Matthew 3:9

“And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”

King James Version (KJV)

Other Translations

And thinke not to say within your selues, Wee haue Abraham to our father: For I say vnto you, that God is able of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan

and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.
- New American Standard Version (1995)

and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
- American Standard Version (1901)

And say not to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; because I say to you that God is able from these stones to make children for Abraham.
- Basic English Bible

And do not think to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for [our] father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
- Darby Bible

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
- Webster's Bible

and do not imagine that you can say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our forefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.
- Weymouth Bible

Don't think to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
- World English Bible

and nyle ye seie with ynne you, We han Abraham to fadir; for Y seie to you, that God is myyti to reise vp of these stoones the sones of Abraham.
- Wycliffe Bible

and do not think to say in yourselves, A father we have -- Abraham, for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise children to Abraham,
- Youngs Literal Bible

Bible commentary

Wesley's Notes for Matthew 3:9


3:9 And say not confidently - The word in the original, vulgarly rendered, Think not, seems here, and in many places, not to diminish, but rather add to the force of the word with which it is joined. We have Abraham to our father - It is almost incredible, how great the presumption of the Jews was on this their relation to Abraham. One of their famous sayings was, Abraham sits near the gates of hell, and suffers no Israelite to go down into it. I say unto you - This preface always denotes the importance of what follows. Of these stones - Probably pointing to those which lay before them.


People's Bible Notes for Matthew 3:9


Mt 3:9 Think not to say . . . We have Abraham to [our] father. They believed that Abraham;s race was to be saved, if all else were destroyed. John destroys the refuge of sin. Of these stones. Pointing, perhaps, to the stones of the Jordan. In thus sinking the higher claims of Judaism, John points to the Gentiles, who were to become Abraham's children by faith (Ga 3:29).

Discussion for Matthew 3:9

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