• Matthew 5:22
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures

    • 22 However, I say to you that everyone who continues wrathful+ with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; and whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Ge·henʹna.*+

  • Matthew 5:22
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 22 ᾿Εγὼ I δὲ but λέγω am saying ὑμῖν to YOU ὅτι that πᾶς everyone ὁ the ὀργιζόμενος being wrathful τῷ to the ἀδελφῷ brother αὐτοῦ of him ἔνοχος accountable ἔσται will be τῇ to the κρίσει· judgment; ὃς who δ’ but ἂν likely εἴπῃ might say τῷ to the ἀδελφῷ brother αὐτοῦ of him Ῥακά, Raca, ἔνοχος accountable ἔσται will be τῷ to the συνεδρίῳ· Sanhedrin; ὃς who δ’ but ἂν likely εἴπῃ might say Μωρέ, Fool, ἔνοχος accountable ἔσται will be εἰς into τὴν the γέενναν Gehenna τοῦ of the πυρός. fire.

  • Matthew 5:22
    King James Version

    • 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

  • Matthew 5:22
    American Standard Version

    • 22 but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.

  • Matthew 5:22
    The Bible in Living English

    • 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; and whoever says ‘Raka’ to his brother shall be liable to the Sanhedrin Court; and whoever says ‘You fool’ shall be liable to the fire of hell.

  • Matthew Study Notes—Chapter 5
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 5:22

      continues wrathful: Jesus associates such a wrong attitude with hatred that can lead to actual murder. (1Jo 3:15) Ultimately, God may judge the person as being a murderer.

      an unspeakable word of contempt: This expression renders the Greek word rha·kaʹ (possibly derived from Hebrew or Aramaic), meaning “empty” or “empty-headed.” Someone addressing a fellow worshipper with such a derogatory term would not only be nurturing hatred in his heart but also be giving vent to it by contemptible speech.

      the Supreme Court: The full Sanhedrin​—the judicial body in Jerusalem made up of the high priest and 70 elders and scribes. The Jews considered its rulings to be final.​—See Glossary, “Sanhedrin.”

      You despicable fool: The Greek word for this expression sounded like a Hebrew term meaning “rebellious” or “mutinous.” It designates a person as morally worthless and an apostate. To address a fellow man in this way was tantamount to saying that he should receive a punishment fit for a rebel against God, that is, everlasting destruction.

      Gehenna: This term comes from the Hebrew words geh hin·nomʹ, meaning “valley of Hinnom,” which lay to the S and SW of ancient Jerusalem. (See App. B12, map “Jerusalem and Surrounding Area.”) By Jesus’ day, the valley had become a place for burning refuse, so the word “Gehenna” was a fitting symbol of complete destruction.​—See Glossary.