37"Do not judge and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven. [6:38] Give and it will be given to you — a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." [6:39] And he told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? [6:40] A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. [6:41] Why do you see the splinter in your brother's eye but do not notice the beam in your own eye? [6:42] How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the splinter in your eye,' while you yourself do not see the beam in your own eye? Actor — first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the splinter in your brother's eye."
LUK 6:37-42
Judging Others
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, judgment and condemnation were deeply tied to social hierarchies and honor-shame dynamics. To judge was not merely to assess but to assert authority, often in ways that reinforced social boundaries or excluded others. Condemnation carried legal and communal weight, potentially ostracizing individuals from their social or religious groups. Jesus’ admonition against judging and condemning would have challenged these norms, particularly in a culture where honor was fiercely guarded and shame was a powerful social deterrent. The imagery of measuring evokes marketplace practices, where fairness in trade was both a moral and economic concern. The parable of the blind leading the blind critiques hypocrisy , a term rooted in theatrical performance, where one’s outward appearance masked inner reality. In a society where discipleship meant emulating a teacher’s life and teachings, Jesus’ call to self-examination before correcting others would have resonated deeply, subverting the typical dynamics of authority and critique.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
LUK 6:37
- KJV
- Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
- BSB
- Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
- Koinōnos
- Do not judge and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven.
LUK 6:38
- KJV
- Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
- BSB
- Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
- Koinōnos
- Give and it will be given to you — a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.
LUK 6:39
- KJV
- And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
- BSB
- Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
- Koinōnos
- And he told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
LUK 6:40
- KJV
- The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
- BSB
- A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
- Koinōnos
- A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
LUK 6:41
- KJV
- And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
- BSB
- Why do you look at the speck in your brotherʼs eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?
- Koinōnos
- Why do you see the splinter in your brother's eye but do not notice the beam in your own eye?
LUK 6:42
- KJV
- Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
- BSB
- How can you say, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while you yourself fail to see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brotherʼs eye.
- Koinōnos
- How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the splinter in your eye,' while you yourself do not see the beam in your own eye? Actor — first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the splinter in your brother's eye.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 6:37
- do judge,:The word translated 'do judge' here refers to forming a critical opinion or passing a verdict, often with the implication of condemnation, rather than simply making a discernment.
LUK 6:38
- Measure:The term 'Measure' refers to a standard or unit by which things are quantified, emphasizing the principle of reciprocal action and consequence.
LUK 6:40
- a disciple:The word translated 'a disciple' meant a learner or pupil who followed a teacher, not just intellectually but also in their way of life and practice.
LUK 6:42
- seeing?:The word translated 'seeing?' (from the root 'hypocrite') originally referred to an actor on a stage, someone playing a part and concealing their true self or intentions.