Matthew 6:7

Matthew 6:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
• New International Version (NIV)And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.

Context of Matthew 6:7

5“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Matthew 6:7 word by word

προσευχόμενοι δὲ μὴ βατταλογήσητε ὥσπερ οἱ ἐθνικοί· δοκοῦσιν γὰρ ὅτι ἐν τῇ πολυλογίᾳ αὐτῶν εἰσακουσθήσονται.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• when ye prayπροσεύχομαιproseuchomai · to prayG4336
• useβαττολογέωbattologeō · to babbleG945
• notμήmē · notG3361
• asὥσπερhōsper · just asG5618
• the heathenἐθνικόςethnikos · Gentile-likeG1482
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• they thinkδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• they shall be heardεἰσακούωeisakouō · to listen toG1522
• forἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• much speakingπολυλογίαpolulogia · wordinessG4180

Cross-references for Matthew 6:7

• 1 Kings 18:26So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.
• Ecclesiastes 5:2Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.
• Acts 19:34But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
• Matthew 26:39He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
• 1 Kings 8:26And now I pray, O God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father.
• Daniel 9:18O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.
• Matthew 6:32For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
• Matthew 18:17And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

Commentaries on Matthew 6:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Use not vain repetitions - , Suidas explains this word well: ", much speaking, from one Battus, who made very prolix hymns, in which the same idea frequently recurred." "A frequent repetition of awful and striking words may often be the result of earnestness and fervor. See Daniel 9:3-20; but great length of prayer, which will of course involve much sameness and idle repetition, naturally creates fatigue and carelessness in the worshipper, and seems to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Use not vain repetitions - The original word here is supposed to be derived from the name of a Greek poet, who made long and weary verses, declaring by many forms and endless repetitions the same sentiment. Hence, it means to repeat a thing often; to say the same thing in different words, or to repeat the same words, as though God did not hear at first. An example of this we have in 1 Kings 18:26; “They called on Baal from morning until noon, saying, O…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-8Verses 5-8 It is taken for granted that all who are disciples of Christ pray. You may as soon find a living man that does not breathe, as a living Christian that does not pray. If prayerless, then graceless. The Scribes and Pharisees were guilty of two great faults in prayer, vain-glory and vain repetitions. "Verily they have their reward;" if in so great a matter as is between us and God, when we are at prayer, we can look to so poor a thing as the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-8God cannot be persuaded by repeating words over and over. The Lord’s Prayer is a simple and authoritative model (Matthew 6:9–13), unlike the lengthy prayers of pagans.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions--"Babble not" would be a better rendering, both for the form of the word--which in both languages is intended to imitate the sound--and for the sense, which expresses not so much the repetition of the same words as a senseless multiplication of them; as appears from what follows. as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking--This method of heathen devotion is still…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 6:7

• Commandments
• Gentiles
• Motive
• Pharisees
• Prayer
• Religion
• Vanity

In the dictionaries

• Add
• Appear
• Closet
• Consider
• Corrupt
• Countenance
• Despise
• Fast
• Forgive
• Glory

Commentaries on Matthew 6

• 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