The Meaning of Matthew 6:27 Explained

Matthew 6:27

KJV: Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

YLT: 'And who of you, being anxious, is able to add to his age one cubit?

Darby: But which of you by carefulness can add to his growth one cubit?

ASV: And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

<1161> Which  of you  by taking thought  can  add  one  cubit  unto  his  stature? 

What does Matthew 6:27 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 6:27-34 - The Cure For Anxious Care
The Lord's tone is gentle and tender when He turns to address the poor. He says three times over, "Don't be anxious." He never forgot that He sprang, according to His human nature, from the ranks of poverty. His references to patching garments, using old bottle-skins, the price of sparrows, and the scanty pittance of a laborer's hire, indicate that He was habituated to the shifts of the poor.
There is all the difference between foresight and foreboding. It is the latter that Jesus chides. The farmer must sow in the autumn that he may reap in the summer, but there is no need for him to lie sleepless through the nights of winter, worrying about the yet distant harvest. Do not be anxious about the supply of your needs, whether of body, mind, or heart. God knows what you need. If He has given life, will He not maintain it? Does He not care for the birds and flowers? Did He not give His Son, and will He withhold any good? Trust Him and be at peace. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 6

1  Giving to the Needy
5  The Lord's Prayer
16  Proper Fasting
19  Store up Treasures in Heaven
25  Do Not Worry
33  but seek God's kingdom

Greek Commentary for Matthew 6:27

Unto his stature [επι την ηλικιαν αυτου]
The word ηλικιαν — hēlikian is used either of height (stature) or length of life (age). Either makes good sense here, though probably “stature” suits the context best. Certainly anxiety will not help either kind of growth, but rather hinder by auto-intoxication if nothing more. This is no plea for idleness, for even the birds are diligent and the flowers grow. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 6:27

Luke 12:25 A cubit [πηχυν]
Matthew 6:27 has πηχυν ενα — pēchun hena (one cubit, though ενα — hena is sometimes merely the indefinite article. [source]
Luke 19:3 Jesus who he was [Ιησουν τις εστιν]
Prolepsis, to see who Jesus was. He had heard so much about him. He wanted to see which one of the crowd was Jesus.For the crowd (απο του οχλου — apo tou ochlou). He was short and the crowd was thick and close.Stature No doubt of that meaning here and possibly so in Luke 2:52. Elsewhere “age” except Luke 12:25; Matthew 6:27 where it is probably “stature” also. [source]
Luke 19:3 Stature [τηι ηλικιαι]
No doubt of that meaning here and possibly so in Luke 2:52. Elsewhere “age” except Luke 12:25; Matthew 6:27 where it is probably “stature” also. [source]
John 21:8 In the little boat [τωι πλοιαριωι]
Locative case of πλοιαριον — ploiarion (diminutive) for the larger boat For πηχυς — pēchus cubit, see Matthew 6:27 and for ως απο — hōs apo see John 11:18. Dragging Present active participle of συρω — surō for which see Acts 8:3. [source]
1 Corinthians 12:25 Have the same care [το αυτο μεριμνωσιν]
The very verb μεριμναω — merimnaō used by Jesus of our anxiety (Matthew 6:27, Matthew 6:31). Paul here personifies the parts of the body as if each one is anxious for the others. The modern knowledge of the billions of cells in the body Corinthians-working for the whole confirms Paul‘s argument. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 6:27 mean?

Who now from you being anxious is able to add to the lifespan of him hour one
τίς δὲ ἐξ ὑμῶν μεριμνῶν δύναται προσθεῖναι ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν αὐτοῦ πῆχυν ἕνα

δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
μεριμνῶν  being  anxious 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: μεριμνάω  
Sense: to be anxious.
δύναται  is  able 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
προσθεῖναι  to  add 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: προστίθημι  
Sense: to put to.
ἡλικίαν  lifespan 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἡλικία  
Sense: age, time of life.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
πῆχυν  hour 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: πῆχυς  
Sense: a cubit.
ἕνα  one 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.