And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Parallel translations
- WEB In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
- KJV But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
- BSB And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.
- NASB “And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.
- NLT “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.
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
Don't pile up empty, repetitive words thinking length earns God's attention. Prayer is heard for its sincerity, not its quantity of words.
Overview
Jesus warns against the pagan practice of heaping up phrases as if God must be worn down or impressed by sheer volume. Such 'vain repetitions' treat prayer as a mechanical technique rather than a trusting appeal to a loving Father. This corrects a false view of God and prepares for the model prayer that follows, which is marked by simplicity and faith rather than verbosity.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Eccl 5:2–3Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few.
- Eccl 5:7For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.
- 1 Kgs 18:26–29They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, “Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice, and nobody answered. They leaped about the altar which was made.
- Matt 6:32For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
- Matt 26:44He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.
- Dan 9:18–19My God, turn your ear, and hear; open your eyes, and see our desolations, and the city which is called by your name: for we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies’ sake.
- Matt 26:42Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.”
- 1 Kgs 8:26–54“Now therefore, God of Israel, please let your word be verified, which you spoke to your servant David my father.
- Acts 19:34But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice for a time of about two hours cried out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
- Matt 26:39He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
- Matt 18:17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.
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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 6:7 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
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