# Matthew 7.7

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-28 | updated: 2026-05-28 -->

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

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 5. <span class="rl-speech">Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.</span> 6. <span class="rl-speech">Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you.</span>
>
> **7. <span class="rl-speech">Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:</span>**
>
> 8. <span class="rl-speech">for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.</span> 9. <span class="rl-speech">Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone;</span> (Matthew 7:5-9, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 5. <span class="rl-speech">You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.</span> 6. <span class="rl-speech">“Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.</span>
>
> **7. <span class="rl-speech">“Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.</span>**
>
> 8. <span class="rl-speech">For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.</span> 9. <span class="rl-speech">Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?</span> (Matthew 7:5-9, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 5. <span class="rl-speech">Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.</span> 6. <span class="rl-speech">Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.</span>
>
> **7. <span class="rl-speech">Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:</span>**
>
> 8. <span class="rl-speech">For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.</span> 9. <span class="rl-speech">Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?</span> (Matthew 7:5-9, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 5. <span class="rl-speech">Hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.</span> 6. <span class="rl-speech">'Ye may not give that which is [holy] to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before the swine, that they may not trample them among their feet, and having turned, may rend you.</span>
>
> **7. <span class="rl-speech">'Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you;</span>**
>
> 8. <span class="rl-speech">for every one who is asking doth receive, and he who is seeking doth find, and to him who is knocking it shall be opened.</span> 9. <span class="rl-speech">'Or what man is of you, of whom, if his son may ask a loaf, a stone will he present to him?</span> (Matthew 7:5-9, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** Matthew (traditionally) the tax-collector-apostle / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching in the Sermon on the Mount
- **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

_Matthew 7:7 is Jesus's signature teaching on prayer-as-seeking, deployed in the [Divine Hiddenness](/codex/divine-hiddenness/) discussion as the canonical statement that the kingdom is found by those who seek it (not delivered by overwhelming evidence to those who do not). For full theological treatment, see [Lesson 4.2, Divine Hiddenness](/codex/lesson-4-2-divine-hiddenness/). The book of Matthew hub ([Matthew](/codex/matthew-the-apostle/)) provides higher-level theological context._

## See also

- [Divine Hiddenness](/codex/divine-hiddenness/), the master concept hub
- [Lesson 4.2, Divine Hiddenness](/codex/lesson-4-2-divine-hiddenness/), the Course lesson
- [Matthew 11.25](/codex/matthew-11-25/), the related hiddenness-and-revelation logion
- [Matthew 13.44](/codex/matthew-13-44/), the kingdom-as-hidden-treasure parable
- [Matthew](/codex/matthew-the-apostle/), book hub

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Belief-Choice Objection Defeater](/codex/belief-choice-objection-defeater/)

**Concepts:**

- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [Matthew 7](/codex/matthew-7/)
- [Lesson 4.2, Divine Hiddenness](/codex/lesson-4-2-divine-hiddenness/)
- [Meaning-Centered Evangelism](/codex/meaning-centered-evangelism/)
- [Prayer](/codex/prayer/), via [Matthew 7.7-11](/codex/matthew-7-7-11/)
- [Quick Objection Responses](/codex/quick-objection-responses/)
- [Seeking God](/codex/seeking-god/)
- [Sermon on the Mount](/codex/sermon-on-the-mount/), via [Matthew 7](/codex/matthew-7/), [Matthew 7.1-14](/codex/matthew-7-1-14/)

**Lexicon:**

- [H7592 - shaal](/codex/h7592-shaal/)

**Passages:**

- [Matthew 11.25](/codex/matthew-11-25/)
- [Matthew 13.44](/codex/matthew-13-44/)

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## 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.