Matthew 5:41
New International Version
If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.

New Living Translation
If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.

English Standard Version
And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Berean Standard Bible
and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Berean Literal Bible
And whoever shall compel you to go one mile, go with him two.

King James Bible
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

New King James Version
And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

New American Standard Bible
Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

NASB 1995
“Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

NASB 1977
“And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.

Legacy Standard Bible
And whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

Amplified Bible
And whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

Christian Standard Bible
And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

American Standard Version
And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.

Contemporary English Version
If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one kilometer, carry it two kilometers.

English Revised Version
And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him twain.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles with him.

Good News Translation
And if one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles.

International Standard Version
And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go two with him.

Majority Standard Bible
and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

NET Bible
And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

New Heart English Bible
And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

Webster's Bible Translation
And whoever shall constrain thee to go one mile, go with him two.

Weymouth New Testament
And whoever shall compel you to convey his goods one mile, go with him two.

World English Bible
Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And whoever will impress you one mile, go with him two;

Berean Literal Bible
And whoever shall compel you to go one mile, go with him two.

Young's Literal Translation
'And whoever shall impress thee one mile, go with him two,

Smith's Literal Translation
And whoever shall compel thee to carry dispatches one mile, go forward with him two.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And whosoever will force thee one mile, go with him other two,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And whoever will have compelled you for one thousand steps, go with him even for two thousand steps.

New American Bible
Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.

New Revised Standard Version
and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Whoever compels you to carry a burden for a mile, go with him two.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Whoever compels you to go one mile with him, go with him two miles.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And whoever will compel you to go one mile, go with him two.

Godbey New Testament
Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him two.

Haweis New Testament
And whosoever shall press thee for one mile, go with him two.

Mace New Testament
and if any one will press you to go a mile with him, go with him the other two.

Weymouth New Testament
And whoever shall compel you to convey his goods one mile, go with him two.

Worrell New Testament
and whosoever shall impress you to go one mile, go with him two.

Worsley New Testament
and if any one shall force thee one mile, go with him two.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Love Your Enemies
40if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; 41and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.…

Cross References
Luke 6:29-30
If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well. / Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back.

Romans 12:20-21
On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” / Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 Peter 2:20-23
How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. / For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps: / “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” ...

1 Corinthians 9:19
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

Galatians 5:13
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.

Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. / Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

James 2:15-16
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. / If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?

1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.

1 John 3:17-18
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? / Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

Proverbs 25:21-22
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. / For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

Exodus 23:4-5
If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him. / If you see the donkey of one who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there; you must help him with it.

Isaiah 50:6
I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.

Genesis 50:19-21
But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? / As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. / Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.

2 Kings 6:22-23
“Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.” / So the king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again.


Treasury of Scripture

And whoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two.

compel.

Matthew 27:32
And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

Mark 15:21
And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

Luke 23:26
And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

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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.














And if someone forces you
The phrase "forces you" is derived from the Greek word "ἀγγαρεύσει" (angareusei), which refers to the act of compelling or pressing someone into service. Historically, this term is rooted in the practice of the Persian Empire, where couriers could requisition help from civilians to carry messages or goods. In the Roman context, soldiers could compel civilians to carry their gear for a mile. This imposition was often resented, as it represented an infringement on personal freedom. Jesus' teaching here challenges His followers to respond to such impositions not with resentment, but with a spirit of generosity and willingness that transcends the legalistic requirement.

to go one mile
The "mile" mentioned here is the Roman mile, approximately 1,000 paces or about 4,854 feet. In the Roman Empire, this was a common measure of distance, and the practice of compelling someone to carry a load for a mile was a legal obligation. The context of this phrase is crucial, as it reflects the everyday reality of Roman occupation in Judea, where Jews were often subject to such demands. Jesus uses this familiar scenario to illustrate a radical principle of going beyond what is required, turning an obligation into an opportunity for witness and service.

go with him two miles
The instruction to "go with him two miles" is a call to exceed expectations and to demonstrate a spirit of love and service that goes beyond mere compliance. The Greek word "δύο" (duo) simply means "two," but its implication here is profound. By willingly going the extra mile, a follower of Christ embodies the principles of grace and selflessness. This act of going beyond what is demanded not only subverts the power dynamics of the oppressor and the oppressed but also serves as a testimony to the transformative power of Christ's love. It is an invitation to live out the Kingdom values of generosity, humility, and love in practical, everyday situations.

(41) Whosoever shall compel thee.--The Greek word implies the special compulsion of forced service as courier or messenger under Government, and was imported from the Persian postal system, organised on the plan of employing men thus impressed to convey Government dispatches from stage to stage (Herod. viii. 98). The use of the illustration here would seem to imply the adoption of the same system by the Roman Government under the empire. Roman soldiers and their horses were billeted on Jewish householders. Others were impressed for service of longer or shorter duration.

A mile.--The influence of Rome is shown by the use of the Latin word (slightly altered) for the mille passuum, the thousand paces which made up a Roman mile--about 142 yards short of an English statute mile. It is interesting to note a like illustration of the temper that yields to compulsion of this kind, rather than struggle or resist, in the teaching of the Stoic Epictetus--"Should there be a forced service, and a soldier should lay hold on thee, let him work his will; do not resist or murmur" (Diss. iv., i. 79).

Verse 41. - Matthew only. Shall compel thee to go; Revised Version margin, "Gr. impress" (ἀγγαρεύσει). From the Persian. Hatch ('Essays,' p. 37) shows that while the classical usage strictly refers to the Persian system or' mounted couriers (described in Herod., 8:98; Xen., 'Cyr.,' 8:6. 17), the post-classical usage refers to the later development of a system, not of postal service, but of the forced transport of military baggage. It thus indicates, not merely forced attendance, but forced carrying. Hence it is used in Matthew 27:32 and Mark 15:21 of Simon the Cyrenian, "who was pressed by the Roman soldiers who were escorting our Lord not merely to accompany them but also to carry a load." Thus here also the thought is doubtless that of being compelled to carry baggage. There may also be a reference, as Hatch suggests, to the oppressive conduct of the Roman soldiers (cf. Luke 3:14). (For the spirit of our Lord's saying, vide also 'Aboth,' 3:18 (Taylor), where the probable translation is, "Rabbi Ishmael said, Be pliant of disposition and yielding to impressment.") A mile; Revised Version, one mile; but see Matthew 8:19, note. A Roman mile of a thousand paces.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

if someone
ὅστις (hostis)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3748: Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever.

forces you to go
ἀγγαρεύσει (angareusei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 29: Of foreign origin; properly, to be a courier, i.e. to press into public service.

one
ἕν (hen)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

mile,
μίλιον (milion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3400: A Roman mile, measuring 1478.5 meters or 5820.9 feet. Of Latin origin; a thousand paces, i.e. A 'mile'.

go
ὕπαγε (hypage)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 5217: To go away, depart, begone, die. From hupo and ago; to lead under, i.e. Withdraw or retire, literally or figuratively.

with
μετ’ (met’)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

him
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

two.
δύο (dyo)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.


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