Matthew 16:19

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Complete Jewish Bible:

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven."

Berean Standard Bible:

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

American Standard Version:

I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And^{G2532} I will give^{G1325} unto thee^{G4671} the keys^{G2807} of the kingdom^{G932} of heaven^{G3772}: and^{G2532} whatsoever^{G3739}^{G1437} thou shalt bind^{G1210} on^{G1909} earth^{G1093} shall be^{G2071} bound^{G1210} in^{G1722} heaven^{G3772}: and^{G2532} whatsoever^{G3739}^{G1437} thou shalt loose^{G3089} on^{G1909} earth^{G1093} shall be^{G2071} loosed^{G3089} in^{G1722} heaven^{G3772}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Matthew 18:18

Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Isaiah 22:22

And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

Revelation 1:18

[I am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Revelation 3:7

¶ And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

John 20:23

Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; [and] whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained.

Revelation 11:6

These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

2 Corinthians 2:10

To whom ye forgive any thing, I [forgive] also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave [it], for your sakes [forgave I it] in the person of Christ;

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Commentary for Matthew 16:19

Matthew 16:19 is a pivotal verse in the New Testament, occurring within the context of Jesus' ministry in Galilee. This statement is part of a larger dialogue between Jesus and his disciples, specifically in response to Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). In this verse, Jesus is speaking directly to Peter, promising him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. This metaphorical gesture signifies authority, entrusting Peter with a unique role in the establishment of the early Christian Church.

The verse reflects themes of authority, succession, and the establishment of the Church. The imagery of "keys" symbolizes power and governance, reminiscent of the authority given to stewards or prime ministers in ancient kingdoms. The phrases "whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven" and "whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" suggest that decisions made by Peter (and by extension, the Church leadership) regarding doctrine, discipline, and forgiveness of sins would be ratified by God. This verse is foundational for the doctrine of apostolic succession, particularly within the Roman Catholic tradition, which sees Peter as the first Pope, with successive Popes inheriting this authority.

Historically, this verse has been central to ecclesiological debates about the nature and structure of the Church. It has been used to support the primacy of Peter and his successors, the development of Church tradition, and the role of Church leaders in discerning and declaring divine truth. The verse also touches on the relationship between divine will and human agency in the governance of the Church, suggesting a harmonious interplay between earthly decisions made in faith and their heavenly recognition and validation.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

Strong's Number: G2532
There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καί
Transliteration: kaí
Pronunciation: kahee
Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Strong's Number: G1325
There are 377 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δίδωμι
Transliteration: dídōmi
Pronunciation: did'-o-mee
Description: a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):--adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.
Strong's Number: G4671
There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: σοί
Transliteration: soí
Pronunciation: soy
Description: dative case of σύ; to thee:--thee, thine own, thou, thy.
Strong's Number: G2807
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: κλείς
Transliteration: kleís
Pronunciation: klice
Description: from κλείω; a key (as shutting a lock), literally or figuratively:--key.
Strong's Number: G932
There are 154 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: βασιλεία
Transliteration: basileía
Pronunciation: bas-il-i'-ah
Description: from βασιλεύς; properly, royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively):--kingdom, + reign.
Strong's Number: G3772
There are 264 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὐρανός
Transliteration: ouranós
Pronunciation: oo-ran-os'
Description: perhaps from the same as ὄρος (through the idea of elevation); the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity):--air, heaven(-ly), sky.
Strong's Number: G3739
There are 1215 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅς
Transliteration: hós
Pronunciation: ho
Description: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article ὁ); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also οὗ.
Strong's Number: G1437
There are 254 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐάν
Transliteration: eán
Pronunciation: eh-an'
Description: from εἰ and ἄν; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty:--before, but, except, (and) if, (if) so, (what-, whither-)soever, though, when (-soever), whether (or), to whom, (who-)so(-ever). See μή.
Strong's Number: G1210
There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δέω
Transliteration: déō
Pronunciation: deh'-o
Description: a primary verb; to bind (in various applications, literally or figuratively):--bind, be in bonds, knit, tie, wind. See also δεῖ, δέομαι.
Strong's Number: G1909
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐπί
Transliteration: epí
Pronunciation: ep-ee'
Description: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
Strong's Number: G1093
There are 226 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: γῆ
Transliteration: gē
Pronunciation: ghay
Description: contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application):--country, earth(-ly), ground, land, world.
Strong's Number: G2071
There are 170 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔσομαι
Transliteration: ésomai
Pronunciation: es'-om-ahee
Description: future of εἰμί; will be:--shall (should) be (have), (shall) come (to pass), X may have, X fall, what would follow, X live long, X sojourn.
Strong's Number: G1722
There are 2129 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐν
Transliteration: en
Pronunciation: en
Description: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between εἰς and ἐκ); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
Strong's Number: G3089
There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λύω
Transliteration: lýō
Pronunciation: loo'-o
Description: a primary verb; to "loosen" (literally or figuratively):--break (up), destroy, dissolve, (un-)loose, melt, put off. Compare ῥήγνυμι.

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