What Does Matthew 10:31 Mean in the King James?
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Your worth is measured against lives God already refuses to overlook.
THE MEANING
You are seen and counted: the verse says your life is worth more than many sparrows, whose lives are already within God’s notice. That attention meets your fear now, so fear does not mean you have been forgotten.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that being vulnerable or easy to overlook makes you insignificant dissolves here: even sparrows are noticed, and you are valued more.
THE ROOT
διαφέρετε
diapherete
GROWS FROM
φερ-
pher-
Bear, carry; in the compound διαφέρω (diapherō), the verb means differ or surpass.
The phrase rendered “are of more value” comes from διαφέρετε (diapherete), “differ” or “surpass.” The verb holds the comparison inside the sentence: your worth is named alongside sparrows whose lives are already within God’s notice.
ALSO GROWS
pherō: To bear, carry.
φέρω
This is the verb stem within διαφέρω (diapherō), carrying a sense of movement into the word translated “value.”
diapherō: To differ, surpass, be worth more.
διαφέρω
This is the verb used in the verse; it expresses your worth as surpassing that of many sparrows.
THE PATTERN
Attention to vulnerable life makes human worth visible.
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?THE THREAD
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?The Greek verb διαφέρετε (diapherete, “differ” or “surpass”) appears in both verses: Matthew 6:26 renders it “much better,” while Matthew 10:31 renders it “of more value.” Matthew 6 grounds the comparison in birds receiving care, giving the word here that same measure.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us