Matthew 18:16

Matthew 18:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
• New International Version (NIV)But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
• English Standard Version (ESV)But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’

Context of Matthew 18:16

14In the same way, your Father in heaven does not want one of these little ones to be lost. 15“If a believer does something wrong, go, confront him when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back that believer. But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you so that every accusation may be verified by two or three witnesses. 17If he ignores these witnesses, tell it to the community of believers. If he also ignores the community, deal with him as you would a heathen or a tax collector. 18I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free.

Matthew 18:16 word by word

ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀκούσῃ, παράλαβε μετὰ σοῦ ἔτι ἕνα ἢ δύο ἵνα ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων ἢ τριῶν σταθῇ πᾶν ῥῆμα.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• he willἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• notμήmē · notG3361
• takeπαραλαμβάνωparalambanō · to takeG3880
• withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
• theeσύsu · youG4771
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• orἤē · orG2228
• twoδύοduo · twoG1417
• moreἔτιeti · stillG2089
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the mouthστόμαstoma · mouthG4750
• ofμάρτυςmartus · witnessG3144
• threeτρεῖςtreis tria · ThreeG5140
• everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• wordῥῆμαrhēma · declarationG4487
• may be establishedἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476

Cross-references for Matthew 18:16

• Numbers 35:30“Whoever kills another person will be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of more than one witness. No one can be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
• Deuteronomy 17:6The person can only be sentenced to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses, but no one should ever be sentenced to death on the testimony of only one witness.
• Deuteronomy 19:15One witness is never enough to convict someone of a crime, offense, or sin he may have committed. Cases must be settled based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
• 1 Kings 21:13The two good-for-nothing men came in and sat opposite him. In front of the people, these men accused Naboth of cursing God and the king. So the people stoned him to death outside the city.
• John 8:17Your own teachings say that the testimony of two people is true.
• 2 Corinthians 13:1This is the third time that I’ll be visiting you. Every accusation must be verified by two or three witnesses.
• 1 Timothy 5:19Don’t pay attention to an accusation against a spiritual leader unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.
• Hebrews 10:28If two or three witnesses accused someone of rejecting Moses’ Teachings, that person was shown no mercy as he was executed.
• 1 John 5:7There are three witnesses:
• Revelation 11:3I will allow my two witnesses who wear sackcloth to speak what God has revealed. They will speak for 1,260 days.”

Commentaries on Matthew 18:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 162. Take with thee one or two more - Men whom he esteems, who may then confirm and enforce what thou sayest; and afterwards, if need require, bear witness of what was spoken. If even this do not succeed, then, and not before,Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16But if he will not hear thee … - That is, if he spurns or abuses you, or will not be entreated by you, and will not reform. Take with thee one or two more - The design of taking them seems to be, 1.That he might be induced to listen to them, Matthew 18:17. They should be persons of influence or authority; his personal friends, or those in whom he could put confidence. 2.That they might be witnesses of his conduct before the church, Matthew 18:17. The law…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-20Verses 15-20 If a professed Christian is wronged by another, he ought not to complain of it to others, as is often done merely upon report, but to go to the offender privately, state the matter kindly, and show him his conduct. This would generally have all the desired effect with a true Christian, and the parties would be reconciled. The principles of these rules may be practised every where, and under all circumstances, though they are too much…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16By requiring one or two others to be present, Jesus stopped slander and false accusations among the congregation (see John 8:17; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28).Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 18:16

• Church
• Commandments
• Court
• Evidence
• Fraternity
• Jesus, the Christ
• Reproof
• Strife
• Trespass
• Witness

In the dictionaries

• Gain
• Martyr
• Owe
• Patience
• Excommunication
• Forgiveness
• Intercession
• Jesus Christ
• Judge
• Matthew, the Gospel of

Commentaries on Matthew 18

• 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