MAT 5:33-37

Oaths and Vows

33"Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'You shall not swear falsely, but you shall render to the Lord what you have vowed.'

34But I say to you, do not swear at all — neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

35nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

36Nor shall you swear by your head, for you are not able to make a single hair white or black.

37But let your word be 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is from the evil one."

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts, oaths and vows were deeply embedded in social and religious practices. Jewish tradition, rooted in Torah (Lev 19:12; Num 30:2), required truthfulness in oaths, especially those invoking God’s name, as breaking such oaths was seen as a direct affront to divine authority. However, oaths were often used to bolster credibility in everyday transactions, invoking heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or even one’s own head as guarantees. This practice risked trivializing sacred things and could mask deceit. Greco-Roman culture also relied on oaths in legal, political, and social contexts, often invoking deities or sacred objects to validate promises. Jesus’ prohibition against swearing altogether challenges these norms, emphasizing that truthfulness should not depend on external guarantees but on the integrity of one’s word. By rejecting oaths tied to creation (heaven, earth, Jerusalem) or the self (head), Jesus redirects focus to God’s sovereignty over all things. A simple 'yes' or 'no' suffices, as anything more risks entanglement with deceit or evil .

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How other translations render this

MAT 5:33

KJV: Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
BSB: Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
Koinōnos: Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'You shall not swear falsely, but you shall render to the Lord what you have vowed.

MAT 5:34

KJV: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
BSB: But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is Godʼs throne;
Koinōnos: But I say to you, do not swear at all — neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

MAT 5:35

KJV: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
BSB: or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Koinōnos: nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

MAT 5:36

KJV: Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
BSB: Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Koinōnos: Nor shall you swear by your head, for you are not able to make a single hair white or black.

MAT 5:37

KJV: But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
BSB: Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.
Koinōnos: But let your word be 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is from the evil one.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MAT 5:33

you will keep:The word translated 'you will keep' here carries the sense of 'to pay back' or 'to render what is due,' implying a fulfillment of an obligation or debt.

MAT 5:34

at all,:The term translated 'at all' emphasizes a complete and absolute prohibition, meaning 'not in any way' or 'under no circumstances.'

MAT 5:37

excessive:The word translated 'excessive' means 'beyond what is necessary or expected,' suggesting something superfluous or going beyond the proper measure.
evil:The word translated 'evil' often describes something that is actively harmful, malicious, or morally corrupt, rather than merely bad or unfortunate.