Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just giving them power over literal snakes and scorpions, but over all the subtle, cunning forces of the enemy. This promise isn't about escaping physical harm entirely, but about knowing that no spiritual threat or earthly tribulation can truly derail God's ultimate plan for them.
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The seventy disciples have just returned, overjoyed that even demons are subject to them through Jesus' name. Jesus responds by acknowledging their success in casting out demons, comparing it to seeing Satan fall like lightning from heaven. He then grants them authority over dangerous creatures and all the power of the enemy, assuring them they will not be harmed. However, Jesus immediately redirects their focus from the power they wield to the eternal significance of their names being written in heaven.
When Jesus gave his disciples authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, was he just talking about snakes and bugs? Or was there something much deeper at play?
Jesus grants His followers authority not just over physical dangers, but over the spiritual powers of the enemy. The 'serpents and scorpions' are often understood figuratively, representing the craftiness and poisonous nature of evil forces, including Satan and his emissaries.
Beyond the Literal
While there are accounts of literal protection (like Paul with the viper in Acts 28), the primary focus here is spiritual dominion. This authority is a gift from Christ, enabling believers to overcome the strategies and attacks of the enemy. It's about resisting the devil's schemes and seeing his influence diminished in our lives and the world.
You've been given authority, but what about protection? Does this mean you'll never face harm or difficulty?
The promise 'nothing shall hurt you' isn't a guarantee against all physical harm or suffering. Instead, it assures believers that ultimately, the enemy cannot inflict a fatal blow against their spiritual well-being or eternal destiny. Even if physical dangers or persecutions arise, they will not hinder God's ultimate plan or separate believers from His love.
Secure in God's Love
This protection means that no 'power of the enemy' can destroy our souls or take away God's favor. Our ultimate security rests not in our own strength, but in Christ's empowerment and God's sovereign care. All things, even difficulties, will ultimately work for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
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Understand the original words
exousia · Greek Noun
The right, power, or jurisdiction granted by God to exercise authority, particularly over spiritual forces of evil, in the name of Christ.
ophis · Greek Noun
A term often used symbolically in the Bible to represent evil, deception, demonic forces, and the enemies of God's people.
ouranos · Greek Noun
Refers to the realm of God's presence, the eternal dwelling place of the redeemed, and the ultimate source of spiritual authority and joy.
Jesus' words about treading on serpents and scorpions, while potentially literal as seen in Paul's experience on Malta, primarily point to a spiritual authority over the forces of evil, drawing a clear line from ancient promises of protection to the disciples' new mission.
c. 900 BC
Psalm 91 Composed
This psalm, which speaks of God's protection and dominion over dangerous creatures and enemies, provides a clear literary backdrop for Jesus' words.
c. 4 BC - c. AD 30/33— this verse
Jesus' Earthly Ministry
During his public life, Jesus commissioned and sent out his disciples, giving them authority over evil spirits and providing protection.
c. AD 26-30
Sending of the Seventy
Jesus sends out the seventy disciples, granting them authority to heal and cast out demons, and promising them protection.
c. AD 40-50
Paul's Journeys Begin
The apostle Paul, a key figure in spreading the Gospel, would later experience supernatural protection, including surviving a viper's bite.
c. AD 60
Paul Shipwrecked on Malta
While shipwrecked, Paul is bitten by a poisonous viper but suffers no ill effects, a literal fulfillment of the promise.
This Psalm speaks of divine protection from dangers, directly referencing 'treading on the lion and the cobra,' which strongly parallels the imagery of overcoming serpents and scorpions in Luke.
Romans 8:38-39These verses declare that nothing, not even 'death or life or any other created thing,' can separate believers from God's love, echoing the assurance in Luke that 'nothing shall hurt you.'
Mark 16:17-18This passage contains a very similar promise from Jesus, stating that believers will 'take up serpents' and 'drink any deadly poison; it will not hurt them,' reinforcing the theme of spiritual authority over danger.
1 John 4:4This verse assures believers that they have overcome evil because the Spirit in them is greater than the 'spirit who is in the world,' highlighting the source of the power Jesus gives to overcome the enemy.
Acts 28:3-5This New Testament account provides a literal example of the promise fulfilled, where Paul was unharmed after a venomous snake bit him, demonstrating the protective power Jesus grants.
barnesLuke 10:19: "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
To tread on serpents - Preservation from danger. If you tread on a poisonous reptile that would otherwise injure you, I will keep you from danger. If you go among bitter and malignant enemies that would seek your life, I will preserve you. See the notes at Mark 16:18 . Scorpions - The scorpion is an animal with eight feet, eight eyes and a…
bengelLuke 10:19: "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
Luke 10:19 . Δίδωμι ) As I have given, so in continuation I give .— ὄφεων , serpents ) Mark 16:18 . An appellation appropriate to an earthly enemy: He no longer alludes to the enemy descending “from heaven,” as in the image, as lightning . The passage, Acts 28:3 , et seqq., is parallel to Mark 16:18 ; but between Mark and Luke (the Gospel…
Jesus isn't just giving them power over literal snakes and scorpions, but over all the subtle, cunning forces of the enemy. This promise isn't about escaping physical harm entirely, but about knowing that no spiritual threat or earthly tribulation can truly derail God's ultimate plan for them.
The seventy disciples have just returned, overjoyed that even demons are subject to them through Jesus' name. Jesus responds by acknowledging their success in casting out demons, comparing it to seeing Satan fall like lightning from heaven. He then grants them authority over dangerous creatures and all the power of the enemy, assuring them they will not be harmed. However, Jesus immediately redirects their focus from the power they wield to the eternal significance of their names being written in heaven.
The seventy disciples have just returned, overjoyed that even demons are subject to them through Jesus' name. Jesus responds by acknowledging their success in casting out demons, comparing it to seeing Satan fall like lightning from heaven. He then grants them authority over dangerous creatures and all the power of the enemy, assuring them they will not be harmed. However, Jesus immediately redirects their focus from the power they wield to the eternal significance of their names being written in heaven.
"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you." — Jesus isn't just giving them power over literal snakes and scorpions, but over all the subtle, cunning forces of the enemy. This promise isn't about escaping physical harm entirely, but about knowi…
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Last reviewed October 2026