Matthew 6 · Verse 28

Matthew 6:28

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Matthew 6:28, King James Version

Matthew 6:28 in other translations

BSBAnd why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin.
WEBWhy are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,
ASVAnd why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
YLTand about clothing why are ye anxious? consider well the lilies of the field; how do they grow? they do not labour, nor do they spin;
DARBYAnd why are ye careful about clothing? Observe with attention the lilies of the field, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin;
BBEAnd why are you troubled about clothing? See the flowers of the field, how they come up; they do no work, they make no thread:
WebsterAnd why are ye anxious for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow? they toil not, neither do they spin?

What does Matthew 6:28 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
28. And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider--observe well. the lilies of the field, how they grow: they toil not--as men, planting and preparing the flax. neither do they spin--as women.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verses 28,29. The fourth consideration is taken from the lilies of the valley. Watch the growing of the lily. It toils not, and it spins not. Yet night and day it grows. With a beauty which the most splendid monarch of the East never knew, it expands its blossom and fills the air with fragrance. Yet this beauty is of short continuance. Soon it will fade, and the beautiful flower will be cut down and burned. God so little regards the bestowment of beauty and ornament as to give the highest adorning to this which is soon to perish. When he thus clothes a lily--a fair flower, soon to perish--will he be unmindful of his children? Shall they--dear to his heart and imbued with immortality--lack that which is proper for them, and shall they in vain trust the God that decks the lily of the valley? He will much more clothe you.

Even Solomon in all his glory, etc. The common dress of eastern kings was purple. But they sometimes wore white robes. See Est 8:15, Dan 7:9. It is to this that Christ refers. Solomon, says he, the richest and most magnificent king of Israel, was not clothed in a robe of so pure a white as the lilly of the valley.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? - Or, why are ye anxiously careful about raiment? The fourth reason against such inquietudes is the example of inanimate creatures: The herbs and flowers of the field have their being, nourishment, exquisite flavors, and beautiful hues from God himself. They are not only without anxious care, but also without care or thought of every kind. Your being, its excellence and usefulness, do not depend on your anxious concern: they spring as truly from the beneficence and continual superintendence of God, as the flowers of the field do; and were you brought into such a situation, as to be as utterly incapable of contributing to your own preservation and support as the lilies of the field are to theirs, your heavenly Father could augment your substance, and preserve your being, when for his glory and your own advantage. Consider - Diligently consider this, καταμαθετε, lay it earnestly to heart, and let your confidence be unshaken in the God of infinite bounty and love.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 6:25-34

There is scarcely any sin against which our Lord Jesus more warns his disciples, than disquieting, distracting, distrustful cares about the things of this life. This often insnares the poor as much as the love of wealth does the rich. But there is a carefulness about temporal things which is a duty, though we must not carry these lawful cares too far. Take no thought for your life. Not about the length of it; but…

Read the full comment on Matthew 6:25-34 →

Matthew 6:28 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
περὶperiaboutG4012
ἐνδύματοςendumatosclothingG1742
τίtiwhyG5101
μεριμνᾶτε;merimnateare you anxious?G3309
καταμάθετεkatamathetedo observeG2648
τὰtatheG3588
κρίναkrinaliliesG2918
τοῦtouof theG3588
ἀγροῦ,agroufield,G68
πῶςpōshowG4459
αὐξάνουσιν·auxanousinthey grow;G837
οὐounotG3756
κοπιῶσινkopiōsindo they laborG2872
οὐδὲoudenorG3761
νήθουσιν.nēthousindo they spin.G3514

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

Cross references for Matthew 6:28

  • Matthew 6:25

    Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

  • Philippians 4:6

    Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

  • Luke 12:27

    Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

  • Luke 22:35-36

    And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

  • Matthew 6:31

    Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

  • Luke 3:11

    He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

  • Matthew 10:10

    Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
why.
25,31; 10:10; Lu 3:11; 22:35,36
the lilies.
Lu 12:27

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

Context

  • Matthew 6:27

    Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

  • Matthew 6:28

    And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

  • Matthew 6:29

    And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Read all of Matthew 6

Matthew 6:28 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y por el vestido ¿por qué os congojáis? Reparad los lirios del campo, cómo crecen; no trabajan ni hilan;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et pourquoi êtes-vous en souci du vêtement? Étudiez les lis des champs, comment ils croissent: ils ne travaillent ni ne filent;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und warum seid ihr um Kleidung besorgt? Betrachtet die Lilien des Feldes, wie sie wachsen: sie mühen sich nicht, auch spinnen sie nicht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et de vestimento quid solliciti estis? Considerate lilia agri quomodo crescunt: non laborant, neque nent.