Matthew 5:17

American Standard Version (1901)

Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

¶Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόμον, ἢ τοὺς προφήτας: οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι, ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι.

Transliteration

Not nomisēte that ēlthon to-katalysai the nomon, or the prophētas: not ēlthon to-katalysai, but to-plērōsai.

Grammar Details

• *nomisēte*: aorist active subjunctive, 2nd person plural - you might think
• *ēlthon*: aorist active indicative, 1st person singular - I came
• *katalysai*: aorist active infinitive - to destroy/abolish
• *nomon*: accusative masculine singular - law
• *prophētas*: accusative masculine plural - prophets
• *plērōsai*: aorist active infinitive - to fulfill/complete

Word Meanings

• *nomisēte*: think/suppose/consider
• *ēlthon*: came/have come
• *katalysai*: destroy/abolish/overthrow
• *nomon*: law/instruction
• *prophētas*: prophets/those who speak forth
• *plērōsai*: fulfill/complete/fill up

Referenced Verses

• Rom 8:4 : 4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
• Rom 10:4 : 4 For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth.
• Gal 3:17-24 : 17 Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise. 19 What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; [and it was] ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one; but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law. 22 But the scriptures shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 So that the law is become our tutor [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
• Gal 4:4-5 : 4 but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
• Isa 42:21 : 21 It pleased Jehovah, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify the law, and make it honorable.
• Rom 3:31 : 31 Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.
• Luke 16:17 : 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tittle of the law to fall.
• Ps 40:6-8 : 6 Sacrifice and offering thou hast no delight in; Mine ears hast thou opened: Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I am come; In the roll of the book it is written of me: 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God; Yea, thy law is within my heart.
• Matt 3:15 : 15 But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him.
• Heb 10:3-9 : 3 But in those [sacrifices] there is a remembrance made of sins year by year. 4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me; 6 In whole burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hadst no pleasure: 7 Then said I, Lo, I am come (In the roll of the book it is written of me) To do thy will, O God. 8 Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law), 9 then hath he said, Lo, I am come to do thy will. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest indeed standeth day by day ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, the which can never take away sins: 12 but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
• Col 2:16-17 : 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day: 17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.
• Matt 7:12 : 12 All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets.
• John 8:5 : 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such: what then sayest thou of her?
• Acts 6:13 : 13 and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:
• Acts 18:13 : 13 saying, This man persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
• Acts 21:28 : 28 crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place.