Matthew 9:36 · Bible study
Matthew 9:36 Commentary: Harassed and Helpless
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the Greek word σπλαγχνίζομαι in Matthew 9:36, Jesus' visceral compassion for a shepherdless people and what it reveals about failed leaders.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus' deep, visceral compassion for a shepherdless people moved him to train and send workers.
- Key Words: σπλαγχνίζομαι (compassion from bowels), ἐσκυλμένοι (harassed, flayed), ἐρριμμένοι (scattered, prostrated).
- Main Debate: Text-critical variant, ἐκλελυμένοι (fainted) in some manuscripts vs. ἐσκυλμένοι (harassed) in the best witnesses.
- Theological Theme: Jesus as the true shepherd who replaces failed leaders; compassion as the basis for mission.
- Best Use: Sermons on pastoral care, missions, and the heart of Jesus for the needy.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
WEB World English Bible 2000
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.
KJV King James Version 1769
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And having seen the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, that they were faint and cast aside, as sheep not having a shepherd,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
But when he saw the crowds he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed, and cast away as sheep not having a shepherd.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And seeing the multitudes, he had compassion on them: because they were distressed, and lying like sheep that have no shepherd.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y viendo las gentes, tuvo compasión de ellas; porque estaban derramadas y esparcidas como ovejas que no tienen pastor.
Quando ele viu as multidões, teve compaixão delas, porque andavam afligidas e desamparadas, como ovelhas que não têm pastor.
Voyant la foule, il fut ému de compassion pour elle, parce qu’ elle était languissante et abattue, comme des brebis qui n’ ont point de berger.
Und da er das Volk sah, jammerte ihn desselben; denn sie waren verschmachtet und zerstreut wie die Schafe, die keinen Hirten haben.
En Hij, de scharen ziende, werd innerlijk met ontferming bewogen over hen, omdat zij vermoeid en verstrooid waren, gelijk schapen, die geen herder hebben.
E vedendo le turbe, n’ebbe compassione, perch’erano stanche e sfinite, come pecore che non hanno pastore.
A widząc on lud, użalił się go, iż był strudzony i rozproszony jako owce nie mające pasterza.
Видя толпы народа, Он сжалился над ними, что они были изнурены и рассеяны, как овцы, не имеющие пастыря.
他看見 許多的人，就 憐憫 他們；因為 他們 困苦 流離，如同 羊 沒 有 牧人一般。
But when he saw all the people he was moved with pity for them, because they were troubled and wandering like sheep without a keeper.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Matthew 9:36
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Jesus' compassion in this verse is profoundly visceral. The word σπλαγχνίζομαι, as Adam Clarke explains, describes being moved from the inmost bowels, the seat of sympathy. This is not a detached pity but a physical, gut-level reaction.
The crowds are described with two perfect participles: ἐσκυλμένοι (eskulmenoi, 'harassed') and ἐρριμμένοι (errimmenoi, 'scattered'). Vincent's Word Studies notes that σκύλλω originally means to flay or mangle, a fitting image for sheep being torn and fleeced. The second term means thrown down, prostrated with weariness. Together they paint a picture of people in desperate need.
Barnes and Gill add that the people were burdened by the Pharisees' traditions and abandoned by their spiritual leaders. Jesus compares them to sheep without a shepherd, a familiar Old Testament image of neglect (Numbers 27:17, Ezekiel 34). This compassion directly prompts his call for harvest workers in the next verses. This compassion still moves our Lord today; we serve a Messiah who is not indifferent to our weariness.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: It is clear that Jesus felt deep, genuine compassion for people who were suffering from neglect and confusion, and that he responded by empowering his disciples to meet that need.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of Jesus' Compassion | All traditions affirm that Jesus felt genuine, deep compassion, the word σπλαγχνίζομαι indicates a visceral, bodily response. | Some emphasize this compassion as pure emotion; others stress that it immediately results in action (sending workers). Both are present in the context, but the weight given to each varies. |
| Condition of the Crowds | The crowds were spiritually neglected and physically weary, burdened by the teachings of the Pharisees and the weight of their traditions. | Does the blame fall primarily on the Jewish leaders, or does the imagery of 'sheep without a shepherd' refer more broadly to the human condition? Most commentators point to the leaders, but some see a universal lack of guidance. |
| The Shepherd Image | The phrase 'sheep without a shepherd' is rooted in Old Testament passages (Numbers 27:17, 1 Kings 22:17, Ezekiel 34) where Israel lacks proper leadership. | Who are the shepherds in view? Some specifically identify the Pharisees and scribes; others broaden it to include all who claim to guide but fail to feed the flock. |
| Text-Critical Variant | The reading ἐσκυλμένοι (harassed) is better attested in early manuscripts and is accepted by modern critical editions. | A minority of later manuscripts read ἐκλελυμένοι (fainted), which influenced the King James Version. There is no serious debate among scholars about the preferred reading. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jesus had been traveling through Galilee, teaching in synagogues and healing every disease (Matthew 9:35). The crowds that followed him were large and eager, but their spiritual condition was miserable. The religious leaders, Pharisees, scribes, and priests, were supposed to be shepherds of Israel. Instead, as Calvin observes, they were 'dumb dogs' (Isaiah 56:10), slow-bellies who devoured the flock while claiming to guide it.
The phrase 'sheep without a shepherd' echoes several Old Testament passages. Numbers 27:17 records Moses' concern that the congregation would be like sheep without a shepherd. In 1 Kings 22:17 and 2 Chronicles 18:16, the prophet sees Israel scattered, each person returning home without a leader. The strongest background is Ezekiel 34, where God denounces the shepherds who feed themselves and scatter the flock. The crowds in Jesus' day were in the same condition: 'harassed' (ἐσκυλμένοι, flayed, mangled) and 'scattered' (ἐρριμμένοι, cast down as worthless).
Many early manuscripts read ἐσκυλμένοι rather than the alternative ἐκλελυμένοι ('fainted'). The better-attested reading emphasizes violence and exhaustion, the people had been stripped and thrown aside. The Pharisees treated the crowd with contempt, saying in John 7:49, 'This crowd that does not know the law is accursed.' Knowing this history helps us see that Jesus came to be the good shepherd the people had always needed.
Textual Notes
The majority of early Greek manuscripts, along with the Vulgate and other versional witnesses, read ἦσαν ἐσκυλμένοι (were harassed). The alternative reading, ἐκλελυμένοι (were fainted), appears in a few later Byzantine manuscripts and was adopted into the Textus Receptus, influencing the King James Version. Modern critical editions (NA28, UBS5) follow the stronger external evidence. The perfect participle form (ἐσκυλμένοι) with the imperfect verb ἦσαν denotes an ongoing state. Vincent notes that σκύλλω originally meant 'to flay' or 'to mangle,' fitting the sheep metaphor. The variant does not change the overall meaning but intensifies the image of distress.
Reception History
Matthew 9:36 has been a foundational text for pastoral theology across Christian traditions. Calvin used it to criticize the clergy of his day, comparing them to the Pharisees. Methodist and Wesleyan writers, like Adam Clarke and Wesley, saw in it a call to compassionate ministry to the poor and neglected. The visceral language of σπλαγχνίζομαι has been a favorite subject for devotional reflection on Jesus' humanity. Missionary movements have cited the harvest connection (v.37-38) as a mandate for cross-cultural work. In Eastern Orthodox tradition, the verse is read as a revelation of Christ's divine compassion, moving him to 'seek the lost and heal the brokenhearted.'
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- Jesus Sees. He does not look past the crowds. He observes their condition and their need. Seeing leads to feeling.
- Jesus Feels. His compassion is not surface-level. The Greek word σπλαγχνίζομαι indicates a physical, gut-wrenching response. He enters into their suffering.
- Jesus Acts. Compassion moves him to action. He calls his disciples to pray for harvest workers, and he will soon send them out (Matthew 10).
Five-Point Outline
- The Sight: Jesus sees the multitudes, the large crowds that followed him.
- The Heart: He is moved with compassion, a deep, inner stirring.
- The Condition: They are harassed (flayed, mangled) and scattered (thrown down).
- The Absence: They are like sheep without a shepherd, no one cares for their souls.
- The Response: Jesus turns to his disciples and points to the plentiful harvest and the need for laborers.
Illustration Hooks
- The neglected classroom: A teacher walks into a room where students have been ignored by previous instructors. They are confused, discouraged, and falling behind. The teacher’s heart aches.
- The tangled sheep: A shepherd finds a lamb caught in thorns, its wool torn and bloody from a predator attack. He does not scold it, he gently frees it and carries it home.
- The worn-out worker: Someone comes to church after a week of being overworked and criticized. They just need to know that someone sees and cares.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Does Jesus really care about my personal struggles, or is he distant?
- Why do some church leaders seem more like hirelings than shepherds?
- What can I do about the overwhelming need for workers in the harvest?
Leading a Discussion
This verse reveals Jesus' heart for people who are broken and neglected. The original language gives us a window into the intensity of his feeling. As we study it, we can ask ourselves how we might reflect that same compassion toward others.
Discussion Questions
- What do you think it means that Jesus was 'moved with compassion'? How does the Greek word σπλαγχνίζομαι deepen your understanding?
- The crowds are described as 'harassed and scattered.' What kinds of things cause people today to feel this way?
- Why does Jesus compare the crowds to 'sheep without a shepherd'? Who were the shepherds in Israel, and why had they failed?
- How does this passage connect to the Old Testament passages about shepherds (Numbers 27, 1 Kings 22, Ezekiel 34)?
- Jesus' compassion led him to call for harvest workers. What does this tell us about the relationship between compassion and mission?
- In what ways can our small group cultivate a similar compassion for people in our community?
- What is one practical step you can take this week to respond to someone who is 'harassed and scattered'?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 27:17 | who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in, that the congregation of Yahweh may not be as sheep which have no shepherd.” |
| I Kings 22:17 | He said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. Yahweh said, ‘These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.’” |
| II Chronicles 18:16 | He said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. Yahweh said, ‘These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.’” |
| Isaiah 56:9 | All you animals of the field, come to devour, all you animals in the forest. |
| Isaiah 56:11 | Yes, the dogs are greedy. They can never have enough. They are shepherds who can’t understand. They have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter. |
| Jeremiah 50:6 | My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have caused them to go astray. They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill. They have forgotten their resting place. |
| Ezekiel 34:3 | You eat the fat. You clothe yourself with the wool. You kill the fatlings, but you don’t feed the sheep. |
| Ezekiel 34:6 | My sheep wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill. Yes, my sheep were scattered on all the surface of the earth. There was no one who searched or sought.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights the literal, physical force behind the Greek word for compassion, which springs from the bowels as the seat of pity. He notes that the best manuscripts replace "fainted" with "grieved and melancholy," showing the crowd worn down by sorrow. Their distress stands opposite the Pharisees' contemptuous dismissal of them as ignorant.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that Jesus’ compassion arose from seeing a people exhausted by religious burdens and neglected by their leaders. He compares them to sheep without a shepherd, highlighting their vulnerability and the contrast between the Pharisees’ failures and Christ’s care.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin contrasts Christ's compassionate labor as the true shepherd with the lazy priests and clergy who, despite their titles, do nothing to gather the flock. Where no one works to bring the people into God's fold through gospel teaching, there are no real shepherds at all. Christ's earthly compassion continues now in heaven as he still cares for his scattered sheep.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible for Schools notes that the traditional word "fainted" has no manuscript support and should be read as "harassed." Similarly, "scattered abroad" may better be understood as "neglected" or "set at nought," suggesting rejection by the national teachers rather than mere aimless wandering.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note emphasizes that Christ’s compassion was stirred specifically by the people’s helpless, scattered condition. Like sheep without a shepherd, they were disorganized and vulnerable, and this disorder moved him to mercy. His pity arose from their desperate lack of guidance.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that the crowds were not physically exhausted from following Jesus but mentally burdened by the countless traditions and doctrines of the Pharisees. They were scattered among conflicting religious sects with no one to properly teach or protect them, like sheep without a caring shepherd.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB corrects the common translation: the multitudes were not merely "fainted" but "harassed," worn down and neglected by their leaders. Their physical exhaustion was only a picture of deeper spiritual abandonment under Pharisaic guidance, and it was this condition that moved the Redeemer's compassion.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that Christ's compassion directly reveals the people's desperate misery under their leaders, which then triggers His royal decision to establish the apostolic office. The Lord's move from Prophet to King is not abstract; it is a practical response to a helpless, scattered flock, using human laborers to spread His salvation.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent roots the sheep metaphor in the physical violence of the Greek words: "fainted" means flayed or mangled, as if the sheep have been fleeced raw, while "scattered" pictures them not wandering apart but thrown down and prostrate from utter exhaustion. Their condition is habitual, not occasional.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley distinguishes between physical weariness and deeper spiritual exhaustion. The people had plenty of teachers, but none who truly cared for their souls or could actually help them. They had many scribes but no real shepherds—no pastors after God's own heart.