Matthew 5:37

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἔστω δὲ ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν, Ναὶ, ναί· Οὒ, οὔ: τὸ δὲ περισσὸν τούτων ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ ἐστιν.

Transliteration

Estō de the logos of-you, Nai, nai; Ou, ou: the de perisson of-these from the ponērou estin.

Grammar Details

*Estō*: present active imperative, 3rd person singular - let it be!
*de*: postpositive conjunction - but/and
*logos*: nominative masculine singular - word/speech
*Nai*: adverb - yes
*Ou*: adverb - no
*perisson*: nominative neuter singular - excess/abundance
*ponērou*: genitive masculine/neuter singular - of evil/evil one
*estin*: present active indicative, 3rd person singular - is

Word Meanings

*Estō*: let it be/be
*logos*: word/speech/statement
*Nai*: yes/indeed/truly
*Ou*: no/not
*perisson*: excess/abundance/surplus
*ponērou*: evil one/evil/wicked (could refer to Satan or to evil in general)

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Jas 5:12 : 12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment.
Matt 13:19 : 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, [then] cometh the evil [one], and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.
Matt 13:38 : 38 [and the field] [is] [the world;] [and the good] [seed,] [these] [are] [the sons] [of the kingdom;] [and the tares] [are] [the sons] [of the evil] [one];
2 Cor 1:17-20 : 17 When I therefore was thus minded, did {G687} I show fickleness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay? 18 But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, [even] by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea. 20 For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us.
Col 3:9 : 9 lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings,
Col 4:6 : 6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.
2 Thess 3:3 : 3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and guard you from the evil [one].
Eph 4:25 : 25 Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.
Matt 15:19 : 19 For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings:
John 8:44 : 44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.
John 17:15 : 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil [one].
1 John 2:13 : 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye know him who is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the evil one. I have written unto you, little children, because ye know the Father.
1 John 5:18 : 18 We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that was begotten of God keepeth himself, and the evil one toucheth him not.
Matt 6:13 : 13 And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil [one].
1 John 3:12 : 12 not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore {G5101} slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Jas 5:12
83%
12But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment.
Matt 5:38-40
3 verses
76%
38Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
Matt 5:33-34
2 verses
76%
33Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God;
Matt 5:36
76%
36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.
2 Cor 1:17-19
3 verses
71%
17When I therefore was thus minded, did {G687} I show fickleness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay?
18But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay.
19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, [even] by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea.
Lev 5:4
71%
4Or if any one swear rashly with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall utter rashly with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these [things].
Matt 12:33-37
5 verses
71%
33Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit.
34Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Zech 8:17
70%
17and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith Jehovah.
Matt 5:26-27
2 verses
69%
26Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing.
27Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Eccl 5:5-6
2 verses
69%
5Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
6Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?
Ps 34:13
69%
13Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile.
Eph 4:29
69%
29Let {G3956} no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.
Matt 5:20-22
3 verses
68%
20For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed [the] [righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22but 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.
Prov 30:6
68%
6Add thou not unto his words, Lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Deut 5:20
68%
20Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Matt 6:23
68%
23But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness!
Matt 19:18
68%
18He saith unto him, Which? And Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Ps 50:19
68%
19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, And thy tongue frameth deceit.
1 Pet 3:9-10
2 verses
68%
9not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for {G3754} hereunto {G5124} were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
10For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile:
Luke 6:45
67%
45The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil [man] out of the evil [treasure] {G846} {G2588} bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Eph 5:6
67%
6Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.
Lev 19:11-12
2 verses
67%
11Ye shall not steal; neither shall ye deal falsely, nor lie one to another.
12And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of thy God: I am Jehovah.
Deut 19:20
67%
20And those that remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil in the midst of thee.
Jas 3:10
67%
10out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Rom 3:4
67%
4God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.
Eccl 5:2
67%
2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
1 Cor 15:33
67%
33Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.
Exod 20:16
66%
16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Matt 5:43
66%
43Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy:
Jas 4:16
66%
16But now ye glory in your vauntings: all such glorying is evil.
Matt 15:19
66%
19For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings:
1 Thess 5:15
66%
15See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward {G3956} all.
Rom 14:16
66%
16Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
1 Thess 5:22
66%
22abstain from every form of evil.
Matt 15:5
66%
5But ye say, whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is given [to God];