Matthew 25:35 For I was an hungred, and you gave me meat

Spoken to: 

Apostles

A parable about the final judgment of the sheep and the goats.

KJV: 

Matthew 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

NIV : 

Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Because I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty and you watered me; A stranger, and you made friends of me.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

This verse mixed both very common and uncommon words. Interestingly, a couple of these words are found in the Beatitudes. Once more, we have to remember those on the right are the "skilled" and "helpful." These are the once who feed people and befriend them.

The Greek word translated as "took...in" and "invited in" means "to bring together." It has many different uses, but Jesus often uses it as "gather crops," that is, the opposite of scattering. However, it also means "make friends of" which makes perfect sense here. It does not mean "take" or "invite" nor does its prefix mean "in."

This verse uses terms usually applied to feeding and watering animals, "to feed" and "watering." The joke is that he is talking to the "sheep."

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

4
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "meat" is not the common word usually translated as "meat."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "meat" is not a noun but a verb "to eat."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "took" is not the common word usually translated as "took."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "in" is not the common prefix usually translated as "in."

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

5
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "something" doesn't exist in the source.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "something" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "to drink" is not a noun but a verb "drink."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "invited" is not the common word usually translated as "took."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "in" is not the common prefix usually translated as "in."

EACH WORD of KJV : 

For  - The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation.

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

was an hungred,  - "Was an hungered" is a verb that means "to be hungry," "crave after," or "to be starved," and it is a metaphor for desire and cravings. This is the same word used in the fourth beatitude, "hunger and thirst for justice."

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

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

ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

gave  - The verb translated as "gave" means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe." It is almost always translated as some form of "give." It is only used once here, in the first phrase.

me -- The "me" is in the indirect object form on the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me," though the form has other uses in Greek.

meat:  -- (CW, WF) "Meat" is from a verb that means "to eat" and "to devour." It is a common word for Jesus to use.

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

was thirsty,  -  "Was thirsty" is another common verb which means "to thirst," "to be thirsty," and "to thirst after" a thing. Again, it is the same verb used in the fourth beatitude.

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

ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

gave  - The "gave...drink" is a verb that means "to give a drink," "to water," "to moisten," and metaphorically "to saturate one's mind." It is not the word the Jesus always uses for "give" (as used above) or "to drink" but a word that he rarely uses. This is an indication that he is using it for its special meaning. This is the word used for watering livestock.

me -- The "me" is in the indirect object form on the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me," though the form has other uses in Greek.

drink: -- This finished the concept of the verb.

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

was -- The verb "was" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. 

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

stranger, " - Stranger" is not the common word for "stranger" that has more of the sense of "foreign." It is a more specific noun which means "guest-friend," specifically meaning someone who should receive hospitality, so a "stranger," or "refugee." However, the word also means some that is a "stranger to a thing," "ignorant of a thing," and "unusual."

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

took  - (CW) The Greek word translated as "took...in" means "to bring together." It has many different uses, but it Jesus often uses it as "gather crops," that is, the opposite of scattering, as in, scattering seeds. However, it also means "make friends of" which makes perfect sense here.

me -- The "me" is in the object form on the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me," though the form has other uses in Greek.

in: -- (CW) This finishes the concept of the verb but the prefix does not mean "in" but "together."

EACH WORD of NIV : 

For  - The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation.

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

was hungry ,  - "Was hungry" is a verb that means "to be hungry," "crave after," or "to be starved," and it is a metaphor for desire and cravings. This is the same word used in the fourth beatitude, "hunger and thirst for justice."

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

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

you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

gave  - The verb translated as "gave" means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe." It is almost always translated as some form of "give." It is only used once here, in the first phrase.

me -- The "me" is in the indirect object form on the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me," though the form has other uses in Greek.

something -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "something" in the Greek source.

to eat:  -- "To eat" is from a verb that means "to eat" and "to devour." It is a common word for Jesus to use.

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

was thirsty,  -  "Was thirsty" is another common verb which means "to thirst," "to be thirsty," and "to thirst after" a thing. Again, it is the same verb used in the fourth beatitude.

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

you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

gave  - The "gave...drink" is a verb that means "to give a drink," "to water," "to moisten," and metaphorically "to saturate one's mind." It is not the word the Jesus always uses for "give" (as used above) or "to drink" but a word that he rarely uses. This is an indication that he is using it for its special meaning. This is the word used for watering livestock.

me -- The "me" is in the indirect object form on the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me," though the form has other uses in Greek.

something -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "something" in the Greek source.

to drink: -- (WF) This finished the concept of the verb. This is not an infinitive verb.

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

was -- The verb "was" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. 

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

stranger, " - Stranger" is not the common word for "stranger" that has more of the sense of "foreign." It is a more specific noun which means "guest-friend," specifically meaning someone who should receive hospitality, so a "stranger," or "refugee." However, the word also means some that is a "stranger to a thing," "ignorant of a thing," and "unusual."

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

you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

invited - (CW) The Greek word translated as "invited ...in" means "to bring together." It has many different uses, but it Jesus often uses it as "gather crops," that is, the opposite of scattering, as in, scattering seeds. However, it also means "make friends of" which makes perfect sense here.

me -- The "me" is in the indirect object form on the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me," though the form has other uses in Greek.

in: -- (CW) This finishes the concept of the verb but the prefix does not mean "in" but "together."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

ἐπείνασα [9 verses](verb 1st sg aor ind) "I was hungered" is peinao, which means "to be hungry," "crave after," or "to be starved," and it is a metaphor for desire and cravings.

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."

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv)"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." -

ἐδώκατέ [147 verses](verb 2nd pl aor ind act) "Ye gave" is didomi, which means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe."

μοί, [70 verses](pron 1st sing dat) "Me" is from emoi, which is 1st person,singular dative pronoun meaning "me' as the indirect object of a verb.

φαγεῖν, [19 verses](verb aor inf act) "To eat" is from phago which is a form of the word, phagein, which means to eat," "to eat up," and "to devour."

ἐδίψησα[10 verses] (verb 1st sg aor ind act) "I was thirsty" is from dipsao, which means "to thirst," "to be thirsty," "to be parched," "to be in want of," "to lack," and "to thirst after" a thing.

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "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." -

ἐποτίσατέ [7 verses](verb 2nd pl aor ind act) "You gave...to drink" is potizo which means "to give a drink," "to water," "to moisten," and metaphorically "to saturate one's mind."

με, [49 verses](pron 1st sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which is the objective first-person, objective, singular pronoun that means  "me."

ξένος [4 verses] (noun sg masc nom ) "Stranger" is from xenos, which means "guest-friend," "stranger," "refugee," "stranger to a thing," "ignorant of a thing," and "unusual."

ἤμην .[614 verses](verb 1st sg imperf ind mid) "Is" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," and "is possible." (The future form is esomai. The 3rd person present indicative is "esti.")

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "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."

συνηγάγετέ [20 verses](verb 2nd pl aor ind act) "You took me in" is from synago, which means "bring together," "gather together," "pit [two warriors against each other]," "join in one," "unite," "make friends of," "lead with one," "receive," "reconcile," "draw together," "narrow," "contract," "conclude [from premises]," " infer," and "prove."

με, [49 verses](pron 1st sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which is the objective first-person, objective, singular pronoun that means  "me,"

Related Verses: 

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings: 

"this is because I was starving," he said rubbing his stomach in hunger, "And you gave me something to eat."

He pause, doing a little pantomime of someone who was hungry enjoying their food.

"I was thirsty," he continued, rubbing his throat, "And you watered me."

He pretended to drink and then poured the water over his head.

"A refugee," he said, making a fearful face, "and you gathered me in."

He opened his arms and made a hugging gesture.

Front Page Date: 

Nov 21 2021