eight legs and a poisonous stinger in their tails. When they sting someone, the sting causes serious pain. If people are not familiar with scorpions in your area, you may:

Use a general descriptive phrase. For example:
dangerous stinging things
Use something in your culture that is similar to scorpions and that harms people. For example:
centipedes

You may want to include a picture of a scorpion in your translation.

10:19b

and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.

In fact, I have given you power to defeat all the power of God’s enemy Satan. Absolutely nothing will hurt you.
Yes, I have enabled you to overcome Satan and all his powerful companions. Nothing at all will harm you.

and: This part of the verse explains the meaning of the metaphor in the previous verse part. The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as and introduces a further explanation of what Jesus had given the disciples authority to do. Other ways to translate this conjunction are:

In fact

In other words

and over all the power of the enemy: Before they left on their trip, Jesus gave his disciples authority that was greater than the authority of their enemy (Satan). The word that the BSB translates as over expresses the relationship between their authority and the power of the enemy. Other ways to express this relationship are:

I have given you…power that is greater than the enemy has (NCV)

I have authorized/enabled you…to defeat all the power of the enemy

the enemy: In this context the phrase the enemy refers to Satan, who was mentioned in 10:18. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

your enemy Satan (CEV)

If you decide not to make this explicit in the text, you may want to include a footnote with this information. For example:

The enemy is a reference to Satan (mentioned in v. 18). (NET)

Satan is called the enemy because he opposes God and Jesus and his followers. He hates them and works against them. In some languages it may be necessary to indicate whom Satan opposes. If that is true in your language, you may be able to supply “God” or a form such as “your” or “our.” For example:

God’s enemy

our^(incl) enemy Satan

Nothing will harm you: The Greek text that the BSB translates as Nothing will harm you is emphatic. The phrase is more literally “nothing will by any means hurt you.” Another way to convey this emphasis in English is to say:

nothing at all will harm you

absolutely nothing will harm you

Use a natural way in your language to give the same emphasis.

General Comment on 10:19a–b

In some languages it may be more natural to make a general statement before a more specific statement. If that is true in your language, you may reorder parts of 10:19a and 10:19b so that the more general “all the power of the enemy” precedes the more specific “snakes and scorpions.” For example:

Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. (NLT)

Listen! I have enabled you to defeat all the power of the enemy, including the demons that are like snakes and scorpions.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἰδοὺ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰδού δέδωκα ὑμῖν τήν ἐξουσίαν τοῦ πατεῖν ἐπάνω ὄφεων καί σκορπίων καί ἐπί πασᾶν τήν δύναμιν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ καί οὐδέν ὑμᾶς οὒ μή ἀδικήσῃ)

Jesus uses Behold to focus his disciples’ attention on what he is about to say. Alternate translation: [Listen carefully now]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὴν ἐξουσίαν τοῦ πατεῖν ἐπάνω ὄφεων καὶ σκορπίων

This could mean: (1) Jesus is referring to actual snakes and scorpions and saying that God will protect his disciples from these dangers everywhere they travel to proclaim the kingdom. Alternate translation: [protection from snakes and scorpions, even if you step on them] (2) the phrase snakes and scorpions is a figurative way of describing evil spirits. Alternate translation: [the power to defeat evil spirits]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

ὄφεων

serpents

In context, this clearly means poisonous snakes. If your readers would not be familiar with snakes, you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: [poisonous biting animals]

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

σκορπίων

scorpions

The term scorpions describes small animals that are related to spiders. They have two claws and a poisonous stinger in their tail. If your readers would not be familiar with scorpions, you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: [poisonous stinging animals]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ

This phrase continues the meaning from earlier in the sentence. The enemy is Satan, as described in the previous verse. It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: [I have also given you authority to overcome the resistance of Satan]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

οὐδὲν ὑμᾶς οὐ μὴ ἀδικήσῃ

Here Jesus uses a double negative for emphasis, “nothing in no way will hurt you.” The second negative does not cancel the first to create a positive meaning, “something in some way might hurt you.” If your language uses double negatives for emphasis that do not cancel one another, it would be appropriate to use that construction here.

Parallel LUKE 10:19

Section 10:1–24: Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples

10:19a

10:19b

General Comment on 10:19a–b