Matthew 5:36

Matthew 5:36 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
• New International Version (NIV)And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.

Context of Matthew 5:36

34But I say to you, do not make an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God; 35or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you are not able to make a single hair white or black. 37But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’ [a firm yes or no]; anything more than that comes from the evil one. 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth [punishment that fits the offense].’

Matthew 5:36 word by word

μήτε ἐν τῇ κεφαλῇ σου ὀμόσῃς ὅτι οὐ δύνασαι μίαν τρίχα λευκὴν ποιῆσαι ἢ μέλαιναν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Neitherμήτεmēte · neitherG3383
• shalt thou swearὄμνυμιomnuō · to swearG3660
• byἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• thyσύsu · youG4771
• headὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• headκεφαλήkephalē · headG2776
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• thou canstδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• notοὐou · noG3756
• makeποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• hairθρίξthrix trichos · hairG2359
• whiteλευκόςleukos · whiteG3022
• orἤē · orG2228
• blackμέλαςmelas · blackG3189

Cross-references for Matthew 5:36

• Matthew 23:16“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears [an oath] by the sanctuary of the temple, that is nothing (non-binding); but whoever swears [an oath] by the gold of the temple is obligated [as a debtor to fulfill his vow and keep his promise].’
• Matthew 6:27And who of you by worrying can add one hour to [the length of] his life?
• Luke 12:25And which of you by worrying can add one hour to his life’s span?

Commentaries on Matthew 5:36

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head - For these plain reasons: 1st. God commands thee not to do it. 2dly. Thou hast nothing which is thy own, and thou shouldst not pledge another's property. 3dly. It never did, and never can, answer any good purpose. And 4thly. Being a breach of the law of God, it is the way to everlasting misery.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head - This was a common oath. The Gentiles also used this oath. To swear by the head was the same as to swear by the life; or to say, I will forfeit my life if what I say is not true. God is the Author of the life, and to swear by that, therefore, is the same as to swear by him. Because thou canst not make one hair white or black - You have no control or right over your own life. You cannot even change one single hair. God…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 33-37Verses 33-37 There is no reason to consider that solemn oaths in a court of justice, or on other proper occasions, are wrong, provided they are taken with due reverence. But all oaths taken without necessity, or in common conversation, must be sinful, as well as all those expressions which are appeals to God, though persons think thereby to evade the guilt of swearing. The worse men are, the less they are bound by oaths; the better they are, the less…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 33-37Jesus explains the Old Testament's teachings on oaths (Leviticus 19:12; Numbers 30:2–4; Deuteronomy 23:21–23; Psalm 50:14; Zechariah 8:17). The Pharisees had different levels of commitment for oaths. For example, oaths not mentioning God were less serious. Jesus teaches that everything connects to God. This includes heaven, earth, Jerusalem, my head (see also Matthew 23:16–22). So, breaking any oath disobeys God's command (see Exodus 20:7). The main idea…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3636. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black--In the other oaths specified, God's name was profaned quite as really as if His name had been uttered, because it was instantly suggested by the mention of His "throne," His "footstool," His "city." But in swearing by our own head and the like, the objection lies in their being "beyond our control," and therefore profanely assumed to have a stability which they…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 5:36

• Commandments
• Instruction
• Judaism
• Law
• Oath
• Religion

In the dictionaries

• Agree
• Communication
• Despitefully
• Enemy
• Fornication
• Forswear
• Gift
• Hunger
• Inherit
• Jot

Commentaries on Matthew 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings