The Meaning of Matthew 12:36 Explained

Matthew 12:36

KJV: But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

YLT: 'And I say to you, that every idle word that men may speak, they shall give for it a reckoning in a day of judgment;

Darby: But I say unto you, that every idle word which men shall say, they shall render an account of it in judgment-day:

ASV: And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  I say  unto you,  That  every  idle  word  that  men  shall speak,  they shall give  account  thereof  in  the day  of judgment. 

What does Matthew 12:36 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 12:24-37 - Slander From Evil Hearts
Spite and hatred absolutely blind the eyes and distort the judgment. They reached their climax in this effort of the Pharisees to discredit Christ. They could not deny His miracles, so they imputed them to a collusion between Him and Satan. On the face of it, this charge was absurd. But our Lord showed clearly that in making the allegation, His enemies were violating their spiritual sense and deliberately blinding their eyes and dulling their ears to God's Spirit. This is the sin that hath never forgiveness, because the soul that acts thus ceases to wish for or seek it.
What a glimpse is given of our Savior's sore temptations and glorious victory in Matthew 12:29! He had already bound the strong man, and for this reason was able to spoil his house and deliver his captives. Let Jesus into your heart, and no foe, though he may batter the door, shall break in to destroy!
The one test that Jesus proposes is fruit. The nature of a man or doctrine or movement can be rightly estimated only when the results have had time to develop. How splendidly Christianity has stood this test! [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 12

1  Jesus reproves the blindness of the Pharisees concerning the Sabbath,
3  by scripture,
9  by reason,
13  and by a miracle
22  He heals a man possessed that was blind and mute;
24  and confronting the absurd charge of casting out demons by Beelzebub,
32  he shows that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall never be forgiven
36  Account shall be made of idle words
38  He rebukes the unfaithful, who seek after a sign,
46  and shows who is his brother, sister, and mother

Greek Commentary for Matthew 12:36

Every idle word [παν ρημα αργον]
An ineffective, useless word A word that does no good and so is pernicious like pernicious anaemia. It is a solemn thought. Jesus who knows our very thoughts (Matthew 12:25) insists that our words reveal our thoughts and form a just basis for the interpretation of character (Matthew 12:37). Here we have judgment by words as in 25:31-46 where Jesus presents judgment by deeds. Both are real tests of actual character. Homer spoke of “winged words” And by the radio our words can be heard all round the earth. Who knows where they stop? [source]
Idle [ἀργὸν]
A good rendering. The word is compounded of ἀ , not, and ἔργον , work. An idle word is a non -working word; an inoperative word. It has no legitimate work, no officeno business, but is morally useless and unprofitable. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 12:36

Hebrews 13:17 Obey [πειτεστε]
Present middle imperative of πειτω — peithō with dative case. Submit Present active imperative of υπεικω — hupeikō old compound to yield under, to give up. Here only in N.T. They watch Present active indicative of αγρυπνεω — agrupneō old verb (from αγρεω — agreō to search, υπνος — hupnos sleep), to seek after sleep, to be sleepless, be watchful (Mark 13:33). As they that shall give account Regular Greek idiom with ως — hōs and the future participle. For λογον αποδιδωμι — logon apodidōmi to render account, see Matthew 12:36. These leaders as good shepherds recognize keenly their responsibility for the welfare of the flock. And not with grief “And not groaning” (cf. Romans 8:23). Unprofitable Old double compound adjective (alpha privative and λυσιτελης — lusitelēs and this from λυω — luō to pay, and τελος — telos tax, useful or profitable as Luke 17:2), not profitable, not advantageous, by litotes, hurtful, pernicious. Common rhetorical litotes, here only in N.T. [source]
James 2:20 O vain man [ω αντρωπε κενε]
Goes on with the singular objector and demolishes him. For “empty” (deficient) Paul uses απρων — aphrōn (fool) in 1 Corinthians 15:36 and just αντρωπε — anthrōpe in Romans 2:1; Romans 9:20.Barren (αργε — arge). See 2 Peter 1:8 (not idle nor unfruitful) and Matthew 12:36, but Hort urges “inactive” as the idea here, like money with no interest and land with no crops. [source]
James 2:20 Barren [αργε]
See 2 Peter 1:8 (not idle nor unfruitful) and Matthew 12:36, but Hort urges “inactive” as the idea here, like money with no interest and land with no crops. [source]
1 Peter 4:5 Who shall give account [οι αποδωσουσιν λογον]
Future active indicative of αποδιδωμι — apodidōmi For this use with λογον — logon (account) see Matthew 12:36; Luke 16:2; Acts 19:40; Hebrews 13:17. For the sudden use of the relative οι — hoi see Romans 3:8. [source]
2 Peter 1:8 Barren [ἀργοὺς]
From ἀ , not, and ἔργον , work. Hence, more correctly, as Rev., idle. Compare “idle word” (Matthew 12:36); “standing idle ” (Matthew 20:3, Matthew 20:6); also, 1 Timothy 5:13. The tautology, barren and unfruitful, is thus avoided. [source]
1 John 4:17 The day of judgment [τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς κρίσεως]
Lit., the day of judgment. The exact phrase occurs here only. Ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως dayof judgment, without the articles, is found Matthew 10:15; Matthew 11:22, Matthew 11:24; Matthew 12:36; 2 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 3:7. The day is called the great day of their wrath (Revelation 6:17); the day of wrath and of revelation of the righteous judgement of God (Romans 2:5); the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:12); the last day (John 6:39, John 6:40, John 6:44, John 6:54); that day (Matthew 7:22; Luke 6:23; Luke 10:12). The judgment is found Matthew 12:41, Matthew 12:42; Luke 10:14; Luke 11:31, Luke 11:32. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 12:36 mean?

I say now to you that every word careless that will speak - men they will give of it an account in day of judgment
λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι πᾶν ῥῆμα ἀργὸν λαλήσουσιν οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἀποδώσουσιν περὶ αὐτοῦ λόγον ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως

λέγω  I  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
πᾶν  every 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
ῥῆμα  word 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ῥῆμα  
Sense: that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word.
ἀργὸν  careless 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἀργός  
Sense: free from labour, at leisure.
  that 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
λαλήσουσιν  will  speak 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀπολαλέω 
Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound.
οἱ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἄνθρωποι  men 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
ἀποδώσουσιν  they  will  give 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀποδίδωμι  
Sense: to deliver, to give away for one’s own profit what is one’s own, to sell.
λόγον  an  account 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: λόγος  
Sense: of speech.
ἡμέρᾳ  day 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
κρίσεως  of  judgment 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: κρίσις  
Sense: a separating, sundering, separation.