Matthew 5:36

Vocabulary (Greek word by word)

μήτε (partic) "Neither" is from mete, which means "and not" and "either...or". It is used mostly double. A variation on mede.

ἐν (prep) "By" is from en, which means "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power" and "with".

τῇ (article sg fem dat) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

κεφαλῇ (noun sg fem dat) "Head" is from kephalê (kephale), which means "head of a man or beast", "an extremity", "the top", "the capital (top) of a pillar", "the coping of a wall", "the source of a rivalry" and, metaphorically the "crowning" or "completion" of a thing.

σου (adj sg masc gen ) "Thy" is from sou which means "you" and "your".

ὀμόσῃς, [7 verses](2nd sg aor subj act) "Swear" is from omnyo, which means "to swear to a thing", "to take an oath", "to promise one will", "give word of honor", "swear by" and "affirm or confirm by oath". This word appears 155 times in the Septuagint. The Hebrew word is שָׁבַע shaba.

ὅτι (adv) "That" is from hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that", "seeing that" and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what", "because", "since" and "wherefore".

οὐ "Not" is from ou which is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.

δύνασαι (verb 2nd sg pres ind mp) "Can" is from dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities", "to be able", "to be strong enough to do", "to enjoy a legal right", "to be equivalent to", "to signify" [of words], "to mean" [or words], "to be worth" [of money], "powerful", "mighty", "having power" and "having influence".

μίαν (adj sg fem acc) "One" is from heis, which means "one", "single" and "one and the same". This adjective is irregular, having a number of forms depending on sex, number, and case: heis, henos, heni, hen, hena, mia, mias, miai, mian; hen, henos, hen. The form here is mia, feminine singular.

τρίχα [5 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Hair" is from thrix, which means "human hair", "a single hair", "a horses mane", "sheep's wool", "pig bristles", "a hair's breadth".

λευκὴν (adj sg fem acc) "White" is from leukos, which means "light", "bright", "clear", "brilliant" and the colors "white" and "pale gold". It is a metaphor for "clear", "distinct" and "plain".

ποιῆσαι (aor inf act ) "Make" is from poieo, which means "to make", "to produce", "to create", "to bring into existence", "to bring about", "to cause", "to render", "to consider", "to prepare", "to make ready" and "to do".

ἢ (adv) "Or" is from e which is a particle meaning "either", "or" or "than".

μέλαιναν. (adj sg fem acc) "Black" is from melas, which means "black", "dark", "murky", "swarthy", "indistinct" [of a voice], "obscure", "enigmatic" and "malignant" [of character].

KJV — word by word

Neither -- This Greek word translated as "nor" means "neither", "nor" and "not". It is used mostly double as a "neither...nor".

shalt -- (CW) This helping verb "shalt" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if" or "when" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.

thou -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.

swear -- The word translated here as "swear" means "to swear on a thing" and "to promise one will". The command is singular, that is, a singular you. This follows the form of the commands given earlier in the verse. This is the same verb as "swear/swear an oath/make vows" in Matthew 5:34 but it is not in the middle voice indicating the subject acting on himself.

by -- The Greek word translated as "by" also means "in" and "on".

thy -- The word translated as "thy" is the possessive form of the second person pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours".

missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

head, -- The term translated as "head", means "head" and "top" but also the completion of a thing (as we say, "bringing it to a head"). It is also a metaphor for life ("losing your head" in Greek doesn't mean losing emotional control but losing your life).

because  -- The word translated as "because" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what", "because", "since" and "wherefore".

thou -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.

canst -- (CW) The word translated as "canst" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. The form is either passive  or the middle form where the subject acts on themselves.

missing "by/for yourself"-- (WV) A phrase is necessary because the form of the word is a middle voice, which means that the subject is to  act "for yourself" or "by yourself".

not -- The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. The sense is that "you don't want" to do something, not that it isn't done or don't think something that might be true. If it wasn't done or wasn't true, the objective negative of fact would be used.  With the verb "to be", the sense is "doesn't seem". When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

make -- (WF) The Greek word translated as "make" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as a service. It describes a productive action. It is not as broad a word as the English "do", which covers all actions, productive or not. The form is an infinitive.

one -- The Greek word translated as "one" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same". As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

hair -- "Hair" is the Greek word for both the hair of humans and animals.

white -- "White" is a word that means "light", "bright", "clear", "brilliant" and the colors "white" and "pale gold". It is a metaphor for "clear", "distinct" and "plain".

or -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or". The "or" here appears after the verb before the word translated as "black". this is not the normal "and-or" structure for Greek or English. The only explanation is that this sets up a punchline.

black. The Greek terms translated as "black" means "dark". It is a metaphor for murky and obscure.

NIV — word by word

And -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "and" in the Greek source.

do -- (WW) This helping verb "do" is used for a command, but this verb is not a command, but a verb that describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate.

not -- (WW) This Greek word translated as "not" means "neither", "nor", and "not". It is used mostly double as a "neither...nor".

swear -- The word translated here as "swear" means "to swear on a thing" and "to promise one will". The command is singular, that is, a singular you. This follows the form of the commands given earlier in the verse. This is the same verb as "swear/swear an oath/make vows" in Matthew 5:34 but it is not in the middle voice indicating the subject acting on himself

by -- The Greek word translated as "by" also means "in" and "on".

your -- The word translated as "your" is the possessive form of the second person pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours".

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

head, -- The term translated as "head", means "head" and "top" but also the completion of a thing (as we say, "bringing it to a head"). It is also a metaphor for life ("losing your head" in Greek doesn't mean losing emotional control but losing your life).

for -- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what", "because", "since" and "wherefore".

you-- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.

can -- (CW) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. The form is either passive or the middle form where the subject acts on themselves.

missing "by/for yourself" -- (WV) A phrase is necessary because the form of the word is a middle voice, which means that the subject is to act "for yourself" or "by yourself".

not -- The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. The sense is that "you don't want" to do something, not that it isn't done or don't think something that might be true. If it wasn't done or wasn't true, the objective negative of fact would be used.  With the verb "to be," the sense is "doesn't seem". When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

make -- (WF) The Greek word translated as "make" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action. It is not as broad a word as the English "do", which covers all actions, productive or not. The form is an infinitive.

one -- The Greek word translated as "one" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same". As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

hair -- "Hair" is the Greek word for both the hair of humans and animals.

white -- "White" is is a word that means "light", "bright", "clear", "brilliant" and the colors "white" and "pale gold". It is a metaphor for "clear", "distinct" and "plain".

or -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or". The "or" here appears after the verb before the word translated as "black". This is not the normal "and-or" structure for Greek or English. The only explanation is that this sets up a punchline.

black. The Greek terms translated as "black" means "dark". It is a metaphor for murky and obscure.