For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just saying the Law is important; he's emphasizing its absolute, immutable nature by using "jot" and "tittle." These refer to the smallest Hebrew letters and even the tiny strokes that distinguished them, highlighting that not even the most minute detail of God's Word will pass away until its entire purpose is fully realized. This underscores the profound permanence and divine authority of Scripture, even in its smallest elements.
For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is beginning his Sermon on the Mount, laying out the core principles of his kingdom. After declaring he hasn't come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them, he emphasizes the enduring and absolute authority of God's Word. He stresses that not even the smallest part of the Law will pass away until everything it foretells and requires is accomplished.
Ever feel like the little things don't make a difference? Jesus says the smallest parts of God's Word are incredibly significant.
Jesus uses the imagery of the smallest elements of Hebrew writing—the 'jot' (the smallest letter, 'yod') and the 'tittle' (a small stroke or point that distinguishes letters)—to emphasize the absolute permanence of God's Law.
Think about it: in Hebrew, letters can look very similar. A tiny stroke or bend can change one letter into another, completely altering a word's meaning. The Jewish scribes were incredibly meticulous about these details, believing that even the smallest error could affect the entire message. Jesus taps into this deep cultural respect for the text's precision.
His point is clear: not even the tiniest, most seemingly insignificant part of God's Law will pass away until everything it speaks of is completely fulfilled. This isn't about upholding the Law rigidly for its own sake, but about understanding its divine origin and unshakeable truth.
Did Jesus abolish the Law, or did He bring it to its ultimate purpose? The answer is profound.
Jesus explicitly states He did not come to 'destroy' the Law, but to 'fulfill' it. This is a crucial distinction.
Fulfillment, in Jesus' context, means bringing the Law to its intended completion and ultimate meaning. The Old Testament Law, with its commands and prophecies, pointed towards something greater. Jesus, through His life, teachings, death, and resurrection, is that ultimate reality.
He perfectly embodied the Law's moral demands, satisfied its sacrificial requirements, and accomplished all that the prophecies foretold. The Law's purpose was to reveal sin, point to a coming Savior, and establish God's righteous standard. Jesus achieved all of these things, thereby fulfilling the Law's deepest intentions. The Law remains true and authoritative, but its ultimate purpose is realized in Christ.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
amēn · Greek Adverb
A solemn affirmation or declaration of truth (Amen), emphasizing the absolute certainty and authority of the statement that follows.
gē · Greek Noun
The physical world inhabited by humans, often contrasted with heaven; it is the arena where God's redemptive history unfolds.
iōta · Greek Noun
The smallest letter of the Greek alphabet (representing the Hebrew yod); used metaphorically to denote the smallest detail of a text.
keraia · Greek Noun
A tiny stroke or hook used to distinguish Hebrew letters; signifies the absolute preservation of even the smallest parts of God's Word.
ginomai · Greek Verb
To come into being, happen, or be realized; refers to the fulfillment and realization of God's sovereign purposes and promises.
This verse echoes Jesus' strong affirmation, stating that it's easier for the physical universe to disappear than for even the smallest detail of God's law to fail, reinforcing the eternal nature of God's commands.
1 Peter 1:25Peter quotes Isaiah, emphasizing that 'the word of the Lord remains forever.' This aligns with Jesus' teaching that every part of His Father's law is enduring and will not pass away until all is accomplished.
Galatians 3:24Paul describes the Law as a 'disciplinarian' or 'guardian' leading to Christ. This highlights the Law's essential and lasting purpose, not to be abolished but fulfilled, as Jesus states in Matthew.
Romans 10:4Paul declares that 'Christ is the end of the law,' meaning its ultimate goal and fulfillment. This directly supports Jesus' claim that the Law will not pass away until 'all is accomplished' through Him.
Psalm 119:160The Psalmist exclaims, 'The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.' This ancient praise of God's unwavering Word resonates deeply with Jesus' declaration about the immutability of His Father's Law.
vincentMatthew 5:18: "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
Jot, tittle (ἰῶτα κεραία)Jot is for jod, the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Tittle is the little bend or point which serves to distinguish certain Hebrew letters of similar appearance. Jewish tradition mentions the letter jod as being irremovable; adding that, if all men in the world were gathered to abolish the least letter in the l…
bensonMatthew 5:18: "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
Matthew 5:18 . For verily I say unto you — This expression, whereby our Lord often prefaces what he is about to say, always imports the great importance, as well as certain truth of it. Till heaven and earth pass away — Till the whole visible frame of nature be disjointed and dissolved, one jot or one tittle — “The word ιωτα , which we render jo…
Jesus isn't just saying the Law is important; he's emphasizing its absolute, immutable nature by using "jot" and "tittle." These refer to the smallest Hebrew letters and even the tiny strokes that distinguished them, highlighting that not even the most minute detail of God's Word will pass away until its entire purpose is fully realized. This underscores the profound permanence and divine authority of Scripture, even in its smallest elements.
Jesus is beginning his Sermon on the Mount, laying out the core principles of his kingdom. After declaring he hasn't come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them, he emphasizes the enduring and absolute authority of God's Word. He stresses that not even the smallest part of the Law will pass away until everything it foretells and requires is accomplished.
Jesus is beginning his Sermon on the Mount, laying out the core principles of his kingdom. After declaring he hasn't come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them, he emphasizes the enduring and absolute authority of God's Word. He stresses that not even the smallest part of the Law will pass away until everything it foretells and requires is accomplished.
"For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished." — Jesus isn't just saying the Law is important; he's emphasizing its absolute, immutable nature by using "jot" and "tittle." These refer to the smallest Hebrew letters and even the tiny strokes that di…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026