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OET (OET-LV) But I am_saying to_you_all not to_ actually _swear, neither by the heaven, because it_is the_throne of_ the _god,
OET (OET-RV) But I’m telling you not to make oaths in the first place—don’t swear by heaven because it’s God’s throne,
For many years, English versions and Christians have commonly referred to Matthew 5–7 as “The Sermon on the Mount.” In some translations, it may be helpful to include a heading for chapters 5–7 that is on a level above the section heading for 5:1–12.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
The Sermon on the Mountain
The sermon that Jesus preached on a mountain
Jesus taught people on the side of a mountain/hill
But I tell you not to swear at all:
But now I tell you(plur), do not make oaths at all.
But me, I tell you(plur) not to make any vow.
But I tell you: The clause But I tell you also occurs in 5:22a, 5:28a, and 5:32a. Translate it here as you did there.
not to swear at all: This clause means “Do not make an oath at any time.”
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
don’t swear an oath at all (GW)
make no vow at all
Jesus was not against promises. He was against making promises using the name of God and substitutes for God’s name. See below.
The Jews took seriously an oath made in God’s name. They thought that if someone made an oath in God’s name, and then broke that oath, God would punish him. To get around this, they made oaths using substitutes for God’s name.
Each of the clauses in 5:34b–5:36a refers to commonly used substitutes for making an oath in Jewish culture. The four items, heaven, earth, Jerusalem, and one’s head, are all closely associated with God. Jews thought that an oath made using the name of one of them is powerful, but less serious than using the name of God himself. However, the Greek grammar indicates that Jesus prohibited using any of these names.
either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
Do not make an oath/vow using/saying the word ‘heaven,’ because heaven is where God rules.
For example, heaven is where God rules as king, so do not make a vow by referring to heaven.
either by heaven: The word either indicates the first of a list of examples for “not to swear at all” from 5:34a. It may be more natural in your language to repeat some of the words or include some implied information. For example:
For example, do not make an oath using the word “heaven”
heaven: Here the word heaven refers to the place where God lives. This word also occurs in 5:16.
for: The Greek word that the BSB translates as for introduces the basis for the command not to swear by heaven (in 5:34b).
Here are some other ways to translate this:
Do not swear by heaven, because it is God’s throne
Heaven is God’s throne, so don’t swear by heaven. (CEV)
it is God’s throne: A throne is the chair in which a king or queen sits during ceremonial occasions. In this context, the words God’s throne means “the place where God rules as King.”
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
where God sits to rule
the place from which God rules
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast
δὲ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Δέ λέγω ὑμῖν μή ὀμόσαι ὅλως μήτε ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ὅτι θρόνος ἐστίν τοῦ Θεοῦ)
Here, the word But introduces a contrast with what Jesus said in the previous verse ([5:33](../05/33.md)). Jesus is not contradicting what he said. Rather, he is adding new information. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces this kind of contrast. Alternate translation: [However,] or [Yet]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ἐγὼ & λέγω ὑμῖν μὴ ὀμόσαι
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Δέ λέγω ὑμῖν μή ὀμόσαι ὅλως μήτε ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ὅτι θρόνος ἐστίν τοῦ Θεοῦ)
Jesus uses the clause I tell you to emphasize what he is about to say and to contrast it with what “was said to the ancient ones” ([5:33](../05/33.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the emphatic contrast in another way. Alternate translation: [listen to this: do not swear] or [here is what you need to know: do not swear]
Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result
ὅλως; μήτε ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, ὅτι θρόνος ἐστὶν τοῦ Θεοῦ
actually neither by ¬the heaven because ˓the˒_throne (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Δέ λέγω ὑμῖν μή ὀμόσαι ὅλως μήτε ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ὅτι θρόνος ἐστίν τοῦ Θεοῦ)
Here, the word for introduces a reason why people should not swear by heaven. If it would be helpful in your language, you could put the reason before the command. Alternate translation: [at all. Heaven is the throne of God, so do not swear by it]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
θρόνος ἐστὶν τοῦ Θεοῦ
˓the˒_throne (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Δέ λέγω ὑμῖν μή ὀμόσαι ὅλως μήτε ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ὅτι θρόνος ἐστίν τοῦ Θεοῦ)
Jesus speaks of heaven as if it were the throne of God. He means that heaven is the place from which God rules. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable expression or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [it is where God’s throne is] or [it is the place from which God rules]
5:21-47 You have heard. . . . But I say: Jesus contrasts his own teaching to six misinterpretations of the law. Each antithesis provides an example of the surpassing righteousness of Jesus. Jesus reveals the will of God as it contrasts with traditions.
OET (OET-LV) But I am_saying to_you_all not to_ actually _swear, neither by the heaven, because it_is the_throne of_ the _god,
OET (OET-RV) But I’m telling you not to make oaths in the first place—don’t swear by heaven because it’s God’s throne,
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.