# Matthew 5.37

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-06-01 | updated: 2026-06-01 -->

**Book:** [Matthew](/codex/matthew-the-apostle/) · NASB95

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 35. <span class="rl-speech">nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.</span> 36. <span class="rl-speech">Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.</span>
>
> **37. <span class="rl-speech">But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.</span>**
>
> 38. <span class="rl-speech">Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:</span> 39. <span class="rl-speech">but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.</span> (Matthew 5:35-39, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 35. <span class="rl-speech">nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.</span> 36. <span class="rl-speech">Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black.</span>
>
> **37. <span class="rl-speech">But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.</span>**
>
> 38. <span class="rl-speech">“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’</span> 39. <span class="rl-speech">But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.</span> (Matthew 5:35-39, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 35. <span class="rl-speech">Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.</span> 36. <span class="rl-speech">Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.</span>
>
> **37. <span class="rl-speech">But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.</span>**
>
> 38. <span class="rl-speech">Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:</span> 39. <span class="rl-speech">But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.</span> (Matthew 5:35-39, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 35. <span class="rl-speech">nor by the earth, because it is His footstool, nor by Jerusalem, because it is a city of a great king,</span> 36. <span class="rl-speech">nor by thy head mayest thou swear, because thou art not able one hair to make white or black;</span>
>
> **37. <span class="rl-speech">but let your word be, Yes, Yes, No, No, and that which is more than these is of the evil.</span>**
>
> 38. <span class="rl-speech">'Ye heard that it was said: Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth;</span> 39. <span class="rl-speech">but I, I say to you, not to resist the evil, but whoever shall slap thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other;</span> (Matthew 5:35-39, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** _TBD_
- **Audience:** _TBD_
- **Location:** _TBD_
- **Time period:** _TBD_

## Theological reading

_Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._

## Key words

_Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap._

- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Christians Not Under Mosaic Law](/codex/christians-not-under-mosaic-law/), via [Matthew 5.21-48](/codex/matthew-5-21-48/)
- [Liar Lunatic or Lord](/codex/liar-lunatic-or-lord/)
- [OT vs NT God Objection Defeater](/codex/ot-vs-nt-god-objection-defeater/), via [Matthew 5.21-48](/codex/matthew-5-21-48/)

**Concepts:**

- [Christ is God](/codex/christ-is-god/), via [Matthew 5.21-48](/codex/matthew-5-21-48/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [Matthew 5](/codex/matthew-5/)
- [Mosaic Law](/codex/mosaic-law/), via [Matthew 5.21-48](/codex/matthew-5-21-48/)
- [Sermon on the Mount](/codex/sermon-on-the-mount/), via [Matthew 5](/codex/matthew-5/), [Matthew 5.21-48](/codex/matthew-5-21-48/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G3004 - lego](/codex/g3004-lego/), via [Matthew 5.21-48](/codex/matthew-5-21-48/)

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_Scripture quotations taken from the **New American Standard Bible®** (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by **The Lockman Foundation**. Used by permission. All rights reserved. [www.lockman.org](https://www.lockman.org)_

## 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.