| The Hebrew Synoptic Gospels |
| Matthew 5: 17, 18 |
In rabbinic argumentation "destroy" means "misinterpret" while "fulfill" means"correctly interpret." The intention is not to weaken the Law by misinterpreting it. Byproperly interpreting it, Jesus would make it more lasting. Heaven and earth would be destroyedbefore He would cause anything to disappear from the Law.
| AAT | Don't think that I came to set aside the Law or the prophets. I didn't come toset them aside but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, till heaven and earth pass away, notan i or the dot of an i of the Law will pass away till everything is done. |
| AB | Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law and the prophets; I have comenot to do away with or undo, but to complete and fulfill them. For truly, I tell you, untilthe sky and earth pass away and perish, not one smallest letter nor one little hook[identifying certain Hebrew letters] will pass from the Law until all things [it foreshadows]have been accomplished. |
| CEV | Don't suppose that I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I did not come to doaway with them, but to give them full meaning. Heaven and earth may disappear. But I promiseyou that not even a period or comma will ever disappear from the Law. Everything written in itmust happen. Footnote: the Law and the Prophets: The Jewish Scriptures,that is, the Old Testament. |
| CNT | Do not suppose that, if I have appeared, that was the intention of abolishing the teachingof the law and the prophets. I have made my appearance not to abolish it, but to give fullexpression to it. Indeed, I can give you solemn assurance of this: it is not till heaven andearth are removed that anything shall be removed from the law, be it but one letter, but oneflourish. What is necessary first of all is that all its purposes should be accomplished. |
| DRB | Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy,but to fulfill. For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, not one jot, or onetittle, shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. |
| LB | Don't misunderstand why I have come -- it isn't to cancel the laws of Moses and thewarnings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them, and to make them all come true. With allthe earnestness I have I say: Every law in the Book will continue until its purpose isachieved. Footnote: is achieved: Literally, "until all things beaccomplished." |
| LBP | Do not suppose that I have come to weaken the law or the prophets, I have not come toweaken, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, Until heaven and earth pass away, not evena yoth or a dash shall pass away from the law until all of it is fulfilled. Footnote: Yoth is the smallest letter in Aramaic and Hebrew. |
| NBV | Do not suppose that I came to annul the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish butto complete them; for I assure you, while heaven and earth endure not one iota or oneprojection of a letter will be dropped from the Law until all is accomplished. Footnote: The iota is i in the Greek alphabet. |
| NJB | Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not toabolish but to complete them. In truth I tell you, till heaven and earth disappear, not onedot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the Law until all its purpose is achieved. |
| NRS | Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not toabolish but to fulfill. For truly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not oneletter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. |
| NWT | Do not think I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I came, not to destroy, but tofulfill; for truly I say to YOU that sooner would heaven and earth pass away than for onesmallest letter or one particle of a letter to pass away by any means and not all things takeplace. |
| SGAT | Do not suppose that I have come to do away with the Law or the Prophets. I have not cometo do away with them but to enforce them. For I tell you, as long as heaven and earth endure,not one dotting of an i or crossing of a t will be dropped from the Law until it all isobserved. |
| SNB | Do not think that I came to pull down the law, or the prophets, I came not to pull down,but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, until the heaven and the earth shall pass away,one least letter or one point may in nowise pass away from the law, till all be accomplished. Footnote: fulfill: establish. |
| SV | Don't imagine that I have come to annul the Law, or the Prophets. I have come not to annulbut to fulfill. I swear to you, before the world disappears, not one iota, not one serif, willdisappear from the Law, until it's all over. Footnote: Sources: Matthew, Q. [In black print, meaning this quote was not made by Jesus.] |
| TEV | Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses and the teachings of theprophets, I have not come to do away with them, but to make their teachings come true. Rememberthat as long as heaven and earth last, not the least point nor the smallest detail of the Lawwill be done away with -- not until the end of all things. |
| TM | Don't suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures -- either God's Lawor the Prophets. I'm not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together,pull it all together in a vast panorama. God's Law is more real and lasting than the stars inthe sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Lawwill be alive and working. |
| WMF | Now don't get the idea that I've come to destroy the old law or change the word of theprophets. I have not come to destroy, but to explain, make relevant, and complete the law andthe prophets. Basically, there is no change to be made in the law of God until everything isfinished in accordance with God's plan. |
| WNT | Do not suppose that I have come to set aside the law or the prophets. I have not come toset them aside but to fulfill them up to the brim. For I solemnly say to you, heaven and earthwould sooner pass away than the dotting of an "i" or the crossing of a "t" from the law, untilit all becomes in force. Footnote: to the brim: picture of O.T. teachingas an unfilled cup, but filled by Jesus. Footnote: would sooner: Greek, untilheaven, etc. Footnote: i, t: in Greek, the small letter of the Hebrewalphabet, or horn (curve) of a letter, equivalent to our dotting of an i or crossing of a t. |
All the versions quoted speak in some way of not doing away with the Law andthe Prophets. None makes an implication of interpretation. One version completely omits thepassing away of heaven. Two suggest that heaven and earth have a preference in regard topassing away.