King James Version

Matthew 5:36

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

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The KJV’s Greek text (Textus Receptus) word order differs here.

μήτεmēteNeitherμήτεconjunction — “Neither”G3383nor, neither, not even, neither...nor.This verse uses “neither”.Neitherἐνenbyἐνpreposition — “by”G1722in, on, among.byτῇtētheὁ (ho)article, dative, singular, feminine — “the”, the to- or for-formG3588the, the definite article.κεφαλῇkephalēheadκεφαλήnoun, dative, singular, feminine — “head”, the to- or for-formG2776(a) the head, (b) met: a corner stone, uniting two walls; head, ruler, lord.headσουsouyouσύ (su)personal pronoun, genitive, singular — “you”, the of-formG4771you.ὀμόσῃςomosēsto swearὀμνύω (omnuō)verb, aorist active subjunctive, 2nd person singular — “to swear”, a single actionG3660I swear, take an oath, promise with an oath.This verse uses “swear”.ὅτιhotibecauseὅτιconjunction — “because”G3754that, since, because; may introduce direct discourse.This verse uses “because”.becauseοὐounotοὐadverb — “not”G3756no, not.notδύνασαιdunasaibe ableδύναμαι (dunamai)verb, present middle indicative, 2nd person singular — “be able”, an ongoing or repeated actionG1410(a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can.μίανmianoneεἷς (heis)adjective, accusative, singular, feminine — “one”, the object formG1520one.oneτρίχαtrichahairθρίξ (thrix)noun, accusative, singular, feminine — “hair”, the object formG2359hair (of the head or of animals).hairλευκὴνleukēnwhiteλευκός (leukos)adjective, accusative, singular, feminine — “white”, the object formG3022white, bright, brilliant.This verse uses “white”.whiteποιῆσαιpoiēsaito doποιέω (poieō)verb, aorist active infinitive — “to do”, a single actionG4160(a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause.ἢēorἤconjunction — “or”G2228or, than.orμέλαινανmelainanblackμέλας (melas)adjective, accusative, singular, feminine — “black”, the object formG3189black.black

Literal (Young’s Literal Translation)

nor by thy head mayest thou swear, because thou art not able one hair to make white or black;

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.

Young’s Literal Translation

nor by thy head mayest thou swear, because thou art not able one hair to make white or black;

World English Bible

Neither shall you swear by your head , for you can ’ t make one hair white or black .

Darby Translation

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

Douay-Rheims

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

American Standard Version (1901)

Young’s Literal Translation

World English Bible

Darby Translation

Douay-Rheims

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