Luke 18:25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye,

Spoken to
Apostles

Jesus is asked by a certain ruler, "Good teacher can you tell me what good I can do to have eternal life."

KJV

Luke 18:25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

NIV

Luke 18:25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

LISTENERS HEARD

Since it is easier to enter a camel through a hole of a needle than wealthy to enter into the realm of the Divine.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The camel is the object of the infinitive "to enter" and the infinitive is the object of the active verb "is." The English translation added the "for" as its preposition. Another meaning for the word for camel in Aramaic are rope.

Much is made of the "eye of a needle" referring to a small gate in Jerusalem, but in that case, the word "needle" or "eye" would probably have a definite article, pointing to a specific place. The "rope" is a better explanation. 

MY TAKE

Threading needles is always hard.

GREEK ORDER

 

εὐκοπώτερον γάρ   ἐστιν   κάμηλον  διὰ           τρήματος   βελόνης      εἰσελθεῖν 
easier              Since it is    a camel     through a hole            of a needle to enter 

      πλούσιον  εἰς   τὴν βασιλείαν     τοῦ   θεοῦ    εἰσελθεῖν
than  wealthy     into the realm          of the Divine. to enter 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5

For it is easier for(IW) a camel to go(CW) through a needle's eye, than for(IW) a rich man(IW) to enter into the kingdom of (MW) God.

  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "for" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "go."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "for" doesn't exist in the source.
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "man" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation. 
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
6
Indeed(CW), it is easier for(IW) a camel to  go(CW) through the eye of a needle than for(IW) [someone who is(IP) rich to enter the kingdom of  (MW) God.”
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "Indeed" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "go."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "for" doesn't exist in the source.
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "someone who is" doesn't exist in the source. 
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "into"  after "enter" is not shown in the English translation. 
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation. 
EACH WORD of KJV

For --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." "For" is better because another common word is also used for "because."

it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

is -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.  The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.

easier  -- The word translated as "easier" is a compound word. It means "easy" and "easy work." It is an uncommon word, appearing only seven times in the NT and only five times in the rest of ancient Greek literature. The prefix here means "good" or "better" because the word is comparative. The root word primarily means "beating" or "fatigue". Its root meaning is a "better beating" or "better fatigue."

for -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

camel -- "A camel" is translated from a Greek word that means "camel." It is in the form of an object of the verb translated as "to go." However, in Aramaic, a similar word means both "camel" and "rope." In Greek, they are slightly different. There is also the idea that this could be a reference to the "needle" gate in Jerusalem. Read the article here for a pretty good (but not perfect) analysis here.

to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.

go -- (CW) "Go" is a word that means "enter," "go or come into" of an accuse "come into court," and has the double meaning of "coming into one's mind." This is not the word usually translated as "go." 

through --  The preposition translated as "through" with the form of object here means "through,"  "over," " "in the midst of," or "by (a cause)." It indicates movement through a place or time, but it also means "by" the sense of "by means of" a given method. -- --  The preposition translated as "for...reason" means with the accusative used here, means "thanks to," "because of,"  "by reasons of," and "for the sake of."

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

needle's  -- "Needle" is translated from a Greek word that means "needle."

eye,  - "Eye" is translated from a Greek word that generally means a "hole" or "opening."

than  -- "Than" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi" or the adverb meaning "in truth."

for -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

rich - "Rich man" is from an adjective that means "rich," and "opulent." It very much has the sense of ostentatiously rich. Here, it is used with an article, "the rich" but unlike English the sense is not a group of people, which would be plural, not singular, but "one who is wealthy."

man  -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source

to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.

enter  -- "Enter" is a word that means "enter," "go or come into" of an accuse "come into court," and has the double meaning of "coming into one's mind."

into -- The word translated as "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position),  "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object. Used with the Greek "from" it means "from...to."

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

kingdom -- The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Christ does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" or "realm" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will.

of -- This word "of"  comes from the possessive form (genitive case) of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more. 

God. -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." When used by Jesus and in the Septuagint to mean "God, it is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." The definite article identifies it as specific.  When a definite article does not introduce it, it refers more generally to "divinity," the nature of God.

EACH WORD of NIV
Indeed --(CW) The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." "For" is better because another common word is also used for "because." This is not the word usually translated as "indeed." 

it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

is -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.  The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.

easier  -- The word translated as "easier" is a compound word. It means "easy" and "easy work." It is an uncommon word, appearing only seven times in the NT and only five times in the rest of ancient Greek literature. The prefix here means "good" or "better" because the word is comparative. The root word primarily means "beating" or "fatigue". Its root meaning is a "better beating" or "better fatigue."

for -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

camel -- "A camel" is translated from a Greek word that means "camel." It is in the form of an object of the verb translated as "to go." However, in Aramaic, a similar word means both "camel" and "rope." In Greek, they are slightly different. There is also the idea that this could be a reference to the "needle" gate in Jerusalem. Read the article here for a pretty good (but not perfect) analysis here.

to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.

go -- (CW) "Go" is a word that means "enter," "go or come into" of an accuse "come into court," and has the double meaning of "coming into one's mind." This is not the word usually translated as "go." 

through --  The preposition translated as "through" with the form of object here means "through,"  "over," " "in the midst of," or "by (a cause)." It indicates movement through a place or time, but it also means "by" the sense of "by means of" a given method. -- --  The preposition translated as "for...reason" means with the accusative used here, means "thanks to," "because of,"  "by reasons of," and "for the sake of."

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

needle's  -- "Needle" is translated from a Greek word that means "needle."

eye,  - "Eye" is translated from a Greek word that generally means a "hole" or "opening."

than  -- "Than" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi" or the adverb meaning "in truth."

for -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source

someone who is --  -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source

rich - "Rich man" is from an adjective that means "rich," and "opulent." It very much has the sense of ostentatiously rich. Here, it is used with an article, "the rich" but unlike English the sense is not a group of people, which would be plural, not singular, but "one who is wealthy."

to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.

enter  -- "Enter" is a word that means "enter," "go or come into" of an accuse "come into court," and has the double meaning of "coming into one's mind."

missing "into"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position),  "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object. Used with the Greek "from" it means "from...to."

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

kingdom -- The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Christ does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" or "realm" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will.

of -- This word "of"  comes from the possessive form (genitive case) of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more. 

God. -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." When used by Jesus and in the Septuagint to mean "God, it is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." The definite article identifies it as specific.  When a definite article does not introduce it, it refers more generally to "divinity," the nature of God.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

εὐκοπώτερόν [7 verses](adj sg neut nom acc comp) "Easier"  is eukopo, which is a comparative form of "easy" and "easy work." It is a compound eu, the word for "well", "thoroughly", "competently", "fortunately," and "happily." and kopos, which means "striking", "beating", "toil and trouble", "fatigue," and "work." Its root meaning is a "good beating" or "good fatigue." The modern Greek word meaning "easy" closest is eukolos, where the later part, kolos, means "cool".

γὰρ [205 verses](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." 

ἐστίν [614 verses] (3rd sg pres ind act) "Is" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen,"  and "is possible." With the possessive (genitive) object, it means "is descended from," "is the type of," "belongs to," "is made of," "is a duty of," "is at the mercy of," or " is dependent on." With an indirect (dative) object, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed.  "It is to him" becomes "it is his" or "he has it."  With the preposition,"into" (εἰς), the sense is "consist of." When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are." 

κάμηλον [4 verses] (noun sg masc acc) "Camel"  is kamelos, which means "camel." However, in Aramaic (gamal), the word means both "camel" and "rope." In Greek, they are slightly different, kamelos and kamilos. There is also the idea that this could be a reference to the "needle" gate in Jerusalem. 

διὰ  [88 verses](prep) "Through" is dia, which means with the genitive "through," "over," " "in the midst of," "in a line (movement)," "throughout (time)," "by (causal)," "for (causal)," "among," and "between." With the accusative, it can also be "thanks to," "because of,"  "by reasons of," and "for the sake of." 

τρήματος [3 verses](noun sg neut gen) "Eye" is trymalia, which means "hole," "perforation," "aperture," and "orifice," 

βελόνης  [1 verse](noun sg fem gen) "Needle" is from belone, which means "needle." This is more of a sewing needle.

εἰσελθεῖν [68 verses](verb aor inf act) "To go" is eiserchomai which means both "to go into," "to come in," "to enter," "to enter an office," "to enter a charge," (as in court) and "to come into one's mind." 

[92 verses](conj/adv)  "Than" is e, which is a particle used as a disjunctive, "either," "or," , or as a comparative, "than" or "rather than." It is (explam) also an exclamation, "hi!" and an adverb,(adv)  meaning "in truth" and "of a surety." It is used with comparative forms of adjective or with positive adjective implying a comparison.

πλούσιον [11 verses]  (adj sg masc acc) "Rich man" is from plousios, which means "rich," and "opulent." It very much has the sense of ostentatiously rich. -

εἰς [325 verses](prep) "Into" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)," "until (of time)," "in" (a position),  "as much as (of measure or limit)," "as far as (of measure or limit)," "towards (to express relation)," "in regard to (to express relation)," "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."With verbs of speaking, it is the person spoken "to." With time, a limit "until," or a duration "for," "throughout," or a date, "on," "at." Used with ek, it means "from...to." 

τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem acc)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").   It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."  

βασιλείαν  [98 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Kingdom"  is basileia, which means "kingdom," "dominion," "hereditary monarchy," "kingly office," (passive) "being ruled by a king," and "reign." 

τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."  -- 

θεοῦ [144 verses](noun sg masc gen) "God" is theos, which means "God," "divine," and "Deity." 

εἰσελθεῖν [68 verses](verb aor inf act) "To enter" is eiserchomai which means both "to go into," "to come in," "to enter," "to enter an office," "to enter a charge," (as in court) and "to come into one's mind."

Wordplay

 A play on the word for "camel" and "rope."

A play on a regular needle and the needle gate in Jerusalem. 

parallel comparison

It changes Matthew 19:24  primarily in the placement of a verb and the word used for "needle". The version in Mark is the only one that has both the "to go" and "to enter" verbs.

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