Matthew 7:10

10 ἢ καὶ ἰχθὺν αἰτήσει ⸃— μὴ ὄφιν ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ;

Matthew 7:10 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 7:10

Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
] Which is somewhat like a fish, especially an eel. Fish and bread are mentioned, because these were common food; see ( Mark 6:41 ) ( Mark 8:6 Mark 8:7 ) ( John 21:13 ) and particularly in Galilee, a fish country, where Christ now was, and from whence he had called his disciples, who were fishermen. In ( Luke 11:12 ) it is added, "or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?" which is used, as the rest, to show the absurdity and inhumanity of such conduct; and that indeed nothing of this kind is to be found among men, unless it be among monsters in nature.

Matthew 7:10 In-Context

8 πᾶς γὰρ ὁ αἰτῶν λαμβάνει καὶ ὁ ζητῶν εὑρίσκει καὶ τῷ κρούοντι ἀνοιγήσεται.

9 ἢ τίς ἐστιν ἐξ ὑμῶν ἄνθρωπος, ὃν αἰτήσει ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἄρτον — μὴ λίθον ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ;

10 ἢ καὶ ἰχθὺν αἰτήσει ⸃— μὴ ὄφιν ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ;

11 εἰ οὖν ὑμεῖς πονηροὶ ὄντες οἴδατε δόματα ἀγαθὰ διδόναι τοῖς τέκνοις ὑμῶν, πόσῳ μᾶλλον ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς δώσει ἀγαθὰ τοῖς αἰτοῦσιν αὐτόν.

12 Πάντα οὖν ὅσα ἐὰν θέλητε ἵνα ποιῶσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε αὐτοῖς · οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται.