Matthew 23:18 — Compare Translations

28 translations compared side by side

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

`And, whoever may swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever may swear by the gift that is upon it -- is debtor!

And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is a debtor.

English Amplified

You say too, Whoever swears by the altar is not duty bound; but whoever swears by the offering on the altar, his oath is binding.

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

You say too, Whoever swears by the altar is not duty bound; but whoever swears by the offering on the altar, his oath is binding.

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

Also, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing; but whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.’

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it is a debtor.

English EASY 2024

You also say to people, “You may make a promise by the altar in the temple. Then it is not a serious promise. You do not have to do it. But you may also make a promise by the gifts on that altar. Then it is a serious promise and you must do it.”

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

"And you say, 'If anyone uses the altar to make a promise, that means nothing. But anyone who uses the gift on the altar to make a promise must keep that promise.'

English ESV 2016 == The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles

And you say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.'

English GNT (Good News Translation)

You also teach, ‘If someone swears by the altar, he isn't bound by his vow; but if he swears by the gift on the altar, he is bound.’

English God's Word - GW 1995

Again you say, 'To swear an oath by the altar doesn't mean a thing. But to swear an oath by the gift on the altar means a person must keep his oath.'

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

Also, 'Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.'

English KJV 1611

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

And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.’

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing. But if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is obligated.’

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

"And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.'

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

And you say, 'If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.'

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing. But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by the oath.’

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

"You also say, 'If anyone takes an oath in the name of the altar, it means nothing. But anyone who takes an oath in the name of the gift on it must keep the oath.'

You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.'

English NKJ 1982

And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it. ’

And you say that to take an oath 'by the altar' can be broken, but to swear 'by the gifts on the altar' is binding!

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

And you say, 'Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.'

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

And you say that whoever takes an oath by swearing, ‘By the altar,’ it is nothing. But if you swear, ‘By the gift upon the altar,’ then you are obligated to keep your oath.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

And you say, ‘If any one swears by the altar, it is nothing; but if any one swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

And you say that to take an oath 'By the altar' can be broken, but to swear 'By the gifts on the altar' is binding!

English Tyndale 1537

And whosoever sweareth by the altar it is nothing: but whosoever sweareth by the offering that lieth on the altar is debtor.(offendeth,)(guilty)