Matthew 13:16 But blessed [are] your eyes,

Spoken to: 

audience

Parables, Sower, Understanding

KJV: 

Matthew 13:16 But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

NIV : 

Matthew 13:16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Yours, however, lucky! Those eyes because they see and those ears [of yours] because they hear.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

There are two common Greek words translated as "see" in the Gospels. This is the more physical form of seeing as opposed to the word that indicates understanding. 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

2
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "eyes" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "ears" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "eyes" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "ears" is not shown in the English translation.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

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

blessed "Blessed" is a Greek adjective that means "happy," "prosperous," as well as "blessed."

[are]  - -- There is no verb "are" in the Greek source. It is implied by the equating of "workman" with "worthy" both in the Greek form of subjects.

your  -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the genitive case.  It doesn't fall near the "eyes" but before the "blessed" so the sense is "Yours, however are fortunate." 

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

eyes,  - "Eyes" is the Greek word that means "eye," "sight," "the dearest and best," "light," "cheer," "comfort," and "the bud [of a plant]." Jesus often uses this word in the context of "cheer." It is in the form of "the eyes" not "your eyes."  Christ associated the eye symbolically with the realm of the physical. 

for  - The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause so usually "the fact that" or "because."

they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

see: "They see" is a Greek verb which means "to look," "to see," and has the more tangible sense of seeing, such as seeing what is right in front of you rather than understanding. It is the same as the "seeing" in Matthew 13:14. It is different than the word used in Matthew 13:15, which used the Greek word that also means knowing and understanding.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

your -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the genitive case. It comes after the verb (and doesn't appear in all versions) so "of yours."

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

ears,  -- The term translated as "ears" means "ear," things resembling a handle and is a metaphor for understanding.

for  - The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause so usually "the fact that" or "because."

they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

hear.  -  The "hear" is the same verb meaning "to hear" and "to listen." It also has the sense of "understanding."

EACH WORD of NIV : 

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

blessed "Blessed" is a Greek adjective that means "happy," "prosperous," as well as "blessed."

[are]  - -- There is no verb "are" in the Greek source. It is implied by the equating of "workman" with "worthy" both in the Greek form of subjects.

your  -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the genitive case.  It doesn't fall near the "eyes" but before the "blessed" so the sense is "Yours, however are fortunate." 

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

eyes,  - "Eyes" is the Greek word that means "eye," "sight," "the dearest and best," "light," "cheer," "comfort," and "the bud [of a plant]." Jesus often uses this word in the context of "cheer." It is in the form of "the eyes" not "your eyes."  Christ associated the eye symbolically with the realm of the physical. 

because - The word translated as "because " introduces a statement of fact or cause so usually "the fact that" or "because."

they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

see: "They see" is a Greek verb which means "to look," "to see," and has the more tangible sense of seeing, such as seeing what is right in front of you rather than understanding. It is the same as the "seeing" in Matthew 13:14. It is different than the word used in Matthew 13:15, which used the Greek word that also means knowing and understanding.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

your -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the genitive case. It comes after the verb (and doesn't appear in all versions) so "of yours."

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

ears,  -- The term translated as "ears" means "ear," things resembling a handle and is a metaphor for understanding.

because - The word translated as "because " introduces a statement of fact or cause so usually "the fact that" or "because."

they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

hear.  -  The "hear" is the same verb meaning "to hear" and "to listen." It also has the sense of "understanding."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

ὑμῶν (pron 2nd pl gen) "Your" is from humon, the plural possessive form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."

δὲ (conj/adv) "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").

μακάριοι (adj pl masc nom) "Blessed" is from makarios, which means "blessed," "prosperous," "happy," "fortunate," and "blissful."

οἱ (article pl masc nom)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

ὀφθαλμοὶ (noun pl masc nom) "Eyes" is from ophthalmos, which means "eye," "sight," "the dearest and best," "light," "cheer," "comfort," and "the bud [of a plant]."

ὅτι (adv) "For" is from hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

βλέπουσιν, (verb 3rd pl pres ind act) "They see" is from of blepo, which means "to look," "to see," "to look to," "to look like," "to rely on," "to look longingly," "to propose," "to beware," "to behold," and "to look for."

καὶ (conj) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

τὰ (article pl neut nom)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

ὦτα (noun pl neut nom) "Ears" is from ous, which means "ear" and things that resemble an ear, such as a handle on pitchers, cups, etc.

[ὑμῶν] "Your" is from humon, the plural possessive form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."

ὅτι (adv) "For" is from hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

ἀκούουσιν. (verb 3rd pl pres ind act) "They hear" is from akouo, which means "hear of," "hear tell of," "what one actually hears," "know by hearsay," "listen to," "give ear to," "hear and understand," and "understand."

Related Verses: 

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings: 

“What about our ears and eyes?” asked Brother James.
“Yours, however, are lucky!” said the Master. “Those eyes because they see and those ears of yours because they hear.”

Front Page Date: 

Dec 5 2020