Matthew 7:3

Matthew 7:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
• New International Version (NIV)“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
• New King James Version (NKJV)And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

Context of Matthew 7:3

1“ Do not judge and criticize and condemn [others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous superiority as though assuming the office of a judge], so that you will not be judged [unfairly]. 2For just as you [hypocritically] judge others [when you are sinful and unrepentant], so will you be judged; and in accordance with your standard of measure [used to pass out judgment], judgment will be measured to you. Why do you look at the [insignificant] speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice and acknowledge the [egregious] log that is in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me get the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye? 5You hypocrite (play-actor, pretender), first get the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:3 word by word

τί δὲ βλέπεις τὸ κάρφος τὸ ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου, τὴν δὲ ἐν τῷ σῷ ὀφθαλμῷ δοκὸν οὐ κατανοεῖς;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• whyτίςtis · which?G5101
• beholdest thouβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
• the moteκάρφοςkarphos · speckG2595
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• thyσύsu · youG4771
• brother’sἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• eyeὀφθαλμόςophthalmos · eyeG3788
• considerestκατανοέωkatanoeō · to observeG2657
• notοὐou · noG3756
• the beamδοκόςdokos · plankG1385
• thine ownσόςsos · yourG4674

Cross-references for Matthew 7:3

• Luke 6:41Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice or consider the log that is in your own eye?
• Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood [ostentatiously] and began praying to himself [in a self-righteous way, saying]: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men—swindlers, unjust (dishonest), adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
• 2 Samuel 12:5Then David’s anger burned intensely against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die.
• 2 Chronicles 28:9But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out to meet the army that was returning to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, He handed them over to you; but you have killed them in a rage that has reached as far as heaven.
• Psalms 50:16But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite My statutes Or to take My covenant on your lips?
• John 8:7However, when they persisted in questioning Him, He straightened up and said, “He who is without [any] sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
• Galatians 6:1Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.

Commentaries on Matthew 7:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3And why beholdest thou the mote - might be translated the splinter: for splinter bears some analogy to beam, but mote does not. I should prefer this word (which has been adopted by some learned men) on the authority of Hesychius, who is a host in such matters; , , Karphos is a thin piece of wood, a splinter. It often happens that the faults which we consider as of the first enormity in others are, to our own iniquities, as a chip is, when compared to a…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3And why beholdest thou the mote … - A mote signifies any “light substance,” as dry chaff, or fine spires of grass or grain. It probably most usually signified the small “spiculae” or “beards” on a head of barley or wheat. It is thus placed in opposition to the word “beam.” Beam - The word used here signifies a large piece of squared timber. The one is an exceedingly small object, the other a large one. The meaning is, that “we are much more quick and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-5Jesus encourages his disciples to serve others instead of condemning them. The contrast of a speck (speck of dust, chip of wood) to a log in the eye is an exaggerated image meant to show the huge difference (see Matthew 5:29; 23:23–24; compare Micah 6:6–8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. And why beholdest thou the mote--"splinter," here very well rendered "mote," denoting any small fault. that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?--denoting the much greater fault which we overlook in ourselves.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 7:3

• Charitableness
• Commandments
• Inconsistency
• Mote (a Speck)
• Religion
• Uncharitableness

In the dictionaries

• Ask
• Beam
• Descend
• Destruction
• Gather
• Judge
• Measure
• Mote
• None
• Profess

Commentaries on Matthew 7

• 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