Devine Scripture

Matthew 6:12

What does Matthew 6:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 6:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 6:12 means

This petition addresses the crucial spiritual need of forgiveness. "Forgive us our debts" speaks of sins as spiritual debts owed to God. The condition, "as we also have forgiven our debtors," highlights a critical aspect of receiving God's pardon: a willingness to extend that same forgiveness to others who have wronged us. This reciprocal relationship underscores that an unforgiving heart hinders one's own appeal for divine grace.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And make us free of our debts, as we have made those free who are in debt to us.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And forgive us our debts, as also we forgive our debtors.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors,

Context

This verse, part of the Lord's Prayer, immediately follows the petition for daily bread (verse 11), shifting the focus from physical needs to spiritual ones. It introduces the vital concept of forgiveness both from God and toward others, setting up the explanatory verses (14-15) that will directly follow the conclusion of the model prayer, emphasizing the importance of a forgiving spirit.

v.11Give us this day our daily bread.

v.12This passage

v.13And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 18:21

    Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?

  • Ephesians 1:7

    in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

  • Luke 11:4

    And forgive us our sins; for we ourselves also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And bring us not into temptation.

  • Exodus 34:7

    keeping lovingkindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.

  • Mark 11:25

    And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

  • 1 Kings 8:34

    then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers.

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