For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    Ye and they bynde hevy burthes and grevous to be borne and ley the on menes shulders: but they themsylfes will not heave at them with one of their fyngers.

  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    For they binde heauie burdens, and grieuous to be borne, and lay them on mens shoulders, but they themselues will not moue them with one of their fingers.

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Examined in Scripture Analysis

Contradictions (1)

Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.

  • Should we let others see our good works?

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Cross-references (7)

Passages linked to Matthew 23:4 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • Luke 11:46 He said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to carry, and you yourselves won’t even lift one finger to help carry those burdens.
  • Acts 15:10 Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
  • Galatians 6:13 For even they who receive circumcision don’t keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.
  • Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
  • Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.
  • Revelation 2:24 But to you I say, to the rest who are in Thyatira, as many as don’t have this teaching, who don’t know what some call ‘the deep things of Satan,’ to you I say, I am not putting any other burden on you.
  • Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

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Explain this verse (18 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Hypocrites for the most part are most severe exactors…

Hypocrites for the most part are most severe exactors of those things which they themselves chiefly neglect.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Our Saviour saith the same of the lawyers, Luk…
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain These heavy burdens which the Pharisees laid upon the…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain For they bind heavy burdens,.... Meaning not the rites…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Luke xi, 46.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 4. They bind heavy burdens] They are now…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Mat 23:4. For they bind heavy burdens — Not…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain They bind heavy burdens ... - This phrase is…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Heavy and insupportable burdens. Some understand in general the…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 4. Heavy burdens and grievous to be borne —…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 4. they bind heavy burdens] Impose the grievous enactments…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (4) Heavy burdens.—The thought was involved in our Lord’s…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne; dusbastakta…
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 4. They bind heavy burdens. By the traditions they…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 they bind heavy burdens that are difficult to carry,…
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 23:4 unbearable religious demands: There were 613 legal prohibitions…

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