Matthew 5:35 (DBY)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it has been said to the ancients, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt render to the Lord what thou hast sworn.

Matthew 5:34 But *I* say unto you, Do not swear at all; neither by the heaven, because it is [the] throne of God;

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

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

Matthew 5:37 But let your word be Yea, yea; Nay, nay; but what is more than these is from evil.

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 Do 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.