Matthew 6:5–8
Jesus: pray in secret, without empty words; your Father already knows what you need
Study it word by word5“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites, for they are fond of praying standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the main streets, so that they may be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have received in full their reward.
6But you, when you pray, go into your inner room and, having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
7And when praying, do not babble like the Gentiles, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.
8So do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
In its context
3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
…
9So you pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be sanctified;
10may your kingdom come; may your will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth.
Its words in the original
- ὅτανhotan· when, whenever
When, whenever.
- προσεύχησθεproseuchēsthe· pray
Pray: speak with God.
- ἔσεσθεesesthe· be
Be, exist.
- ὑποκριταίhypokritai· hypocrite
Hypocrite: originally an actor playing a part; one who puts on a show before others.
- φιλοῦσινphilousin· hold dear
Hold dear, have affection for; like to do something; also kiss.
- συναγωγαῖςsynagōgais· synagogue
Synagogue: the gathering of Jews to read Scripture and pray, and the building where they met.
- γωνίαιςgōniais· corner
Corner.
- πλατειῶνplateiōn· wide
Wide, broad.
- ἑστῶτεςhestōtes· stand, set
Stand, stand still, stop; also set, establish.
- φανῶσινphanōsin· shine, appear
Appear, become visible; shine.
- ἀνθρώποιςanthrōpois· human being, man
Human being, person, man (without distinguishing male or female).
- ἀμὴνamēn· truly, amen
Amen: a Hebrew word meaning "so it is", "it is firm". Jesus uses it at the start of a saying to affirm what he is about to say: "truly".
- λέγωlegō· say
Say, speak; in the passive, "be called".
- ἀπέχουσιapechousi· be paid, be far
Have received in full, as on a receipt; also be distant. "It is enough".
- μισθὸνmisthon· wages, reward
Pay, wages; reward.
- εἴσελθεeiselthe· enter, go in
Enter, go in, come in.
- ταμεῖόνtameion· inner room, storeroom
Inner room of the house, storeroom; the most private place.
- κλείσαςkleisas· shut, lock
Shut, lock.
- θύρανthyran· door
Door, gate.
- πατρίpatri· father, Father
Father; also ancestor.
- κρυπτῷkryptōi· hidden, secret
Hidden, secret; "in secret", where no one sees.
- βλέπωνblepōn· see, look
See, look; watch out.
- ἀποδώσειapodōsei· give back, pay
Pay, give back, give what is owed.
- βατταλογήσητεbattalogēsēte· babble
Babble, repeat empty words.
- ὥσπερhōsper· just as
Just as, in the same way as.
- ἐθνικοίethnikoi· Gentile
Gentile: one who does not belong to the people of Israel.
- δοκοῦσινdokousin· think, seem
Think, suppose, seem; also be held in high regard.
- πολυλογίᾳpolylogiai· many words
Many words, talking too much.
- εἰσακουσθήσονταιeisakousthēsontai· listen to, hear
Listen to, hear a request; in the passive, be heard.
- ὁμοιωθῆτεhomoiōthēte· be like, compare
Make like, become like; compare.
- οἶδενoiden· know
Know, understand; also see.
- χρείανchreian· need
Need; what is lacking.
- ἔχετεechete· have
Have, possess, hold.
- αἰτῆσαιaitēsai· ask
Ask, ask for.