Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ anything beyond this comes from the evil one. New Living Translation Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one. English Standard Version Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. Berean Standard Bible Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one. Berean Literal Bible But let your statement 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and 'No,' 'No.' Anything more than these comes from evil. King James Bible But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. New King James Version But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. New American Standard Bible But make sure your statement is, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil origin. NASB 1995 “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes ‘ or ‘No, no’ anything beyond these is of evil. NASB 1977 “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; and anything beyond these is of evil. Legacy Standard Bible But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of the evil one. Amplified Bible But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’ [a firm yes or no]; anything more than that comes from the evil one. Christian Standard Bible But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one. Holman Christian Standard Bible But let your word ‘yes be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no be ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one. American Standard Version But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one. Contemporary English Version When you make a promise, say only "Yes" or "No." Anything else comes from the devil. English Revised Version But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one. GOD'S WORD® Translation Simply say yes or no. Anything more than that comes from the evil one. Good News Translation Just say 'Yes' or 'No'--anything else you say comes from the Evil One. International Standard Version Instead, let your message be 'Yes' for 'Yes' and 'No' for 'No.' Anything more than that comes from the evil one." Majority Standard Bible Simply let your ?Yes? be ?Yes,? and your ?No,? ?No.? Anything more comes from the evil one. NET Bible Let your word be 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no.' More than this is from the evil one. New Heart English Bible But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. Webster's Bible Translation But let your communication be, Yea, yea, Nay, nay: for whatever is more than these cometh of evil. Weymouth New Testament But let your language be, 'Yes, yes,' or 'No, no.' Anything in excess of this comes from the Evil one. World English Bible But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionbut let your word be, Yes, Yes, No, No, and that which is more than these is of the evil [one]. Berean Literal Bible But let your statement 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and 'No,' 'No.' Anything more than these comes from evil. Young's Literal Translation but let your word be, Yes, Yes, No, No, and that which is more than these is of the evil. Smith's Literal Translation But let your word be Yea, yea, and No, no: but that above this is of evil. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil. Catholic Public Domain Version But let your word ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ For anything beyond that is of evil. New American Bible Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one. New Revised Standard Version Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut let your words be yes, yes, and no, no; for anything which adds to these is a deception. Aramaic Bible in Plain English But your statement shall be, “Yes, yes” and, “No, no”; anything more than these is from The Evil One. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentBut let your word be, Yes, yes; No, no; for whatever is more than these is of the Evil One. Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament But let your discourse be, Yea, yea; No, no: for all addition to these is from the wicked one. Mace New Testament but let your communication be, yes, yes; no, no: for whatever goes beyond this, is evil. Weymouth New Testament But let your language be, 'Yes, yes,' or 'No, no.' Anything in excess of this comes from the Evil one. Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Oaths and Vows…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. 38You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’… Cross References James 5:12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment. 2 Corinthians 1:17-20 When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” and also “No, no”? / But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” / For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.” ... Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another. Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight. Proverbs 15:4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 19:5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape. Proverbs 19:9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish. Proverbs 21:23 He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress. Ecclesiastes 5:2-5 Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few. / As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words. / When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. ... Leviticus 19:12 You must not swear falsely by My name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD. Numbers 30:2 If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised. Deuteronomy 23:21-23 If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. / But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty of sin. / Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth. Zechariah 8:16-17 These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, render true and sound judgments in your gates, / do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD. Treasury of Scripture But let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no: for whatever is more than these comes of evil. let. 2 Corinthians 1:17-20 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? … Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. cometh. Matthew 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. Jump to Previous Communication Evil Excess Language No Simply Speech Statement Whatever Whatsoever Word WordsJump to Next Communication Evil Excess Language No Simply Speech Statement Whatever Whatsoever Word WordsMatthew 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. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ This phrase emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in communication. In the cultural context of the time, oaths were commonly used to guarantee the truthfulness of one's words. However, Jesus calls His followers to a higher standard, where their simple affirmation or denial should be sufficient. This teaching aligns with the Old Testament principle found in Leviticus 19:12, which warns against swearing falsely by God's name. The call to straightforwardness reflects God's own nature, as He is described as truthful and faithful throughout Scripture (Numbers 23:19, John 14:6). This teaching also connects to James 5:12, where believers are similarly instructed to avoid oaths and let their "Yes" be yes and their "No" be no, reinforcing the idea that a Christian's word should be trustworthy without additional assurances. Anything more comes from the evil one. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe speaker of this verse, delivering the Sermon on the Mount, a foundational teaching moment in His ministry. 2. The Disciples The primary audience of the Sermon on the Mount, representing followers of Christ who are learning the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven. 3. The Sermon on the Mount A significant event where Jesus teaches about the values and ethics of the Kingdom of Heaven, covering various aspects of life and spirituality. Teaching Points Integrity in CommunicationAs followers of Christ, our words should reflect our integrity. We are called to be truthful and straightforward, avoiding any form of deceit or manipulation. The Power of Simplicity Jesus teaches that simplicity in our commitments and promises is powerful. By letting our "Yes" be "Yes" and our "No" be "No," we demonstrate reliability and trustworthiness. Guarding Against the Evil One The phrase "anything more comes from the evil one" warns us that overcomplicating our words can lead to deceit and manipulation, which are tools of the enemy. Reflecting God's Character As God's children, we are to reflect His character, which includes being truthful and faithful in our words and actions. Practical Honesty In our daily interactions, whether in personal relationships or professional settings, maintaining honesty and clarity in our communication is a testimony to our faith.(37) Let your communication.--One of the few instances in which our translators seem to have preferred a somewhat pedantic Latin word for the more literal and homely English speech. (Comp. Luke 24:17.) Yea, yea.--St. James reproduces the precept in James 5:12 of his Epistle, but the phrase is found in the Talmud, and was probably proverbial. In all common speech a man's words should be as good as his oath. Yes should mean yes, and No should mean no, even though there be no oath to strengthen it. Cometh of evil.--The Greek may (as in the Lord's Prayer, "Deliver us from evil") be either neuter, "from evil in the abstract," or masculine, "from the evil one." With some hesitation, and guided chiefly by Matthew 13:19-38, I accept the latter as the more probable. These devices of fantastic oaths come not from Him who is the Truth, but from him who "when he speaketh a lie, speaketh of his own" (John 8:44). Verse 37. - Your communication. Similarly, the Authorized Version in Ephesians 4:29, in archaic usage for "talk." Yea, yea; Nay, nay. Christ permits as far as the repetition of the asseveration. The adoption here by a few authorities of the phrase in James 5:12 ("Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay," τὸ ναὶ ναὶ κ.τ.λ..)is unsuitable; for here the question is not of truthfulness, but of fervency in asseveration. Whatsoever is more than these; "that which is over and above these" (Rheims). There is a superfluity (περισσόν) in more fervent asseverations, which has its origin ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῖ. Cometh of evil. So the Revised Version margin, "as in ver. 39; 6:13.' Revised Version, is of the evil one (vide Matthew 6:13, note; and cf. 1 John 3:12).Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Simplyδὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. let ἔστω (estō) Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. your ὑμῶν (hymōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. ‘Yes’ Ναὶ (Nai) Particle Strong's 3483: Yes, certainly, even so. A primary particle of strong affirmation; yes. [be] ‘Yes,’ ναί (nai) Particle Strong's 3483: Yes, certainly, even so. A primary particle of strong affirmation; yes. [and your] ‘No,’ οὒ (ou) Adverb Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. ‘No.’ Οὔ (Ou) Adverb Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. Anything τὸ (to) Article - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. more περισσὸν (perisson) Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 4053: From peri; superabundant or superior; by implication, excessive; adverbially violently; neuter preeminence. comes ἐστιν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. from ἐκ (ek) Preposition Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out. the τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. evil [one]. πονηροῦ (ponērou) Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 4190: Evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful. Links Matthew 5:37 NIVMatthew 5:37 NLT Matthew 5:37 ESV Matthew 5:37 NASB Matthew 5:37 KJV Matthew 5:37 BibleApps.com Matthew 5:37 Biblia Paralela Matthew 5:37 Chinese Bible Matthew 5:37 French Bible Matthew 5:37 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: Matthew 5:37 But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' (Matt. Mat Mt) |
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