Matthew 5:21

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,’ and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

¶Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις, Οὐ φονεύσεις· ὃς δʼ ἂν φονεύσῃ ἔνοχος ἔσται τῇ κρίσει:

Transliteration

Ēkousate that errethē to-the archaiois, Not phoneuseis; who d' an phoneusē enochos estai to-the krisei:

Grammar Details

• *Ēkousate*: aorist active indicative, 2nd person plural - you heard
• *errethē*: aorist passive indicative, 3rd person singular - it was said
• *archaiois*: dative masculine plural - to ancients/ancestors
• *phoneuseis*: future active indicative, 2nd person singular - you will murder
• *d'*: postpositive conjunction (contracted) - but/and
• *an*: modal particle with subjunctive - ever/possibly
• *phoneusē*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular - might murder
• *enochos*: nominative masculine singular - liable/guilty
• *estai*: future middle indicative, 3rd person singular - will be
• *krisei*: dative feminine singular - to judgment

Word Meanings

• *Ēkousate*: heard/understood/learned
• *errethē*: was said/was spoken
• *archaiois*: ancients/ancestors/those of old
• *phoneuseis*: will murder/kill
• *phoneusē*: might murder/kill
• *enochos*: liable/guilty/answerable
• *krisei*: judgment/tribunal/court

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder,' and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment:

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Ye have heard{G191} that{G3754} it was said{G4483} to them of old time,{G744} Thou shalt{G5407} not{G3756} kill;{G5407} and{G1161} whosoever{G3739} shall{G302} kill{G5407} shall be{G2071} in danger{G1777} of the judgment:{G2920}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Ye have heard{G191}{(G5656)} that{G3754} it was said{G4483}{(G5681)} by them of old time{G744}, Thou shalt{G5407} not{G3756} kill{G5407}{(G5692)}; and{G1161} whosoever{G3739}{G302} shall kill{G5407}{(G5661)} shall be{G2071}{(G5704)} in danger{G1777} of the judgment{G2920}:

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Ye have herde howe it was sayd vnto the of ye olde tyme: Thou shalt not kyll. For whoso ever kylleth shall be in daunger of iudgemet.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Ye haue herde, how it was sayde to the of the olde tyme: Thou shalt not kyll. For whosoeuer kylleth, shall be in daunger of iudgement.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Ye haue heard that it was sayd vnto them of the olde time, Thou shalt not kill: for whosoeuer killeth shalbe culpable of iudgement.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Ye haue hearde, that it was sayde to them of the olde tyme, thou shalt not kyll: who so euer kylleth, shalbe in daunger of iudgement.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ ‹Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  "You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, 'You shall not murder;' and 'Whoever shall murder shall be in danger of the judgment.'

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `Ye heard that it was said to the ancients: Thou shalt not kill, and whoever may kill shall be in danger of the judgment;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Ye 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:

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Ye 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:

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  You have knowledge that it was said in old times, You may not put to death; and, Whoever puts to death will be in danger of being judged:

• World English Bible (2000)

  "You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, 'You shall not murder;' and 'Whoever shall murder shall be in danger of the judgment.'

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Anger and Murder“You have heard that it was said to an older generation,‘Do not murder,’ and‘whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.’

Referenced Verses

• Deut 5:17 : 17 You shall not murder.
• Exod 20:13 : 13 You shall not murder.
• Matt 5:27 : 27 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
• Matt 5:33 : 33 Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'Do not break your oaths, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.'
• Matt 5:43 : 43 You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
• Num 35:30-34 : 30 Anyone who kills another person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses; but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. 31 You must not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; they must surely be put to death. 32 Do not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge, allowing them to return to live in the land before the death of the high priest. 33 Do not pollute the land where you are, for bloodshed defiles the land; and no atonement can be made for the land that has been defiled by bloodshed except by the blood of the one who shed it. 34 Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.
• Gen 9:5-6 : 5 I will require an accounting for your lifeblood. I will demand it from any animal and from every person. From each person, I will demand an accounting for the life of another person. 6 Whoever sheds human blood, by humans will their blood be shed; for in the image of God, God made mankind.
• Exod 21:12-14 : 12 Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death. 13 But if he did not intend to kill, and it was allowed by God to happen, then I will provide a place where he can flee. 14 However, if someone schemes and acts deliberately to kill his neighbor, you shall take him even from my altar to be put to death.
• Num 35:12 : 12 These cities shall serve as a refuge from the avenger of blood, so that the one who killed someone unintentionally may not be put to death until they stand trial before the congregation.
• Num 35:16-21 : 16 But if someone strikes another with an iron object and the person dies, they are a murderer, and the murderer shall be put to death. 17 If someone strikes another with a stone that is large enough to cause death and the person dies, they are a murderer; the murderer must be put to death. 18 Or if someone strikes another with a wooden tool that could cause death, and the person dies, they are a murderer; the murderer must be put to death. 19 The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death; when they encounter the murderer, the avenger is to put them to death. 20 If someone pushes another out of hatred or throws something at them with intent and the person dies, 21 or if in hostility someone strikes another with their hand and the person dies, the one who struck them must be put to death. They are a murderer. The avenger of blood is to execute the sentence when they meet the murderer.
• Matt 5:38 : 38 You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
• Deut 21:7-9 : 7 and they shall declare, ‘Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it. 8 LORD, make atonement for Your people Israel, whom You have redeemed, and do not hold the guilt of innocent blood against Your people Israel.’ And the bloodshed will be atoned for. 9 So you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from among you, because you will be doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD.
• 1 Kgs 2:5-6 : 5 Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—how he killed the two commanders of Israel's armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He shed their blood as if in war during a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with the blood. 6 Act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.
• 1 Kgs 2:31-32 : 31 The king said to him, 'Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and my father's house the guilt of the blood that Joab shed without cause. 32 The LORD will bring back his blood on his own head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better than himself—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel's army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah's army—killing them with the sword without my father David knowing it.
• Job 8:8-9 : 8 Ask the previous generation, and give thought to the findings of their ancestors; 9 for we were only born yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow. 10 Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?
• 2 Sam 20:18 : 18 She continued, "In the past, people said, 'Seek advice in Abel,' and that is how matters were settled.
• Deut 16:18 : 18 Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly.