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Today's Verse Analysis

Teaching about marriage and divorce.

Spoken to
audience
KJV Verse

Matthew 19:12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

NIV Verse:

Matthew 19:12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.

What His Listeners Heard:

There are, consequently, sexless who from a belly of a mother were born in this way. And there are sexless who been desexed by those men. And there are sexless those desexing themselves by the realm of the skies. The one being able himself to digest [this], him must digest [it].
OR
Let he who has himself the ability to make room [for another], let him make room.

Lost In Translation:

There is a unique word for Jesus here, "eunuchs," that is used in both the form of a noun and a verb is adopted from Greek rather than untranslated. The noun form was used before Jesus, but the use of the verb originates here, though it was used after. The word literally means "bed holder," some humorously, since eunuchs were original guards of a king's harem. The word means "sexless."  There is a common Greek word for "castrate" that Jesus does not use here. Instead, he invents a word, making "to make a eunuch" or "desex."

Another rare verb, translated as "receive/accept" is used twice here, in two different forms at the end of the verse. This word is essentially comical, having the sense of being able to "stomach" something or "digest" something the way that Jesus uses it.   Using this verb twice in a row, in two different forms, is especially humorous. "If you can stomach it, you must stomach it."  The last phrase has two very different serious meanings making it a good example of Jesus's wordplay. Humorous meaning aside, the verb means both "to contain" and "to make room for another." The last line can have both meanings at once when referring to staying married. We must both make room for another and contain ourselves. So, "if you can contain it [sexual desire], you must contain it," or "If you can make room [for another], you must make room."

KJV w/Translation Issues :

For there are some(IW) eunuchs(UW), which were so(IW) born from their(IW) mother's womb: and there are some(IW) eunuchs(UW), which were made eunuchs(UW) of(CW) men: and there be(WN) eunuchs(UW), which have(WT) made themselves eunuchs(UW) for(WW) the kingdom of (MW) heaven's(WN) sake(IW). He [that is(IW)] able(WF) to receive(CW) it, let him(WF) receive(CW) it.

KJV List (See full page for word-by-word analysis):
For analysis of each word of original Greek and biblical verses, click here.

Constantly Updated

My analysis standards and methods are constantly improving. New information on each verse is provided as articles are updated. It requires approximately two years for me to work through updating each of Jesus's verses.

What Jesus's Listeners Heard

The everyday meanings of the Greek words Jesus used were different than the definitions they have been given over time in biblical translation. The word translations here are based upon documents of his time such as the Greek Septuagint, not ideas unknown in his time.

About this Site

See what Jesus said in Greek and see how his words are changed in English translation. My goal is to translate Jesus's words as they were heard when he taught, not the way they are interpreted today. The work here resurrects the humor and cleverness of Jesus's words lost in translation.

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Each article provides detailed information on all the Greek words in each verse with links simplifying your own research. It compares the Greek to popular translations to show where words are confused, changed, left out, and added. This site offers research available nowhere else, such as how often Jesus uses a specific Greek word and links to a list of every verse in which he uses a given word.