Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Matthew 23:27–28

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapter
More
Report an issueTell us about a text or study problem

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

2 selected · 8 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

9 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 27

  1. Acts 23:3Rank 1 from verse 27
    Open

    3Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

  2. Luke 11:44Rank 2 from verse 27
    Open

    44Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

  3. Numbers 19:16Rank 3 from verse 27
    Open

    16And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

  4. Isaiah 58:1–2Rank 4 from verse 27
    Open

    1CRY aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

    2Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

From verse 28

  1. Luke 16:15Rank 1 from verse 28
    Open

    15And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

  2. Matthew 23:5Rank 2 from verse 28
    Open

    5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

  3. Psalms 51:6Rank 3 from verse 28
    Open

    6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

  4. 1 Samuel 16:7Rank 4 from verse 28
    Open

    7But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

  5. Hebrews 4:12–13Rank 5 from verse 28
    Open

    12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

    13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 23:27

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

hypocrites

↗

Persons who pretend to virtue or godliness while concealing contrary character or conduct.

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

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

like

↗

Sense 1: Similar or of the same kind; in the same manner; likely. Sense 2: A like person or thing; an equal or counterpart. Sense 3: To please, choose, or regard with favour.

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

COMBINED MEANING

whited

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of white, meaning to make white; to whiten.

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

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

indeed

↗

Truly, certainly, actually, or in fact; used for emphasis, confirmation, or concession before a contrast.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

appear

↗

1. To come or become visible or manifest. 2. To come or present oneself before someone. 3. To seem or have an outward appearance.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

outward

↗

Sense 1: External, exterior, visible, or bodily, as opposed to inward. Sense 2: Toward or on the outside. Sense 3: External or public affairs or business.

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

COMBINED MEANING

dead

↗

Sense 1: Without life; deprived of life. Sense 2: Lifeless, inactive, insensible, or separated from a former state by figure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

uncleanness

↗

Sense 1: Bodily or ceremonial impurity, foulness, dirtiness, or filthiness. Sense 2: Moral impurity, defilement by sin, or lewdness.

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

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 23:28

COMBINED MEANING

even

↗

1. Used to emphasize, include, or precisely identify what is meant: indeed, precisely, or namely. 2. Used to mark a boundary, endpoint, or full reach in place, time, or degree: up to, as far as, or through. 3. In ‘even as,’ ‘even so,’ and like constructions, just as, exactly so, or in the same manner. 4. The evening, or close of day. 5. Equal, level, identical, balanced, or uniform.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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

appear

↗

1. To come or become visible or manifest. 2. To come or present oneself before someone. 3. To seem or have an outward appearance.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

righteous

↗

Sense 1: Right, just, equitable, or in accord with truth, justice, or the will of God. Sense 2: Upright or innocent in a matter. Sense 3: Made or regarded as right. Sense 4: As a noun, persons so described.

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

COMBINED MEANING

hypocrisy

↗

Simulation; a feigning to be what one is not; or dissimulation, a concealment of one's real character or motives.

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

COMBINED MEANING

iniquity

↗

Wickedness, unrighteousness, transgression, or sin; the guilt or burden of such wrongdoing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hypocracy

↗

Hypocrisy: pretence or insincerity; an outward appearance concealing contrary intent or character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

Choose a connected KJV word or phrase to find where it appears in scripture.

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

26Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

Selected passage

28Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Selected passage

29Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Find a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.