Matthew 10:30
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
the very
G2532
καὶ
the very
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
3 of 10
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
αἱ
G3588
αἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 10
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 10
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Luke 12:7But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.1 Samuel 14:45And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.Acts 27:34Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.Luke 21:18But there shall not an hair of your head perish.2 Samuel 14:11Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.1 Kings 1:52And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern thought emphasized God's comprehensive knowledge (Psalm 139:1-6, 147:4). The hyperbolic statement (no one literally counts hairs) emphasizes thoroughness of divine knowledge. For persecuted disciples facing death, this intimate divine attention provided comfort - their suffering wasn't unnoticed or meaningless. God's knowledge included every detail of their experience. Early martyrs testified that God's presence sustained them through torture and execution, fulfilling this promise of providential awareness.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's attention to trivial details about us reveal His personal care?
- What fears or anxieties diminish when we grasp the thoroughness of God's knowledge?
- How should God's intimate awareness of every detail affect our prayer life?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Jesus intensifies the argument: 'But the very hairs of your head are all numbered' (Greek: ὑμῶν δὲ καὶ αἱ τρίχες τῆς κεφαλῆς πᾶσαι ἠριθμημέναι εἰσίν, 'but even the hairs of your head are all numbered'). The perfect passive verb ἠριθμημέναι indicates completed action with ongoing state - God has numbered and maintains awareness of every hair. This represents exhaustive knowledge of minutiae - if God tracks something as trivial as hair count (which we don't know ourselves), nothing about us escapes His notice. This intimate attention demonstrates personal, particular care beyond general providence.