Matthew 6:25

Authorized King James Version

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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?

Original Language Analysis

διὰ Therefore G1223
διὰ Therefore
Strong's: G1223
Word #: 1 of 32
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
τοῦτο G5124
τοῦτο
Strong's: G5124
Word #: 2 of 32
that thing
λέγω I say G3004
λέγω I say
Strong's: G3004
Word #: 3 of 32
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
ὑμῖν, unto you G5213
ὑμῖν, unto you
Strong's: G5213
Word #: 4 of 32
to (with or by) you
μὴ Take no G3361
μὴ Take no
Strong's: G3361
Word #: 5 of 32
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
μεριμνᾶτε thought G3309
μεριμνᾶτε thought
Strong's: G3309
Word #: 6 of 32
to be anxious about
τῇ G3588
τῇ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 7 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ψυχὴ life G5590
ψυχὴ life
Strong's: G5590
Word #: 8 of 32
breath, i.e., (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from g4151, wh
ὑμῶν, for your G5216
ὑμῶν, for your
Strong's: G5216
Word #: 9 of 32
of (from or concerning) you
τί what G5101
τί what
Strong's: G5101
Word #: 10 of 32
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
φάγητε ye shall eat G5315
φάγητε ye shall eat
Strong's: G5315
Word #: 11 of 32
to eat (literally or figuratively)
καὶ and G2532
καὶ and
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 12 of 32
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τί what G5101
τί what
Strong's: G5101
Word #: 13 of 32
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
πίητε, ye shall drink G4095
πίητε, ye shall drink
Strong's: G4095
Word #: 14 of 32
to imbibe (literally or figuratively)
μηδὲ nor yet for G3366
μηδὲ nor yet for
Strong's: G3366
Word #: 15 of 32
but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor
τῷ G3588
τῷ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 16 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
σῶμα body G4983
σῶμα body
Strong's: G4983
Word #: 17 of 32
the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively
ὑμῶν, for your G5216
ὑμῶν, for your
Strong's: G5216
Word #: 18 of 32
of (from or concerning) you
τί what G5101
τί what
Strong's: G5101
Word #: 19 of 32
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
ἐνδύσησθε· ye shall put on G1746
ἐνδύσησθε· ye shall put on
Strong's: G1746
Word #: 20 of 32
to invest with clothing (literally or figuratively)
οὐχὶ not G3780
οὐχὶ not
Strong's: G3780
Word #: 21 of 32
not indeed
ἡ G3588
ἡ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 22 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ψυχὴ life G5590
ψυχὴ life
Strong's: G5590
Word #: 23 of 32
breath, i.e., (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from g4151, wh
πλεῖόν more than G4119
πλεῖόν more than
Strong's: G4119
Word #: 24 of 32
more in quantity, number, or quality; also (in plural) the major portion
ἐστιν Is G2076
ἐστιν Is
Strong's: G2076
Word #: 25 of 32
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
τῆς G3588
τῆς
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 26 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τροφῆς meat G5160
τροφῆς meat
Strong's: G5160
Word #: 27 of 32
nourishment (literally or figuratively); by implication, rations (wages)
καὶ and G2532
καὶ and
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 28 of 32
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὸ G3588
τὸ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 29 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
σῶμα body G4983
σῶμα body
Strong's: G4983
Word #: 30 of 32
the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively
τοῦ G3588
τοῦ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 31 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐνδύματος; than raiment G1742
ἐνδύματος; than raiment
Strong's: G1742
Word #: 32 of 32
apparel (especially the outer robe)

Analysis & Commentary

Jesus commands freedom from anxiety: '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' (Greek: μὴ μεριμνᾶτε τῇ ψυχῇ ὑμῶν, 'do not be anxious for your life'). The verb μεριμνάω means anxious worry, not responsible planning. 'Therefore' connects to the previous teaching on serving God versus mammon - those who serve God can trust Him for provision. Jesus asks a rhetorical question: 'Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?' Life's value transcends its maintenance. Anxiety about provision reveals misplaced trust and distorted values.

Historical Context

First-century Palestinian peasants lived subsistence-level existence where food and clothing insecurity was daily reality. Roman taxation, tenant farming, and debt made survival precarious. Jesus' command wasn't glib advice to the comfortable but radical trust for the genuinely vulnerable. His teaching assumes the Father's provision (6:26-30) and kingdom priorities (6:33). Early Christians practiced economic sharing that alleviated survival anxiety through community support.

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