Matthew 23:18
New International Version
You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’

New Living Translation
And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding.

English Standard Version
And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’

Berean Standard Bible
And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’

Berean Literal Bible
And you say, 'Whoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it is bound by his oath.'

King James Bible
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

New King James Version
And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.

New American Standard Bible
And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the offering that is on it is obligated.’

NASB 1995
“And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.’

NASB 1977
“And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering upon it, he is obligated.’

Legacy Standard Bible
And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.’

Amplified Bible
And [you scribes and Pharisees say], ‘Whoever swears [an oath] by the altar, that is nothing (non-binding), but whoever swears [an oath] by the offering on it, he is obligated [as a debtor to fulfill his vow and keep his promise].’

Christian Standard Bible
Also, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing; but whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Also, Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.’

American Standard Version
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is a debtor.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And,'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing',but 'Whoever swears by the offering upon it, he is liable.'

Contemporary English Version
You also teach that it doesn't matter if a person swears by the altar. But you say it does matter if someone swears by the gift on the altar.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, is a debtor.

English Revised Version
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is a debtor.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Again you say, 'To swear an oath by the altar doesn't mean a thing. But to swear an oath by the gift on the altar means a person must keep his oath.'

Good News Translation
You also teach, 'If someone swears by the altar, he isn't bound by his vow; but if he swears by the gift on the altar, he is bound.'

International Standard Version
Again you say, 'Whoever swears an oath by the altar is excused, but whoever swears by the gift that is on it must keep his oath.'

Literal Standard Version
And, Whoever may swear by the altar, it is nothing, but whoever may swear by the gift that is on it—is debtor!

Majority Standard Bible
And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’

New American Bible
And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’

NET Bible
And, 'Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing. But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by the oath.'

New Revised Standard Version
And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.’

New Heart English Bible
'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?'

Webster's Bible Translation
And whoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

Weymouth New Testament
And you say, "'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the offering lying on it is bound by the oath.'

World English Bible
And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?’

Young's Literal Translation
'And, whoever may swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever may swear by the gift that is upon it -- is debtor!

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Woes to Scribes and Pharisees
17You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred? 18And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ 19You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes it sacred?…

Cross References
Matthew 23:16
Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.'

Matthew 23:17
You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred?

Matthew 23:19
You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes it sacred?


Treasury of Scripture

And, Whoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is guilty.

guilty.

Matthew 23:15
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

or bound.

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Altar Bound Gift Guilty Lying Means Oath Obligated Offering Responsible Swear Sweareth Swears
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Altar Bound Gift Guilty Lying Means Oath Obligated Offering Responsible Swear Sweareth Swears
Matthew 23
1. Jesus admonishes the people to follow good doctrine, not bad examples
5. His disciples must beware of their ambition.
13. He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness,
34. and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem.














Verse 18. - By the altar. The great altar of burnt offerings, according to the Mosaic ritual, was consecrated and dedicated with most remarkable solemnities, as the centre of sacrificial worship (see Exodus 29:36, etc.; Exodus 30:28,29; Numbers 7:10, etc.). The gift that is upon it. The victim, which, as being offered by themselves, was counted more worthy than the altar of God which sanctified the gift. This is, indeed, an instance of sight blinded by self-righteousness. He is guilty; ὀφείλει: he is a debtor, as ver. 16. Others see here the principle that the validity of oaths was differentiated by the nearness to the Person of God of the things by which they were taken. This, too, opened up large opportunities of evasion.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And [you say],
καί (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

‘If anyone
Ὃς (Hos)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

swears
ὀμόσῃ (omosē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3660: A prolonged form of a primary, but obsolete omo, for which another prolonged form omoo is used in certain tenses; to swear, i.e. Take oath.

by
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

altar,
θυσιαστηρίῳ (thysiastēriō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2379: An altar (for sacrifice). From a derivative of thusia; a place of sacrifice, i.e. An altar.

it means
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

nothing;
οὐδέν (ouden)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3762: No one, none, nothing.

but
δ’ (d’)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

if anyone
ὃς (hos)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

swears
ὀμόσῃ (omosē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3660: A prolonged form of a primary, but obsolete omo, for which another prolonged form omoo is used in certain tenses; to swear, i.e. Take oath.

by
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

gift
δώρῳ (dōrō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1435: A gift, present. A present; specially, a sacrifice.

on
ἐπάνω (epanō)
Preposition
Strong's 1883: From epi and ano; up above, i.e. Over or on.

it,
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Neuter 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.

he is bound by his oath.’
ὀφείλει (opheilei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3784: Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 23:18 Whoever swears by the altar it (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 23:17
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