Bible Strands
Matthew 5:35
or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples during the Sermon on the Mount, immediately following his prohibition against swearing by heaven in Matthew 5:34. He extends the command by listing the earth and Jerusalem as additional forbidden oath-objects.
The words — The Greek term ὑποπόδιον (hupopodion) literally means "footstool," while ἐν (en) functions as the preposition "by." Jesus uses these terms to classify the earth and Jerusalem as created spaces under God’s authority rather than independent oath-validating powers.
The thread — The designation of Jerusalem as the city of the great King echoes Psalm 48:2 and 2 Chronicles 6:6, which establish the city’s theological weight. Malachi 1:14 later warns against defective vows, reinforcing the seriousness of oath-taking in the same tradition.
Why it lands — The text commands readers to treat the earth and Jerusalem as sacred spaces belonging to God, not as neutral mediums for oaths. It requires absolute integrity in speech by removing any created reference point that might dilute the weight of a promise.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Cross-references
- Psalms 48:2 Beautiful in loftiness, the joy of all the earth, like the peaks of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the great King.
- 2 Chronicles 6:6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem for My Name to be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’
- Malachi 1:14 “But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and My name is to be feared among the nations.
- Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,
- Psalms 99:5 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; He is holy!
- Revelation 21:2 I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
- Psalms 87:2 The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.