KJV King James Version
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Matthew 6:7
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.
WEB World English Bible
In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
ASV American Standard Version
And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
‘And—praying—ye may not use vain repetitions like the nations, for they think that in their much speaking they shall be heard,
Surrounding context — Matthew 6
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
προσευχόμενοιG4336 · proseuchomaito prayδὲG1161 · dethenμὴG3361 · mēnotβατταλογήσητεG945 · battologeōto babbleὥσπερG5618 · hōsperjust asοἱG3588 · hothe/this/whoἐθνικοί·G1482 · ethnikosGentile-likeδοκοῦσινG1380 · dokeōto thinkγὰρG1063 · garforὅτιG3754 · hotithat/since: thatἐνG1722 · enin/on/amongτῇG3588 · hothe/this/whoπολυλογίᾳG4180 · polulogiawordinessαὐτῶνG846 · autosit/s/heεἰσακουσθήσονται.G1522 · eisakouōto listen to
Cross-references
Ecclesiastes 5:2-3Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter [any] thing before God: for God [is] in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.Ecclesiastes 5:7For in the multitude of dreams and many words [there are] also [divers] vanities: but fear thou God.1 Kings 18:26-29And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed [it], and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But [there was] no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.Matthew 6:32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.Matthew 26:44And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.Daniel 9:18-19O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.Matthew 26:42He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.1 Kings 8:26-54And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.Acts 19:34But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great [is] Diana of the Ephesians.Matthew 26:39And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt].Matthew 18:17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on Matthew 6:7
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
Compare commentaries →