Matthew 6:24

Οὐδεὶς δύναται δυσὶ κυρίοις δουλεύειν· ἢ γὰρ τὸν ἕνα μισήσει καὶ τὸν ἕτερον ἀγαπήσει ἢ ἑνὸς ἀνθέξεται καὶ τοῦ ἑτέρου καταφρονήσει· οὐ δύνασθε θεῷ δουλεύειν καὶ μαμμωνᾷ
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Word Reference
Original Word Definitions
Οὐδεὶς
G3762 A-NSM
oudeis
not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e., none, nobody, nothing
  • no one, nothing
δύναται
G1410 V-PNI-3S
dynamai
to be able or possible
  • to be able, have power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom
    • "to be able to do something"to be capable, strong and powerful
δυσὶ
G1417 A-DPM
dyo
___%___two___%___
  • the two, the twain
κυρίοις
G2962 N-DPM
kyrios
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
  • he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord
    • the possessor and disposer of a thing
      • the owner; one who has control of the person, the master
        • "in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor
      is a title of honor expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants salute their master"this title is given to: God, the Messiah
δουλεύειν·
G1398 V-PAN
douleuō
to be a slave to (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary)
  • to be a slave, serve, do service
    • of a nation in subjection to other nations
    metaphorically to obey, submit to
    • in a good sense, to yield obedience
      • "in a bad sense, of those who become slaves to some base power, to yield to, give one's self up to
ἢ
G2228 CONJ
ē
disjunctive, or; comparative, than
  • either, or, than
γὰρ
G1063 CONJ
gar
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
  • for
τὸν
G3588 T-ASM
ho
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
  • this, that, these, etc. Only significant renderings other than ___%___the___%___ counted
ἕνα
G1520 A-ASM
heis
one
  • one
μισήσει
G3404 V-FAI-3S
miseō
to detest (especially to persecute); by extension, to love less
  • to hate, pursue with hatred, detest
    • "to be hated, detested
καὶ
G2532 CONJ
kai
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
  • and, also, even, indeed, but
τὸν
G3588 T-ASM
ho
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
  • this, that, these, etc. Only significant renderings other than ___%___the___%___ counted
ἕτερον
G2087 A-ASM
heteros
(an-, the) other or different
  • the other, another, other
    • to number
      • to number as opposed to some former person or thing
        • "the other of two
      to quality
      • another: i.e., one not of the same nature, form, class, kind, different
ἀγαπήσει
G25 V-FAI-3S
agapaō
to love (in a social or moral sense)
  • of persons
    • to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
    of things
    • to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing
ἢ
G2228 CONJ
ē
disjunctive, or; comparative, than
  • either, or, than
ἑνὸς
G1520 A-GSM
heis
one
  • one
ἀνθέξεται
G472 V-FDI-3S
antechomai
to hold oneself opposite to, i.e., (by implication) adhere to; by extension to care for
  • to hold before or against, hold back, withstand, endure
    • "to keep one's self directly opposite to any one, hold to him firmly, cleave to, paying heed to him
καὶ
G2532 CONJ
kai
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
  • and, also, even, indeed, but
τοῦ
G3588 T-GSM
ho
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
  • this, that, these, etc. Only significant renderings other than ___%___the___%___ counted
ἑτέρου
G2087 A-GSM
heteros
(an-, the) other or different
  • the other, another, other
    • to number
      • to number as opposed to some former person or thing
        • "the other of two
      to quality
      • another: i.e., one not of the same nature, form, class, kind, different
καταφρονήσει·
G2706 V-FAI-3S
kataphroneō
to think against, i.e., disesteem
  • to contemn, despise, disdain, think little or nothing of
οὐ
G3756 PRT-N
ou
the absolute negative (compare G3361) adverb; no or not
  • no, not
δύνασθε
G1410 V-PNI-2P
dynamai
to be able or possible
  • to be able, have power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom
    • "to be able to do something"to be capable, strong and powerful
θεῷ
G2316 N-DSM
theos
a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by Hebraism)
  • a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
    • "the Godhead, trinity
    • God the Father, the first person in the trinity
      • "Christ, the second person of the trinity"Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
    spoken of the only and true God
    • refers to the things of God
      • "his counsels, interests, things due to him
    whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
    • God's representative or viceregent
      • of magistrates and judges
δουλεύειν
G1398 V-PAN
douleuō
to be a slave to (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary)
  • to be a slave, serve, do service
    • of a nation in subjection to other nations
    metaphorically to obey, submit to
    • in a good sense, to yield obedience
      • "in a bad sense, of those who become slaves to some base power, to yield to, give one's self up to
καὶ
G2532 CONJ
kai
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
  • and, also, even, indeed, but
μαμμωνᾷ
G3126
mammōnas
mammonas, i.e., avarice (deified)
  • mammon
    • "treasure"riches (where it is personified and opposed to God)

Οὐδεὶς δύναται δυσὶ κυρίοις δουλεύειν· ἢ γὰρ τὸν ἕνα μισήσει καὶ τὸν ἕτερον ἀγαπήσει ἢ ἑνὸς ἀνθέξεται καὶ τοῦ ἑτέρου καταφρονήσει· οὐ δύνασθε θεῷ δουλεύειν καὶ μαμμωνᾷ
24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Cross References

1 John 2:15

Μὴ ἀγαπᾶτε τὸν κόσμον μηδὲ τὰ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἐάν τις ἀγαπᾷ τὸν κόσμον οὐκ ἔστιν ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ πατρὸς ἐν αὐτῷ·
15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Luke 16:13

Οὐδεὶς οἰκέτης δύναται δυσὶ κυρίοις δουλεύειν· ἢ γὰρ τὸν ἕνα μισήσει καὶ τὸν ἕτερον ἀγαπήσει ἢ ἑνὸς ἀνθέξεται καὶ τοῦ ἑτέρου καταφρονήσει οὐ δύνασθε θεῷ δουλεύειν καὶ μαμωνᾷ
13
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

James 4:4

μοιχοὶ καὶ μοιχαλίδες οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ἡ φιλία τοῦ κόσμου ἔχθρα τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν ὃς ἂν οὖν βουληθῇ φίλος εἶναι τοῦ κόσμου ἐχθρὸς τοῦ θεοῦ καθίσταται
4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the of world is the enemy God.

1 Timothy 6:9

οἱ δὲ βουλόμενοι πλουτεῖν ἐμπίπτουσιν εἰς πειρασμὸν καὶ παγίδα καὶ ἐπιθυμίας πολλὰς ἀνοήτους καὶ βλαβεράς αἵτινες βυθίζουσιν τοὺς ἀνθρώπους εἰς ὄλεθρον καὶ ἀπώλειαν
9
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Joshua 24:15

וְאִם רַע בְּֽעֵינֵיכֶם לַֽעֲבֹד אֶת-יְהוָה בַּֽחֲרוּ לָכֶם הַיּוֹם אֶת-מִי תַֽעֲבֹדוּן אִם אֶת-אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר-עָֽבְדוּ אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר ‫(בעבר)‬ מֵעֵבֶר הַנָּהָר וְאִם אֶת-אֱלֹהֵי הָֽאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם יֹֽשְׁבִים בְּאַרְצָם וְאָֽנֹכִי וּבֵיתִי נַֽעֲבֹד אֶת-יְהוָֽה׃
15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Galatians 1:10

Ἄρτι γὰρ ἀνθρώπους πείθω ἢ τὸν θεόν ἢ ζητῶ ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκειν εἰ γὰρ ἔτι ἀνθρώποις ἤρεσκον Χριστοῦ δοῦλος οὐκ ἂν ἤμην
10
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Matthew 4:10

Τότε λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς Ὕπαγε Σατανᾶ· γέγραπται γάρ Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου προσκυνήσεις καὶ αὐτῷ μόνῳ λατρεύσεις
10
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Romans 6:16

οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ᾧ παριστάνετε ἑαυτοὺς δούλους εἰς ὑπακοήν δοῦλοί ἐστε ᾧ ὑπακούετε ἤτοι ἁμαρτίας εἰς θάνατον ἢ ὑπακοῆς εἰς δικαιοσύνην
16
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Luke 16:11

εἰ οὖν ἐν τῷ ἀδίκῳ μαμωνᾷ πιστοὶ οὐκ ἐγένεσθε τὸ ἀληθινὸν τίς ὑμῖν πιστεύσει
11
If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit trust to your the true riches?

1 Kings 18:21

וַיִּגַּשׁ אֵֽלִיָּהוּ אֶל-כָּל-הָעָם וַיֹּאמֶר עַד-מָתַי אַתֶּם פֹּֽסְחִים עַל-שְׁתֵּי הַסְּעִפִּים אִם-יְהוָה הָֽאֱלֹהִים לְכוּ אַֽחֲרָיו וְאִם-הַבַּעַל לְכוּ אַֽחֲרָיו וְלֹֽא-עָנוּ הָעָם אֹתוֹ דָּבָֽר׃
21
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

Joshua 24:19

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶל-הָעָם לֹא תֽוּכְלוּ לַֽעֲבֹד אֶת-יְהוָה כִּֽי-אֱלֹהִים קְדֹשִׁים הוּא אֵל-קַנּוֹא הוּא לֹֽא-יִשָּׂא לְפִשְׁעֲכֶם וּלְחַטֹּֽאותֵיכֶֽם׃
19
And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

1 Timothy 6:17

Τοῖς πλουσίοις ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι παράγγελλε μὴ ὑψηλοφρονεῖν μηδὲ ἠλπικέναι ἐπὶ πλούτου ἀδηλότητι ἀλλ' ἐν τῷ θεῷ τῷ ζῶντι τῷ παρέχοντι ἡμῖν πλουσίως πάντα εἰς ἀπόλαυσιν
17
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

1 Samuel 7:3

וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל-כָּל-בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר אִם-בְּכָל-לְבַבְכֶם אַתֶּם שָׁבִים אֶל-יְהוָה הָסִירוּ אֶת-אֱלֹהֵי הַנֵּכָר מִתּֽוֹכְכֶם וְהָֽעַשְׁתָּרוֹת וְהָכִינוּ לְבַבְכֶם אֶל-יְהוָה וְעִבְדֻהוּ לְבַדּוֹ וְיַצֵּל אֶתְכֶם מִיַּד פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃
3
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 Kings 17:33

אֶת-יְהוָה הָיוּ יְרֵאִים וְאֶת-אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶם הָיוּ עֹֽבְדִים כְּמִשְׁפַּט הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר-הִגְלוּ אֹתָם מִשָּֽׁם׃
33
They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.

2 Kings 17:41

וַיִּֽהְיוּ׀ הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה יְרֵאִים אֶת-יְהוָה וְאֶת-פְּסִֽילֵיהֶם הָיוּ עֹֽבְדִים גַּם-בְּנֵיהֶם׀ וּבְנֵי בְנֵיהֶם כַּֽאֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֲבֹתָם הֵם עֹשִׂים עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
41
So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.

Luke 16:9

κἀγὼ ὑμῖν λέγω ποιήσατε ἑαυτοῖς φίλους ἐκ τοῦ μαμωνᾶ τῆς ἀδικίας ἵνα ὅταν ἐκλίπητε δέξωνται ὑμᾶς εἰς τὰς αἰωνίους σκηνάς
9
And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

Ezekiel 20:39

וְאַתֶּם בֵּֽית-יִשְׂרָאֵל כֹּֽה-אָמַר׀ אֲדֹנָי יְהוִֹה אִישׁ גִּלּוּלָיו לְכוּ עֲבֹדוּ וְאַחַר אִם-אֵינְכֶם שֹׁמְעִים אֵלָי וְאֶת-שֵׁם קָדְשִׁי לֹא תְחַלְּלוּ-עוֹד בְּמַתְּנֽוֹתֵיכֶם וּבְגִלּוּלֵיכֶֽם׃
39
As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

2 Timothy 4:10

Δημᾶς γάρ με ἐγκατέλιπεν ἀγαπήσας τὸν νῦν αἰῶνα καὶ ἐπορεύθη εἰς Θεσσαλονίκην Κρήσκης εἰς Γαλατίαν Τίτος εἰς Δαλματίαν·
10
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Zephaniah 1:5

וְאֶת-הַמִּשְׁתַּחֲוִים עַל-הַגַּגּוֹת לִצְבָא הַשָּׁמָיִם וְאֶת-הַמִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוִים הַנִּשְׁבָּעִים לַֽיהוָה וְהַנִּשְׁבָּעִים בְּמַלְכָּֽם׃
5
And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;
Matthew 6:23
Read Matthew 6
Matthew 6:25