English Standard Version
Matthew 7:12
12"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
- New International Version (NIV)So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
Context of Matthew 7:12
10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Read all of Matthew 7Matthew 7:12 word by word
Πάντα οὖν ὅσα ἐὰν θέλητε ἵνα ποιῶσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε αὐτοῖς· οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
- whatsoeverὅσοςhosos · just as/how muchG3745
- ·ἄνan · ifG302
- ye wouldθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- menὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- should doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- to youσύsu · youG4771
- evenοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
- soκαίkai · andG2532
- to themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
- the prophetsπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
Cross-references for Matthew 7:12
- Luke 6:31And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
- Matthew 22:39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
- Leviticus 19:18You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
- Isaiah 1:17learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
- Jeremiah 7:5"For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another,
- Ezekiel 18:7does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,
- Amos 5:14Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said.
- Micah 6:8He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
- Zechariah 7:7Were not these the words that the Lord proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous, with her cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?'"
- Zechariah 8:16These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;
- Malachi 3:5"Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
- Mark 12:29Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
- Romans 13:8Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
- Galatians 5:13For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
- 1 Timothy 1:5The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
- James 2:10For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
Commentaries on Matthew 7:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men - This is a most sublime precept, and highly worthy of the grandeur and beneficence of the just God who gave it. The general meaning of it is this: "Guided by justice and mercy, do unto all men as you would have them to do to you, were your circumstances and theirs reversed." Yet this saying may be misunderstood. "If the prisoner should ask the judge, 'whether he would be content to be hanged, were he in…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12All things whatsoever - This command has been usually called the “Saviour‘s golden rule,” a name given to it on account of its great value. All that you “expect” or “desire” of others in similar circumstances, do to them. Act not from selfishness or injustice, but put yourself in the place of the other, and ask what you would expect of him. This would make you impartial, candid, and just. It would destroy avarice, envy, treachery, unkindness, slander…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-14Verses 12-14 Christ came to teach us, not only what we are to know and believe, but what we are to do; not only toward God, but toward men; not only toward those of our party and persuasion, but toward men in general, all with whom we have to do. We must do that to our neighbour which we ourselves acknowledge to be fit and reasonable. We must, in our dealings with men, suppose ourselves in the same case and circumstances with those we have to do with, and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12The Law and the Prophets: The teachings of Jesus in 5:21–7:6 show the true purpose and way to express the law of Moses. Love is central for the disciples of Jesus (see also Galatians 5:13–14, 18).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Therefore--to say all in one word. all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them--the same thing and in the same way. for this is the law and the prophets--"This is the substance of all relative duty; all Scripture in a nutshell." Incomparable summary! How well called "the royal law!" (Jas 2:8; compare Ro 13:9). It is true that similar maxims are found floating in the writings of the cultivated Greeks and Romans, and…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 7:12
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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