• Matthew 16:19
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 19 δώσω I shall give σοι to you τὰς the κλεῖδας keys τῆς of the βασιλείας kingdom τῶν of the οὐρανῶν, heavens, καὶ and ὃ which ἐὰν if ever δήσῃς you might bind ἐπὶ upon τῆς the γῆς earth ἔσται will be δεδεμένον (something) having been bound ἐν in τοῖς the οὐρανοῖς, heavens, καὶ and ὃ which ἐὰν if ever λύσῃς you might loose ἐπὶ upon τῆς the γῆς earth ἔσται will be λελυμένον (something) having been loosed ἐν in τοῖς the οὐρανοῖς. heavens.

  • Matthew 16:19
    The Bible in Living English

    • 19 I will give you the keys of the Reign of Heaven, and what you declare unlawful on earth shall be declared unlawful in heaven, and what you declare lawful on earth shall be declared lawful in heaven.”

  • Matthew 16:19
    American Standard Version

    • 19 I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

  • Matthew 16:19
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 19 I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of the heavens,—And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon the earth shall be bound in the heavens, And whatsoever thou shalt loose upon the earth shall be loosed in the heavens.

  • Matthew 16:19
    King James Version

    • 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

  • Matthew Study Notes—Chapter 16
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 16:19

      keys of the Kingdom of the heavens: In the Bible, those who were given certain keys, whether literal or figurative, were entrusted with a degree of authority. (1Ch 9:26, 27; Isa 22:20-22) So the term “key” came to symbolize authority and responsibility. Peter used these “keys” entrusted to him to open up for Jews (Ac 2:22-41), Samaritans (Ac 8:14-17), and Gentiles (Ac 10:34-38) the opportunity to receive God’s spirit with a view to their entering the heavenly Kingdom.

      bind . . . loosen: Or “lock . . . unlock.” Evidently referring to decisions forbidding or allowing certain actions or developments.​—Compare study note on Mt 18:18.

      will already be bound . . . will already be loosened: The unusual construction of Greek verbs here (future form of “to be” combined with perfect passive participle of “bind” and “loosen”) indicates that whatever decision Peter made (“whatever you may bind”; “whatever you may loosen”) would be made after the corresponding decision was made in heaven; it would not precede it.​—Compare study note on Mt 18:18.