Matthew 6:7 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

⁷ And when you pray, do not use worthless repetitions like the [unconverted] Gentiles, for they think their lengthy, repetitious wording [in prayer] is more likely to be heard [by God].

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

⁷ But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

⁷ And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking. [I Kings 18:25-29.]

American Standard Version (1901)

⁷ And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Common English Bible

⁷ “When you pray, don’t pour out a flood of empty words, as the Gentiles do. They think that by saying many words they’ll be heard.

Catholic Public Domain Version

⁷ And when praying, do not choose many words, as the pagans do. For they think that by their excess of words they might be heeded.

Matthew 6:7 Cross References

Matthew 26:44

He left and went away from them again and prayed a third time, saying the same words again.

Matthew 6:32

For these are the things that the [unconverted] Gentiles keep trying to get. But your heavenly Father [already] knows you need these things.

Acts 19:34

But when the crowd realized that he was a Jew, they all joined together for about two hours shouting, “Great is [the goddess] Artemis, of the Ephesians.”

Matthew 26:42

He [then] went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if this [cup of suffering] cannot pass away unless I drink it [i.e., experience the suffering], [then] let what You want be done.”

Matthew 26:39

And He went on ahead a short distance and fell face-down and prayed, “My Father, allow this cup [i.e., of suffering] to pass away from me if it is [at all] possible; nevertheless, let it not be what I want, but what You want [for me].”

Matthew 18:17

And if he refuses to listen to them [i.e., the witnesses], explain the [whole] matter to the church [i.e., probably a specially called meeting of mature Christians to resolve the matter]. And if he refuses to listen to the church also, [i.e., to acknowledge his sin and repent of it], consider him like an [unconverted] Gentile or tax collector [i.e., do not have fellowship with him].