What Does Matthew 5:40 Mean in the King James?

And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

Matthew 5:40 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The second garment changes the encounter from what a court can take into what you can release.

THE MEANING

When a claim reaches into your life, the verse places a response beyond the claim itself: the cloak follows the coat. That second garment is not demanded by the lawsuit; it marks a release beyond what the claimant asked for. The encounter is no longer governed only by what can be taken.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The verse undoes the belief that another person’s claim gets the final word over what passes from your hands.

THE ROOT

ἄφες

aphes

GROWS FROM

ἀφίημι

aphiēmi

Release, leave, let go, forgive.

The Greek verb translated “let him have” carries the sense of release: the response is not only a transfer of clothing but a letting go. The same word-family also speaks of releasing debts, joining this legal claim to the larger movement of loosening what is held against another.

ALSO GROWS

aphesis: Release, remission.

ἄφεσις

This noun names the state or act of release, including the release of debts.

aphēkamen: We released, we forgave.

ἀφήκαμεν

This form appears in Matthew 6:12, where the same verb describes releasing debts.

κριθῆναι

krithēnai

GROWS FROM

κρίνω

krinō

Judge, decide, distinguish.

“sue at the law” in this verse is krithēnai. The Greek frames the encounter as being brought into judgment. The response then shifts from the court’s claim to release, carrying the verse beyond the logic of judgment and counterclaim.

ALSO GROWS

kritēs: Judge.

κριτής

The person who sues brings the matter before a judge, making judgment the setting for the response.

krisis: Judgment, decision.

κρίσις

This branch names the act or outcome of judging that frames the garment claim.

THE PATTERN

Release interrupts retaliation by keeping another person’s claim from dictating the next response.

And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

Luke 6:29 · KJVThe garment image returns alongside the cheek, showing release as a response that does not extend retaliation.

Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Proverbs 20:22 · KJVThe verse names the choice not to repay evil, the same interruption of retaliation expressed through the extra garment.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Romans 12:19 · KJVThe refusal to seize vengeance echoes the release that keeps a claim from dictating the next act.

THE THREAD

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Matthew 6:12 · KJV

“Let him have” comes from ⁨ἀφίημι⁩ (aphiēmi), meaning release or let go, the same verb-family used here for forgiving debts. The garment claim and the debt both meet the same movement: releasing what is held against another.

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