· Translation: KJV

Matthew 4:10Then Jesus said to him, "Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.'"

The setting

Jesus turns from the vision to face Satan directly. His voice carries the authority of heaven as He quotes Scripture learned in childhood synagogue. The cosmic test ends with ancient Hebrew truth.

The emotion here: amazed at witnessing the Son's perfect obedience under ultimate pressure

The original word

latreuō (λατρεύσεις) — religious service, the complete devotion of one's life and work to God alone

Why it matters

This Deuteronomy quote was part of the Shema, recited twice daily by every faithful Jew

Read with care

What most readers miss in Matthew 4:10

Jesus didn't argue theology — He simply quoted Scripture and Satan had to flee

Common misconceptionPeople think Jesus was angry here, but 'Get behind me' was a command, not an insult. Jesus was asserting His authority over Satan, not losing His temper.

Bible Genome reading

Matthew 4:10 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerJesus
Eragospel
Primary emotionworship
Literary typenarrative
MarkCommand

Emotional genome

Comfort power40%
Quotability95%
Memorability95%
Crisis relevance95%
Standalone80%
Themes:worshipauthority

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Matthew 4

Matthew 4:10 comes from the book of Matthew, written during the gospel period. These words are attributed to Jesus. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include worship, authority. Notable phrases: Get behind me, Satan; worship the Lord your God. This verse contains a command.

Your reflection

What does Matthew 4:10 mean to you, today?

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