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.

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.

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.'

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.’

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 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?’
Literal Translations
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!

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.'

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!

Smith's Literal Translation
And, Whoever should swear by the altar, it is nothing; and whoever should swear by the gift above it, he is indebted.
Catholic Translations
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you say: ‘Whoever will have sworn by the altar, it is nothing. But whoever will have sworn by the gift that is on the altar is obligated.’

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.’

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.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the offering that is on it, he is guilty.

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.'
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And, Whoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever shall swear by the gift that is on it, becomes a debtor.

Godbey New Testament
And, Whosoever may swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever may swear by the gift upon it, is debtor.

Haweis New Testament
And again, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, it is binding.

Mace New Testament
again, if any one swear by the altar he is under no engagement but if he swear by the gift that is upon it, he is bound thereby.

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.'

Worrell New Testament
'And whosoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever swears by the gift that is upon it, is a debtor!'

Worsley New Testament
And, If any one swear by the altar, it is nothing; but if any one swear by the gift upon it, he is bound.

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 5:33-37
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ / But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; / or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ...

James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

Matthew 15:3-9
Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? / For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ / But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ ...

Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Mark 7:6-13
Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ / You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.” ...

Exodus 20:7
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.

Leviticus 19:12
You must not swear falsely by My name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

Numbers 30:2
If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.

Deuteronomy 23:21-23
If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. / But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty of sin. / Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth.

Psalm 50:14
Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.

Psalm 50:16-17
To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips? / For you hate My instruction and cast My words behind you.

Jeremiah 7:9-11
Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, / and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’? / Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Yes, I too have seen it, declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 20:39
And as for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you. But afterward, you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.

Zechariah 8:17
do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD.

Malachi 1:6-14
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ / By presenting defiled food on My altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled You?’ By saying that the table of the LORD is contemptible. / When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts. ...


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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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.














And you say
This phrase introduces a direct quotation from the religious leaders, specifically the scribes and Pharisees, whom Jesus is addressing. The Greek word for "say" is "λέγετε" (legete), which implies a continuous or habitual action. This suggests that the Pharisees regularly taught or upheld this distinction in oaths, highlighting their focus on legalistic interpretations rather than the spirit of the law.

If anyone swears by the altar
The altar, "θυσιαστήριον" (thysiastērion) in Greek, was central to Jewish worship and sacrificial practices. It was considered holy, as it was the place where offerings were made to God. The Pharisees' teaching that swearing by the altar "means nothing" reveals a misunderstanding or misapplication of what is sacred. Historically, the altar was a place of divine encounter, and to diminish its significance in oaths reflects a deeper issue of valuing external rituals over internal devotion.

it means nothing
This phrase indicates the Pharisees' belief that an oath sworn by the altar was not binding. The Greek "οὐδέν ἐστιν" (ouden estin) translates to "it is nothing," showing a dismissive attitude towards the altar's sanctity. This reflects a broader theme in Matthew 23, where Jesus criticizes the religious leaders for their hypocrisy and misplaced priorities, emphasizing that true righteousness is not about legalistic loopholes but about genuine faithfulness to God.

but if anyone swears by the gift on it
The "gift," or "δῶρον" (dōron) in Greek, refers to the offerings or sacrifices placed on the altar. The Pharisees taught that swearing by the gift was binding, which underscores their materialistic and transactional view of worship. This distinction elevates the material offering above the altar itself, contrary to the biblical principle that the altar sanctifies the gift (Matthew 23:19). It reflects a misunderstanding of what is truly valuable in God's eyes.

he is bound by his oath
The phrase "bound by his oath" indicates a legal obligation. The Greek "ὀφείλει" (opheilei) means "he owes" or "he is indebted," suggesting a strong sense of duty or responsibility. This reflects the Pharisees' emphasis on external adherence to vows while neglecting the heart's intent. Jesus challenges this by teaching that all oaths should be taken seriously, as they are ultimately made before God, who values integrity and truthfulness over ritualistic observance.

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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