Matthew 5:17: “Destroy” the Law

Revised: 18-June-2021

One of the most frequent requests JP receives from readers is for a new, English translation of the sayings of Jesus based on an understanding of their Hebraic and Jewish background. Below we offer such a translation of Matt. 5:17-18.

Previous Attempts at Translation

• “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” (KJV)
• “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them.” (RSV)
• “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (NIV)

From Literal Greek to Dynamic Hebrew

Greek (Codex Vaticanus):
Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι (me nomisete hoti elthon katalysai ton nomon e tous prophetas ouk elthon katalysai alla plerosai).

Literal Translation of the Greek:
“Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fill.”

Conjectured Hebrew Reconstruction:
אל תחשבו שבאתי לבטל את התורה ואת הנביאים לא באתי לבטל אלא לקיים (al takhshevu shebati levatel et hatorah ve-et hanevi’im lo bati levatel ela lekayem).

Literal Translation of the Hebrew Reconstruction:
“Do not think that I have come to cancel the Torah [the five books of Moses] and the Prophets [the second section of the Hebrew canon]. I have not come to cancel, but to sustain.”

Idiomatic Translation of the Hebrew Reconstruction:
“Do not think that I have come to weaken the Torah and the Prophets. I have not come to weaken them, but to strengthen them.”

Dynamic Translation of the Hebrew Reconstruction:
“Do not suppose that I have any intention of undermining Scripture by misinterpreting it. My purpose is to establish and maintain the knowledge and observance of God’s Word not undermine it.”

If you enjoyed reading this post, check out these recent JP articles:

• 
  Candy Bars and Jesus: Taking a Risk on Jon Guerra
  How to cite this article: Dan Cloutier, “Candy Bars and Jesus: Taking a Risk on Jon Guerra,” Jerusalem Perspective (2026) [https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/34528/]. Dan Cloutier, a singer-songwriter based out of Boston, MA, is Jerusalem Perspective’s new music and art journalist and reviewer. Dan spent the last year traveling to Newfoundland and Greenland to record his latest album …

  Read More
• 
  A Satisfied Mind: Jesus’ Attitude Toward Wealth
  And what a challenging, troubling, and unsettling attitude it is!
• 
  Locating Jesus’ Place on the Political-Ideological Spectrum of Second Temple Jewish Society
  Was Jesus on the right, left, or near the center of the political spectrum of first-century Jewish society?
• 
  The Basis of Early Christian Antimilitarism
  The basis of Christian antimilitarism was the influence of Jesus’ teaching and character as emphasized and interpreted by the early Church.
• 
  Language Use in the First Century: Spoken Hebrew in a Trilingual Society in the Time of Jesus
  Hebrew was alive and well in a basically trilingual society in the land of Israel during the first century C.E.
• 
  Is Desiring Justice for Palestinians Anti-Semitic?
  God’s love for Israel came with a blessing for all peoples. Followers of Jesus aren’t getting it right if their love for Israel isn’t doing the same.