Matthew Chapter 6 verse 17 Holy Bible
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face;
read chapter 6 in ASV
But when you go without food, put oil on your head and make your face clean;
read chapter 6 in BBE
But *thou*, [when] fasting, anoint thy head and wash thy face,
read chapter 6 in DARBY
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
read chapter 6 in KJV
read chapter 6 in WBT
But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;
read chapter 6 in WEB
`But thou, fasting, anoint thy head, and wash thy face,
read chapter 6 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 17. - But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face. If both these were, among the Jews, done daily, Christ's command would mean - make no external sign of fasting; dress and appear as usual. But as anointing, at least, cannot be proved to have been a daily habit (though expressly forbidden during the stricter kinds of fasts, see Schurer, II. 2:212), especially with the mixed classes whom our Lord was addressing, and as it was with the ancients rather a symbol of special joy, it is safer to take it in this sense here. Thus our Lord will mean - so far from appearing sad, let your appearance be that of special joy and gladness. "By the symbols of joy and gladness he bade us be joyful and glad when we fast" (Photius, in Suicer, 1:186).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) Anoint thine head, and wash thy face.--Both these acts were rigidly prohibited by the traditions of the Elders on the Day of Atonement, and by implication on other fast days also. They were the outward signs of joy (Ecclesiastes 9:8), and were therefore looked on as unsuitable for a time of mourning. The disciples of Christ were to hide their contrition and self-discipline, and even when the heart knew its own bitterness were to be blithe and cheerful, opening their griefs only to their Father in heaven.Openly.--Here again the artificial antithesis is to be rejected as an interpolation.
