Matthew 5:33

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 Living Translation (NLT)“You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’

Context of Matthew 5:33

31“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. “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.’ 34But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

Matthew 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, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’
• Exodus 20:7“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
• Leviticus 19:12And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.
• Numbers 30:2If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
• Deuteronomy 5:11‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
• Deuteronomy 23:23That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.
• Psalms 50:14Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High.
• Psalms 76:11Make vows to the Lord your God, and pay them; Let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared.
• Ecclesiastes 5:4When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed—
• Nahum 1:15Behold, on the mountains The feet of him who brings good tidings, Who proclaims peace! O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, Perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; He is utterly cut off.

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

• Commandments
• Instruction
• Judaism
• Law
• Oath
• Perjury
• Quotations and Allusions
• Religion

In the dictionaries

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

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