# Matthew 18.34

<!-- 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

- [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 26.15](/codex/matthew-26-15/), [Matthew 27.2](/codex/matthew-27-2/), [Mark 14](/codex/mark-14/).
- [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/).

## 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/)
- [Biblical Forgiveness](/codex/biblical-forgiveness/), via [Matthew 18.21-35](/codex/matthew-18-21-35/)
- [Doubt and Fear](/codex/doubt-and-fear/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [Matthew 18](/codex/matthew-18/)
- [Spirit of Torment](/codex/spirit-of-torment/)
- [Spiritual Warfare](/codex/spiritual-warfare/)

**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/)

**Passages:**

- [1 Corinthians 11](/codex/1-corinthians-11/)
- [1 Corinthians 13](/codex/1-corinthians-13/)
- [1 Corinthians 15.1-11](/codex/1-corinthians-15-1-11/)
- [1 Corinthians 15.1-4](/codex/1-corinthians-15-1-4/)
- [1 Corinthians 15.3-6](/codex/1-corinthians-15-3-6/)
- [2 Peter 2.20-22](/codex/2-peter-2-20-22/)
- [Acts 3.13-16](/codex/acts-3-13-16/)
- [Acts 7.42](/codex/acts-7-42/)
- [Galatians 2.20](/codex/galatians-2-20/)
- [John 13.21](/codex/john-13-21/)
- [John 18.36](/codex/john-18-36/)
- [John 18.4-6](/codex/john-18-4-6/)
- [John 6.63-64](/codex/john-6-63-64/)
- [John 6.70-71](/codex/john-6-70-71/)
- [Jude 1](/codex/jude-1/)
- [Jude 1.3](/codex/jude-1-3/)
- [Jude 1.3-4](/codex/jude-1-3-4/)
- [Jude 3](/codex/jude-3/)
- [Luke 10.22](/codex/luke-10-22/)
- [Luke 24.6-7](/codex/luke-24-6-7/)
- [Mark 15](/codex/mark-15/)
- [Matthew 18.23-35](/codex/matthew-18-23-35/)
- [Matthew 18.34-35](/codex/matthew-18-34-35/)
- [Matthew 26.15](/codex/matthew-26-15/)
- [Matthew 27.2](/codex/matthew-27-2/)
- [Romans 1.24-26](/codex/romans-1-24-26/)
- [Romans 1.24-32](/codex/romans-1-24-32/)
- [Romans 8](/codex/romans-8/)

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