Matthew 16:11

King James Version

How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Why is it you don’t understand that when I told you, ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,’ it wasn’t about bread?”

King James Version (1611)
How is it that ye doe not vnderstand, that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leauen of the Pharises, and of the Sadduces?

English Standard Version
How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

New American Standard Bible
"How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

New Century Version
I was not talking to you about bread. Why don't you understand that? I am telling you to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees."

Amplified Bible
"How is it that you fail to understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Why perceiue ye not that I said not vnto you concerning bread, that ye shoulde beware of the leauen of the Pharises and Sadduces?

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

Legacy Standard Bible
How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

Berean Standard Bible
How do you not understand that I was not telling you about bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

Contemporary English Version
Don't you know by now that I am not talking to you about bread? Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!

Complete Jewish Bible
How can you possibly think I was talking to you about bread? Guard yourselves from the hametz of the P'rushim and Tz'dukim!"

Darby Translation
How do ye not understand that [it was] not concerning bread I said to you, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?

Easy-to-Read Version
So how could you think that I am concerned about bread? I am telling you to be careful and guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees."

George Lamsa Translation
How is it that you did not understand that I was not talking to you about the bread, but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

Good News Translation
How is it that you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? Guard yourselves from the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"

Lexham English Bible
How do you not understand that I did not speak to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"

Literal Translation
How do you not perceive that it was not about loaves that I said to you to take heed from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?

American Standard Version
How is it that ye do not perceive that I spake not to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Bible in Basic English
How is it that you do not see that I was not talking to you about bread, but about keeping away from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?

Hebrew Names Version
How is it that you don't perceive that I didn't speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Perushim and Tzedukim."

International Standard Version
How can you fail to understand that I wasn't talking to you about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"

Etheridge Translation
Why do you not understand that it was not concerning bread I spoke to you, but that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharishee and of the Zadukoyee ?

Murdock Translation
How is it that ye do not understand that it was not concerning bread that I spoke to you; but that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Howe is it that ye do not vnderstande, that I spake it not vnto you concernyng bread, [warnyng you] that ye shoulde beware of the leuen of the Pharisees, and of the Saducees?

English Revised Version
How is it that ye do not perceive that I spake not to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

World English Bible
How is it that you don't perceive that I didn't speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
How do ye not understand, that I spake not to you concerning bread, to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Saducees?

Weymouth's New Testament
How is it you do not understand that it was not about bread that I spoke to you? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whi vndurstonden ye not, for Y seide not to you of breed, Be ye war of the sourdowy of Farisees and of Saducees?

Update Bible Version
How is it that you do not perceive that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Webster's Bible Translation
How is it that ye do not understand that I spoke not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

New English Translation
How could you not understand that I was not speaking to you about bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"

New King James Version
How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?--but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

New Living Translation
Why can't you understand that I'm not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.'"

New Life Bible
Why is it that you do not see that I was not talking to you about bread? I was talking to you about keeping away from the yeast of the proud religious law-keepers and the religious group of people who believe no one will be raised from the dead."

New Revised Standard
How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
How is it ye perceive not, that, not concerning loaves, spake I unto you, - but beware of the leaven, of the Pharisees and Sadducees?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Why do you not understand that it was not concerning bread I said to you: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?

Revised Standard Version
How is it that you fail to perceive that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sad'ducees."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Why perceave ye not then yt I spake not vnto you of breed whe I sayde beware of the leven of the Pharises and of the Saduces?

Young's Literal Translation
how do ye not understand that I did not speak to you of bread -- to take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Why perceaue ye not then, yt I spake not to you of bred, whe I saide: bewarre of ye leue of ye Pharises & of ye Saduces?

Mace New Testament (1729)
why, can't you perceive, that in cautioning you to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees, I did not speak of bread?

Simplified Cowboy Version
Don't you know by now I ain't talkin' about biscuits? Watch out for the yeast of the hypocritical preachers and cattle barons!"

Contextual Overview

⁵ And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. ⁶ Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. ⁷ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. ⁸ Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? ⁹ Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? ¹⁰ Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? ¹¹ How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? ¹² Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Mark 4:40, Mark 8:21, Luke 12:56, John 8:43

Reciprocal: Leviticus 2:11 - no leaven Ezekiel 17:12 - Know Matthew 3:7 - the Pharisees Matthew 7:15 - Beware Matthew 13:51 - Have Matthew 15:16 - General Matthew 16:1 - Sadducees Matthew 22:16 - the Herodians Mark 7:18 - General Mark 8:15 - Take 2 Peter 3:17 - beware

Cross-References

Genesis 17:19
And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

Exodus 3:7
And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

Exodus 3:9
Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

1 Samuel 1:20
Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord .

Job 38:41
Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

Psalms 22:24
For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Luke 1:13
But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

Luke 1:31
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus .

Luke 1:63
And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

How is it that ye do not understand,.... That you should be so senseless and void of thought, after such instances, as to imagine, that I concerned myself about what bread you brought with you; one would think you could not but know,

that I spake it not to you concerning bread, taken in a literal sense; but must be thought to speak figuratively and mystically, and to have an higher sense and meaning, when I said to you,

that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees; how could you think that I had any regard to the leaven taken in a literal sense, the Pharisees and Sadducees approve or disapprove of?

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The account in these verses is also recorded in Mark 8:13-21.

Matthew 16:5

And when his disciples were come to the other side - That is, to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

Mark says that he entered into a ship again, and departed to the other side. The conversation with the Pharisees and Sadducees had been on the western side of the Sea of Galilee. See the notes at Matthew 15:39. They crossed from that side again to the east.

Had forgotten to take bread - That is, had forgotten to lay in a sufficient supply. They had, it seems, not more than one loaf, Mark 8:14.

Matthew 16:6-11

Take heed ... - That is, be cautious, be on your guard.

The leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees - Leaven is used in making bread.

It passes secretly, silently, but certainly through the mass of dough. See the notes at Matthew 13:33. “None can see its progress.” So it was with the doctrines of the Pharisees. They were insinuating, artful, plausible. They concealed the real tendency of their doctrines; they instilled them secretly into the mind, until they pervaded all the faculties like leaven.

They reasoned ... - The disciples did not understand him as referring to the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees, because the word “leaven” was not often used among the Jews to denote doctrines, no other instance of this use of the word occurring in the Scriptures. Besides, the Jews had many particular rules about the leaven (yeast) which might be used in making bread. Many held that it was not lawful to eat bread made by the Gentiles; and the disciples, perhaps, supposed that he was cautioning them not to procure a supply from the Pharisees and Sadducees.

O ye of little faith! - Jesus, in reply, said that they should not be so anxious about the supply of their temporal wants. They should not have supposed, after the miracles that he had performed in feeding so many, that he would caution them to be anxious about procuring bread for their necessities. It was improper, then, for them to reason about a thing like that, but they should have supposed that he referred to something more important. The miracles had been full proof that he could supply all their wants without such anxiety.

Matthew 16:12

Then understood they ... - After this explanation they immediately saw that he referred to the doctrines of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Erroneous doctrines are like leaven in the following respects:

1. They are at first slight and unimportant in appearance, just as leaven is small in quantity as compared with the mass that is to be leavened.
2. They are insinuated into the soul unawares and silently, and are difficult of detection.
3. They act gradually.
4. They act most certainly.
5. They will pervade all the soul, and bring all the faculties under their control.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 16:11. How is it that ye do not understand — We are not deficient in spiritual knowledge, because we have not had sufficient opportunities of acquainting ourselves with God; but because we did not improve the advantages we had. How deep and ruinous must our ignorance be, if God did not give line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little! They now perceived that he warned them against the superstition of the Pharisees, which produced hypocrisy, pride, envy, &c., and the false doctrine of the Sadducees, which denied the existence of a spiritual world, the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, and the providence of God.