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Scripture · New Testament

Matthew 5:21

Matthew 5:21 is verse 21 of Matthew chapter 5, shown here in the Berean Standard Bible.

Berean Standard Bible

You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’

Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17

BSB source and public domain terms

King James Version

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

World English Bible

“You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’

Read in context

Matthew 5:19–23 · Berean Standard Bible

19 So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

21 You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’

22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

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Greek words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Matthew 5:27

You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’

Matthew 5:33

Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’

Matthew 5:43

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’

2 Samuel 20:18

Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled.

Job 8:8

Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.

Job 8:9

For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.

Job 8:10

Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?

Genesis 9:5

And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:

Genesis 9:6

Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.

Exodus 20:13

You shall not murder.

Deuteronomy 5:17

You shall not murder.

Exodus 21:12

Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death.

Exodus 21:13

If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.

Exodus 21:14

But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.

Numbers 35:12

You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.

Numbers 35:16

If, however, anyone strikes a person with an iron object and kills him, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.

Numbers 35:17

Or if anyone has in his hand a stone of deadly size, and he strikes and kills another, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.

Numbers 35:18

If anyone has in his hand a deadly object of wood, and he strikes and kills another, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.

Numbers 35:19

The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death; when he finds him, he is to kill him.

Numbers 35:20

Likewise, if anyone maliciously pushes another or intentionally throws an object at him and kills him,

Numbers 35:21

or if in hostility he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death; he is a murderer. When the avenger of blood finds the murderer, he is to kill him.

Numbers 35:30

If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.

Numbers 35:31

You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death.

Numbers 35:32

Nor should you accept a ransom for the person who flees to a city of refuge and allow him to return and live on his own land before the death of the high priest.

Numbers 35:33

Do not pollute the land where you live, for bloodshed pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land on which the blood is shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.

Numbers 35:34

Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell. For I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.”

Deuteronomy 21:7

and they shall declare, “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it.

Deuteronomy 21:8

Accept this atonement, O LORD, for Your people Israel whom You have redeemed, and do not hold the shedding of innocent blood against them.” And the bloodshed will be atoned for.

Deuteronomy 21:9

So you shall purge from among you the guilt of shedding innocent blood, since you have done what is right in the eyes of the LORD.

1 Kings 2:5

Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.

1 Kings 2:6

So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

1 Kings 2:31

And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed.

1 Kings 2:32

The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army.

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