• 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
    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 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 Emphasized Bible

    • 22 But I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment,—and whosoever shall say to his brother, Worthless one! shall be liable to the high council; and whosoever shall say, Rebel! shall be liable unto the fiery gehenna.

  • 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 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.