Matthew 5:22
20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
- KJV
- But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
- WEB
- But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.
- ASV
- but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.
- DARBY
- But *I* say unto you, that every one that is lightly angry with his brother shall be subject to the judgment; but whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be subject to [be called before] the sanhedrim; but whosoever shall say, Fool, shall be subject to the penalty of the hell of fire.
- BLB
- But I say to you⁺ that everyone being angry with his brother will be liable to the judgment, and whoever may say to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be liable to the Sanhedrin. But whoever may say, ‘Fool!’ will be liable to the Gehenna of fire.
- ÅB
- Men jeg sier dere at hver den som blir sint på sin bror uten grunn, skal være skyldig for dommen. Den som sier til sin bror: ‘Raka!’ skal være skyldig for rådet; og den som sier: ‘Du dåre!’ skal være skyldig til helvetes ild.
- OTB
- Men jeg sier dere, den som er sint på sin bror eller søster, skal være skyldig for domstolen. Igjen, den som sier til sin bror eller søster: ‘Raka,’ skal være skyldig for Rådet. Og den som sier: ‘Du dåre!’ skal være skyldig til helvetes ild.
- B1930
- Men jeg sier eder at hver den som blir vred på sin bror uten grunn, skal være skyldig for dommen; men den som sier til sin bror: Raka! skal være skyldig for rådet; men den som sier: Du dåre! skal være skyldig til helvedes ild.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 John 3:14–15
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.
Read in context1 John 4:20–21
If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
Read in context1 John 2:9
If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness.
Read in contextEphesians 4:26–27
“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,
Read in contextEphesians 4:31–32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.
Read in contextJames 3:6
The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Read in contextTitus 3:2
to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone.
Read in contextMatthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Read in context