Matthew 5 · Verse 40

Matthew 5:40

And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Matthew 5:40, King James Version

Matthew 5:40 in other translations

BSBif someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well;
WEBIf anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.
ASVAnd if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
YLTand whoever is willing to take thee to law, and thy coat to take--suffer to him also the cloak.
DARBYand to him that would go to law with thee and take thy body coat, leave him thy cloak also.
BBEAnd if any man goes to law with you and takes away your coat, do not keep back your robe from him.
WebsterAnd if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

What does Matthew 5:40 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
40. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat--the inner garment; in pledge for a debt (Ex 22:26, 27). let him have thy cloak also--the outer and more costly garment. This overcoat was not allowed to be retained over night as a pledge from the poor because they used it for a bed covering.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 40. Mt 5:38

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law - Every where our blessed Lord shows the utmost disapprobation of such litigations as tended to destroy brotherly kindness and charity. It is evident he would have his followers to suffer rather the loss of all their property than to have recourse to such modes of redress, at so great a risk. Having the mind averse from contentions, and preferring peace and concord to temporal advantages, is most solemnly recommended to all Christians. We are great gainers when we lose only our money, or other property, and risk not the loss of our souls, by losing the love of God and man. Coat - Χιτωνα, upper garment. - Cloke, ἱματιον, under garment. What we call strait coat, and great coat. - See on Luk 6:29 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 5:38-42

The plain instruction is, Suffer any injury that can be borne, for the sake of peace, committing your concerns to the Lord's keeping. And the sum of all is, that Christians must avoid disputing and striving. If any say, Flesh and blood cannot pass by such an affront, let them remember, that flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God; and those who act upon right principles will have most peace and comfort.

Read the full comment on Matthew 5:38-42 →

Matthew 5:40 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.

καὶkaiandG2532
τῷtōto the [one]G3588
θέλοντίthelontiwillingG2309
σοιsoiyouG4771
κριθῆναιkrithēnaito sueG2919
καὶkaiandG2532
τὸνtontheG3588
χιτῶνάchitōnatunicG5509
σουsouof youG4771
λαβεῖν,labeinto take,G2983
ἄφεςaphesdo yieldG863
αὐτῷautōto himG846
καὶkaialsoG2532
τὸtotheG3588
ἱμάτιον·himationcloak;G2440

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

Cross references for Matthew 5:40

  • Luke 6:29

    And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:7

    Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lu 6:29; 1Co 6:7

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

Context

  • Matthew 5:39

    But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

  • Matthew 5:40

    And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

  • Matthew 5:41

    And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Read all of Matthew 5

Matthew 5:40 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y al que quisiere ponerte á pleito y tomarte tu ropa, déjale también la capa;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et à celui qui veut plaider contre toi et t’ôter ta tunique, laisse-lui encore le manteau;
German
Elberfelder 1871		und dem, der mit dir vor Gericht gehen und deinen Leibrock nehmen will, dem laß auch den Mantel.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et ei, qui vult tecum judicio contendere, et tunicam tuam tollere, dimitte ei et pallium: