Devine Scripture

Matthew 12:36

What does Matthew 12:36 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 12:36 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 12:36 means

Jesus warns that every idle word people speak will be accounted for on the day of judgment. He elevates the moral seriousness of speech: careless, malicious, or thoughtless words are not insignificant. The warning communicates that God examines motives and expressions, and that speech reveals the heart. Thus, Christians are called to disciplined, faithful use of words, mindful that words contribute to final justification or condemnation.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And I say to you that in the day when they are judged, men will have to give an account of every foolish word they have said.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And I say to you, that every idle word that men may speak, they shall give for it a reckoning in a day of judgment;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But I say unto you, that every idle word which men shall say, they shall render an account of it in judgment-day:

Context

This ethical admonition follows the treasure-of-the-heart teaching. It broadens the moral implications of speech, moving from root causes to eschatological accountability. The immediate follow-up, verse 37, stresses that words play a decisive role in justification and condemnation.

v.35The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

v.36This passage

v.37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ecclesiastes 12:14

    For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

  • Ephesians 6:4

    And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.

  • Revelation 20:12

    And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which isthe bookof life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.

  • Jude 1:14

    And to these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,

  • Romans 2:16

    in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.

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