Matthew · Chapter 6 · Anxiety
Matthew 6:26 — 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
"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?"
KJV · King James Version
"Behold1689 1519 the fowls4071 of the air3772: for3754 they sow4687 not3756, neither3761 do they reap2325, nor3761 gather4863 into1519 barns596; yet2532 your5216 heavenly3770 Father3962 feedeth5142 them846. Are1308 ye5210 not3756 much3123 better than1308 they846?"
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses behold, fowls, air, for, while the WEB renders these as see, birds, sky, that. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
Matthew 6:26 in Matthew 6
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Matthew 6:26 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Matthew 6. Read the full chapter →
- 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?
- v.28 Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,
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 6:26
Matthew 6:26 contains 31 words in 6 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
See the birds of the sky
STBOTS
- 2
that they don’t sow
TTDS
- 3
neither do they reap
NDTR
- 4
nor gather into barns
NGIB
- 5
Your heavenly Father feeds them
YHFFT
- 6
Aren’t you of much more value than they?
AYOMMV
Frequently asked
FAQ about Matthew 6:26
What does Matthew 6:26 say?
Matthew 6:26 reads: "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?" — 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 6:26 in?
Matthew 6:26 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 6:26 about?
Matthew 6:26 is primarily a Bible verse about Anxiety, with related themes including God's Love. 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 6:26 in WEB and KJV?
Matthew 6:26 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "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?". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "Behold1689 1519 the fowls4071 of the air3772: for3754 they sow4687 not3756, neither3761 do they reap2325, nor3761 gather4863 into1519 barns596; yet2532 your5216 heavenly3770 Father3962 feedeth5142 them846. Are1308 ye5210 not3756 much3123 better than1308 they846?". 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 6:26?
Matthew 6:26 is 31 words in the WEB translation (165 characters), broken into 6 clauses. It is a longer verse, often broken into smaller phrases for memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 9 seconds.
How can I memorise Matthew 6:26?
To memorise Matthew 6:26, split it into its 6 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 6:26 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 6:26 sits within this larger story — Matthew as a whole emphasises kingdom of heaven, fulfillment, discipleship.
How can I apply Matthew 6:26 today?
Many readers use Matthew 6:26 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 6:26 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
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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.””
Read context →
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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.””
Read context →
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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?”
Read context →
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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.”
Read context →
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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.”
Read context →
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 6:25
“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…”
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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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