The Meaning of Matthew 7:10 Explained

Matthew 7:10

KJV: Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

YLT: and if a fish he may ask -- a serpent will he present to him?

Darby: and if he ask a fish, will give him a serpent?

ASV: or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Or  if  he ask  a fish,  will he give  him  a serpent? 

What does Matthew 7:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 7:1-12 - Judging Self Asking God Serving Others
There is abundant need for a right and sound judgment, illumined by the Spirit of truth; but there is a world of difference between it and the censorious and critical opinions which we are apt to form and utter about others. Human nature is fond of climbing up into the judgment seat and proclaiming its decisions, without hearing both sides or calling witnesses. Beware of basing your judgment on idle stories and gossip. In any case, do not utter it, if it be adverse, unless you have first prayed about it and sought to turn the sinner from the error of his ways. Let God search you, before you search another. See Psalms 139:23-24; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Hebrews 4:12.
We ask for a gift; we seek for what we have lost; we knock for entrance. Only a door stands between us and Christ! He will not give us stones or serpents, even if we clamor for them; but He will never fail to give good things-and above all His Holy Spirit-only we must ask for them.
The Roman Emperor Severus was so charmed with the Golden Rule that he had it inscribed on the walls of his palace. Let us inscribe it on our hearts and act on it in the power of the Holy Spirit, who sheds God's love abroad in the hearts of those who believe. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 7

1  Do Not Judge
7  Ask, Seek, Knock
13  Enter through the Narrow Gate
15  A Tree and Its Fruit
24  The Wise and the Foolish Builders
28  Jesus ends his sermon, and the people are astonished

Greek Commentary for Matthew 7:10

Fish - serpent [ιχτυνοπιν]
Fish, common article of food, and water-snakes could easily be substituted. Anacoluthon in this sentence in the Greek. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 7:10

John 16:23 Ye shall ask [ἐρωτήσετε]
Or, as Rev., in margin, ask - question. To question is the primary meaning of the verb, from which it runs into the more general sense of request, beseech. So Mark 7:26; Luke 4:38; John 17:15, etc. Here the meaning is, ye shall ask me no question (compare John 16:19, where the same verb is used). Compare Matthew 16:13; Matthew 21:24; John 1:19. Ask, absolutely, Luke 22:68. Note, moreover, the selection of the word here as marking the asking on familiar terms. See on John 11:22. Another verb for ask occurs in the following sentence: “If ye shall ask ( αἰτήστητε ) anything,” etc. Here the sense is, if ye shall make any request. Compare Matthew 5:42; Matthew 7:7, Matthew 7:9, Matthew 7:10, etc. Note, also, that this word for asking the Father marks the asking of an inferior from a superior, and is the word which Christ never uses of His own requests to the Father. Compare 1 John 3:22. [source]
Revelation 9:19 The power [η εχουσια]
As in Revelation 2:26; Revelation 6:8. This power of the horses is both in their mouths (because of the fire, smoke, brimstone) and in their tails, “for their tails are like unto serpents” Associative-instrumental case οπεσιν — ophesin after ομοιαι — homoiai Οπις — Ophis is old word for snake (Matthew 7:10). [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 7:10 mean?

Or also a fish he will ask for not a serpent will he give him
καὶ ἰχθὺν αἰτήσει μὴ ὄφιν ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ

καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἰχθὺν  a  fish 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἰχθύς  
Sense: a fish.
αἰτήσει  he  will  ask  for 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: αἰτέω  
Sense: to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require.
ὄφιν  a  serpent 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ὄφις  
Sense: snake, serpent.
ἐπιδώσει  will  he  give 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐπιδίδωμι 
Sense: to hand, give by hand.

What are the major concepts related to Matthew 7:10?

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