5And when you pray, do not be like the performers — for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and at the street corners, so they may be visible to men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. [6:6] But you, when you pray, go into your inner room and shut the door — and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. [6:7] But when praying, do not babble like the nations, for they suppose that in their many words they will be heard. [6:8] Do not become like them, for your Father knows what you have need of before you ask him. [6:9] Therefore pray in this way: Our Father in the heavens, let your name be held holy. [6:10] Let your kingdom come; let your will be done, as in heaven also on earth. [6:11] Give us today our bread for the coming day. [6:12] And release us from our obligations, as we also release those who are obligated to us. [6:13] And do not lead us into trial, but deliver us from the evil one. [6:14] For if you release men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also release you. [6:15] But if you do not release men, neither will your Father release your trespasses.
MAT 6:5-15
The Lordʼs Prayer
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish practice, prayer was a communal and public act, often performed in synagogues or at set times in the streets, where piety could be visibly demonstrated. The term (hypocrites) evokes actors who perform for an audience, critiquing those who pray ostentatiously to gain social honor. Jesus contrasts this with private prayer, emphasizing sincerity over public display. The instruction to pray in secret reflects the Jewish value of humility before God, who sees and rewards what is hidden. The warning against (vain repetitions) critiques pagan practices of invoking deities through repetitive, formulaic incantations, contrasting it with the simplicity and directness of addressing God as Father. The petition for bread highlights dependence on God for daily sustenance, resonating with Jewish prayers for provision. The emphasis on forgiveness reflects the Jewish understanding of communal and relational obligations, underscoring the necessity of reconciliation as a precondition for divine forgiveness.
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How other translations render this
MAT 6:5
- KJV
- And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
- BSB
- And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
- Koinōnos
- And when you pray, do not be like the performers — for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and at the street corners, so they may be visible to men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
MAT 6:6
- KJV
- But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
- BSB
- But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
- Koinōnos
- But you, when you pray, go into your inner room and shut the door — and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
MAT 6:7
- KJV
- But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
- BSB
- And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.
- Koinōnos
- But when praying, do not babble like the nations, for they suppose that in their many words they will be heard.
MAT 6:8
- KJV
- Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
- BSB
- Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
- Koinōnos
- Do not become like them, for your Father knows what you have need of before you ask him.
MAT 6:9
- KJV
- After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
- BSB
- So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
- Koinōnos
- Therefore pray in this way: Our Father in the heavens, let your name be held holy.
MAT 6:10
- KJV
- Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
- BSB
- Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
- Koinōnos
- Let your kingdom come; let your will be done, as in heaven also on earth.
MAT 6:11
- KJV
- Give us this day our daily bread.
- BSB
- Give us this day our daily bread.
- Koinōnos
- Give us today our bread for the coming day.
MAT 6:12
- KJV
- And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
- BSB
- And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
- Koinōnos
- And release us from our obligations, as we also release those who are obligated to us.
MAT 6:13
- KJV
- And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
- BSB
- And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
- Koinōnos
- And do not lead us into trial, but deliver us from the evil one.
MAT 6:14
- KJV
- For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
- BSB
- For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
- Koinōnos
- For if you release men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also release you.
MAT 6:15
- KJV
- But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- BSB
- But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.
- Koinōnos
- But if you do not release men, neither will your Father release your trespasses.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 6:5
- hypocrites,:The word translated 'hypocrites' originally referred to an actor, someone who wore a mask and played a part on a stage, implying a pretense or a performance rather than genuine character.
MAT 6:7
- may use vain repetitions:The phrase translated 'may use vain repetitions' describes speaking stammeringly or babbling, often implying a meaningless or excessive repetition of words, rather than thoughtful prayer.
MAT 6:11
- daily:The word translated 'daily' is quite rare and its precise meaning has been debated, but it likely refers to bread sufficient for the coming day or for the present day's needs.
MAT 6:12
- debts:The word translated 'debts' literally means something that is owed, a financial obligation. In this context, it is used metaphorically for moral or spiritual failings that create an obligation to God.