Matthew 6:3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

◄ Matthew 6:3 ►

New International Version
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

New Living Translation
But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

English Standard Version
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Berean Standard Bible
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Berean Literal Bible
But you, doing acts of charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

King James Bible
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

New King James Version
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

New American Standard Bible
But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

NASB 1995
“But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

NASB 1977
“But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing

Legacy Standard Bible
But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Amplified Bible
But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy],

Christian Standard Bible
But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

American Standard Version
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

Contemporary English Version
When you give to the poor, don't let anyone know about it.

English Revised Version
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

Good News Translation
But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it.

International Standard Version
But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Majority Standard Bible
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

NET Bible
But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

New Heart English Bible
But when you practice charitable giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does,

Webster's Bible Translation
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

Weymouth New Testament
But when you are giving in charity, let not your left hand perceive what your right hand is doing,

World English Bible
But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
But you, doing kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does,

Berean Literal Bible
But you, doing acts of charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Young's Literal Translation
'But thou, doing kindness, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth,

Smith's Literal Translation
But thou doing alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right does:

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

New American Bible
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,

New Revised Standard Version
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
But when you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But you, whenever you do charity giving, let not your left know what your right is doing.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
But when you do a charitable deed, let not your left hand know what your right hand does;

Godbey New Testament
But thou doing alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

Haweis New Testament
But when thou givest alms, let not thy right hand know what thy left is doing:

Mace New Testament
but when you give alms, "let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth:"

Weymouth New Testament
But when you are giving in charity, let not your left hand perceive what your right hand is doing,

Worrell New Testament
But, when you are doing alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Worsley New Testament
But when thou givest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth:

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Giving to the Needy
…2So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 23:5
All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

Luke 14:12-14
Then Jesus said to the man who had invited Him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid. / But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, / and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Luke 18:10-14
“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. / The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. / I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’ ...

2 Corinthians 9:7
Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.

Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. / Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

James 2:14-17
What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? / 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 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.

Acts 10:2-4
He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly. / One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” / Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.

Romans 12:8
if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

1 Corinthians 13:3
If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.

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.

Proverbs 19:17
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.

Proverbs 21:26
All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.

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.

Treasury of Scripture

But when you do alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does:

let.

Matthew 8:4
And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Matthew 9:30
And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Matthew 12:19
He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

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Alms Charity Deeds Hand Kindness Merciful Money Needy Perceive Poor Right Thou

Matthew 6

1. Giving to the Needy
5. The Lord's Prayer
16. Proper Fasting
19. Store up Treasures in Heaven
25. Do Not Worry
33. but seek God's kingdom.

Berean Study Bible

But when you give to the needy
This phrase sets the context for the teaching of Jesus on almsgiving. The Greek word for "give" is "ποιέω" (poieo), which implies an action that is intentional and purposeful. The act of giving is not merely a transaction but a deliberate act of kindness and charity. The term "needy" translates from the Greek "ἐλεημοσύνη" (eleēmosynē), which refers to acts of mercy or almsgiving. Historically, giving to the needy was a significant aspect of Jewish religious life, deeply rooted in the Torah's teachings. This phrase emphasizes the expectation that followers of Christ will naturally engage in acts of charity as an expression of their faith.

do not let your left hand know
This metaphorical expression uses the imagery of the left and right hands to illustrate the concept of secrecy and humility in giving. The "left hand" and "right hand" are often used in biblical language to denote different aspects of human action and intention. The idea here is to perform acts of charity without seeking attention or recognition. In the cultural context of Jesus' time, public displays of piety were common, and this teaching challenges the believer to pursue a higher standard of righteousness that is inward and sincere.

what your right hand is doing
The "right hand" in biblical symbolism often represents strength and action. In this context, it signifies the act of giving itself. The instruction that the left hand should not know what the right hand is doing underscores the importance of discretion and selflessness in charitable acts. This teaching aligns with the broader biblical principle that true righteousness is a matter of the heart and not merely external compliance. The historical context reveals that Jesus was addressing a culture where religious acts were sometimes performed for social status, and He calls His followers to a deeper, more authentic expression of faith that seeks God's approval rather than human praise.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) Let not thy left hand know.--The phrase was probably proverbial, and indicates, in the form of free hyperbole, extremest secrecy. It is possible that there may be some reference to the practice of using the right hand in offering gifts at the altar. The symbolical application, though an afterthought, is yet suggestive. The "right hand" is the higher spiritual element in us that leads to acts of true charity, the "left" is the baser, self-seeking nature. We ought, as it were, to set a barrier between the two, as far as possible, i.e., to exclude that mingling of motives, which is at least the beginning of evil.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - But when thou; "thou" emphatic. Let not thy left hand know, etc. So little effect should thy kind action have upon thy memory. There should be no self-consciousness in it.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

But [when]
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

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

give to the needy,
ποιοῦντος (poiountos)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular
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.

{do} not {let}
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

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

left [hand]
ἀριστερά (aristera)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 710: On the left hand. Apparently a comparative of the same as ariston; the left hand.

know
γνώτω (gnōtō)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

what
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

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

right hand
δεξιά (dexia)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1188: On the right hand, right hand, right. From dechomai; the right side or hand.

is doing,
ποιεῖ (poiei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
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.

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NT Gospels: Matthew 6:3 But when you do merciful deeds don't (Matt. Mat Mt)