Does the Bible say…
“Judge not, lest ye be judged”
This phrase appears in Matthew 7:1 (BSB).
Matthew 7:1 verbatim in KJV. The next four verses give the standard of judgment and the speck/log analogy.
Full reference
The actual text Matthew 7:1
Full passage in context and origin
The actual verse
Matthew 7:1 in the BSB:
Do not judge, or you will be judged.
The KJV (1769):
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
The KJV is the source of the popular English wording “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” The BSB and other modern translations use plainer English but render the same Greek verb (krinō).
The surrounding passage
The verse opens a five-verse unit within the Sermon on the Mount. The full passage (Matthew 7:1–5, BSB):
1 Do not judge, or you will be judged. 2 For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
The opening verse is the topic statement; verses 2–5 specify the standard, the analogy, and the corrective.
A parallel passage
A closely parallel passage appears in Luke 6:37–42 (BSB):
37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap…
Luke’s version expands the topic by pairing it with parallel imperatives about condemnation, forgiveness, and giving.
Original language
The Greek verb κρίνω (krinō) covers a range of senses:
- Form a judgment / evaluate — the basic neutral sense
- Decide / determine — as a court decides a case
- Condemn / sentence — the strongest sense
The verse uses mē krinete (present imperative + negation), which can be rendered “stop judging” or “do not be in the habit of judging” depending on translation philosophy. The second clause uses the passive voice — “lest you be judged” — without specifying who does the judging.
Standard scholarly Greek lexicons (e.g., BDAG) note the range of krinō and that translations have rendered the verb across that range depending on context.
Original language note
Original language
The Greek verb is κρίνω (krinō), which has a wide range — 'judge, decide, condemn, evaluate.' The verse uses the present imperative μὴ κρίνετε (mē krinete), 'do not judge,' followed by ἵνα μὴ κριθῆτε (hina mē krithēte), 'so that you are not judged.' The verb in the second clause is in the passive voice and aorist subjunctive. Translations differ on how strongly to render the prohibition, but the basic verb is consistent across renderings.