Matthew 5:14 bbe — You are the light of the world. A town put on a hill may be seen by all.

Bible in Basic English

"You are the light of the world. A town put on a hill may be seen by all."

— Matthew 5:14, Bible in Basic English

Read in Another Translation

5 of 21 translations

Matthew 5 — Context

11

Happy are you when men give you a bad name, and are cruel to you, and say all evil things against you falsely, because of me.

12

Be glad and full of joy; for great is your reward in heaven: for so were the prophets attacked who were before you.

13

You are the salt of the earth; but if its taste goes from the salt, how will you make it salt again? it is then good for nothing but to be put out and crushed under foot by men.

14

You are the light of the world. A town put on a hill may be seen by all.

15

And a burning light is not put under a vessel, but on its table; so that its rays may be shining on all who are in the house.

16

Even so let your light be shining before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

17

Let there be no thought that I have come to put an end to the law or the prophets. I have not come for destruction, but to make complete.

Matthew 5:14 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Matthew 5:14 say?
Matthew 5:14 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “You are the light of the world. A town put on a hill may be seen by all.”
Where is Matthew 5:14 in the Bible?
Matthew 5:14 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew, chapter 5, verse 14.
Who wrote Matthew?
Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), tax-collector turned apostle. It was written c. AD 50–70.
What is the book of Matthew about?
Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah — son of David, son of Abraham, fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Structured around five great teaching blocks including the Sermon on the Mount, it ends with the risen King commissioning his disciples to make disciples of all nations.
What are the major themes of Matthew?
Matthew explores themes including Kingdom of Heaven, Messiah, Fulfillment, Discipleship, Great Commission. These themes shape the meaning and context of Matthew 5:14.
What translation should I read Matthew 5:14 in?
Matthew 5:14 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Matthew 5:14?
Matthew 5:14 reads (BBE): “You are the light of the world. A town put on a hill may be seen by all.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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