Matthew 6:23
What does Matthew 6:23 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 6:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 6:23 means
Continuing the metaphor, Jesus describes the consequence of a corrupted spiritual vision. If the metaphorical eye is "evil" or unhealthy, meaning one's focus is divided, greedy, or misguided, then the "whole body shall be full of darkness." This signifies a life characterized by spiritual confusion, moral depravity, and a lack of true understanding. The alarming question, "If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness!" underscores the severe danger of a twisted moral compass, where one's source of truth has become corrupted.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness!
KJV
King James Version · 1611But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness!
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But if your eye is evil, all your body will be dark. If then the light which is in you is dark, how dark it will be!
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862but if thine eye may be evil, all thy body shall be dark; if, therefore, the light that <FI>is<Fi> in thee is darkness--the darkness, how great!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But if thy eye be evil thy whole body shall be darksome. If then the light that is in thee, be darkness: the darkness itself how great shall it be!
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890but if thine eye be wicked, thy whole body will be dark. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great the darkness!
Context
This verse serves as the negative counterpoint to the 'single eye' described in verse 22. It immediately follows that verse, showing the dire consequences of a flawed or divided spiritual vision. This illustration of the eye as regulating the body's light or darkness provides a powerful visual lead-in to Jesus' absolute declaration about serving masters, cementing the need for singular allegiance to God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 8:8
How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes hath wrought falsely.
- Isaiah 5:20
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
- Revelation 3:17
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:
- Ephesians 4:18
being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart;
- Jeremiah 4:22
For my people are foolish, they know me not; they are sottish children, and they have no understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
- 1 John 2:11
But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.
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