Matthew 7:6 Meaning: Who Are the Dogs and Swine?
“Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you.
`Ye may not give that which is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before the swine, that they may not trample them among their feet, and having turned--may rend you.
Give not that which is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before the swine, lest they trample them with their feet, and turning round rend you.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus warns against giving holy things to those who will despise them. Learn the meaning of this verse and what true discernment looks like.
Context
This verse sits in the middle of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, right after His teaching about judging others. In the previous lines, Jesus warned against hypocritical judgment, looking at someone else's small fault while ignoring your own large one. But here He turns the corner. He says, in effect, do not swing so far in the direction of non-judgment that you lose all discernment.
The language comes from the Old Testament world. Dogs were not pets; they were street scavengers, often wild and dangerous. Pigs were unclean animals, and the image of a gold ring in a pig's snout would have made any Jewish listener wince. Jesus uses these images to talk about people who have shown themselves to be hostile or contemptuous toward what is holy. The point is not to name names but to teach wisdom: not every person is ready for every truth, and pushing precious things on unwilling hands can cause harm.
Key Words
Three words carry the weight here. The first is hagion, the holy thing. It means something set apart for God, consecrated, not for common use. In the Temple, certain meat from sacrifices was holy and belonged only to the priests. Throwing it to scavenging dogs would be a desecration. Jesus uses that picture to say some truths are too sacred to be treated carelessly.
The second is margaritas, pearls. In the Gospels, pearls appear only here and in the parable of the pearl of great price, where the kingdom of heaven itself is the treasure. So these pearls are not just any teaching, but the deepest, most costly truths of the faith.
The third is the pair of verbs at the end. The pigs katapateo, trample underfoot, the same word used for insulting or spurning something sacred. Then the dogs turn and rhegnumi, tear or rip. The Greek suggests a wild boar's tusk making a long, jagged wound. This is not a gentle rejection. The violence of the image warns us that forcing truth on unwilling hearts can end badly for everyone.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse in different ways over the centuries. Some Protestant commentators, like Matthew Poole and Albert Barnes, see the dogs and swine as specific kinds of people: those who are openly hostile and abusive toward the gospel, or those who are so mired in impurity that they cannot perceive its value. They point to the Old Testament proverb about a dog returning to its vomit and a pig wallowing in mud.
John Calvin was more cautious. He said that teachers cannot always tell who is a dog or a swine, so they should still preach to all. Only when someone has clearly shown contempt should we hold back. Many Catholics and Orthodox see in this verse a foundation for the ancient “discipline of the secret”, reserving baptism and the Eucharist for those who have been prepared and have shown genuine faith. Both approaches seek to honor God's holiness while loving the neighbor.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think this verse means we should never talk about our faith with people who are not Christians. They take “dogs” and “swine” as labels for all unbelievers.
In fact, the verse is about discernment, not exclusion. The preceding passage condemns hypocritical judgment. So we cannot simply write people off. The images of trampling and tearing suggest people who have already shown they will attack what is holy. Even then, the command is to stop giving what they will destroy, not to stop loving or serving them. The Great Commission still stands: we are sent to all nations, but with wisdom.
Living This Out
You have something precious from God. Maybe it is a spiritual insight He gave you in prayer, a Scripture that comforted you, or a truth about His character that changed your life. You want to share it, and that is right.
But this week, before you speak, look at the person in front of you. Have they shown any interest? Have they mocked your faith before? If so, you do not have to throw your pearl where it will be trampled. You can love them, pray for them, serve them, and wait. Wisdom means knowing that timing matters. It also means examining your own heart: Are you holding back because of pride, or because you sense genuine danger? Let humility guide you.
Main takeaway: God's holy truths are precious, and He calls us to share them with wisdom, not to cast them where they will be trampled.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus said not to give something special to someone who will treat it badly. If you had a pretty necklace and someone wanted to smash it, you would put it away. That's how we should treat God's special truths.
For ages 9, 12
Imagine you found a real gold coin. You wouldn't throw it into a pigpen, right? The pigs would step on it and never know its value. That's what Jesus means about sharing deep things of faith. Some people are not ready to hear certain truths, and if they mock or hate what you say, it hurts you and dishonors God. That doesn't mean you stop loving them. It means you pray and wait for the right time.
Questions People Ask
What do 'dogs' and 'swine' mean in Matthew 7:6?
In Jewish culture, dogs were wild scavengers and pigs were unclean animals. Jesus uses these images to represent people who are hostile to the gospel or who will trample it underfoot. Most commentators agree these are not all unbelievers, but those who have clearly shown contempt for sacred things.
Does Matthew 7:6 mean we shouldn't share the gospel with non-Christians?
No. The Great Commission tells us to preach the gospel to everyone. This verse is about wisdom in how and when we share deeper truths. If someone has proven themselves to be actively hostile, we may need to stop for a time. But we still love them and pray for them.
How does this verse fit with loving our enemies?
Loving our enemies does not require us to give them what they will only destroy. We can love, serve, and pray for them without casting precious spiritual truths to be trampled. Wisdom and love are not opposed; they work together.
What is 'that which is holy' in Matthew 7:6?
The Greek word is 'hagion,' meaning set apart for God. It likely refers to sacred teachings, perhaps the deeper truths of the kingdom or even the Gospel itself. In church history, this verse was used to support reserving baptism and the Eucharist for those who had shown genuine faith.
Should we judge some people as dogs and swine?
The verses just before this passage warn strongly against hypocritical judgment. We should be very slow to label anyone. At the same time, Jesus uses these strong terms, so there is a place for recognizing persistent hostility. The key is humility and careful discernment, not arrogant condemnation.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study