Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me

Spoken to: 

The Pharisees

Defending against the Pharisee accusation of violating tradition.

KJV: 

Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

NIV : 

Matthew 15:8 These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

The tribe, this one, with these lips values me.This, however, heart of theirs too far keeps away from me.

MY TAKE: 

Some groups of people often say things that they do not feel.  

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

This verse quotes Isaiah 29:13 so our discussion of original language compares the original Hebrew and the resulting Greek. The Greek of the Septuagint is identical to Christ's Greek. Notice that the "heart" is singular for the plural "theirs," one heart shared by the group. This is typical of Jesus, indicate that he see "the heart" as a shared feeling. (See this article on Jesus's special use of this word and related words). Note that the Septuagint uses the word in singular as well.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

5
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "people" is not the common word usually translated as "people."
  • OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "draweth nigh unto me with their mouth and " existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "their" should be something more like "the."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "far off" is not shown in the English translation.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

6
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "these" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "people" is not the common word usually translated as "people."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "their" should be something more like "the."
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "hearts" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "far off" is not shown in the English translation.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

This  - "This" is translated from a Greek word that means "this," "that," "the nearer."

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. 

people - (CW) "People" is from a very uncommon word for Christ. It means a specific group such as, the common people, the multitude. It is the assembly of troops or a tribe sharing the same name. With the use of the word "this" it most likely refers to the group of Pharisees.

draweth nigh unto me with their mouth and, -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "draweth nigh unto me with their mouth and ," in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.

honoureth  - "Honoureth" is from a Greek verb which means "to revere," "to honor," and "to value." It even has a sense of value in an economic sense meaning "to estimate," which has the same root as our word "to esteem."  In the original Hebrew, it is from kabad, which means "to be heavy," "to be rich," and "to be honored." Though the Greek word doesn't have the same sense of "weight" as the Hebrew, weight is often connected in Greek with value. In a commodity-based society, value and weight were the same. We say that we give "weight" to an argument in the same sense that the ancients would give "weight" to the rules of a leader or a God.

me  - -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

with -- This word "with" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The case can indicate a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "about" (or "for" or "against") indicating interest, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, "at" or "on" a time, and an "in" for area of effect. -

their -- (WW) The word translated as "their" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

lips;  - "lips" is a single word meaning "lip," but it is in the form of an indirect object, which, in Greek, can describe an instrument with which something is done. There is no "their" there. In Greek, the word "lips" are used in many phrases in which we use "tongue" or "mouth."

but -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.  

their -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.  This pronoun follows the noun so "of theirs."

heart  - "Heart" is the Greek word that means "heart" both the physical organ and as the seat of emotions, which we discuss in a larger Greek context in this article here. Jesus and the Septuagint use a singular "heart" when referring to a group of people.

is -- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb..

far  - The verb translated as "is far" is a verb that means "to keep off or away from," "to abstain or desist from it," "to be far from," and "to receive payment in full." The Hebrew is rachaq , which means "to be or become distant.

missing "far off"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  here that means "far off" or "far away." Since the verb already includes the sense of being far from something, this accentuates it.

from -- The word translated as "from" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from."

me. - -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

These - (WN) "These " is translated from a Greek word that means "this," "that," "the nearer." The word is singular, not plural.

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. 

people - (CW) "People" is from a very uncommon word for Christ. It means a specific group such as, the common people, the multitude. It is the assembly of an troops or a tribe sharing the same name. With the use of the word "this" it most likely refers to the Jewish people of Christ's era.

honor  - "Honor " is from a Greek verb which means "to revere," "to honor," and "to value." It even has a sense of value in an economic sense meaning "to estimate," which has the same root as our word "to esteem."  In the original Hebrew, it is from kabad, which means "to be heavy," "to be rich," and "to be honored." Though the Greek word doesn't have the same sense of "weight" as the Hebrew, weight is often connected in Greek with value. In a commodity-based society, value and weight were the same. We say that we give "weight" to an argument in the same sense that the ancients would give "weight" to the rules of a leader or a God.

me  - -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

with -- This word "with" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The case can indicate a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "about" (or "for" or "against") indicating interest, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, "at" or "on" a time, and an "in" for area of effect. -

their -- (WW) The word translated as "their" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

lips;  - "lips" is a single word meaning "lip," but it is in the form of an indirect object, which, in Greek, can describe an instrument with which something is done. There is no "their" there. In Greek, the word "lips" are used in many phrases in which we use "tongue" or "mouth."

but -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.  

their -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.  This pronoun follows the noun so "of theirs."

hearts  - (WN) "Heart" is the Greek word that means "heart" both the physical organ and as the seat of emotions, which we discuss in a larger Greek context in this article here. Jesus and the Septuagint use a singular "heart" when referring to a group of people. The word is singular, not plural.

are -- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb..

far  - The verb translated as "is far" is a verb that means "to keep off or away from," "to abstain or desist from it," "to be far from," and "to receive payment in full." The Hebrew is rachaq , which means "to be or become distant.

missing "far off"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  here that means "far off" or "far away." Since the verb already includes the sense of being far from something, this accentuates it.

from -- The word translated as "from" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from."

me. - -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

(article sg masc nom)  "These" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

λαὸς [4 verses](noun sg masc nom) "People" is from the Greek laos, which means "men (of the army)," "the common men," "subjects (of a ruler)," "work people," "people assembled," "the multitude," "a specific group or tribe of people," and "a people."

οὗτος (adj sg masc nom) "This" is from houtos, which means "this," "that," "the nearer." As an adverb, it means "in this way," "therefore," "so much," "to such an extent," and "that is why."

τοῖς (article pl neut dat)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

χείλεσίν [2 verses](noun pl neut dat) "Lips" is cheilos, which means a "lip," for birds, "bill," "beak," and is a metaph. the "edge," "brink," and "rim."

με (pron 1st sg masc/fem acc) "Me" is from eme, which means "I," "me," and "my."

τιμᾷ, (verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Honoureth" is from the Greek timaô , (timao) which means "to revere," "to honor," and "to value."

( article sg fem nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun, but which is separated from its noun here by the conjunction.

δὲ (conj) "But" is from de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of cause ("so").

καρδία (noun sg fem nom) "Heart" is from kardia, which means "heart (the physical organ)," "the seat of emotions (especially passion, rage, and anger)," "inclination," "desire," "purpose," "mind," "the pith (in wood), and "the deep (of the sea)."

αὐτῶν (adj pl fem gen) "Their" is from autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord."

πόρρω [3 verses](adv) Untranslated is porro, which is an adverb that means "forwards," "onwards," generally with a notion of motion, of Distance, "far off," "too far," of Time, "forward," of Place, "further into."

ἀπέχει [8 verses](verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Is far" is from apecho, which means "to keep off or away from," "to hold one's hands off or away from," "to hold oneself off a thing," "to abstain or desist from it," "to project," "to extend," "to be far from," and "to receive payment in full."

ἀπ᾽ "From" is from apo, a preposition of separation which means "from" or "away from" from when referring to place or motion, "from" or "after" when referring to time, "from" as an origin or cause.

ἐμοῦ: (adj sg masc gen) "Me" is from emou, which means "me," and "mine."

Septuagint version:

ἐγγίζει μοι ὁ λαὸς οὗτος τοῖς χείλεσιν αὐτῶν τιμῶσίν με ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν πόρρω ἀπέχει ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ 

ἐγγίζει (verb verb 3rd sg pres ind act) This is eggizo, which means "to bring near," "to join one things to another," to draw near," and "to approach." This word does not appear in ancient Greek literature except in the Bible. It comes from an adverb ἐγγύς, keggus, which means 1) (of place) "near," "nigh," "at hand," 2) (of time) "nigh at hand" 3) (of numbers) "nearly," "almost," "coming near," and 4) (of relationship) "akin to."

μοι (pron 1st sing dat) This is moi, which means to "I," "me," and "my."  The form of this word requires the addition of a preposition in English to capture its meaning, a "to" as an indirect object is the most common, a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, and an "in" for area of effect.

The rest of this verse uses the same vocabulary as Jesus's quote of it with a slightly different word order.

(article sg masc nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." -- The word translated as "the" 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. 

λαὸς [uncommon](noun sg masc nom) "People" is from the Greek laos, which means "men (of the army)," "the common men," "subjects (of a ruler)," "work people," "people assembled," "the multitude," "a specific group or tribe of people," and "a people."

οὗτος (adj sg masc nom) "This" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings. -- The word translated as "this" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.

τοῖς (article pl neut dat) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." -- The word translated as "the" 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. 

χείλεσίν (noun pl neut dat) "Lips" is from cheilos, which means a "lip," for birds, "bill," "beak," and is a metaph. the "edge," "brink," and "rim."

αὐτῶν (adj pl fem gen) "Their" is from autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord."

τιμᾷ( verb 3rd pl pres ind act) "Honoureth" is from the Greek timaô , (timao) which means "to revere," "to honor," and "to value."

με (pron 1st sg masc/fem acc) "Me" is from eme, which means "I," "me," and "my."

( article sg fem nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun, but which is separated from its noun here by the conjunction.

δὲ "But" is from de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of cause ("so").

καρδία (noun sg fem nom) "Heart" is from kardia, which means "heart (the physical organ)," "the seat of emotions (especially passion, rage, and anger)," "inclination," "desire," "purpose," "mind," "the pith (in wood), and "the deep (of the sea)."

αὐτῶν (adj pl fem gen) "Their" is from autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord."

πόρρω Untranslated is porro, which is an adverb that means "forwards," "onwards," generally with a notion of motion, of Distance, "far off," "too far," of Time, "forward," of Place, "further into."

ἀπέχει (verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Is far" is from apecho, which means "to keep off or away from," "to hold one's hands off or away from," "to hold oneself off a thing," "to abstain or desist from it," "to project," "to extend," "to be far from," and "to receive payment in full."

ἀπ᾽ "From" is from apo, a preposition of separation which means "from" or "away from" from when referring to place or motion, "from" or "after" when referring to time, "from" as an origin or cause.

ἐμοῦ: (adj sg masc gen) "Me" is from emou, which means "me," and "mine."

Related Verses: 

Possible Symbolic Meaning: 

The quote references a number of Christ's common symbols, which demonstrates that Christ relies on Old Testament in his system of metaphors. Symbolically, hearts are the realm of feelings, and Christ uses them to describe the relationships between things. In general, spoken words are symbolic of thoughts and the mental realm, but Christ connects this to various forms of success in life.

Front Page Date: 

Jan 19 2021