Matthew 6:17

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Σὺ δὲ, νηστεύων, ἄλειψαί σου τὴν κεφαλὴν, καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου νίψαι·

Transliteration

You de, nēsteuōn, aleipsai of you the kephalēn, and the prosōpon of you nipsai·

Grammar Details

• *Sy de*: nominative pronoun + contrastive particle - but you
• *nēsteuōn*: present active participle, nominative, masculine, singular - fasting
• *aleipsai*: aorist middle imperative, 2nd singular - anoint
• *kephalēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - head
• *prosōpon*: accusative, neuter, singular - face/countenance
• *nipsai*: aorist middle imperative, 2nd singular - wash

Word Meanings

• *nēsteuōn*: fasting/when you fast/while abstaining from food
• *aleipsai*: anoint/apply oil to/rub with oil
• *kephalēn*: head
• *prosōpon*: face/countenance/appearance
• *nipsai*: wash/cleanse

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G1161} thou,{G4771} when thou fastest,{G3522} anoint{G218} thy{G4675} head,{G2776} and{G2532} wash{G3538} thy{G4675} face;{G4383}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G1161} thou{G4771}, when thou fastest{G3522}{(G5723)}, anoint{G218}{(G5669)} thine{G4675} head{G2776}, and{G2532} wash{G3538}{(G5669)} thy{G4675} face{G4383};

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  But thou whe thou fastest annoynte thyne heed and washe thy face

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But thou, whe thou fastest, annoynte thyne heed, and wash thy face,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face,

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But thou, when thou fastest, annoynt thyne head, and washe thy face:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `But thou, fasting, anoint thy head, and wash thy face,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But when you go without food, put oil on your head and make your face clean;

• World English Bible (2000)

  But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

Referenced Verses

• Ruth 3:3 : 3 Wash, anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but do not let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.
• 2 Sam 12:20 : 20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions, and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
• 2 Sam 14:2 : 2 So Joab sent to Tekoa and brought a wise woman from there. He said to her, "Please act like you are in mourning. Put on mourning clothes and do not anoint yourself with oil. Behave as if you have been mourning for the dead for a long time.
• Eccl 9:8 : 8 Let your clothes always be white, and do not let oil be lacking on your head.
• Dan 10:2-3 : 2 During those days, I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks. 3 I did not eat any rich or desirable food, nor did meat or wine touch my lips. I did not anoint myself at all until the three weeks were over.