Matthew 12:37 For by your words you shall be justified,

Spoken to: 

an individual

Pharisees attack. valuable and worthless

KJV: 

Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

NIV : 

Matthew 12:37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Because from those ideas of yours, you will be done right, and from those ideas of yours, you will be condemned. 

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

As translated, this verse make it seem that what we say is more important than what we do. This is exactly wrong.  The Greek word translated as "words" is the word discussed in this article and means "idea," "lesson," or "explanation."  Jesus teaches that our ideas and information is what determines our success or failure.

This verse is addressed to an individual. We cannot see this in English because our English second-person pronoun is the same in singular and plural. It is also a rhyming couplet, something else we cannot see in English. The Greek verbs translated as "justified" and "condemned" both have positive and negative meanings. Both words are rare for Jesus.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

2
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "words" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "words" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "words" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "words" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "acquitt3ed" should be something more like "set right"
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "words" is not shown in the English translation.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

For  - The word translated as "for" can be treated as supporting a dependent clause, or, in written English, as "this is because..." to start a new sentence.

by  - The Greek preposition translated as "by" means "out of" or "from."  In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."

thy -- The word translated as "thy" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

words -  "Word" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation," "explanaition," or "reasoning." It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. More about this word in this article.

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

shalt - This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

justified,  - "Justified" is from an uncommon Greek verb that means "to set right," "to claim or hold as a right," and "to do a man justice." However, it also means "to chastise" and "to punish." In the passive form that is used here, it means "to have right done to one."

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

by  - The Greek preposition translated as "by" means "out of" or "from."  In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."

thy -- The word translated as "thy" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

words -  "Words" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation," "explanation," or "reasoning." It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. More about this word in this article.

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

shalt - This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

condemned.  -  "Condemned" is  another uncommon Greek verb, which means "to give judgment," "to condemn," and "to have a judgment go against one." However, it also means to "have a judgment in one's favor. In the passive form (used here), it means "to be bound by law."

EACH WORD of NIV : 

For  - The word translated as "for" can be treated as supporting a dependent clause, or, in written English, as "this is because..." to start a new sentence.

by  - The Greek preposition translated as "by" means "out of" or "from."  In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."

your -- The word translated as "your " is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

words -  "Word" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation," "explanaition," or "reasoning." It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. More about this word in this article.

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

will - This helping verb "will " indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

acquitted,  -  (WW) "Acquitted" is from an uncommon Greek verb that means "to set right," "to claim or hold as a right," and "to do a man justice." However, it also means "to chastise" and "to punish." In the passive form that is used here, it means "to have right done to one."

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

by  - The Greek preposition translated as "by" means "out of" or "from."  In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."

your -- The word translated as "your " is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

words -  "Words" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation," "explanation," or "reasoning." It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. More about this word in this article.

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

will - This helping verb "will " indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

condemned.  -  "Condemned" is  another uncommon Greek verb, which means "to give judgment," "to condemn," and "to have a judgment go against one." However, it also means to "have a judgment in one's favor. In the passive form (used here), it means "to be bound by law."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

ἐκ (prep) "By" is from ek, which means 1) [of motion] "out of," "from," "by," "away from;" 2) [of place] "beyond," "outside of," "beyond;" 3) [of succession] "after," "from;" 4) [of rest] "on," "in," 5) [of time] "since," "from," "at," "in;" 5) [of materials] "out of," "made from." --

γὰρ (partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for," "since," and "as." In an abrupt question it means "why" and "what."

τῶν article pl masc gen)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

λόγων (noun pl masc gen) "Words" is from logos, which means "word," "computation," "relation," "explanation," "law," "rule of conduct," "continuous statement," "tradition," "discussion," "reckoning," and "value." --

σου (pron sg masc gen) - The word translated as "thy" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."

δικαιωθήσῃ, [4 verses]( 2nd sg fut ind pass) "Thou shalt be justified" is from dikaioo, which means to "set right," "hold or deem right," "proved," "tested," "claim or demand as a right," "that which is ordained," "pronounce judgment," "chastise," "punish," and, in the passive, "have right done one."

καὶ (conj) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

ἐκ (prep) "By" is from ek, which means 1) [of motion] "out of," "from," "by," "away from;" 2) [of place] "beyond," "outside of," "beyond;" 3) [of succession] "after," "from;" 4) [of rest] "on," "in," 5) [of time] "since," "from," "at," "in;" 5) [of materials] "out of," "made from." --

τῶν (article pl masc gen)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

λόγων (noun pl masc gen) "Words" is from logos, which means "word," "computation," "relation," "explanation," "law," "rule of conduct," "continuous statement," "tradition," "discussion," "reckoning," and "value." --

σου  (pron sg masc gen) "Thy" is from sou which means "you" and "your." -- The word translated as "thy" is the possessive form of the second person pronoun.

καταδικασθήσῃ. [3 verses](2nd sg fut ind pass) "Thou shalt be condemned" is from "By" is katadikazo, which means to "give judgment or sentence against a person," "condemn," "have judgment given in one's favor," "declare by express judgment," and, in the passive, "to be bound by a law,"

Wordplay: 

In Greek, this verse is actually a rhyming couplet. 

Related Verses: 

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings: 

“Why should an explanation matter?” a man asked. “Isn’t doing right what matters, not my reasons for doing it?
“Because from those ideas of yours,” the Master said, addressing the man personally cheerfully,  “you will be proven correct.”
The man smiled proudly and crowed to the crowd, “That sounds about right!”
The Master and the crowd laughed.
“And from those explanations of yours,” the Master added more seriously, “you will be bound by the law.”

Front Page Date: 

Nov 12 2020