Matthew 7:10
New International Version
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

New Living Translation
Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!

English Standard Version
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?

Berean Standard Bible
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

Berean Literal Bible
Or also, if he will ask for a fish, will give him a serpent?

King James Bible
Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

New King James Version
Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?

New American Standard Bible
Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?

NASB 1995
“Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?

NASB 1977
“Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?

Legacy Standard Bible
Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?

Amplified Bible
Or if he asks for a fish, will [instead] give him a snake?

Christian Standard Bible
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

American Standard Version
or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent?

Contemporary English Version
Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish?

English Revised Version
or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Or if your child asks for a fish, would you give him a snake?

Good News Translation
Or would you give him a snake when he asks for a fish?

International Standard Version
Or if he asks for a fish, he wouldn't give him a snake, would he?

Majority Standard Bible
And if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

NET Bible
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

New Heart English Bible
Or if he will ask for a fish, who will give him a serpent?

Webster's Bible Translation
Or if he shall ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

Weymouth New Testament
Or if the son shall ask him for a fish will offer him a snake?

World English Bible
Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And if he may ask [for] a fish—a serpent will he present to him?

Berean Literal Bible
Or also, if he will ask for a fish, will give him a serpent?

Young's Literal Translation
and if a fish he may ask -- a serpent will he present to him?

Smith's Literal Translation
And if he ask a fish, he will not give him a serpent?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Or if he shall ask him a fish, will he reach him a serpent?

Catholic Public Domain Version
or if he were to ask him for a fish, would offer him a snake?

New American Bible
or a snake when he asks for a fish?

New Revised Standard Version
Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Or if he should ask him for fish, why, will he hand him a snake?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And if he will ask him for a fish, will he hand him a snake?
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

Godbey New Testament
And if he may ask a fish, whether will he give him a serpent?

Haweis New Testament
or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

Mace New Testament
or instead of a fish, would he give him a serpent?

Weymouth New Testament
Or if the son shall ask him for a fish will offer him a snake?

Worrell New Testament
Or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent?

Worsley New Testament
or if he ask for a fish, will he give him a serpent?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ask, Seek, Knock
9Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!…

Cross References
Luke 11:11-13
What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? / Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? / So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

Matthew 6:8
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Psalm 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.

Romans 8:32
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?

Proverbs 28:5
Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD comprehend fully.

Isaiah 49:15
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!

1 John 3:22
and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.

John 16:23-24
In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. / Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 34:10
Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Isaiah 65:24
Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

1 Kings 3:9-13
Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” / Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request. / So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice— ...

Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. / Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. / You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.


Treasury of Scripture

Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

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Fish Makes Offer Present Request Serpent Snake
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Fish Makes Offer Present Request Serpent Snake
Matthew 7
1. Do Not Judge
7. Ask, Seek, Knock
13. Enter through the Narrow Gate
15. A Tree and Its Fruit
24. The Wise and the Foolish Builders
28. Jesus ends his sermon, and the people are astonished.














Or if he asks
This phrase emphasizes the act of requesting, which in the Greek is "αἰτέω" (aiteo), meaning to ask or request earnestly. In the context of prayer, it reflects a humble approach to God, acknowledging our dependence on Him. Historically, asking was a common practice in Jewish prayer, where supplicants would approach God with specific petitions, trusting in His provision.

for a fish
The fish, "ἰχθύς" (ichthys) in Greek, was a staple in the diet of the people in Galilee, where Jesus ministered. It symbolizes sustenance and provision. In the early Christian symbol of the fish, it also represents Christ Himself, as the Greek letters form an acronym for "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior." This highlights the idea that God provides not just physical needs but spiritual nourishment through Christ.

will give him a snake?
The snake, "ὄφις" (ophis) in Greek, is often associated with danger and deceit, harkening back to the serpent in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). In this rhetorical question, Jesus contrasts the good gifts of God with the harmful things that earthly fathers would never give their children. The historical context underscores the absurdity of a loving father giving something harmful when asked for something good, illustrating God's perfect goodness and the trustworthiness of His provision.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

[if]
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

he asks for
αἰτήσει (aitēsei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 154: To ask, request, petition, demand. Of uncertain derivation; to ask.

a fish,
ἰχθὺν (ichthyn)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2486: A fish. Of uncertain affinity; a fish.

will give
ἐπιδώσει (epidōsei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1929: (a) trans: I hand in, give up, (b) intrans: I give way (to the wind). From epi and didomi; to give over.

him
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

a snake?
ὄφιν (ophin)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3789: Probably from optanomai; a snake, figuratively, an artful malicious person, especially Satan.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 7:10 Or if he asks for a fish (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 7:9
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