LUKE 18:25 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. εὐκοπώτερον
2. eukopōteros
3. easier
4. easier
5. 21230
6. S····NNS
7. easier
8. easier
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55774
1. Γάρ
2. gar
3. For/Because
4. -
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for
8. for
9. S
10. Y33
11. 55775
1. ἐστίν
2. eimi
3. is
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA3··S
7. is
8. is
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55776
1. κάμηλον
2. kamēlos
3. +a camel
4. camel
5. 25740
6. N····AMS
7. ˓a˒ camel
8. ˓a˒ camel
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55777
1. διά
2. dia
3. through
4. through
5. 12230
6. P·······
7. through
8. through
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55778
1. τρυμαλιᾶς
2. trumalia
3. -
4. -
5. 51680
6. N····GFS
7. eye
8. eye
9. -
10. -
11. 55779
1. τρήματος
2. trēma
3. +an eye
4. eye
5. 51680
6. N····GNS
7. ˓an˒ eye
8. ˓an˒ eye
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55780
1. βελόνης
2. belonē
3. of +a needle
4. needle
5. 9555
6. N····GFS
7. ˱of˲ ˓a˒ needle
8. ˱of˲ ˓a˒ needle
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55781
1. ῥαφίδος
2. rhafis
3. -
4. -
5. 44760
6. N····GFS
7. ˱of˲ ˓a˒ needle
8. ˱of˲ ˓a˒ needle
9. -
10. -
11. 55782
1. διελθεῖν
2. dierχomai
3. -
4. -
5. 13300
6. VNAA····
7. ˓to˒ pass_through
8. ˓to˒ pass_through
9. -
10. -
11. 55783
1. εἰσελθεῖν
2. eiserχomai
3. to come in
4. -
5. 15250
6. VNAA····
7. ˓to˒ come_in
8. ˓to˒ come_in
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55784
1. ἤ
2. ē
3. than
4. -
5. 22280
6. C·······
7. than
8. than
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55785
1. πλούσιον
2. plousios
3. +a rich man
4. wealthy
5. 41450
6. S····AMS
7. ˓a˒ rich ‹man›
8. ˓a˒ rich ‹man›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55786
1. εἰσελθεῖν
2. eiserχomai
3. -
4. -
5. 15250
6. VNAA····
7. ˓to˒ come_in
8. ˓to˒ come_in
9. -
10. -
11. 55787
1. εἰς
2. eis
3. into
4. -
5. 15190
6. P·······
7. into
8. into
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55788
1. τήν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55789
1. Βασιλείαν
2. basileia
3. kingdom
4. kingdom
5. 9320
6. N····AFS
7. kingdom
8. Kingdom
9. W
10. Y33
11. 55790
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55791
1. Θεοῦ
2. theos
3. of god
4. -
5. 23160
6. N····GMS
7. ˱of˲ god
8. ˱of˲ God
9. GN
10. Y33; Person=God
11. 55792
1. εἰσελθεῖν
2. eiserχomai
3. to come in
4. -
5. 15250
6. VNAA····
7. ˓to˒ come_in
8. ˓to˒ come_in
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55793

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 18:18–30: It is hard for rich people to enter God’s kingdom

The theme of this section is similar in some ways to the theme of the preceding section. In both sections Jesus talked about entering the kingdom of God. This section also contrasts with the preceding one. In that section the children represent humble people who easily depend on God and welcome his rule/reign. The ruler in this section represents people who are rich and powerful. It is very difficult for such people to welcome God’s reign and submit to it.

The ruler asked Jesus how he could obtain eternal life. Jesus told him to obey God’s commands. Among the Jews, this was a well-known answer to the question of how to obtain eternal life. The ruler said that he had obeyed God’s commands since he was a child. Then Jesus told him to sell what he had, give the money to the poor, and become his disciple. But the ruler valued his riches too much to do that. Then Jesus said that it is very hard for rich people to enter God’s kingdom.

At the end of the section Jesus promised that people who left their possessions and family behind to serve him would receive great rewards.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Jesus taught that riches make it difficult to obtain eternal life

A Rich Man’s Question (NCV)

The rich young man (NJB)

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 19:16–30 and Mark 10:17–31.

18:25a

Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle

In fact, a camel will go through the hole in a sewing needle
It is not as hard for the largest of beasts to walk through a tiny hole
If a camel could pass through the tiny hole in a needle,

18:25b

than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

more easily than a rich person will enter God’s kingdom!”
as it is for a person who owns many things to become a citizen in God’s chieftaincy/reign.”
that would be easy compared to a wealthy person becoming a person whom God rules.”

18:25a–b

Indeed: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as Indeed is often translated as “For.” The RSV and several other English versions translate it that way. It often introduces a reason or explanation for something. Here it introduces a statement that emphasizes what Jesus said in 18:24b. Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. You may do what is natural in your language for this context.

it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God: This is a comparison. It emphasizes what Jesus said in 18:24b. Jesus compared a difficult action (a rich man entering the kingdom of God) to an impossible action (a camel going through the eye of a needle). This comparison implies that it is also impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Some other ways to translate this comparison are:

It is difficult for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. But it is extremely difficult for a rich man to go into the kingdom of God.

It is difficult for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. It is even more difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

It is harder for a rich man to go into God’s kingdom than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

a camel: The camel was the largest animal that Jewish people owned and cared for. It is a four-legged animal that weighs about six hundred kilograms (1300 pounds). It is two meters (6.5 feet) tall at the shoulder. It carries people and cargo.

If camels are not known in your area, here are some ways to translate it:

Write the word camel according to the sounds of your language and add a descriptive phrase. For example:
a large animal called a camel
Borrow the word that means camel from another language. If this word is not well known, you may want to add a descriptive phrase.
Use only a descriptive phrase instead of the word camel. For example:
a very large animal

You may want to have a picture of a camel in your translation. You may also want to include a footnote to give more information. For example:

Literally “a camel.” A camel is a large four-legged animal that weighs about six hundred kilograms and is about two meters tall at the shoulder. It was one of the largest animals in Israel.

the eye of a needle: The phrase the eye of a needle refers to the small hole in a sewing needle. The thread passes through this hole. Jesus used this phrase as an example of a very small hole. Use an expression for this that is natural in your language. For example:

the hole of a needle

a sewing needle hole

the path/road in a needle

for a rich man: Notice that here Jesus used the singular phrase a rich man instead of the plural form “the rich” in 18:24b. This phrase refers to any rich person, whether male or female. It is helpful to make this clear. For example:

for a rich person (GW)

General Comment on 18:24–25

In some languages it may be natural to combine these two verses. For example:

^24–25It is very hard for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom. If a camel could walk through the hole in a sewing needle, then it might be possible for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

εὐκοπώτερον γάρ ἐστιν κάμηλον διὰ τρήματος βελόνης εἰσελθεῖν, ἢ

easier (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εὐκοπώτερον Γάρ ἐστίν κάμηλον διά τρήματος βελόνης εἰσελθεῖν ἤ πλούσιον εἰς τήν Βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰσελθεῖν)

It is impossible for a camel to fit through an eye of a needle Jesus is using an exaggeration to express how difficult it is for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom. Alternate translation: [It is extremely difficult]

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

κάμηλον

˓a˒_camel

A camel is a large animal that was used in this culture to transport people and goods. If your readers would not know what a camel is, you could use the name of a similar animal that they would recognize, or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: [a huge beast of burden]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

τρήματος βελόνης

˓an˒_eye ˱of˲_˓a˒_needle

The eye of a needle is the hole in a sewing needle through which the thread is passed. If your language has an expression of its own that describes this hole, you could use it in your translation. Otherwise, you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: [a tiny hole for thread in a needle]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

εἰς τὴν Βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰσελθεῖν

into (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εὐκοπώτερον Γάρ ἐστίν κάμηλον διά τρήματος βελόνης εἰσελθεῖν ἤ πλούσιον εἰς τήν Βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰσελθεῖν)

See how you translated this phrase in [18:24](../18/24.md). Alternate translation: [to allow God to rule his life]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. For/Because
2. -
3. 10630
4. S
5. gar
6. C-·······
7. for
8. for
9. S
10. Y33
11. 55775
1. is
2. -
3. 15100
5. eimi
6. V-IPA3··S
7. is
8. is
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55776
1. easier
2. easier
3. 21230
5. eukopōteros
6. S-····NNS
7. easier
8. easier
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55774
1. +a camel
2. camel
3. 25740
5. kamēlos
6. N-····AMS
7. ˓a˒ camel
8. ˓a˒ camel
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55777
1. to come in
2. -
3. 15250
5. eiserχomai
6. V-NAA····
7. ˓to˒ come_in
8. ˓to˒ come_in
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55784
1. through
2. through
3. 12230
5. dia
6. P-·······
7. through
8. through
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55778
1. +an eye
2. eye
3. 51680
5. trēma
6. N-····GNS
7. ˓an˒ eye
8. ˓an˒ eye
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55780
1. of +a needle
2. needle
3. 9555
5. belonē
6. N-····GFS
7. ˱of˲ ˓a˒ needle
8. ˱of˲ ˓a˒ needle
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55781
1. than
2. -
3. 22280
5. ē
6. C-·······
7. than
8. than
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55785
1. +a rich man
2. wealthy
3. 41450
5. plousios
6. S-····AMS
7. ˓a˒ rich ‹man›
8. ˓a˒ rich ‹man›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55786
1. to come in
2. -
3. 15250
5. eiserχomai
6. V-NAA····
7. ˓to˒ come_in
8. ˓to˒ come_in
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55793
1. into
2. -
3. 15190
5. eis
6. P-·······
7. into
8. into
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55788
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55789
1. kingdom
2. kingdom
3. 9320
4. W
5. basileia
6. N-····AFS
7. kingdom
8. Kingdom
9. W
10. Y33
11. 55790
1. of
2. -
3. 23160
4. GN
5. theos
6. N-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ god
8. ˱of˲ God
9. GN
10. Y33; Person=God
11. 55792
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 55791
1. god
2. -
3. 23160
4. GN
5. theos
6. N-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ god
8. ˱of˲ God
9. GN
10. Y33; Person=God
11. 55792

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.