Matthew 5:35 (ASV)

Passage

nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

Nearby Context

Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

Matthew 5:34 but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God;

Matthew 5:35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

Matthew 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.

Matthew 5:37 But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil [one].

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "earth", "footstool", "feet", "jerusalem", "city", "great", and "king". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "earth" and "footstool", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 34's "but I say unto you swear not..." into verse 36's "Neither shalt thou swear by thy head...", so "earth" and "footstool" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "earth" and "footstool" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.