King James Version

What Does Matthew 23:22 Mean?

Matthew 23:22 in the King James Version says “And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon .” — study this verse from Matthew chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon .”

Matthew 23:22 · KJV

Context

20

Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon .

21

And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

22

And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon .

23

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. anise: Gr. dill

24

Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

Read Matthew 23 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon—Jesus's climactic conclusion: heaven (ouranos, οὐρανός) is God's throne (thronos tou theou, θρόνος τοῦ θεοῦ), and swearing by heaven invokes the One sitting on it (kathēmenō epanō autou, καθημένῳ ἐπάνω αὐτοῦ). No oath, however worded, escapes invoking God as witness and judge.

This echoes Jesus's earlier teaching: Swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne (Matthew 5:34). The Pharisees thought substituting 'heaven' for 'God' created a loophole—Jesus declares this impossible. All reality belongs to God; invoking any part of creation invokes the Creator. The entire oath system collapses into simple integrity: speak truth always, needing no oaths to guarantee it (Matthew 5:37). This verse demolishes religious pretense—before God, there are no technicalities, only truth or lies.

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Historical & Cultural Context

First-century Judaism often substituted circumlocutions ('heaven,' 'the Name,' 'the Power') for God's name out of reverence for the Third Commandment. While this showed respect, it also enabled evasion—people could swear by 'heaven' while mentally reserving the right to break the oath, since they hadn't used God's name explicitly.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why does Jesus insist that all oaths ultimately invoke God, regardless of wording?
  2. How does simple integrity ('let your yes be yes') replace the need for elaborate oath systems?
  3. What does God's throne in heaven teach about His sovereign authority over all creation?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 18 words
καὶ1 of 18

“And”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ὁ2 of 18
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ὀμνύει3 of 18

“he that shall swear”

G3660

to swear, i.e., take (or declare on) oath

ἐν4 of 18

“by”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

τῷ5 of 18
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

οὐρανῷ6 of 18

“heaven”

G3772

the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of god); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the gospel (christianity)

ὀμνύει7 of 18

“he that shall swear”

G3660

to swear, i.e., take (or declare on) oath

ἐν8 of 18

“by”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

τῷ9 of 18
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

θρόνῳ10 of 18

“the throne”

G2362

a stately seat ("throne"); by implication, power or (concretely) a potentate

τοῦ11 of 18
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

θεοῦ12 of 18

“of God”

G2316

a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)

καὶ13 of 18

“And”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἐν14 of 18

“by”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

τῷ15 of 18
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

καθημένῳ16 of 18

“him that sitteth”

G2521

and ???? (to sit; akin to the base of g1476); to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside

ἐπάνω17 of 18
G1883

up above, i.e., over or on (of place, amount, rank, etc.)

αὐτοῦ18 of 18

“thereon”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Matthew. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Matthew 23:22 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Matthew 23:22 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Matthew 5:34Psalms 11:4Isaiah 66:1Revelation 4:2-3Acts 7:49

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