Matthew 6:27
Encyclopedia
Matthew 6:27 is the twenty-seventh verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew
in the New Testament
and is part of the Sermon on the Mount
. This verse continues the discussion of worry about material provisions.
In the King James Version of the Bible
the text reads:
The World English Bible
translates the passage as:
For a collection of other versions see BibRef Matthew 6:27
In the original Greek this verse speaks of adding one cubit
, a word and a measure of length derived from the forearm. It was usually equivalent to about 46 centimetres or 18 inches. It is odd to increase the lifespan by an amount of length, as a lifespan is measured in time, not distance. There are two methods of resolving this dilemma. The first is to read cubit as a metaphorical term that can stand for any unit of measurement, and this verse is thus speaking of adding time to the life span. Most modern Bible translations, including the WEB, take this approach. The second option, taken by the creators of the KJV, is to argue that the Greek term usually translated as lifespan, helikia, can also sometimes mean stature, and this verse is thus speaking of adding physical height to the body. According to Fowler, Plummer argues against this translation because an increase of height of a cubit would create someone monstrously large, a fate few would desire. Fowler rejects this view, believing that Jesus may be talking about the growth of children rather than adults. Morris feels that we should not rule the idea that Jesus is here using a humorous exaggeration, as he does elsewhere on occasion. Luz feels that this could be a reference to the then popular idea that Adam
before the fall was much taller, and if humans were ever to return to the original state of grace they would regain this height. Beare notes a compromise view, which is that "a cubit of life" could be an expression for the length of time it takes to walk a cubit. Since a cubit is roughly equivalent to a step, Nolland reads this verse as meaning that worry won't help one take a single step towards maturity.
With either translation the meaning of this verse is the same. Jesus is here telling his followers that there is nothing to gain in life by being worried or anxious. This view on worry is a widely accepted one in the medical community today, and there is even a great deal of evidence that excessive worry can do a great deal to shorten the life span. Schweizer, however, feels that modern technology has somewhat negated this verse as a reasonable concern for one's health can increase one's life span significantly.
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
in the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
and is part of the Sermon on the Mount
Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus, which emphasizes his moral teaching found in the Gospel of Matthew...
. This verse continues the discussion of worry about material provisions.
In the King James Version of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
the text reads:
- Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
The World English Bible
World English Bible
The World English Bible is a public domain translation of the Bible that is currently in draft form. Work on the World English Bible began in 1997 and was known as the American Standard Version 1997...
translates the passage as:
- “Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?
For a collection of other versions see BibRef Matthew 6:27
In the original Greek this verse speaks of adding one cubit
Cubit
The cubit is a traditional unit of length, based on the length of the forearm. Cubits of various lengths were employed in many parts of the world in Antiquity, in the Middle Ages and into Early Modern Times....
, a word and a measure of length derived from the forearm. It was usually equivalent to about 46 centimetres or 18 inches. It is odd to increase the lifespan by an amount of length, as a lifespan is measured in time, not distance. There are two methods of resolving this dilemma. The first is to read cubit as a metaphorical term that can stand for any unit of measurement, and this verse is thus speaking of adding time to the life span. Most modern Bible translations, including the WEB, take this approach. The second option, taken by the creators of the KJV, is to argue that the Greek term usually translated as lifespan, helikia, can also sometimes mean stature, and this verse is thus speaking of adding physical height to the body. According to Fowler, Plummer argues against this translation because an increase of height of a cubit would create someone monstrously large, a fate few would desire. Fowler rejects this view, believing that Jesus may be talking about the growth of children rather than adults. Morris feels that we should not rule the idea that Jesus is here using a humorous exaggeration, as he does elsewhere on occasion. Luz feels that this could be a reference to the then popular idea that Adam
Adam
Adam is a figure in the Book of Genesis. According to the creation myth of Abrahamic religions, he is the first human. In the Genesis creation narratives, he was created by Yahweh-Elohim , and the first woman, Eve was formed from his rib...
before the fall was much taller, and if humans were ever to return to the original state of grace they would regain this height. Beare notes a compromise view, which is that "a cubit of life" could be an expression for the length of time it takes to walk a cubit. Since a cubit is roughly equivalent to a step, Nolland reads this verse as meaning that worry won't help one take a single step towards maturity.
With either translation the meaning of this verse is the same. Jesus is here telling his followers that there is nothing to gain in life by being worried or anxious. This view on worry is a widely accepted one in the medical community today, and there is even a great deal of evidence that excessive worry can do a great deal to shorten the life span. Schweizer, however, feels that modern technology has somewhat negated this verse as a reasonable concern for one's health can increase one's life span significantly.