# Is “Get thee behind me, Satan” in the Bible?

> Yes. “Get thee behind me, Satan” is in the Bible, at Matthew 16:23.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/get-thee-behind-me-satan
By Andrew Kittridge · November 9, 2026

Jesus says it to Peter.

## The verse

> But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a snare to me, for you are thinking not God’s thoughts but human thoughts.”
>
> — [Matthew 16:23](https://www.lumin.faith/read/matthew/16#23) (Lumin Translation)

These exact words are in the King James Bible. The Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible, is quoted here, and it words the verse differently.

## What it means there

Peter had just told Jesus that he must never suffer and die. Jesus answers that Peter is thinking human thoughts, not God’s, and will not be turned from the cross.

## Also in the Bible

> But Jesus turned around, looked at his disciples, and rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on human things.”
>
> — [Mark 8:33](https://www.lumin.faith/read/mark/8#33) (Lumin Translation)

## Common questions

### Is “Get thee behind me, Satan” in the Bible?

Yes. “Get thee behind me, Satan” is in the Bible, at Matthew 16:23. These exact words are in the King James Bible. The Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible, is quoted here, and it words the verse differently. Jesus says it to Peter.

### Where in the Bible is “Get thee behind me, Satan”?

In Matthew 16:23, and also Mark 8:33. In the Lumin Translation, Matthew 16:23 reads: “But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a snare to me, for you are thinking not God’s thoughts but human thoughts.””

### Who said “Get thee behind me, Satan”?

Jesus says it to Peter.

### What does “Get thee behind me, Satan” mean in the Bible?

Peter had just told Jesus that he must never suffer and die. Jesus answers that Peter is thinking human thoughts, not God’s, and will not be turned from the cross.

## More

- [Is “How the mighty have fallen” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/how-the-mighty-have-fallen.md)
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- [Is “Pearls before swine” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/pearls-before-swine.md)
- [Is “See eye to eye” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/see-eye-to-eye.md)
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- [Is “The truth will set you free” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-truth-will-set-you-free.md)
- [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)