God’s Word Translation
Matthew 7:3
3So why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer’s eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
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“Stop judging so that you will not be judged. 2Otherwise, you will be judged by the same standard you use to judge others. The standards you use for others will be applied to you. So why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer’s eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye? 4How can you say to another believer, ‘Let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,’ when you have a beam in your own eye? 5You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer’s eye.
Read all of Matthew 7Matthew 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 6:41“Why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer’s eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
- Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood up and prayed, ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people! I’m not a robber or a dishonest person. I haven’t committed adultery. I’m not even like this tax collector.
- 2 Samuel 12:5David burned with anger against the man. “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives,” he said to Nathan, “the man who did this certainly deserves to die!
- 2 Chronicles 28:9A prophet of the Lord named Oded was there. He went to meet the army coming home to Samaria. He said to them, “The Lord God of your ancestors handed Judah over to you in his anger. You killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.
- Psalms 50:16But God says to wicked people, “How dare you quote my decrees and mouth my promises!
- John 8:7When they persisted in asking him questions, he straightened up and said, “The person who is sinless should be the first to throw a stone at her.”
- Galatians 6:1Brothers and sisters, if a person gets trapped by wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should help that person turn away from doing wrong. Do it in a gentle way. At the same time watch yourself so that you also are not tempted.
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
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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