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Connecting Statement:

Jesus continues to teach about how he has come to fulfill the Old Testament law. Here he begins to speak about swearing oaths.

General Information:

Jesus is talking to a group of people about what might happen to them as individuals. The "you" in "you have heard" and "I say to you" are plural. The "you" in "you will not swear" and "you will carry" are singular.

Again, you

"Also, you" or "Here is another example. You"

you have heard that it was said ... false oath

Jesus makes it plain here that he agrees with God and his word. But, he is telling his hearers not to use what does not belong to them to try to make people believe their words. AT: "your religious leaders have said to you that God told ... false oath" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive)

Do not swear a false oath, but carry out your oaths

Possible meanings are 1) do not swear to the Lord that you will do something then not do it, or 2) do not swear by the Lord that you know something to be true when you know that it is not true.

But I say

The "I" is emphatic. This indicates that what Jesus says is equally important to the original commands from God. Try to translate this phrase in a way that shows that emphasis. See how you translated this in Matthew 5:22.

swear not at all ... city of the great King

Here Jesus means a person should not swear on anything. It seems some were teaching that it was less offensive if a person did not keep an oath if they swore by something other than God, such as swearing by heaven, earth, or Jerusalem. Jesus says this is just as bad because they all belong to God.

swear not at all

If your language has a plural form for commands, use it here. "You will not swear a false oath" allows the hearer to swear but forbids false oaths. "Swear not at all" forbids all oaths.

it is the throne of God

Here "throne" refers to God's rule as king. AT: "it is from here that God rules" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)

it is the footstool for his feet

This metaphor means the earth also belongs to God. AT: "it is like a footstool where a king rests his feet" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

for it is the city of the great King

"for it is the city that belongs to God, the great king"

2.3 KiB Raw Blame History