Matthew 12:36

36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

Matthew 12:36 in Other Translations

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.

36 Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously.

36 And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

36 "I can guarantee that on judgment day people will have to give an account of every careless word they say.

36 I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak.

36 But here is what I tell you. On judgment day, people will have to account for every careless word they have spoken.

Matthew 12:36 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 12:36

But I say unto you
This form of speaking is used, the more strongly to asseverate the truth of what is after said; and the rather, because men are apt to indulge a liberty with their tongues; fancying no great crime is committed, when only words are spoken, and no facts done;

that every idle word that a man shall speak, they shall give account
thereof in the day of judgment.
By an "idle word" is meant, what the Jews call, (hlq hxyv) , "light conversation", and (ljb rbd) , "vain discourse", as the Hebrew Gospel of Munster reads it here; frothy language, unprofitable talk, which, though it does not directly hurt God or man, yet is of no use to speaker or hearer; and yet even this, in the last general and awful judgment, if not forgiven, and repented of, must be accounted for; and much more such horrid blasphemies the Pharisees had vented against Christ, and the Spirit of Christ. The Jews ^F4 have a saying pretty much like this,

``That even (hlq hxyv le) , "for any light conversation", which passes between a man and his wife, he shall "be brought to judgment".''

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 R. Jonah apud L. Capell. in loc.

Matthew 12:36 In-Context

34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”