MAT 7:4 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.)

OET (OET-RV) How could you say to them, ‘Let me get the speck out of your eye,’ when the lump is still in your eye?

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 Or how will you say to your brother, ‘Let me take out the speck of wood from your eye,’ while behold, the log is in your eye?

UST You should not tell another believer, ‘Let me help you correct your faults,’ while you have not yet dealt with your own faults.

BSB How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while [there is still] a beam in your [own] eye?

BLB Or how shall you say to your brother, 'Permit that I might cast out the splinter from your eye,' and behold, the beam is in your eye?

AICNT Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while the log[fn] is in your own eye?

7:4, log: Or beam

OEB How will you say to your friend “Let me take out the speck from your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own?

WEBBE Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye?

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while there is a beam in your own?

LSV Or, how will you say to your brother, Permit [that] I may cast out the speck from your eye, and behold, the beam [is] in your own eye?

FBV How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take out that speck from your eye’ when you have a plank in your own eye?

TCNT Or how will yoʋ say to yoʋr brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of yoʋr eye,’ when there is a beam in yoʋr own eye?

T4T ◄You should not say to other people about their minor faults, ‘Let me remove the specks from your eyes!’/Why do you say to other people about their minor faults, ‘Let me remove the specks from your eyes?’► [RHQ] You should not say that if a plank is still in your own eye [MET].

LEB Or how will you say to your brother, ‘Allow me to remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam of wood is in your own eye?

BBE Or how will you say to your brother, Let me take out the grain of dust from your eye, when you yourself have a bit of wood in your eye?

Moff How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take out the splinter from your eye,' when there lies the plank in your own eye?

Wymth Or how say to your brother, `Allow me to take the splinter out of your eye,' while the beam is in your own eye?

ASV Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye?

DRA Or how sayest thou to thy brother: Let me cast the mote out of thy eye; and behold a beam is in thy own eye?

YLT or, how wilt thou say to thy brother, Suffer I may cast out the mote from thine eye, and lo, the beam [is] in thine own eye?

Drby Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Allow [me], I will cast out the mote from thine eye; and behold, the beam is in thine eye?

RV Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye?
(Or how wilt/will thou/you say to thy/your brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine/your eye; and lo, the beam is in thine/your own eye? )

SLT Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let go I will cast out the mote from thine eye: and behold a beam in thine eye.

Wbstr Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thy eye; and behold, a beam is in thy own eye?

KJB-1769 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
( Or how wilt/will thou/you say to thy/your brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine/your eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine/your own eye? )

KJB-1611 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let mee pull out the mote out of thine eye, and beholde, a beame is in thine owne eye?
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Or, howe sayest thou to thy brother: suffer me, I wyll plucke out a mote out of thyne eye: and beholde, a beame is in thyne owne eye?
(Or, how sayest/say thou/you to thy/your brother: suffer me, I will pluck out a mote out of thine/your eye: and behold, a beam is in thine/your own eye?)

Gnva Or howe sayest thou to thy brother, Suffer me to cast out the mote out of thine eye, and beholde, a beame is in thine owne eye?
(Or how sayest/say thou/you to thy/your brother, Suffer me to cast out the mote out of thine/your eye, and behold, a beam is in thine/your own eye? )

Cvdl Or why saiest thou to yi brother: holde, I wil plucke the moate out of thyne eye, and beholde, a beame is in thyne awne eye.
(Or why sayest/say thou/you to ye/you_all brother: hold, I will pluck the moate out of thine/your eye, and behold, a beam is in thine/your own eye.)

TNT Or why sayest thou to thy brother: suffre me to plucke oute the moote oute of thyne eye and behold a beame is in thyne awne eye.
(Or why sayest/say thou/you to thy/your brother: suffer me to pluck out the moote out of thine/your eye and behold a beam is in thine/your own eye. )

Wycl Or hou seist thou to thi brothir, Brothir, suffre I schal do out a mote fro thin iye, and lo! a beem is in thin owne iye?
(Or how sayest/say thou/you to thy/your brother, Brothir, suffer I shall do out a mote from thin eye, and lo! a beam is in thin own iye?)

Luth Oder wie darfst du sagen zu deinem Bruder: Halt, ich will dir den Splitter aus deinem Auge ziehen! und siehe, ein Balken ist in deinem Auge?
(Or as/like mayst you(sg) say to/for your brother: Halt, I will you/to_you(sg) the Splitter out_of your eye pull! and see/look, a Balken is in your eye?)

ClVg aut quomodo dicis fratri tuo: Sine ejiciam festucam de oculo tuo, et ecce trabs est in oculo tuo?[fn]
(or how you_say brother your: Sine eyiciam festucam from/about with_an_eye your, and behold trabs it_is in/into/on with_an_eye your? )

7.4 Aut quomodo dicis fratri tuo. Id est, non poteris minus (ut iram) in fratre emendare, donec majus, id est odium, vel invidiam pepuleris de corde tuo.

7.4 Aut how you_say brother your. That it_is, not/no you_will_be_able_to minus (as anger) in/into/on brother emendare, until greater, that it_is odium, or envy pepuleris from/about heart your.

UGNT ἢ πῶς ἐρεῖς τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου, ἄφες ἐκβάλω τὸ κάρφος ἐκ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ σου, καὶ ἰδοὺ, ἡ δοκὸς ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ σοῦ?
(aʸ pōs ereis tōi adelfōi sou, afes ekbalō to karfos ek tou ofthalmou sou, kai idou, haʸ dokos en tōi ofthalmōi sou?)

SBL-GNT ἢ πῶς ἐρεῖς τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου· Ἄφες ἐκβάλω τὸ κάρφος ⸀ἐκ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ σου, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἡ δοκὸς ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ σοῦ;
(aʸ pōs ereis tōi adelfōi sou; Afes ekbalō to karfos ⸀ek tou ofthalmou sou, kai idou haʸ dokos en tōi ofthalmōi sou;)

RP-GNT Ἢ πῶς ἐρεῖς τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου, Ἄφες ἐκβάλω τὸ κάρφος ἀπὸ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ σου· καὶ ἰδού, ἡ δοκὸς ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ σου;
(Aʸ pōs ereis tōi adelfōi sou, Afes ekbalō to karfos apo tou ofthalmou sou; kai idou, haʸ dokos en tōi ofthalmōi sou;)

TC-GNT Ἢ πῶς ἐρεῖς τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου, Ἄφες ἐκβάλω τὸ κάρφος [fn]ἀπὸ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ σου· καὶ ἰδού, ἡ δοκὸς ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ σου;
(Aʸ pōs ereis tōi adelfōi sou, Afes ekbalō to karfos apo tou ofthalmou sou; kai idou, haʸ dokos en tōi ofthalmōi sou; )

7:4 απο ¦ εκ CT

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

Paragraph 7:1–5

Even though a new chapter begins at 7:1, Jesus continued “the Sermon on the Mount” which he began in chapter 5. In some languages, it may be natural to begin this chapter with something like:

Jesus continued,

Jesus continued to teach and said,

In other languages, no introduction is necessary here. You may want to begin this chapter as you began chapter 6.

7:4a–b

In the Greek, 7:4a begins with word that is often translated as “or” (ESV). It functions to introduce more of Jesus’ teaching about the “speck” and the “log” in 7:3a–b.

Here is another way to translate this word:

And (NJB)

The BSB and some other English versions do not translate this word. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this word either.

How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye?: As in the previous verse, 7:4 is a rhetorical question. In addition, it continues the metaphor in 7:3. Furthermore, it has a quote within a quote. Consider these three issues before translating this verse:

Issue 1: Rhetorical question

This is a rhetorical question. Like 7:3, it functions as a rebuke and warns a disciple not to say to his brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a beam in his own eye.

Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke and warning:

As a rhetorical question. In Greek, this rhetorical question begins with a word translated as “how.” However, in some languages, a rebuke does not begin with “how.” So some languages may have to begin this rebuke differently. For example:
And how dare you say to your brother, “Let me take that splinter out of your eye,” when, look, there is a great log in your own? (NJB)
How can you possibly say to your brother…?
Why do you say to your brother…?
As a statement. For example:
There is no way you can possibly say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye.
As a command. For example:
^4aDo not say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ ^4bwhen there is a log in your own eye!
^4bWhen there is a log in your own eye, ^4ado not say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye.’

Issue 2: Quote within a quote

In some languages, it will be more natural to translate the part in single quotes as indirect speech. For example:

How can you tell your brother that you want to take the speck out of his eye, when there is the log in your own eye?

Issue 3: Metaphor

Verse 7:4 contains the same metaphor as 7:3. In this metaphor, a small sin/fault in your brother’s life is compared to a speck in his eye. A large sin/fault in your life is compared to a log that is in your eye.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

Keep the metaphor. See the examples above. If you keep the metaphor, you may want to describe the meaning in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:
The “speck” represents a small sin/fault or a small number of sins. The “log” represents a large sin/fault or a large number of sins.
Change the metaphor to a simile and make explicit how it is similar. (Note that even if you made the similarities in the metaphor explicit in 7:3, it may not be necessary to do the same thing here.) For example:
Or how can you say to your brother that you want to help him take the small sin out of his life. This is like taking a speck out of his eye. How can you say that when you have a large sin in your life which is like a log in your own eye?

7:4a

How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’

And how do you^(sing) dare say to your brother, ‘Allow me to remove the piece of dust from your eye,’
Do not say to your friend/neighbor, ‘Let me remove the sawdust from your eye.’
Why do you tell your fellow-believer that you want to remove the dirt from his eye,

brother: The word brother has the same meaning here as in 7:3a. It refers to a fellow believer.

7:4b

while there is still a beam in your own eye?

when you have a log/beam in your own eye?
Look at yourself! You have a log/beam in your own eye.
when there is a big, wood log in your own eye?

while there is still a beam in your own eye: The Greek text here can be translated literally as “and look, the plank/log (is) in your eye.” The word translated “look” is used to bring attention to the words that follow.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Look! A plank/log is in your eye!

Look at yourself! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye. (NCV)

And a log is in your own eye!

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

ἢ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἤ πῶς ἐρεῖς τῷ ἀδελφῷ σοῦ Ἄφες ἐκβάλω τό κάρφος ἐκ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ σοῦ καί ἰδού ἡ δοκός ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ σοῦ)

Here, the word Or introduces a second question that provides another improper way to behave. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a similar situation or command, or you could leave Or untranslated. Alternate translation: [Again,] or [Even further,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ἢ πῶς ἐρεῖς τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου, ἄφες ἐκβάλω τὸ κάρφος ἐκ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ σου, καὶ ἰδοὺ, ἡ δοκὸς ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ σοῦ?

Jesus asks this question to challenge his disciples to pay attention to the log in their own eye before they pay attention to a speck of wood in another person’s eye. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [You should not say to your brother, ‘Let me take out the speck of wood from your eye,’ while behold, the log is in your eye.] or [Do not say to your brother, ‘Let me take out the speck of wood from your eye,’ while behold, the log is in your eye!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου

˱to˲_the brother the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἤ πῶς ἐρεῖς τῷ ἀδελφῷ σοῦ Ἄφες ἐκβάλω τό κάρφος ἐκ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ σοῦ καί ἰδού ἡ δοκός ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ σοῦ)

Jesus is using the term brother to mean a person who shares the same faith. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [to your fellow disciple]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου

Although the term brother is masculine, Jesus is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If you retain the metaphor in your translation, and if it would be helpful in your language, you could say “brother or sister” to indicate this. Alternate translation: [to your brother or sister]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd

σου, ἄφες & σου & σοῦ

Even though Jesus is speaking to many disciples, he is addressing an individual situation, so your is singular throughout this verse. But if the singular form would not be natural in your language for someone who is speaking to a group of people, you could use the plural form of your in your translation.

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

ἄφες ἐκβάλω τὸ κάρφος ἐκ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ σου, καὶ ἰδοὺ, ἡ δοκὸς ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ σοῦ

Jesus continues to refer to small faults and mistakes as if they were a speck of wood in a person’s eye and to large faults and mistakes as if they were a log in a person’s eye. Express the idea as you did in [7:3](../07/03.md). Alternate translation: [‘Let me assist you in getting rid of your small fault, which is like a speck of wood in your eye,’ while behold, you have your own large fault, which is like a log in your eye] or [‘Let me assist you in avoiding the small mistakes you make,’ while behold, you have your own large mistakes]

Note 7 topic: translate-unknown

τὸ κάρφος

Translate the phrase speck of wood as you did in [7:3](../07/03.md). Alternate translation: [the grain of sand] or [the tiny object]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἰδοὺ

The word behold draws the attention of the audience and asks them to listen carefully. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express behold with a word or phrase that asks the audience to listen, or you could draw the audience’s attention in another way. Alternate translation: [see]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

ἡ δοκὸς

the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἤ πῶς ἐρεῖς τῷ ἀδελφῷ σοῦ Ἄφες ἐκβάλω τό κάρφος ἐκ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ σοῦ καί ἰδού ἡ δοκός ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ σοῦ)

A log could not literally go into a person’s eye. Jesus is using an extreme example to emphasize his point and make it memorable. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer to the largest object that could fall into a person’s eye. Alternate translation: [the large piece of wood]

Note 10 topic: translate-unknown