But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

MATTHEW 6:17KJV
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Matthew 6:17 (KJV)

What does Matthew 6:17 mean?

Matthew 6:17 describes Jesus telling his listeners to keep up their ordinary appearance when they fast, or go without food for a time. Washing and putting oil on the head would leave them looking groomed rather than drawing attention to their hunger.

Jesus speaks directly to each listener: “thou, when thou fastest.” His words follow a contrast in verse 16 with people who change their appearance so others will notice their fasting. Oil on the head was a familiar part of grooming in that setting.

The Greek behind Matthew 6:17

  • “fastest” — νηστεύω (nēsteuō): This word means to go without food. Here it describes a period of fasting, not simply missing a meal by accident.
  • “anoint” — ἀλείφω (aleiphō): This word carries the sense of applying oil. In this sentence, it points to grooming the head, alongside washing the face.

Why Matthew 6:17 matters

  • The contrast concerns the attention a person seeks. In verse 16, Jesus describes people making their fasting visible “that they may appear unto men to fast”; verse 17 turns to the listener’s own conduct.
  • Jesus places these ordinary acts of grooming within a contrast between being seen by other people and being seen by the Father. Verse 18 continues the sentence by describing fasting directed toward “thy Father which is in secret.”

Where else these words appear

“anoint” Greek G218 · used in 8 verses

  • Mark 6:13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
  • Luke 7:38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
  • John 11:2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

“wash” Greek G3538 · used in 13 verses

  • Matthew 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
  • John 9:15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
  • John 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

“fastest” Greek G3522 · used in 16 verses

  • Matthew 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
  • Mark 2:18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
  • Luke 5:35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

“head” Greek G2776 · used in 68 verses

  • Matthew 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
  • Luke 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
  • Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,