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Today's Verse Analysis

Matthew 7:13 Enter in at the narrow gate:

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Matthew 7:13 Εἰσέλθατε διὰ τῆς στενῆς πύλης: ὅτι πλατεῖα καὶ εὐρύχωρος ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τὴν ἀπώλειαν, καὶ πολλοί εἰσιν οἱ εἰσερχόμενοι δι᾽ αὐτῆς:

KJV Verse

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

NIV Verse:

Matthew 7:13  Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

What His Listeners Heard:

Enter by the narrow gate since wide and open the way, the one leading into that destruction, and many are the ones entering by it.

Lost In Translation:

This verse contains six Greek words that are uncommon for Jesus. Two of them he only used here. One he only uses twice. The other three he only uses three times. However, these words are much more common in the Greek OT. Some, like the word (mis)translated as "destruction," are very common.

Many of the words in this verse have an economic double-meaning, especially in the context of the last verse about "producing so much."  The "many" here is the crowd of those producing. The word translated as "at/through" also means "by the means of." The "way," is a "way" of producing"  Since these common ways of producing are widespread, following them leads to "destruction" which means "financial ruin." The word translated as "leadeth/leads" also means "to pay a debt."


 

KJV w/Translation Issues :

Enter ye in at(WW) the strait gate: for wide [is the gate(OS)], and broad is the way(MM), that leadeth(WF) to (MW) destruction(WW), and many there(IW) be which(WW) go(WW, WF) (MW) in thereat(WW):

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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Do Your Own Research

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.