Matthew 5:18

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν, Ἕως ἂν παρέλθῃ ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ, ἰῶτα ἓν ἢ μία κεραία οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου, ἕως ἂν πάντα γένηται.

Transliteration

Amēn gar legō to-you, Until an parelthē the ouranos and the gē, iōta one or one keraia not not parelthē from the nomou, until an all genētai.

Grammar Details

• *Amēn*: Hebrew transliteration - truly/verily
• *gar*: postpositive conjunction - for/because
• *legō*: present active indicative, 1st person singular - I say/tell
• *an*: modal particle with subjunctive - ever/possibly
• *parelthē*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular - might pass away
• *ouranos*: nominative masculine singular - heaven/sky
• *gē*: nominative feminine singular - earth/land
• *iōta*: nominative neuter singular - iota (smallest Greek letter)
• *keraia*: nominative feminine singular - stroke/serif (part of a letter)
• *nomou*: genitive masculine singular - of law
• *genētai*: aorist middle subjunctive, 3rd person singular - might happen/be fulfilled

Word Meanings

• *Amēn*: truly/verily/certainly
• *legō*: say/tell/speak
• *parelthē*: pass away/pass by/come to an end
• *ouranos*: heaven/sky
• *gē*: earth/land/ground
• *iōta*: iota/smallest letter (like Hebrew yod)
• *keraia*: stroke/serif/small mark on a letter
• *genētai*: happen/be fulfilled/come to pass

Referenced Verses

• Luke 16:17 : 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tiny stroke of a letter in the law to become void.
• Ps 119:89-90 : 89 ל(Lamed) O LORD, your instructions endure; they stand secure in heaven. 90 You demonstrate your faithfulness to all generations. You established the earth and it stood firm.
• 1 Pet 1:25 : 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.
• Isa 40:8 : 8 The grass dries up, the flowers wither, but the decree of our God is forever reliable.”
• Isa 51:6 : 6 Look up at the sky! Look at the earth below! For the sky will dissipate like smoke, and the earth will wear out like clothes; its residents will die like gnats. But the deliverance I give is permanent; the vindication I provide will not disappear.
• Ps 119:152 : 152 I learned long ago that you ordained your rules to last.
• Ps 102:26 : 26 They will perish, but you will endure. They will wear out like a garment; like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear.
• John 5:19 : 19 So Jesus answered them,“I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.
• John 3:11 : 11 I tell you the solemn truth, we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.
• 2 Pet 3:10-13 : 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare. 11 Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness, 12 while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God? Because of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze! 13 But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides.
• Rev 20:11 : 11 The Great White Throne Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.
• Matt 5:26 : 26 I tell you the truth, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny!
• Matt 6:2 : 2 Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward!
• Matt 6:16 : 16 Proper Fasting“When you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward!
• Matt 8:10 : 10 When Jesus heard this he was amazed and said to those who followed him,“I tell you the truth, I have not found such faith in anyone in Israel!
• Matt 10:15 : 15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!
• Matt 10:23 : 23 Whenever they persecute you in one town, flee to another! I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
• Matt 10:42 : 42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth, he will never lose his reward.”
• Matt 11:11 : 11 “I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is!
• Matt 13:17 : 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
• Matt 16:28 : 28 I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
• Matt 17:20 : 20 He told them,“It was because of your little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain,‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you.”
• Matt 18:3 : 3 and said,“I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!
• Matt 18:18 : 18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.
• Matt 19:23 : 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples,“I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!
• Matt 19:28 : 28 Jesus said to them,“I tell you the truth: In the age when all things are renewed, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
• Matt 21:21 : 21 Jesus answered them,“I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain,‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.
• Matt 21:31 : 31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said,“The first.” Jesus said to them,“I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God!
• Matt 23:36 : 36 I tell you the truth, this generation will be held responsible for all these things!
• Matt 24:2 : 2 And he said to them,“Do you see all these things? I tell you the truth, not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!”
• Matt 24:34-35 : 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
• Matt 24:47 : 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions.
• Matt 25:12 : 12 But he replied,‘I tell you the truth, I do not know you!’
• Matt 25:40 : 40 And the king will answer them,‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’
• Matt 25:45 : 45 Then he will answer them,‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’
• Matt 26:13-14 : 13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” 14 The Plan to Betray Jesus Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
• Mark 3:28 : 28 I tell you the truth, people will be forgiven for all sins, even all the blasphemies they utter.
• Mark 6:11 : 11 If a place will not welcome you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
• Mark 8:12 : 12 Sighing deeply in his spirit he said,“Why does this generation look for a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to this generation.”
• Mark 9:1 : 1 And he said to them,“I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
• Mark 9:41 : 41 For I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear Christ’s name will never lose his reward.
• Mark 10:15 : 15 I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
• Mark 10:29 : 29 Jesus said,“I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel
• Mark 11:23 : 23 I tell you the truth, if someone says to this mountain,‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
• Mark 12:43 : 43 He called his disciples and said to them,“I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others.
• Mark 13:30 : 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
• Mark 14:9 : 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
• Mark 14:18 : 18 While they were at the table eating, Jesus said,“I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me will betray me.”
• Mark 14:25 : 25 I tell you the truth, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
• Mark 14:30 : 30 Jesus said to him,“I tell you the truth, today– this very night– before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
• Luke 4:24 : 24 And he added,“I tell you the truth, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.
• Luke 11:51 : 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation.
• Luke 12:37 : 37 Blessed are those slaves whom their master finds alert when he returns! I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, have them take their place at the table, and will come and wait on them!
• Luke 13:35 : 35 Look, your house is forsaken! And I tell you, you will not see me until you say,‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
• Luke 18:17 : 17 I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
• Luke 18:29 : 29 Then Jesus said to them,“I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of God’s kingdom
• Luke 21:32-33 : 32 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
• Luke 23:43 : 43 And Jesus said to him,“I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
• John 1:51 : 51 He continued,“I tell all of you the solemn truth– you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
• John 3:3 : 3 Jesus replied,“I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
• John 3:5 : 5 Jesus answered,“I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
• John 5:24-25 : 24 “I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life. 25 I tell you the solemn truth, a time is coming– and is now here– when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
• John 6:26 : 26 Jesus replied,“I tell you the solemn truth, you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted.
• John 6:32 : 32 Then Jesus told them,“I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven.
• John 6:47 : 47 I tell you the solemn truth, the one who believes has eternal life.
• John 6:53 : 53 Jesus said to them,“I tell you the solemn truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves.
• John 8:34 : 34 Jesus answered them,“I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin.
• John 8:51 : 51 I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone obeys my teaching, he will never see death.”
• John 8:58 : 58 Jesus said to them,“I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!”
• John 10:1 : 1 Jesus as the Good Shepherd“I tell you the solemn truth, the one who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
• John 10:7 : 7 So Jesus said again,“I tell you the solemn truth, I am the door for the sheep.
• John 12:24 : 24 I tell you the solemn truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain.
• John 13:16 : 16 I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
• John 13:20-21 : 20 I tell you the solemn truth, whoever accepts the one I send accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” 21 When he had said these things, Jesus was greatly distressed in spirit, and testified,“I tell you the solemn truth, one of you will betray me.”
• John 13:38 : 38 Jesus answered,“Will you lay down your life for me? I tell you the solemn truth, the rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times!
• John 14:12 : 12 I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father.
• John 16:20 : 20 I tell you the solemn truth, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy.
• John 16:23 : 23 At that time you will ask me nothing. I tell you the solemn truth, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.
• John 21:18 : 18 I tell you the solemn truth, when you were young, you tied your clothes around you and went wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will tie you up and bring you where you do not want to go.”
• Heb 1:11-12 : 11 They will perish, but you continue. And they will all grow old like a garment, 12 and like a robe you will fold them up and like a garment they will be changed, but you are the same and your years will never run out.”