For those who want to know what Jesus really said, how he said it, why crowds came to hear him, and shades of meaning lost or hidden in translation.
Responding to Peter's request to explain Matthew 15:11 That which goes into the mouth
Matthew 15:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Matthew 15:20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
These are those things make the person common . This eating, however with unwashed hands does not make the person common.
As we have seen over and over since Matthew 15:11, the word "defile" is misleading here. The idea really means "to communicate" and "make common." It means "make common knowledge." What Jesus is saying here is that what comes from our hearts determines who we are to others and to God.
The infinitive here, "to eat" is used as a noun, preceded by an article. In English, we use the gerund, not the infinitive for this, "the eating.
These are the things which(IW) defile(CW, WF) a(WW) man: but (MW) to eat(WF) with unwashen hands defileth(CW) not a(WW) man.
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.
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.
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.
| John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me | Mar 18 2028 |
| John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: | Mar 17 2028 |
| John 17:3 And this is life eternal, | Mar 16 2028 |
| John 17:2 As thou have given him power over all flesh, | Mar 15 2028 |
| John 17:1 Father, the hour is come; | Mar 14 2028 |
| John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you | Mar 13 2028 |
| John 16:32 Behold, the hour comes, | Mar 12 2028 |
| John 16:31 Do you now believe? | Mar 11 2028 |
| John 16:28 I came forth from the Father, | Mar 10 2028 |
| John 16:27 For the Father himself loves you, | Mar 09 2028 |
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