Matthew 6:25

American Standard Version (1901)

Therefore I say unto you, be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Διὰ τοῦτο λέγω ὑμῖν, Μὴ μεριμνᾶτε τῇ ψυχῇ ὑμῶν, τί φάγητε, καὶ τί πίητε· μηδὲ τῷ σώματι ὑμῶν, τί ἐνδύσησθε. Οὐχὶ ἡ ψυχὴ πλεῖόν ἐστιν τῆς τροφῆς, καὶ τὸ σῶμα τοῦ ἐνδύματος;

Transliteration

Dia touto legō to you, Mē merimnate to the psychē of you, what phagēte, and what piēte; mēde to the sōmati of you, what endysēsthe. Ouchi the psychē pleion estin of the trophēs, and the sōma of the endymatos?

Grammar Details

• *Dia touto legō*: preposition + demonstrative pronoun + present active indicative, 1st singular - because of this I say
• *Mē merimnate*: negative particle + present active imperative, 2nd plural - do not be anxious
• *psychē*: nominative, feminine, singular - life/soul
• *phagēte*: aorist active subjunctive, 2nd plural - you might eat
• *piēte*: aorist active subjunctive, 2nd plural - you might drink
• *mēde*: negative conjunction - neither/nor
• *sōmati*: dative, neuter, singular - for body
• *endysēsthe*: aorist middle subjunctive, 2nd plural - you might put on/clothe yourselves
• *Ouchi*: interrogative negative particle - not?
• *pleion estin*: comparative adjective, nominative, neuter, singular + present active indicative, 3rd singular - is more
• *trophēs*: genitive, feminine, singular - of food/nourishment
• *sōma*: nominative, neuter, singular - body
• *endymatos*: genitive, neuter, singular - of clothing/garment

Word Meanings

• *Dia touto*: therefore/for this reason/because of this
• *merimnate*: be anxious/worry/be concerned
• *psychē*: life/soul/inner self
• *phagēte*: you might eat/you would eat
• *piēte*: you might drink/you would drink
• *sōmati*: body/physical form
• *endysēsthe*: you might put on/you would clothe yourselves
• *pleion*: more/greater/of more value
• *trophēs*: food/nourishment/sustenance
• *endymatos*: clothing/garment/apparel

Referenced Verses

• Matt 6:31 : 31 Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
• Phil 4:6 : 6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
• 1 Pet 5:7 : 7 casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.
• Matt 6:34 : 34 Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
• Luke 12:22-31 : 22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for [your] life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. 23 For the life is more than the food, and the body than the raiment. 24 Consider the ravens, that they sow not, neither reap; which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God feedeth them: of how much more value are ye than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit unto the measure of his life? 26 If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God doth so clothe the grass in the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [shall he clothe] you, O ye of little faith? 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, and what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 Yet seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you.
• Matt 6:27-28 : 27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life? 28 And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
• 1 Cor 7:32 : 32 But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
• Ps 55:22 : 22 Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
• Luke 12:4-5 : 4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
• Rom 8:32 : 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?
• Matt 10:19 : 19 But when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak.
• Matt 13:22 : 22 And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
• Mark 4:19 : 19 and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
• Mark 13:11 : 11 And when they lead you [to judgment], and deliver you up, be not anxious beforehand what ye shall speak: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye; for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit.
• Luke 8:14 : 14 And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
• Luke 10:40-41 : 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving; and she came up to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 But the Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things:
• Luke 12:8-9 : 8 And I say unto you, Every one who shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 but he that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God.
• Luke 12:11 : 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues, and the rulers, and the authorities, be not anxious how or what ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
• 2 Tim 2:4 : 4 No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.
• Heb 13:5-6 : 5 Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee. 6 So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?
• Matt 5:22-28 : 22 but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire. 23 If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, 24 leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing. 27 Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.