Matthew 5:33

Matthew 5:33 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
• New International Version (NIV)“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’

Context of Matthew 5:33

31‘God's Law also says: “Any man who wants to send his wife away must give her a letter. This letter must say that they are no longer married.” 32But what I tell you is this: A man must not send his wife away except for one reason. He may only send her away if she has had sex with another man. If he sends her away for any other reason, he has done a wrong thing. It is like he has caused her to have sex with another man. Also, if a woman has left her husband, another man must not marry her. That is the same as if he had sex with another man's wife.’ ‘You also know the rule that God gave to your ancestors: “If you make a promise to God, you must do what you have said.” 34But what I tell you is this. Do not use any name to make a promise stronger. Do not use the words “by heaven” to make a promise stronger. Heaven is the place where God rules. Do not use the words “by the earth” to make a promise stronger. The earth is the place where God rests his feet. 35Do not use the words “by Jerusalem” to make a promise stronger. Jerusalem is God's city. He is the great King who rules from there.

Matthew 5:33 word by word

Πάλιν ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις· οὐκ ἐπιορκήσεις, ἀποδώσεις δὲ τῷ κυρίῳ τοὺς ὅρκους σου.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• ye have heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• it hath been saidἐρῶereō · to sayG2046
• by them of old timeἀρχαῖοςarchaios · ancientG744
• Thou shaltἐπιορκέωepiorkeō · to break an oathG1964
• notοὐou · noG3756
• butδέde · thenG1161
• shalt performἀποδίδωμιapodidōmi · to payG591
• unto the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• thineσύsu · youG4771
• oathsὅρκοςhorkos · oathG3727

Cross-references for Matthew 5:33

• Matthew 23:16It will be very bad for you, teachers. You cannot see what is true, but you show people which way to go. You say to people, “You may make a promise by the name of the temple. Then it is not a serious promise. You do not have to do it. But you may also make a promise by the gold things in the temple. Then it is a serious promise, and you must do it.”
• Exodus 20:7You must not speak the name of the Lord your God in a wrong way. The Lord will punish anyone who speaks his name in a wrong way.
• Leviticus 19:12You must not use the name of your God to say a promise. This will make my name unclean. I am the Lord.
• Numbers 30:2If a man promises to the Lord that he will do something, he must do everything that he has promised.
• Deuteronomy 5:11You must not speak the name of the Lord your God in a wrong way. The Lord will punish anyone who speaks his name in a wrong way.
• Deuteronomy 23:23But whatever you promise to do, you must be careful to do it. If you choose to promise a gift to the Lord your God, give it soon.
• Psalms 50:14Say “thank you” to me as your offering. Do whatever you have promised to do for me, the Most High God.
• Psalms 76:11Make promises to the Lord your God, and do what you have promised. Everyone who serves God should bring gifts to him. We must respect him with fear.
• Ecclesiastes 5:4If you make a promise to God, quickly do what you have promised. God is not pleased with foolish people. So give what you have promised to give.
• Nahum 1:15People in Judah, look at the mountains. You will see the feet of the person who will bring good news. He causes peace. You can have your special festivals again now. And now you can do what you promised to me. The bad people will not win a war against you because I have killed them.

Commentaries on Matthew 5:33

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 33Thou shalt not forswear thyself - They dishonor the great God, and break this commandment, who use frequent oaths and imprecations, even in reference to things that are true; and those who make vows and promises, which they either cannot perform, or do not design to fulfill, are not less criminal. Swearing in civil matters is become so frequent, that the dread and obligation of an oath are utterly lost in it. In certain places, where oaths are frequently…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 33Thou shalt not forswear thyself - Christ here proceeds to correct another false interpretation of the law. The law respecting oaths is found in Leviticus 19:12, and Deuteronomy 23:23. By those laws people were forbid to perjure themselves, or to forswear, that is, swear falsely. Perform unto the Lord - Perform literally, really, and religiously what is promised in an oath. Thine oaths - An oath is a solemn affirmation or declaration, made with an appeal…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. 3333. Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself--These are not the precise words of Ex 20:7; but they express all that it was currently understood to condemn, namely, false swearing (Le 19:12, &c.). This is plain from what follows. But I say unto you, Swear not at all--That this was meant to condemn swearing of every kind and on every occasion--as the Society of Friends and some other ultra-moralists…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 5:33

• Commandments
• Instruction
• Judaism
• Law
• Oath
• Perjury
• Quotations and Allusions
• 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