Matthew 6:7 BSB — MannaFest

Matthew 6:7

And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

KJV

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

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Commentary

4 voices

Jerome

Catena Aurea by Aquinas (420)

On this there starts up a heresy of certain Philosophers who taught the mistaken dogma, that If God knows for what we shall pray, and, before we ask, knows what we need, our prayer is needlessly made to one who has such knowledge. (Epicureans.) To such we shortly reply, That in our prayers we do not instruct, but entreat; it is one thing to inform the ignorant, another to beg of the understanding: the first were to teach; the latter is to perform a service of duty.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions,.... Saying the same things over and over again, as the Heathens do, as the worshippers of Baal, from morning till noon, 1Ki 18:

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

Use not vain repetitions - The original word here is supposed to be derived from the name of a Greek poet, who made long and weary verses, declaring by many forms and endless repetitions the same sentiment. Hence, it means to repeat a thing often; to say the same thing in different words, or to repeat the same words, as though God did not hear at first.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

With the Jews, says LIGHTFOOT, it was a maxim, that "Every one who multiplies prayer is heard." In the Church of Rome, not only is it carried to a shameless extent, but, as THOLUCK justly observes, the very prayer which our Lord gave as an antidote to vain repetitions is the most abused to this superstitious end; the number of times it is repeated counting for so much more merit.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

15 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
προσευχόμενοι	proseuchomenoi	Praying	G4336 →
δὲ	de	now	G1161 →
μὴ	mē	not	G3361 →
βατταλογήσητε	battalogēsēte	may use vain repetitions	G945 →
ὥσπερ	hōsper	like	G5618 →
οἱ	hoi	the	G3588 →
ἐθνικοί·	ethnikoi	pagans;	G1482 →
δοκοῦσιν	dokousin	they think	G1380 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ὅτι	hoti	that	G3754 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
τῇ	tēa	the	G3588 →
πολυλογίᾳ	polulogia	many words	G4180 →
αὐτῶν	autōn	of them	G846 →
εἰσακουσθήσονται.	eisakousthēsontai	they will be heard.	G1522 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Matthew 6:32
For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
leads to
- Matthew 6:8
  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
- Luke 12:30
  For the Gentiles of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
- Ephesians 4:17
  So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
- Luke 11:11–13
  What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
Through
Ecclesiastes 5:7
For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.
leads to
- Matthew 12:36
  But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13
  When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12
  Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
- Isaiah 50:10–11
  Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His Servant? Who among you walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him…