New English Translation
Matthew 5:33
33“Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
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“It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a legal document.’ 32But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. “Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 34But I say to you, do not take oaths at all – not by heaven, because it is the throne of God, 35not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.
Read all of Matthew 5Matthew 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 23:16“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple is bound by nothing. But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound by the oath.’
- Exodus 20:7“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold guiltless anyone who takes his name in vain.
- Leviticus 19:12You must not swear falsely in my name, so that you do not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.
- Numbers 30:2If a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath of binding obligation on himself, he must not break his word, but must do whatever he has promised.
- Deuteronomy 5:11You must not make use of the name of the Lord your God for worthless purposes, for the Lord will not exonerate anyone who abuses his name that way.
- Deuteronomy 23:23Whatever you vow, you must be careful to do what you have promised, such as what you have vowed to the Lord your God as a freewill offering.
- Psalms 50:14Present to God a thank-offering! Repay your vows to the sovereign One!
- Psalms 76:11Make vows to the Lord your God and repay them! Let all those who surround him bring tribute to the awesome one!
- Ecclesiastes 5:4When you make a vow to God, do not delay in paying it. For God takes no pleasure in fools: Pay what you vow!
- Nahum 1:15(2:1) Look! A herald is running on the mountains! A messenger is proclaiming deliverance: “Celebrate your sacred festivals, O Judah! Fulfill your sacred vows to praise God! For never again will the wicked Assyrians invade you, they have been completely destroyed.”
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
In the dictionaries
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
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