Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Parallel translations
- WEB Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.
- KJV Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
- BSB Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
- NASB Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times.
- NLT “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus answers not seven times but seventy times seven, meaning forgiveness without limit. Christians are to forgive as freely and endlessly as they have been forgiven.
Overview
Whether rendered 'seventy-seven' or 'seventy times seven,' the number signals boundlessness, deliberately reversing Lamech's unlimited vengeance (Genesis 4:24). Forgiveness is not to be rationed. This sweeping mercy reflects the heart of God and sets up the parable that grounds it in the immeasurable debt he has forgiven us.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Col 3:13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
- Mark 11:25Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions.
- Eph 4:31Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice.
- Matt 6:14–15“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
- Gen 4:24If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times.”
- Rom 12:21Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- Eph 4:26“Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,
- Matt 6:11–12Give us today our daily bread.
- 1 Tim 2:8I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and doubting.
- Isa 55:7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
- Mic 7:19He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 18:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.