ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

Matthew 18.34

Book: Matthew · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"32. Then his lord called him unto him, and says to him, You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you besoughtest me: 33. should not you also have had mercy on your fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on you?"

"34. And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due."

"35. So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts." (Matthew 18:32-35, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"32. Then his lord called him in, and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. 33. Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’"

"34. His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him."

"35. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”" (Matthew 18:32-35, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"32. 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: 33. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?"

"34. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him."

"35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." (Matthew 18:32-35, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"32. then having called him, his lord saith to him, Evil servant! all that debt I did forgive thee, seeing thou didst call upon me, 33. did it not behove also thee to have dealt kindly with thy fellow-servant, as I also dealt kindly with thee?"

"34. 'And having been wroth, his lord delivered him to the inquisitors, till he might pay all that was owing to him;"

"35. so also my heavenly Father will do to you, if ye may not forgive each one his brother from your hearts their trespasses.'" (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

Quoted in

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 (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • 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 for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.