Bible Strands
Matthew 7:23
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to those who, on the day of judgment, have claimed prophetic and miraculous activity in his name (v. 22).
The words — οὐδέποτε (oudepōte, "never") is an absolute temporal negation, stronger than a simple "not"; paired with the aorist ἔγνων (egnōn, "I knew"), it marks a total and final absence of relational knowledge.
The thread — The command "depart from me" echoes Matthew 25:41 and the psalmist's plea in Psalms 6:8; Luke 13:25 depicts the same exclusion from the other side of a closed door.
Why it lands — The verse removes the assumption that religious performance secures a relationship with Christ; the criterion is whether one has heard and acted on his words (v. 24), not whether one has done impressive things in his name.
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
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Cross-references
- Matthew 25:41 Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
- Psalms 6:8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the LORD has heard my weeping.
- Luke 13:25 After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’
- Luke 13:27 And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’
- Matthew 25:12 But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’
- John 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
- John 10:27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
- Revelation 22:15 But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
- 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
- Psalms 5:5 The boastful cannot stand in Your presence; You hate all workers of iniquity.