Matthew 6 · Verse 3

Matthew 6:3

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
Matthew 6:3, King James Version

Matthew 6:3 in other translations

BSBBut when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
WEBBut when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,
ASVBut when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
YLT‘But thou, doing kindness, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth,
DARBYBut thou, when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand does;
BBEBut when you give money, let not your left hand see what your right hand does:
WebsterBut when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

What does Matthew 6:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth--So far from making a display of it, dwell not on it even in thine own thoughts, lest it minister to spiritual pride.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verses 3,4. Let not thy left hand know, etc. This is a proverbial expression, signifying that the action should be done as secretly as possible. The Hebrews often attribute actions to members which properly belong to persons. The encouragement for doing this is, that it will be pleasing to God; that he will see the act, however secret it may be, and will openly reward it. If the reward is not greater in this life, it will be in the life to come. In multitudes of cases, however, alms given to the poor are "lent to the Lord," (Prov 19:17) and will be repaid in this life. Rarely, perhaps never, has it been found that the man who is liberal to the poor, has ever suffered by it in his worldly circumstances.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Let not thy left hand know - In many cases, works of charity must be hidden from even our nearest relatives, who, if they knew, would hinder us from doing what God has given us power and inclination to perform. We must go even farther; and conceal them as far as is possible from ourselves, by not thinking of them, or eyeing them with complacency. They are given to God, and should be hidden in Him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 6:1-4

Evil of being worldly-minded. (19-24) Trust in God commended. (25-34) Verses 1-4 Our Lord next warned against hypocrisy and outward show in religious duties. What we do, must be done from an inward principle, that we may be approved of God, not that we may be praised of men. In these verses we are cautioned against hypocrisy in giving alms. Take heed of it. It is a subtle sin; and vain-glory creeps into what we do…

Read the full comment on Matthew 6:1-4 →

Matthew 6:3 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.

σοῦsouYouG4771
δὲdehoweverG1161
ποιοῦντοςpoiountosdoingG4160
ἐλεημοσύνηνeleēmosunēncharityG1654
μὴmēnotG3361
γνώτωgnōtōshould knowG1097
ἡhētheG3588
ἀριστεράaristeraleft [hand]G710
σουsouof youG4771
τίtiwhatG5101
ποιεῖpoieiis doingG4160
ἡhētheG3588
δεξιάdexiaright [hand]G1188
σουsouof youG4771

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

Cross references for Matthew 6:3

  • John 7:4

    For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

  • Matthew 9:30

    And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

  • Mark 1:44

    And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

  • Matthew 12:19

    He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
let.
8:4; 9:30; 12:19; Mr 1:44; Joh 7:4

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

Context

  • Matthew 6:2

    Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

  • Matthew 6:3

    But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

  • Matthew 6:4

    That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Read all of Matthew 6

Matthew 6:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas cuando tú haces limosna, no sepa tu izquierda lo que hace tu derecha;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais toi, quand tu fais l’aumône, que ta main gauche ne sache pas ce que fait ta droite,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Du aber, wenn du Almosen gibst, so laß deine Linke nicht wissen, was deine Rechte tut;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Te autem faciente eleemosynam, nesciat sinistra tua quid faciat dextera tua: