Matthew 6:20

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν:

Transliteration

Thēsaurizete de to you thēsaurous in ouranō, where oute sēs oute brōsis aphanizei, and where kleptai ou dioryssousin oude kleptousin:

Grammar Details

*Thēsaurizete de*: present active imperative, 2nd plural + contrastive particle - but store up
*thēsaurous*: accusative, masculine, plural - treasures
*ouranō*: dative, masculine, singular - heaven
*oute sēs oute*: negative correlative conjunction + nominative, masculine, singular + negative correlative conjunction - neither moth nor
*brōsis*: nominative, feminine, singular - rust/eating/corrosion
*aphanizei*: present active indicative, 3rd singular - destroys/consumes
*kleptai*: nominative, masculine, plural - thieves
*ou dioryssousin*: negative particle + present active indicative, 3rd plural - do not break through
*oude kleptousin*: negative conjunction + present active indicative, 3rd plural - nor steal

Word Meanings

*Thēsaurizete*: store up/lay up/accumulate
*thēsaurous*: treasures/wealth/stored valuables
*ouranō*: heaven/sky/celestial realm
*sēs*: moth/cloth-eating insect
*brōsis*: rust/eating/corrosion/consumption
*aphanizei*: destroys/consumes/ruins
*kleptai*: thieves/robbers
*dioryssousin*: break through/dig through/burgle
*kleptousin*: steal/take secretly/pilfer

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

Luke 12:33 : 33 Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth.
Matt 19:21 : 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
1 Tim 6:19 : 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is [life] indeed.
Heb 11:26 : 26 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.
1 Pet 1:4 : 4 unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1 Pet 5:4 : 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Rev 2:9 : 9 I know thy {G2041} {G2532} tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they art not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Jas 2:5 : 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?
Luke 18:22 : 22 And when Jesus heard it, he said unto him, One thing thou lackest yet: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
1 Tim 6:17 : 17 Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on {G2198} God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Isa 33:6 : 6 And there shall be stability in thy times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge: the fear of Jehovah is thy treasure.
Heb 10:34 : 34 For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took {G3326} joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, knowing that ye have for yourselves {G1722} {G3772} a better possession and an abiding one.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

Matt 6:18-19
2 verses
96%
18that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall recompense thee.
19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal:
Matt 6:21
85%
21for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.
Luke 12:33-34
2 verses
84%
33Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth.
34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 12:20-22
3 verses
76%
20But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?
21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22And he said unto his disciples, Therefore {G5124} I say unto you, Be not anxious for [your] life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.
Jas 5:2-3
2 verses
74%
2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.
3Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their rust shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have laid up your treasure in the last days.
1 Tim 6:19
71%
19laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is [life] indeed.
Exod 20:15
71%
15Thou shalt not steal.
Matt 6:30-34
5 verses
71%
30But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
31Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matt 6:24-26
3 verses
71%
24No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25Therefore 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?
26Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they?
Matt 6:1
71%
1Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
Matt 10:9
70%
9Get you no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses;
1 Pet 1:4
70%
4unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Prov 6:30
70%
30Men do not despise a thief, if he steal To satisfy himself when he is hungry:
Luke 12:31
70%
31Yet seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you.
Luke 12:18
69%
18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods.
Deut 5:19
69%
19Neither shalt thou steal.
Heb 10:34
69%
34For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took {G3326} joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, knowing that ye have for yourselves {G1722} {G3772} a better possession and an abiding one.
1 Cor 6:10
69%
10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Eph 4:28
69%
28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need.
Matt 6:4
69%
4that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.
1 Tim 6:9
69%
9But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.
John 6:27
69%
27Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God, hath sealed.
Luke 12:15
69%
15And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man's {G846} life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
1 Tim 6:17
68%
17Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on {G2198} God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Luke 16:9
68%
9And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles.
Col 3:2
68%
2Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.
Prov 23:5
68%
5Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For [riches] certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.
Ps 62:10
68%
10Trust not in oppression, And become not vain in robbery: If riches increase, set not your heart [thereon].
Prov 21:6
68%
6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death.
Matt 6:6
68%
6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.
Luke 16:13
68%
13No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot {G3756} serve God and mammon.
Gal 6:8
68%
8For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.
Prov 15:6
68%
6In the house of the righteous is much treasure; But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
Prov 5:10
68%
10Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, And thy labors [be] in the house of an alien,
Luke 16:11
68%
11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]?
Matt 7:6
67%
6Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you.
Matt 6:28
67%
28And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Matt 24:17
67%
17let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house:
Matt 13:44
67%
44The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.