Matthew · Chapter 6 · Anxiety
Matthew 6:25 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
For the mind that will not quiet itself.
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"
KJV · King James Version
"Therefore1223 5124 I say3004 unto you5213, Take no3361 thought3309 for your5216 life5590, what5101 ye shall eat5315, or2532 what5101 ye shall drink4095; nor yet for3366 your5216 body4983, what5101 ye shall put on1746. Is2076 not3780 the life5590 more than4119 meat5160, and2532 the body4983 than raiment1742?"
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses say, unto, take, thought, while the WEB renders these as tell, don, anxious, will. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
Matthew 6:25 in Matthew 6
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Matthew 6:25 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Matthew 6. Read the full chapter →
- v.23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
- v.24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.
- v.25 Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
- v.26 See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?
- v.27 “Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?
Book background
About the Book of Matthew
- Testament
- New Testament
- Genre
- Gospel
- Author
- Matthew (Levi), tax collector turned apostle
- Date written
- c. 50–70 AD
- Audience
- Primarily Jewish Christians
- Chapters
- 28
Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited King in the line of David, structuring his Gospel around five major teaching blocks — most famously the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5–7). He repeatedly shows how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. The Great Commission (28:18-20) closes the book.
Setting: Written to demonstrate Jesus as Israel's promised Messianic King.
Key themes: kingdom of heaven · fulfillment · discipleship · authority · mission
Memorisation aid
How to memorise Matthew 6:25
Matthew 6:25 contains 39 words in 7 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.
- 1
Therefore I tell you
TITY
- 2
don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat
DBAFYL
- 3
or what you will drink
OWYWD
- 4
nor yet for your body
NYFYB
- 5
what you will wear
WYWW
- 6
Isn’t life more than food
ILMTF
- 7
and the body more than clothing?
ATBMTC
Frequently asked
FAQ about Matthew 6:25
What does Matthew 6:25 say?
Matthew 6:25 reads: "Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" — from the New Testament, Matthew (Gospel). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.
What book of the Bible is Matthew 6:25 in?
Matthew 6:25 is in the book of Matthew, traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), tax collector turned apostle and written around c. 50–70 AD. Matthew is gospel in the New Testament, originally addressed to Primarily Jewish Christians. Best known for the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes.
What is Matthew 6:25 about?
Matthew 6:25 is primarily a Bible verse about Anxiety. Within Matthew, Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited King in the line of David, structuring his Gospel around five major teaching blocks — most famously the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5–7). Read the full passage above with surrounding context.
What is the difference between Matthew 6:25 in WEB and KJV?
Matthew 6:25 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "Therefore1223 5124 I say3004 unto you5213, Take no3361 thought3309 for your5216 life5590, what5101 ye shall eat5315, or2532 what5101 ye shall drink4095; nor yet for3366 your5216 body4983, what5101 ye shall put on1746. Is2076 not3780 the life5590 more than4119 meat5160, and2532 the body4983 than raiment1742?". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.
How long is Matthew 6:25?
Matthew 6:25 is 39 words in the WEB translation (199 characters), broken into 7 clauses. It is a longer verse, often broken into smaller phrases for memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 12 seconds.
How can I memorise Matthew 6:25?
To memorise Matthew 6:25, split it into its 7 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.
Why does Matthew 6:25 matter in Matthew?
Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited King in the line of David, structuring his Gospel around five major teaching blocks — most famously the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5–7). He repeatedly shows how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. The Great Commission (28:18-20) closes the book. Matthew 6:25 sits within this larger story — Matthew as a whole emphasises kingdom of heaven, fulfillment, discipleship.
How can I apply Matthew 6:25 today?
Many readers use Matthew 6:25 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Matthew 6:25 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
More designs
10 verses to read next
A fresh set of verses every visit — each on its own photo background. Tap any card to open the full study page.
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Joshua 1:9
“Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.””
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Isaiah 41:10
“Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the…”
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Philippians 4:7
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.”
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John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.”
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Philippians 4:6-7
“In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which sur…”
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Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them; for Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.””
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Psalms 27:1
“By David. Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?”
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Psalm 42:11
“Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him, the saving help of my countenance, and my God.”
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-
Matthew 6:34
“Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient.”
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1 Peter 5:7
“Casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.”
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More featured verses in Matthew 6
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Matthew 6:9
“Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.”
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Matthew 6:14
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
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Matthew 6:26
“See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value…”
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Matthew 6:33
“But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.”
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More featured verses in Matthew
Browse Matthew → Matthew 11:28
““Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.”
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Matthew 7:7
““Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.”
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Matthew 22:39
“A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
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Matthew 5:44
“But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,”
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