Matthew 5:36
New International Version
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

New Living Translation
Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black.

English Standard Version
And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

Berean Standard Bible
Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.

Berean Literal Bible
Neither shall you swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.

King James Bible
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

New King James Version
Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.

New American Standard Bible
Nor shall you take an oath by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.

NASB 1995
“Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

NASB 1977
“Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

Legacy Standard Bible
Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

Amplified Bible
Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you are not able to make a single hair white or black.

Christian Standard Bible
Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Neither should you swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.

American Standard Version
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Neither shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make in it a certain hair black or white.

Contemporary English Version
Don't swear by your own head. You cannot make one hair white or black.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

English Revised Version
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
And don't swear an oath by your head. After all, you cannot make one hair black or white.

Good News Translation
Do not even swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.

International Standard Version
Nor should you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.

Literal Standard Version
nor may you swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black;

Majority Standard Bible
Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.

New American Bible
Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.

NET Bible
Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.

New Revised Standard Version
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

New Heart English Bible
Neither should you swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

Webster's Bible Translation
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

Weymouth New Testament
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

World English Bible
Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black.

Young's Literal Translation
nor by thy head mayest thou swear, because thou art not able one hair to make white or black;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Oaths and Vows
35or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.…

Cross References
Matthew 5:35
or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

Matthew 5:37
Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' Anything more comes from the evil one.


Treasury of Scripture

Neither shall you swear by your head, because you can not make one hair white or black.

shalt.

Matthew 23:16-21
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! …

because.

Matthew 6:27
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

Luke 12:25
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

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Matthew 5
1. Jesus' sermon on the mount:
3. The Beattitudes;
13. the salt of the earth;
14. the light of the world.
17. He came to fulfill the law.
21. What it is to kill;
27. to commit adultery;
33. to swear.
38. He exhorts to forgive wrong,
43. to love our enemies;
48. and to labor after perfection.














(36) By thy head.--This is apparently chosen as an extreme instance of a common oath in which men found no reference to God. Yet here, too, nothing but an implied reference to Him fits it to be an oath at all. He made us, and not we ourselves, and the hairs of our head are not only numbered, but are subject in all their changes to His laws, and not to our volition.

Verse 36. - For thou canst not, etc. As each of the other objects included a reference to God, so does also thy head. For even that recalls to mind the power of God, since every hair of it bears the stamp of his handiwork.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Nor
μήτε (mēte)
Conjunction
Strong's 3383: Nor, neither, not even, neither�nor. From me and te; not too, i.e. neither or nor; also, not even.

should you swear
ὀμόσῃς (omosēs)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 3660: A prolonged form of a primary, but obsolete omo, for which another prolonged form omoo is used in certain tenses; to swear, i.e. Take oath.

by
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

head,
κεφαλῇ (kephalē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2776: From the primary kapto; the head, literally or figuratively.

for
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

you cannot
δύνασαι (dynasai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1410: (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.

make
ποιῆσαι (poiēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

a single
μίαν (mian)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

hair
τρίχα (tricha)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2359: Hair (of the head or of animals). Genitive case trichos, etc. of uncertain derivation; hair.

white
λευκὴν (leukēn)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3022: White, bright, brilliant. From luke; white.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

black.
μέλαιναν (melainan)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3189: Black. Apparently a primary word; black.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 5:36 Neither shall you swear by your head (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 5:35
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