Matthew 5 · Verse 27

Matthew 5:27

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Matthew 5:27, King James Version

Matthew 5:27 in other translations

BSBYou have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’
WEB“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’
ASVYe have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
YLT‘Ye heard that it was said to the ancients: Thou shalt not commit adultery;
DARBYYe have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt not commit adultery.
BBEYou have knowledge that it was said, You may not have connection with another man's wife:
WebsterYe have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

What does Matthew 5:27 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
27. Ye have heard that it was said--The words "by," or "to them of old time," in this verse are insufficiently supported, and probably were not in the original text. Thou shall not commit adultery--Interpreting this seventh, as they did the sixth commandment, the traditional perverters of the law restricted the breach of it to acts of criminal intercourse between, or with, married persons exclusively. Our Lord now dissipates such delusions.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verses 27,28. Ye have heard--Thou shalt not commit adultery. Our Saviour in these verses explains the seventh commandment. It is probable that the Pharisees had explained this commandment as they had the sixth, as extending only to the external act; and that they regarded evil thoughts and a wanton imagination as of little consequence, or as not forbidden by the law. Our Saviour assures them that the commandment did not regard the external act merely, but the secrets of the heart, and the movements of the eye. That they who indulged a wanton desire; that they who looked on a woman to increase their lust, have already, in the sight of God, violated the commandment, and committed adultery in the heart. Such was the guilt of David, whose deep and awful crime fully shows the danger of indulging in evil desires, and in the rovings of a wanton eye. See 2Sam 11:1-27 Ps 51:1-19. See also 2Pet 2:14. So exceeding strict and broad is the law of God! And so heinous in his sight are thoughts and feelings, which may be for ever concealed from the world!

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old - By the ancients, τοις αρχαιοις, is omitted by nearly a hundred MSS., and some of them of the very greatest antiquity and authority; also by the Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Gothic, and Sclavonian versions; by four copies of the old Itala; and by Origen, Cyril, Theophylact, Euthymius, and Hilary. On this authority Wetstein and Griesbach have left it out of the text.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 5:27-32
Victory over the desires of the heart, must be attended with painful exertions. But it must be done. Every thing is bestowed to save us from our sins, not in them. All our senses and powers must be kept from those things which lead to transgression. Those who lead others into temptation to sin, by dress or in other ways, or leave them in it, or expose them to it, make themselves guilty of their sin, and will be accountable for it. If painful operations are submitted to, that our lives may be saved, what ought our minds to shrink from, when the salvation of our souls is concerned? There is tender mercy under all the Divine requirements, and the grace and consolations of the Spirit will enable us to attend to them.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 5:27 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἨκούσατεĒkousateYou have heardG191
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἐρρέθηerrethēit was saidG2046
τοῖςtoisto theG3588
ἀρχαίοις·archaioisancients:G744
οὐouNotG3756
μοιχεύσεις.moicheuseiswill you commit adultery.’G3431

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 5:27

  • Deuteronomy 5:18

    Neither shalt thou commit adultery.

  • Proverbs 6:32

    But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

  • Exodus 20:14

    Thou shalt not commit adultery.

  • Leviticus 20:10

    And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

  • Deuteronomy 22:22-24

    If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.

  • Matthew 5:21

    Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Thou.
Ex 20:14; Le 20:10; De 5:18; 22:22-24; Pr 6:32

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 5:26

    Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

  • Matthew 5:27

    Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

  • Matthew 5:28

    But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Read all of Matthew 5

Matthew 5:27 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Oísteis que fué dicho: No adulterarás:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Vous avez entendu qu’il a été dit: « Tu ne commettras pas adultère ».
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ihr habt gehört, daß gesagt ist: Du sollst nicht ehebrechen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Audistis quia dictum est antiquis: Non mœchaberis.