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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Matthew 23:16–19

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

All 18 ranked passages are available for comparison.

From verse 16

  1. Matthew 15:14Rank 1 from verse 16
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    14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

  2. James 5:12Rank 2 from verse 16
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    12But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

  3. Matthew 23:17Rank 3 from verse 16
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    17Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

  4. Matthew 23:24Rank 4 from verse 16
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    24Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

  5. Matthew 5:33–35Rank 5 from verse 16
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    33¶ Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

    34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

    35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

  6. Isaiah 56:10–11Rank 6 from verse 16
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    10His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

    11Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

  7. John 9:39–41Rank 7 from verse 16
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    39¶ And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

    40And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

    41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

  8. Matthew 15:5–6Rank 8 from verse 16
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    5But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

    6And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

  9. Matthew 23:19Rank 9 from verse 16
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    19Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

  10. Matthew 23:26Rank 10 from verse 16
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    26Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

  11. Galatians 5:3Rank 11 from verse 16
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    3For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

  12. Mark 7:10–13Rank 12 from verse 16
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    10For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

    11But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

    12And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

    13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

From verse 17

  1. Matthew 23:19Rank 1 from verse 17
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    19Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

  2. Numbers 16:38–39Rank 2 from verse 17
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    38The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the Lord, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.

    39And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:

  3. Exodus 30:26–29Rank 3 from verse 17
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    26And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,

    27And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense,

    28And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot.

    29And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.

  4. Psalms 94:8Rank 4 from verse 17
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    8Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?

From verse 19

  1. Exodus 29:37Rank 1 from verse 19
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    37Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.

  2. Exodus 30:29Rank 2 from verse 19
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    29And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 23:16

COMBINED MEANING

you

↗

The second-person plural pronoun referring to those being addressed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

ye

↗

The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

blind

↗

Sense 1: Unable to see with the eyes, or unable or unwilling to perceive, understand, or judge. Sense 2: A person or persons unable to see, as in ‘the blind’. Sense 3: To make unable to see or judge, or to obscure or hinder sight or judgment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

temple

↗

Sense 1: A sacred house, building, or place devoted to the worship or presence of God or an idol. Sense 2: Christ's body, expressly called the temple of his body. Sense 3: A believer's body, or believers collectively, called the temple of God or of the Holy Ghost. Sense 4: The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb, expressly called the temple of the city.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 23:17

COMBINED MEANING

ye

↗

The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fools

↗

Persons lacking wisdom or sound judgment, especially in moral or spiritual conduct.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

blind

↗

Sense 1: Unable to see with the eyes, or unable or unwilling to perceive, understand, or judge. Sense 2: A person or persons unable to see, as in ‘the blind’. Sense 3: To make unable to see or judge, or to obscure or hinder sight or judgment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

temple

↗

Sense 1: A sacred house, building, or place devoted to the worship or presence of God or an idol. Sense 2: Christ's body, expressly called the temple of his body. Sense 3: A believer's body, or believers collectively, called the temple of God or of the Holy Ghost. Sense 4: The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb, expressly called the temple of the city.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 23:18

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

gift

↗

Sense 1: Something given or bestowed; a present. Sense 2: An endowment or ability. Sense 3: A bribe.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

upon

↗

1. Marks the person, place, thing, or basis to which something is related: on or onto; above or over; toward or against as the target of action, speech, thought, attention, or force; resting on, assigned to, or affecting as a state, gift, burden, duty, guilt, or judgment; supported by or based on; or one placed, added, or repeated on or after another. 2. With a stated time or occasion, or a preceding event, at that time or point, or at or after that event: on, at, when, then, or following it.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

guilty

↗

Having committed an offence or violated a law or duty; blameworthy and liable to judgment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 23:19

COMBINED MEANING

ye

↗

The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fools

↗

Persons lacking wisdom or sound judgment, especially in moral or spiritual conduct.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

blind

↗

Sense 1: Unable to see with the eyes, or unable or unwilling to perceive, understand, or judge. Sense 2: A person or persons unable to see, as in ‘the blind’. Sense 3: To make unable to see or judge, or to obscure or hinder sight or judgment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

gift

↗

Sense 1: Something given or bestowed; a present. Sense 2: An endowment or ability. Sense 3: A bribe.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

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Related Concepts

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Suggested context · Matthew 23:16–22

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23:16Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

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23:17Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

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23:18And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

Selected passage

23:19Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

Selected passage

23:20Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

23:21And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

23:22And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

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