MAT 5:16 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Let your light shine before men in such a way so that they might see your good deeds and might glorify your Father in the heavens.

UST Just as the light from a lamp illuminates everyone in a house, so you should publicly do what is right. That way, people will notice the good things that you do. Then, they will praise God, your Father, who rules from heaven.

BLB Thus let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and they should glorify your Father in the heavens.

AICNT “In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good [works][fn] and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

5:16, works: Absent from some manuscripts. B(03)

OEB Let your light so shine before the eyes of others so that, seeing your good actions, they will praise your Father who is in heaven.

CSB In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

NLT In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

NIV In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

CEV Make your light shine, so others will see the good you do and will praise your Father in heaven.

ESV In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

NASB “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

LSB Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

WEBBE Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(14-16)“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

NET In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

LSV so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father who [is] in the heavens.

FBV In the same way you should let your light shine before everyone so they can see the good things you do and praise your heavenly Father.

TCNT Let your light shine before others in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

T4T Similarly, you need to do what is right [MET] in such a manner that other people can see the good deeds that you do, and as a result they will praise your Father who is in heaven.”

LEB In the same way let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

NRSV In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

NKJV Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

NAB Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

BBE Even so let your light be shining before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Moff So your light is to shine before men, that they may see the good you do and glorify your Father in heaven.

Wymth Just so let your light shine before all men, in order that they may see your holy lives and may give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.

ASV Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

DRA So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

YLT so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father who [is] in the heavens.

Drby Let your light thus shine before men, so that they may see your upright works, and glorify your Father who is in the heavens.

RV Even so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

SLT So let your light shine before men, that they see your good works, and praise your Father, him in the heavens.

Wbstr Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

KJB-1769 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

KJB-1611 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good workes, and glorifie your father which is in heauen.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps Let your lyght so shyne before men, that they may see your good workes, and glorifie your father, whiche is in heauen.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Gnva Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good workes, and glorifie your Father which is in heauen.
(Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. )

Cvdl Let youre light so shyne before men, that they maye se youre good workes, and glorify youre father which is in heauen.
(Let your(pl) light so shine before men, that they may see your(pl) good works, and glorify your(pl) father which is in heaven.)

TNT Let youre light so shyne before men that they maye se youre good workes and glorify youre father which is in heven.
(Let your(pl) light so shine before men that they may see your(pl) good works and glorify your(pl) father which is in heaven. )

Wycl So schyne youre liyt befor men, that thei se youre goode werkis, and glorifie youre fadir that is in heuenes.
(So shine your(pl) light befor men, that they see your(pl) good works, and glorify your(pl) father that is in heavens.)

Luth Also lasset euer Licht leuchten vor den Leuten, daß sie eure guten Werke sehen und euren Vater im Himmel preisen.
(So let your(pl) light(n) shine/glow before/in_front_of the people, that they/she/them your(pl) good work see and your(s)(pl) father in_the heaven praise.)

ClVg Sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus: ut videant opera vestra bona, et glorificent Patrem vestrum, qui in cælis est.[fn]
(So lightat light your before to_humans: as let_them_see works your good(s), and glorificent Father of_you, who/which in/into/on the_heavens it_is. )

5.16 Sic luceat, etc. Et hæc omnia ita agite, ut non finem boni operis in laudibus hominum constituatis. Ut videant, etc. Opera requiro, ut videantur, et sic doctrina confirmetur: et hoc non ad gloriam vestram.

5.16 So lightat, etc. And these_things everything so/thus drive, as not/no the_end good work in/into/on praises of_men constituatis. As let_them_see, etc. Opera requiro, as they_may_seem, and so teaching/instruction confirmur: and this not/no to glory your.

UGNT οὕτως λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅπως ἴδωσιν ὑμῶν τὰ καλὰ ἔργα, καὶ δοξάσωσιν τὸν Πατέρα ὑμῶν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.
(houtōs lampsatō to fōs humōn emprosthen tōn anthrōpōn, hopōs idōsin humōn ta kala erga, kai doxasōsin ton Patera humōn ton en tois ouranois.)

SBL-GNT οὕτως λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅπως ἴδωσιν ὑμῶν τὰ καλὰ ἔργα καὶ δοξάσωσιν τὸν πατέρα ὑμῶν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.
(houtōs lampsatō to fōs humōn emprosthen tōn anthrōpōn, hopōs idōsin humōn ta kala erga kai doxasōsin ton patera humōn ton en tois ouranois.)

RP-GNT Οὕτως λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅπως ἴδωσιν ὑμῶν τὰ καλὰ ἔργα, καὶ δοξάσωσιν τὸν πατέρα ὑμῶν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.
(Houtōs lampsatō to fōs humōn emprosthen tōn anthrōpōn, hopōs idōsin humōn ta kala erga, kai doxasōsin ton patera humōn ton en tois ouranois.)

TC-GNT Οὕτω λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅπως ἴδωσιν ὑμῶν τὰ καλὰ ἔργα, καὶ δοξάσωσι τὸν πατέρα ὑμῶν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.
(Houtō lampsatō to fōs humōn emprosthen tōn anthrōpōn, hopōs idōsin humōn ta kala erga, kai doxasōsi ton patera humōn ton en tois ouranois. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:1–7:29: Jesus preached a sermon on a mountain

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

5:16a

In the same way, let your light shine before men,

Similarly, cause your^(plur) light to shine before people,
Likewise, just as a light shines before people, let your^(plur) good deeds be seen,
Likewise, just as people see the light from a lamp, in the same way let people see the good ways that you^(plur) live/behave,

In the same way: The Greek word that the BSB translates as In the same way indicates that 5:16 is similar to what precedes. A lamp should be put on a stand so that everyone can see the light and be helped by it (5:15b). Similarly Jesus’ disciples should do good deeds so that everyone can see them and praise God (5:16a).

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Like the lamp (REB)

Likewise

Similarly

let your light shine before men: The clause let your light shine is a metaphor. In this metaphor, Jesus compared the good deeds of his disciples to the light of a lamp. One way that they are similar is that both should be seen. Neither should be hidden.A number of commentators point out the apparent contradiction between Jesus’ command here in 5:16 to do good deeds before people and his warning in 6:1 not to do good deeds before people. These same commentators also point out that the difference is between doing good deeds so that people praise God (5:16) and doing good deeds so that they themselves receive the glory.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

Keep the metaphor, but make explicit the meaning of light. For example:
let your good deeds shine out for all to see (NLT)
Change the metaphor to a simile and make parts of it explicit. For example:
like a light that shines before people is visible/seen, let your good deeds be visible
just as people see that light, in that same way make sure that people see the good way that you live/behave
Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:
do your good works/behavior openly

before men: The Greek preposition that the BSB translates as before can also be translated as “in the sight of” or “in the presence of.”

The word men is general and refers to people, both men and women as in 5:13c.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in people’s sight (NJB)

in the presence of others

5:16b

that they may see your good deeds

so that they may see your^(plur) good actions
in order that when they see them,

that: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as that here indicates that 5:16b is the purpose for believers to shine their light before men (5:16a).

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

so that (ESV)

in order that

for the purpose that

they may see your good deeds: The phrase your good deeds means “the good things that you have done.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the good things you do (GNT)

your good works (ESV)

5:16c

and glorify your Father in heaven.

and praise your^(plur) Father in heaven.
they will give honor to God our^(incl) Father. He lives in Heaven.”

and glorify: The Greek word that the BSB translates as glorify means “speak well about someone” or “honor someone.” Here it refers to giving praise to God.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

give honor to (NET)

praise (NIV)

your Father in heaven: In this verse, Jesus speaks of God as your Father. In some languages, that would imply that God was only the Father of those to whom Jesus was speaking, but not Jesus’ Father. If that is so in your language, you may want to translate this phrase as:

our^(incl) Father who lives in heaven

our^(incl) Father. He lives in heaven.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων

˓let˒_shine (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὕτως λαμψάτω τό φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων ὅπως ἴδωσιν ὑμῶν τά καλά ἔργα καί δοξάσωσιν τόν Πατέρα ὑμῶν τόν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς)

Here Jesus speaks of proper behavior as if it were a light that could shine. He means that everyone notices and benefits from this proper behavior. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use simile form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Let what you do be like a light that shines before men] or [Live your life before men]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν

If your language does not use the third-person imperative in this way, you could state this in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [Make sure that your light shines] or [Your light should shine]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

τῶν ἀνθρώπων

the people

Although the term men is masculine, Jesus is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: [men and women] or [people]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οὕτως

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὕτως λαμψάτω τό φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων ὅπως ἴδωσιν ὑμῶν τά καλά ἔργα καί δοξάσωσιν τόν Πατέρα ὑμῶν τόν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς)

Here, the phrase in such a way refers back to what Jesus said in [5:15](../05/15.md) about a lamp shining on everyone in a house. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [just as that lamp shines]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὸν Πατέρα ὑμῶν

Jesus speaks of his disciples as if God were their physical father. He means that they have a father-son relationship with God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [your spiritual Father] or [God, who is like a Father to you,]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς

Here, the phrase in the heavens identifies the location in which God the Father is specially present and from which he rules. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [who is in the heavens]

Parallel MAT 5:16

Section 5:1–7:29: Jesus preached a sermon on a mountain

5:16a

5:16b

5:16c