Matthew · Chapter 6 · Prayer
Matthew 6:9 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
Read this verse slowly. Let it settle before you move on.
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy."
KJV · King James Version
"After this manner3779 therefore3767 pray4336 ye5210: Our2257 Father3962 which3588 art in1722 heaven3772, Hallowed be37 thy4675 name3686."
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses after, manner, therefore, which, while the WEB renders these as like, may, your, kept. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
Matthew 6:9 in Matthew 6
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Matthew 6:9 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Matthew 6. Read the full chapter →
- v.7 In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
- v.8 Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.
- v.9 Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
- v.10 Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
- v.11 Give us today our daily bread.
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 6:9
Matthew 6:9 contains 13 words in 2 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
Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven
PLTOFI
- 2
may your name be kept holy.
MYNBKH
Frequently asked
FAQ about Matthew 6:9
What does Matthew 6:9 say?
Matthew 6:9 reads: "Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy." — 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 6:9 in?
Matthew 6:9 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 6:9 about?
Matthew 6:9 is primarily a Bible verse about Prayer. 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 6:9 in WEB and KJV?
Matthew 6:9 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "After this manner3779 therefore3767 pray4336 ye5210: Our2257 Father3962 which3588 art in1722 heaven3772, Hallowed be37 thy4675 name3686.". 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 6:9?
Matthew 6:9 is 13 words in the WEB translation (66 characters), broken into 2 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 4 seconds.
How can I memorise Matthew 6:9?
To memorise Matthew 6:9, split it into its 2 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 6:9 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 6:9 sits within this larger story — Matthew as a whole emphasises kingdom of heaven, fulfillment, discipleship.
How can I apply Matthew 6:9 today?
Many readers use Matthew 6:9 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 6:9 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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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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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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2 Chronicles 7:14
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, will fo…”
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James 5:16
“Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.”
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James 5:14-15
“Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the pra…”
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Psalms 19:14
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.”
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Psalms 34:4
“I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
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Psalms 51:10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.”
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Jeremiah 33:3
“‘Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don’t know.’”
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-
Matthew 18:20
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.””
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More featured verses in Matthew 6
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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 6:26
“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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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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