Matthew 6:25

Webster's Bible (1833)

Therefore, I tell you, don't be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Διὰ τοῦτο λέγω ὑμῖν, Μὴ μεριμνᾶτε τῇ ψυχῇ ὑμῶν, τί φάγητε, καὶ τί πίητε· μηδὲ τῷ σώματι ὑμῶν, τί ἐνδύσησθε. Οὐχὶ ἡ ψυχὴ πλεῖόν ἐστιν τῆς τροφῆς, καὶ τὸ σῶμα τοῦ ἐνδύματος;

Transliteration

Dia touto legō to you, Mē merimnate to the psychē of you, what phagēte, and what piēte; mēde to the sōmati of you, what endysēsthe. Ouchi the psychē pleion estin of the trophēs, and the sōma of the endymatos?

Grammar Details

• *Dia touto legō*: preposition + demonstrative pronoun + present active indicative, 1st singular - because of this I say
• *Mē merimnate*: negative particle + present active imperative, 2nd plural - do not be anxious
• *psychē*: nominative, feminine, singular - life/soul
• *phagēte*: aorist active subjunctive, 2nd plural - you might eat
• *piēte*: aorist active subjunctive, 2nd plural - you might drink
• *mēde*: negative conjunction - neither/nor
• *sōmati*: dative, neuter, singular - for body
• *endysēsthe*: aorist middle subjunctive, 2nd plural - you might put on/clothe yourselves
• *Ouchi*: interrogative negative particle - not?
• *pleion estin*: comparative adjective, nominative, neuter, singular + present active indicative, 3rd singular - is more
• *trophēs*: genitive, feminine, singular - of food/nourishment
• *sōma*: nominative, neuter, singular - body
• *endymatos*: genitive, neuter, singular - of clothing/garment

Word Meanings

• *Dia touto*: therefore/for this reason/because of this
• *merimnate*: be anxious/worry/be concerned
• *psychē*: life/soul/inner self
• *phagēte*: you might eat/you would eat
• *piēte*: you might drink/you would drink
• *sōmati*: body/physical form
• *endysēsthe*: you might put on/you would clothe yourselves
• *pleion*: more/greater/of more value
• *trophēs*: food/nourishment/sustenance
• *endymatos*: clothing/garment/apparel

Referenced Verses

• Matt 6:31 : 31 "Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?'
• Phil 4:6 : 6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
• 1 Pet 5:7 : 7 casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
• Matt 6:34 : 34 Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient.
• Luke 12:22-31 : 22 He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! 25 Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? 26 If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? 29 Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. 30 For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.
• Matt 6:27-28 : 27 "Which of you, by being anxious, can add one cubit to the measure of his life? 28 Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin,
• 1 Cor 7:32 : 32 But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;
• Ps 55:22 : 22 Cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
• Luke 12:4-5 : 4 "I tell you, my friends, don't be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him, who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna.{or, Hell} Yes, I tell you, fear him.
• Rom 8:32 : 32 He who didn't spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?
• Matt 10:19 : 19 But when they deliver you up, don't be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.
• Matt 13:22 : 22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
• Mark 4:19 : 19 and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
• Mark 13:11 : 11 When they lead you away and deliver you up, don't be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
• Luke 8:14 : 14 That which fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
• Luke 10:40-41 : 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me." 41 Jesus answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,
• Luke 12:8-9 : 8 "I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, him will the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God; 9 but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of the angels of God.
• Luke 12:11 : 11 When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don't be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say;
• 2 Tim 2:4 : 4 No soldier on service entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.
• Heb 13:5-6 : 5 Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you." 6 So that with good courage we say, "The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
• Matt 5:22-28 : 22 But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca{"Raca" is an Aramaic insult, related to the word for "empty" and conveying the idea of empty-headedness.}!' shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna{Gehenna is another name for Hell that brings to mind an image of a burning garbage dump with dead bodies in it.}. 23 "If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him in the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. 26 Most assuredly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the last penny.{Literally, kodrantes. A kodrantes was a small copper coin worth about 2 lepta (widow's mites)--not enough to buy very much of anything.} 27 "You have heard that it was said, {TR adds "to the ancients,"} 'You shall not commit adultery;' 28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.