Jesus continues to tell his apostles about the persecution they will endure as they work for him; this began in [Matthew 10:16](./16.md).

## Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul ##

"Do not be afraid of people. They can kill the body, but they cannot kill the soul."

## kill the body ##

cause physical death. If these words are awkward, they can be translated as "kill you" or "kill other people."

## body ##

the part of a person that can be touched

## kill the soul ##

harm people after they have died

## soul ##

the part of a person that cannot be touched and that lives on after the physical body dies

## Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin  ##

This rhetorical question can be translated as "Think about the sparrows. They have so little value that you can buy two of them for only one small coin" (UDB). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])

## sparrows  ##

These very small, seed-eating birds are used as a metaphor for things that people do not think are important. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

## a small coin ##

This is often translated as the smallest coin in the target language. It refers to a copper coin worth about one-sixteenth of a day's wage for a laborer. It can also be translated "very little money."

## not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge ##

This expression can be translated "even one of them falls to the ground only if your Father knows about it" or "only if your Father knows about it does even one of them fall to the ground" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-litotes]])

## not one of them  ##

"not one sparrow"

## falls to the ground ##

"dies"

## even the hairs of your head are all numbered  ##

“God knows even how many hairs are on your head” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

## numbered ##

"counted"

## You are more valuable than many sparrows ##

“God values you more than many sparrows"