Matthew 23:22
New International Version
And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.

New Living Translation
And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.

English Standard Version
And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

Berean Standard Bible
And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the One who sits on it.

Berean Literal Bible
And the one having sworn by heaven swears by the throne of God and by the One sitting upon it.

King James Bible
And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

New King James Version
And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.

New American Standard Bible
And the one who swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

NASB 1995
“And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

NASB 1977
“And he who swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

Legacy Standard Bible
And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

Amplified Bible
And whoever swears [an oath] by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

Berean Annotated Bible
And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s {Theou} throne and by the One who sits on it.

Christian Standard Bible
And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God’s throne and by him who sits on it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God’s throne and by Him who sits on it.

American Standard Version
And he that sweareth by the heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

Contemporary English Version
To swear by heaven is the same as swearing by God's throne and by the one who sits on that throne.

English Revised Version
And he that sweareth by the heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
And to swear an oath by heaven is to swear by God's throne and the one who sits on it.

Good News Translation
and when someone swears by heaven, he is swearing by God's throne and by him who sits on it.

International Standard Version
And the one who swears an oath by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.

NET Bible
And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and the one who sits on it.

New Heart English Bible
He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth upon it.

Weymouth New Testament
and he who swears by Heaven swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the One who sits on it.

World English Bible
He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by him who sits on it.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he who swore by Heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by Him who is sitting on it.

Berean Literal Bible
And the one having sworn by heaven swears by the throne of God and by the One sitting upon it.

Young's Literal Translation
and he who did swear by the heaven, doth swear by the throne of God, and by Him who is sitting upon it.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he having sworn by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him sitting above it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he that sweareth by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits upon it.

New American Bible
one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.

New Revised Standard Version
and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And whoever swears by Heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he that swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him that sits upon it.

Godbey New Testament
And the one swearing by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by Him that sitteth upon it.

Haweis New Testament
So he that sweareth by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him who is seated upon it.

Mace New Testament
and he that swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

Weymouth New Testament
and he who swears by Heaven swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

Worrell New Testament
and he who swears by Heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him sitting thereon.

Worsley New Testament
and he, that sweareth by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by Him that sitteth upon it.

Additional Translations ...



Context
Woes to Scribes and Pharisees
21And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the One who dwells in it. 22And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the One who sits on it. 23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.…

Cross References
And he who swears by heaven

Matthew 5:34
But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

Psalm 11:4
The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.
swears by God’s throne

Isaiah 66:1
This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?

Psalm 103:19
The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

Revelation 4:2
At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it.
and by the One who sits on it.

1 Kings 22:19
Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.

Revelation 5:13
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!”

Daniel 7:9
As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
Acts 7:49
‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be?

Hebrews 8:1
The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

Isaiah 6:1
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple.

1 Kings 8:27
But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

2 Chronicles 6:18
But will God indeed dwell with man upon the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

Acts 17:24
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.

Hebrews 9:24
For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.


Treasury of Scripture

And he that shall swear by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him that sits thereon.

by the.

Matthew 5:34
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

Psalm 11:4
The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

Isaiah 66:1
Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

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Matthew 23
1. Jesus admonishes the people to follow good doctrine, not bad examples
5. His disciples must beware of their ambition.
13. He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness,
34. and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem.












And he who swears by heaven

In first-century Judaism, some used heaven in oaths to avoid speaking God’s name directly. Yet heaven is God’s dwelling place and cannot be separated from Him. An oath made by heaven therefore carries the same accountability as one made before God.

Mat 5:34 But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven…
Jas 5:12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth…
Psa 11:4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His throne…

swears by God’s throne

God’s throne represents His sovereign rule, authority, and judgment over all creation. Invoking it in an oath appeals to the highest authority and makes falsehood a matter before the righteous Judge.

Isa 66:1 This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne…”…
Psa 103:19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven…
Rev 4:2 At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing…

and by the One who sits on it.

God Himself reigns from His throne and hears every word spoken in His name or under His authority. Jesus exposes the attempt to make lesser oaths seem less binding, showing that all such vows ultimately answer to God.

1Ki 22:19 Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD:…
Rev 5:13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth…
Dan 7:9 As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place,…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, addressing the scribes and Pharisees in a series of woes, highlighting their hypocrisy and misunderstanding of the law.

2. Scribes and Pharisees
Jewish religious leaders who are being criticized by Jesus for their legalism and lack of true understanding of God's commandments.

3. Heaven
The dwelling place of God, often used in Jewish culture as a way to refer to God indirectly.

4. God’s Throne
Symbolizes God's sovereign rule and authority over all creation.

5. The One who sits on it
Refers to God Himself, emphasizing His ultimate authority and presence.
Teaching Points
Understanding Authority
Recognize that swearing by heaven is not a trivial matter because it involves God's throne and His authority. Our words should reflect our respect for God's sovereignty.

Integrity in Speech
Jesus calls us to be people of integrity, where our 'yes' means 'yes' and our 'no' means 'no.' Avoid making oaths that invoke God's name or His creation lightly.

Reverence for God
This passage reminds us to hold a deep reverence for God and His dwelling place. Our actions and words should reflect our respect for His holiness.

Hypocrisy Warning
Like the Pharisees, we must guard against hypocrisy in our spiritual lives, ensuring that our external actions align with our internal beliefs and commitments.

God’s Sovereignty
Acknowledge God's ultimate authority in all aspects of life. Trust in His rule and submit to His will, knowing that He is the One who sits on the throne.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Matthew 23:22?

2. How does Matthew 23:22 emphasize the importance of God's throne in heaven?

3. What does swearing by heaven reveal about one's understanding of God's authority?

4. How can Matthew 23:22 guide us in making truthful commitments today?

5. Connect Matthew 23:22 with other scriptures about God's sovereignty and authority.

6. How should Matthew 23:22 influence our speech and promises in daily life?

7. How does Matthew 23:22 emphasize the connection between heaven and God's throne?

8. What theological implications arise from swearing by heaven in Matthew 23:22?

9. How does Matthew 23:22 challenge the practice of making oaths?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 23?


Verse 22. - By heaven. The Talmndists affirm that an oath "by heaven" or "by earth" was not binding, on the ground, probably, that these were mere creatures. Christ again dissipates such sophistries. To swear by the creature is virtually to swear by the Creator. A brute, inanimate thing cannot be witness to an oath; he alone can be appealed to who owns all. Thus we "kiss the book," calling God to witness our words. Christ had already given a lesson to his followers on this subject in the sermon on the mount (ch. Matthew 5:34-37). He inculcates true reverence, that fear and awe of God's dignity and God's presence which constrains a man to avoid all profaneness and carelessness in regard to things that are concerned with God.

Jesus teaches that any oath, even one phrased to avoid God’s name, still invokes His heavenly throne and His very person. Because heaven is God’s dwelling, the throne His seat, and He Himself occupies that seat, all swearing is ultimately “by God.” Believers, therefore, must speak with such integrity that oaths become unnecessary, remembering they live every moment before the throne of the One who sits on it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

he who
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

swears
ὀμόσας (omosas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3660: A prolonged form of a primary, but obsolete omo, for which another prolonged form omoo is used in certain tenses; to swear, i.e. Take oath.

by
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

heaven
οὐρανῷ (ouranō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.

swears
ὀμνύει (omnyei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3660: A prolonged form of a primary, but obsolete omo, for which another prolonged form omoo is used in certain tenses; to swear, i.e. Take oath.

by
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

God’s
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

throne
θρόνῳ (thronō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2362: From thrao; a stately seat; by implication, power or a potentate.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

by
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the [One]
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

who sits
καθημένῳ (kathēmenō)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2521: To sit, be seated, enthroned; I dwell, reside. From kata; and hemai; to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside.

on
ἐπάνω (epanō)
Preposition
Strong's 1883: From epi and ano; up above, i.e. Over or on.

it.
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


Additonal Resources
Matthew 23:22 Blue Letter Bible
Matthew 23:22 Bible Gateway
Matthew 23:22 Bible.com

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Matthew 23:22 KJV

Matthew 23:22 Study Bible
Matthew 23:22 Biblia Paralela
Matthew 23:22 Chinese Bible
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Matthew 23:22 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: Matthew 23:22 He who swears by heaven swears (Matt. Mat Mt)

Matthew 23:21
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