the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
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King James Version
Matthew 5:36
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And don't even say that your own head is proof that you will keep your promise. You cannot make one hair on your head white or black.
nether shalt thou sweare by thy heed because thou canst not make one white heer or blacke:
Nor should you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.
"Nor shall you take an oath by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Don't even swear by your own head, because you cannot make one hair on your head become white or black.
Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black.
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
"Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you are not able to make a single hair white or black.
And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black.
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head; for thou canst not make one hair white or black.
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
for thou maist not make oon heere white, ne blacke;
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Don't swear by your own head. You cannot make one hair white or black.
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.
You may not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.
And don't swear by your head, because you can't make a single hair white or black.
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make a single hair in it either black or white.
Moreover, thou shalt not swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair in it either black or white.
Neither shalt thou sweare by thy head, because thou canst not make one haire white or blacke.
Do not even say, ‘By my head!' for you can't turn one hair white or black.
Do not promise by your head. You are not able to make one hair white or black.
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
Neither shalt thou sweare by thine head, because thou canst not make one heare white or blacke.
Neither shall you swear by your own head, because you cannot create in it a single black or white hair.
Nor, by thine own head, mayest thou swear, because thou art not able to make, one hair, white or black.
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
Neither shalt thou sweare by thy head, because thou canst not make one heere whyte or blacke.
Do not even swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black.
And do not swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.
Nor shall you swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.
nor by thy head mayest thou swear, because thou art not able one hair to make white or black;
nether shalt thou sweare by thy heed, because thou canst not make one heer whyte or blacke:
neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.
Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.
And don't swear by your own abilities. You can't make even one hair on your head become white or black.
"Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
shalt: Matthew 23:16-21
because: Matthew 6:27, Luke 12:25
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head,.... This also was a common form of swearing among the Jews: take a few instances.
"If anyone is bound to his friend by an oath, and says to him, vow unto me בחיי ראשך, "by the life of thy head"; R. Meir says u, he may retract it; but the wise men say, he cannot.''
Again w, a certain Rabbi said to Elijah,
"I heard "Bath Kol" (or the voice from heaven) mourning like a dove, and saying, woe to my children; for, because of their sins, I have destroyed my house, and have burnt my temple, and have carried them captive among the nations: and he (Elijah) said unto him חייך וחיי ראשך, "by thy life, and by the life of thy head", not this time only it says so, but it says so three times every day.''
Once more x, says R. Simeon ben Antipatras, to R. Joshua,
"I have heard from the mouth of the wise men, that he that vows in the law, and transgresses, is to be beaten with forty stripes: he replies, blessed art thou of God, that thou hast so done, חייך וחיי ראשך, "by thy life, and by the life of thy head", he that is used to do so is to be beaten.''
This form of swearing is condemned, for this reason,
because thou canst not make one hair white or black: which shows, that a man's head, nor, indeed, one hair of his head, is in his own power, and therefore he ought not to swear by it; as he ought not to swear by heaven, or earth, or Jerusalem, because these were in the possession of God. Some copies read, "canst not make one white hair black".
u Misn. Sanhedrim, c. 3. sect 2. w T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 3. 1. x Derech. Eretz, c. 6. fol. 18. 2.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head - This was a common oath. The Gentiles also used this oath. To swear by the head was the same as to swear by the life; or to say, I will forfeit my life if what I say is not true. God is the Author of the life, and to swear by that, therefore, is the same as to swear by him.
Because thou canst not make one hair white or black - You have no control or right over your own life. You cannot even change one single hair. God has all that control; and it is therefore improper and profane to pledge what is God’s gift and God’s property; and it is the same as swearing by God himself.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 36. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head — For these plain reasons:
1st. God commands thee not to do it.
2dly. Thou hast nothing which is thy own, and thou shouldst not pledge another's property.
3dly. It never did, and never can, answer any good purpose. And
4thly. Being a breach of the law of God, it is the way to everlasting misery.
