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Matthew 5:33-38
New English Translation
Matthew 5:33-38
New English Translation
Oaths
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation,[a] ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’[b] 34 But I say to you, do not take oaths at all—not by heaven, because it is the throne of God, 35 not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.[c] 36 Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. 37 Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one.[d]
Retaliation
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’[e]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 5:33 tn Grk “the ancient ones.”
- Matthew 5:33 sn A quotation from Lev 19:12.
- Matthew 5:35 sn The final clause is an allusion to Ps 48:2. In light of Ps 48:1-2 most understand the great King as a reference to God in this context (thus the capitalization).
- Matthew 5:37 tn The term πονηροῦ (ponērou) may be understood as specific and personified, referring to the devil, or possibly as a general reference to evil. It is most likely personified, however, since it is articular and how it fits into the surrounding context (τοῦ πονηροῦ, tou ponērou). Cf. also “the evildoer” in v. 39, which is the same construction.
- Matthew 5:38 sn A quotation from Exod 21:24; Lev 24:20.
Matthew 5:33-38
New International Version
Matthew 5:33-38
New International Version
Oaths
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath,(A) but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’(B) 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:(C) either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;(D) 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.(E) 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;(F) anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[a](G)
Eye for Eye
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[b](H)
Footnotes
- Matthew 5:37 Or from evil
- Matthew 5:38 Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21
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