And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Parallel translations
- WEB Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
- BSB and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
- NKJV And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
- NASB Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
- NLT If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.
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
If forced to go one mile, go two. It calls disciples to respond to imposition with willing, generous service.
Overview
Alluding to the right of soldiers to compel service, Jesus teaches a free, cheerful willingness to do more than required. Rather than resentful compliance, the disciple turns a demand into an opportunity for love. This overcoming of evil with good reflects the gracious spirit of the kingdom.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Luke 23:26And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
- Matt 27:32And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
- Mark 15:21And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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 5:41 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.