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Matthew 5:36

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

KJV

μήτε ἐν τῇ κεφαλῇ σου ὀμόσῃς, ὅτι οὐ δύνασαι μίαν τρίχα λευκὴν ποιῆσαι ἢ μέλαιναν.

Greek NT

neque per caput tuum juraveris, quia non potes unum capillum album facere, aut nigrum.

Vulgate

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.

ASV

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

15 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

δύναμαι
dunamai
verb · 209×
εἷς
eis
adjective · 336×
θρίξ
thrix
noun · 15×
κεφαλή
kephale
noun · 75×
λευκός
leukos
adjective · 25×
μέλας
melas
adjective · 3×
μήτε
mete
conjunction · 34×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
ποιέω
poieo
verb · 569×
σύ
su
pronoun · 1071×
ἐν
en
preposition · 2743×
e
particle · 346×
ὀμνύω
omnuo
verb · 26×
o
article · 19778×
ὅτι
oti
conjunction · 1299×

Textual variants

1 variant unit attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

minor
SBLGNT: ποιῆσαι ἢ μέλαιναν | WH/Treg/NIV: ποιῆσαι ἢ μέλαιναν | RP: ἢ μέλαιναν ποιῆσαι
  • ποιῆσαι ἢ μέλαινανSBLGNT
  • ποιῆσαι ἢ μέλαινανWestcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • ἢ μέλαιναν ποιῆσαιRobinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Historic Christian voices

7 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§2262In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord recalls the commandment, "You shall not kill,"62 and adds to it the proscription of anger, hatred, and vengeance. Going further, Christ asks his disciples to turn the other cheek, to love their enemies.63 He did not defend himself and told Peter to leave his sword in its sheath.64 Legitimate defense
2. For beginning from those passions, which most belong to our whole race, anger, I mean, and desire (for it is these chiefly that bear absolute sway within us, and are more natural than the rest); He with great authority, even such as became a legislator, both corrected them, and reduced them to order with all strictness. For He said not that the adulterer merely is punished; …
Source. Translated by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, and revised by George B. Stevens. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 11. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210220.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Adven…
Chapter 1.— This Work Not Intended as a Treatise on Rhetoric. 1. This work of mine, which is entitled On Christian Doctrine, was at the commencement divided into two parts. For, after a preface, in which I answered by anticipation those who were likely to take exception to the work, I said, There are two things on which all interpretation of Scripture depends: the mode of ascer…
Q. May we swear by saints or other creatures? A. No. A legitimate oath means calling upon God as the one who knows my heart to witness to my truthfulness and to punish me if I swear falsely. No creature is worthy of such honor.

Cross-references

  • Luke 12:25 — And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
  • Luke 12:25 — And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
  • Matt 6:27 — Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
  • Matt 6:27 — Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
  • Matt 23:16 — Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!