This line does not appear in the more accurate Greek sources used today. It was in the KJV source, but it wasn't that well translated. Those being rescued are "the ones having lost", the "lost" is something they did not something done to them.
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Today's Verse Analysis
After discussion of children and stumbling blocks.
Spoken to
group
Matthew 18:11 ἦλθεν γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου σῶσαι τὸ ἀπολωλός
Note: This verse does not appear in the Greek source we normally use. This is the version for the outdated Greek source used by the KJV translators.
KJV Verse
Matthew 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
NIV Verse:
Not included
What His Listeners Heard:
Because this son of the man showed up to rescue those having lost.
Lost In Translation:
KJV w/Translation Issues :
For the Son of (MW) man is come to save that which(IW) was(WV) lost(WF).
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.
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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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Christ's Words in Matthew as a Guide to 40 Days of Prayer.