# Matthew 18.34-35

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [Matthew](/codex/matthew-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 32. Then his lord called him unto him, and says to him, <span class="rl-speech">You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you besoughtest me:</span> 33. <span class="rl-speech">should not you also have had mercy on your fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on you?</span>
>
> **34. <span class="rl-speech">And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due.</span> 35. <span class="rl-speech">So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.</span>** (Matthew 18:32-35, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 32. Then his lord called him in, and said to him, <span class="rl-speech">‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me.</span> 33. <span class="rl-speech">Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’</span>
>
> **34. <span class="rl-speech">His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him.</span> 35. <span class="rl-speech">So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”</span>** (Matthew 18:32-35, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 32. <span class="rl-speech">Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:</span> 33. <span class="rl-speech">Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?</span>
>
> **34. <span class="rl-speech">And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.</span> 35. <span class="rl-speech">So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.</span>** (Matthew 18:32-35, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 32. <span class="rl-speech">then having called him, his lord saith to him, Evil servant! all that debt I did forgive thee, seeing thou didst call upon me,</span> 33. <span class="rl-speech">did it not behove also thee to have dealt kindly with thy fellow-servant, as I also dealt kindly with thee?</span>
>
> **34. <span class="rl-speech">'And having been wroth, his lord delivered him to the inquisitors, till he might pay all that was owing to him;</span> 35. <span class="rl-speech">so also my heavenly Father will do to you, if ye may not forgive each one his brother from your hearts their trespasses.'</span>** (Matthew 18:32-35, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** Matthew (traditionally) the tax-collector-apostle / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** Jewish-Christian audience (heavy OT-fulfillment emphasis)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Antioch (composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 4 BC, AD 30/33; composed c. AD 60-80

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [G2588 - kardia](/codex/g2588-kardia/), *kardia* (Strong's G2588). Also appears in: [Matthew 5.28](/codex/matthew-5-28/), [Matthew 6.21](/codex/matthew-6-21/), [Matthew 9.4](/codex/matthew-9-4/).
- [G2962 - kyrios](/codex/g2962-kyrios/), *kyrios* (Strong's G2962). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.20](/codex/matthew-1-20/), [Matthew 1](/codex/matthew-1/), [Matthew 6.24](/codex/matthew-6-24/).
- [G3860 - paradidomi](/codex/g3860-paradidomi/), *paradidomi* (Strong's G3860). Also appears in: [Matthew 18.34](/codex/matthew-18-34/), [Matthew 26.15](/codex/matthew-26-15/), [Matthew 27.2](/codex/matthew-27-2/).
- [G3956 - pas](/codex/g3956-pas/), *pas* (Strong's G3956). Also appears in: [Matthew 1](/codex/matthew-1/), [Matthew 2.1-6](/codex/matthew-2-1-6/), [Matthew 2.16](/codex/matthew-2-16/).
- [G3962 - pater](/codex/g3962-pater/), *pater* (Strong's G3962). Also appears in: [Matthew 5.48](/codex/matthew-5-48/), [Matthew 6.25-26](/codex/matthew-6-25-26/), [Matthew 6.25-34](/codex/matthew-6-25-34/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Concepts:**

- [Authority to Cast Out Demons](/codex/authority-to-cast-out-demons/), via [Matthew 18.34](/codex/matthew-18-34/)
- [Biblical Forgiveness](/codex/biblical-forgiveness/), via [Matthew 18.21-35](/codex/matthew-18-21-35/)
- [Doubt and Fear](/codex/doubt-and-fear/), via [Matthew 18.34](/codex/matthew-18-34/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [Matthew 18](/codex/matthew-18/)
- [Spirit of Torment](/codex/spirit-of-torment/)
- [Spiritual Warfare](/codex/spiritual-warfare/), via [Matthew 18.23-35](/codex/matthew-18-23-35/), [Matthew 18.34](/codex/matthew-18-34/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G0859 - aphesis](/codex/g0859-aphesis/), via [Matthew 18.21-35](/codex/matthew-18-21-35/)
- [G0863 - aphiemi](/codex/g0863-aphiemi/), via [Matthew 18.23-35](/codex/matthew-18-23-35/)
- [G1401 - doulos](/codex/g1401-doulos/), via [Matthew 18.23-35](/codex/matthew-18-23-35/)

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