Matthew 15:4

2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’
KJV
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
WEB
For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’
ASV
For God said, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him die the death.
DARBY
For God commanded saying, Honour father and mother; and, He that speaks ill of father or mother, let him die the death.
BLB
For God said, ‘Honor [your] father and mother’ and ‘The one speaking evil of father or mother, in death let him end.’
ÅB
For Gud har sagt ‘du skal hedre faren og moren din’, og ‘den som taler ondt til far eller mor, skal dø’.
OTB
For Gud sa: ‘Hedre din far og din mor,’ og, ‘Den som taler ondt om sin far eller mor, skal dø.’
B1930
For Gud har gitt det bud: Hedre din far og din mor; og: Den som banner far eller mor, skal visselig dø;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Exodus 20:12

    Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 21:17

    And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 20:9

    For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 21:18–21

    If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 5:16

    Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 23:22

    Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 19:3

    Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 19:19

    Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

    Read in context