Matthew 7:14
“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”Read in Context
Modern Meaning
What Does “Straight and narrow” Mean?
The morally correct and disciplined way of living.
Biblical Origin
Where Does This Phrase Come From?
Jesus described two paths — a wide road leading to destruction and a narrow way leading to life. "Strait" (meaning tight or constricted, not "straight") was gradually reinterpreted as "straight" (meaning direct or honest), giving the phrase its modern moral connotation.
The phrase appears in Matthew 7:14 in the King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611.
Usage Today
How Is It Used Today?
Describes living a disciplined, moral life. "After his mistakes, he's been walking the straight and narrow."
The KJV Verse
Matthew 7:14
“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
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