Matthew 6:3
New International Version
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

New Living Translation
But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

English Standard Version
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Berean Standard Bible
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Berean Literal Bible
But you, doing acts of charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

King James Bible
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

New King James Version
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

New American Standard Bible
But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

NASB 1995
“But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

NASB 1977
“But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing

Legacy Standard Bible
But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Amplified Bible
But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy],

Christian Standard Bible
But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

American Standard Version
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But you, whenever you do charity giving, let not your left know what your right is doing.

Contemporary English Version
When you give to the poor, don't let anyone know about it.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth.

English Revised Version
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

Good News Translation
But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it.

International Standard Version
But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Literal Standard Version
But you, doing kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does,

Majority Standard Bible
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

New American Bible
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,

NET Bible
But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

New Revised Standard Version
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

New Heart English Bible
But when you practice charitable giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does,

Webster's Bible Translation
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

Weymouth New Testament
But when you are giving in charity, let not your left hand perceive what your right hand is doing,

World English Bible
But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,

Young's Literal Translation
'But thou, doing kindness, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Giving to the Needy
2So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.…

Cross References
Matthew 6:2
So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

Matthew 6:4
so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.


Treasury of Scripture

But when you do alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does:

let.

Matthew 8:4
And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Matthew 9:30
And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Matthew 12:19
He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

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Alms Charity Deeds Hand Kindness Merciful Money Needy Perceive Poor Right Thou
Matthew 6
1. Giving to the Needy
5. The Lord's Prayer
16. Proper Fasting
19. Store up Treasures in Heaven
25. Do Not Worry
33. but seek God's kingdom.














(3) Let not thy left hand know.--The phrase was probably proverbial, and indicates, in the form of free hyperbole, extremest secrecy. It is possible that there may be some reference to the practice of using the right hand in offering gifts at the altar. The symbolical application, though an afterthought, is yet suggestive. The "right hand" is the higher spiritual element in us that leads to acts of true charity, the "left" is the baser, self-seeking nature. We ought, as it were, to set a barrier between the two, as far as possible, i.e., to exclude that mingling of motives, which is at least the beginning of evil.

Verse 3. - But when thou; "thou" emphatic. Let not thy left hand know, etc. So little effect should thy kind action have upon thy memory. There should be no self-consciousness in it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But [when]
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

you
σοῦ (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

give to the needy,
ποιοῦντος (poiountos)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

{do} not {let}
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

left [hand]
ἀριστερά (aristera)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 710: On the left hand. Apparently a comparative of the same as ariston; the left hand.

know
γνώτω (gnōtō)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

what
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

right hand
δεξιά (dexia)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1188: On the right hand, right hand, right. From dechomai; the right side or hand.

is doing,
ποιεῖ (poiei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 6:3 But when you do merciful deeds don't (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 6:2
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