Matthew 5:21

Matthew 5:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
• New International Version (NIV)“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
• New King James Version (NKJV)“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
• New Living Translation (NLT)“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’

Context of Matthew 5:21

19Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' 22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. 23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

Matthew 5:21 word by word

Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις· οὐ φονεύσεις· ὃς δ᾽ ἂν φονεύσῃ, ἔνοχος ἔσται τῇ κρίσει·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Ye have heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• it was saidἐρῶereō · to sayG2046
• by them of old timeἀρχαῖοςarchaios · ancientG744
• Thou shaltφονεύωphoneuō · to murderG5407
• notοὐou · noG3756
• andδέde · thenG1161
• whosoeverὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• ·ἄνan · ifG302
• shall beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• in dangerἔνοχοςenochos · liable forG1777
• of the judgmentκρίσιςkrisis · judgmentG2920

Cross-references for Matthew 5:21

• Matthew 5:27"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
• 2 Samuel 20:18Then she said, "They used to say in former times, 'Let them but ask counsel at Abel,' and so they settled a matter.
• Job 8:8"For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out.
• Genesis 9:5And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.
• Exodus 20:13"You shall not murder.
• Deuteronomy 5:17"'You shall not murder.
• Exodus 21:12"Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death.
• Numbers 35:12The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
• Deuteronomy 21:7and they shall testify, 'Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it shed.
• 1 Kings 2:5"Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet.

Commentaries on Matthew 5:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time - , to or by the ancients. By the ancients, we may understand those who lived before the law, and those who lived under it; for murder was, in the most solemn manner, forbidden before, as well as under, the law, Genesis 9:5, Genesis 9:6. But it is very likely that our Lord refers here merely to traditions and glosses relative to the ancient Mosaic ordinance; and such as, by their operation, rendered the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Ye have heard - Or, this is the common interpretation among the Jews. Jesus proceeds here to comment on some prevailing opinions among the Jews; to show that the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was defective; and that people needed a better righteousness, or they could not be saved. He illustrates what he meant by that better righteousness by showing that the common opinions of the scribes were erroneous. By them of old time - This might be…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-26Verses 21-26 The Jewish teachers had taught, that nothing except actual murder was forbidden by the sixth commandment. Thus they explained away its spiritual meaning. Christ showed the full meaning of this commandment; according to which we must be judged hereafter, and therefore ought to be ruled now. All rash anger is heart murder. By our brother, here, we are to understand any person, though ever so much below us, for we are all made of one blood…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21it was said to the ancients: The expression refers to the traditional interpretation of the teachers of religious law and Pharisees. Their traditions did not allow murder, but they did allow hatred. The righteous way of life required by Jesus surpasses this attitude. It demands people to live in peace with each other (Matthew 5:23–24). It is not enough to only avoid committing murder (5:22).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time--or, as in the Margin, "to them of old time." Which of these translations is the right one has been much controverted. Either of them is grammatically defensible, though the latter--"to the ancients"--is more consistent with New Testament usage (see the Greek of Ro 9:12, 26; Re 6:11; 9:4); and most critics decide in favor of it. But it is not a question of Greek only. Nearly all who would translate…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 5:21

• Homicide
• Instruction
• Judaism
• Law
• Quotations and Allusions
• Religion
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

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

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