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OET (OET-LV) For/Because there_are eunuchs who were_born thus from womb of_mother, and there_are eunuchs who were_castrated by the people, and there_are eunuchs who castrated themselves because_of the kingdom of_the heavens.
The one being_able to_be_accepting it, him _let_be_accepting it.
OET (OET-RV) Because there are some men who are born from their mother’s womb without testicles, there are some who’ve been castrated by others, and there are some who castrate themselves because of the heavenly kingdom. Anyone who is able to accept this can accept it.”
In this section, Jesus led his disciples out of Galilee and passed through the land of Perea on his way to Jerusalem. While in Perea, some Pharisees came to him and asked him a question about divorce. They hoped that he would say something that they thought was wrong so that they could shame him. But Jesus taught about divorce based on Scripture. (This section has more information about divorce than 5:31–32.)
Jesus also taught that believers may choose not to marry so that they can fully devote themselves to serving God. Jesus and Paul are examples of this way of living.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
Teaching about divorce
Concerning divorce and not marrying
A Discussion About Divorce and Celibacy (GW)
There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 10:1–12 and Luke 16:18.
For there are eunuchs who were born that way;
I say this because some men are born as eunuchs.
Because there are different reasons why men do not marry. Some are not able to marry because they were born that way.
For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For introduces Jesus’ explanation for what he said in 19:11.
Here are some other ways to introduce this explanation:
I say this because
Because there are different reasons why men do not marry: such as
For example (GW)
there are eunuchs: The Greek word that the BSB translates as eunuchs refers to men who do not have certain male body parts. Those body parts enable a man to have sexual relations with a woman. If you have a word or phrase for a person like this, use it here. If not, you may have to describe such a person. For example:
there are men who cannot have sexual relations with a woman
Some people are unable to marry (CEV)
Some men are unable to be with a woman
who were born that way: This phrase means that the reason why a man cannot have sexual relations with a woman is because he was born unable to.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
because of birth defects (CEV)
because they were born that way (GW)
others were made that way by men;
Others are eunuchs because men made them that way.
Some do not marry because men have castrated them.
were made that way by men: In Jesus’ time, some men had their male body parts cut off by others to make them eunuchs. This was often done by a ruler who wanted men who were “safe” to take care of his wives.
This clause is passive. Here are some ways to translate it:
Use a passive verb. For example:
because they were castrated (GW)
Use an active verb. For example:
because men made them that way (GNT)
If people in your area will not understand why some men were made eunuchs, you may want to include a footnote. A sample footnote is:
In some non-Jewish cultures of that time, a king might choose a man and then have one of his servants remove the man’s testicles. That made him a eunuch. The king would appoint such a man to take care of his wives.
and still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.
Others have decided that they will not marry because they want to give themselves to serving the kingdom of heaven/God.
Other men have decided that they will not marry in order to serve God more.
still others live like eunuchs: This clause is figurative language. It refers to men who chose not to marry or to not have sexual relations with a woman. It does not mean that men have castrated themselves.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
some men have renounced marriage
some men have given up marriage (NCV)
others have decided to be celibate (GW)
for the sake of the kingdom of heaven: This phrase means “because of the kingdom of heaven” or “because they want to work for the kingdom of heaven/God.” Some men renounce marriage in order to be better committed to work for God and his kingdom.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
because they want to give themselves to work for God’s kingdom
because they want to better serve God as their king
in order to serve God better (CEV)
See kingdom of heaven in KBT 1 (d) for more information.
The one who can accept this should accept it.”
The one who is able to accept this way of life should accept it.”
The man who is able to live without being married should do so.”
The one who can accept this should accept it: The Greek word that the BSB translates as The one is masculine. It refers to a man. The words this and it refer to the decision not to marry. The Greek word translated as accept is the same word as in 19:11a.
God gives the ability not to marry to only some people. So these people are encouraged to follow that way of life.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
The person who is able to agree to this way of life should live that way.
The man who can accept this way of life should accept it.
If anyone can do what you’ve suggested, then he should do it. (GW)
The man who is able to follow this should follow it.
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
γὰρ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰσίν Γάρ εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός ἐγεννήθησαν οὕτως καί εἰσίν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνουχίσθησαν ὑπό τῶν ἀνθρώπων καί εἰσίν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνούχισαν ἑαυτούς διά τήν Βασιλείαν τῶν Οὐρανῶν Ὁ δυνάμενος χωρεῖν χωρείτω)
The word For introduces an explanation of what Jesus said about how only some people can “receive” what the disciples said (see [19:11](../19/11.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an explanation, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [More specifically,] or [Indeed,]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
οἵτινες ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς ἐγεννήθησαν οὕτως
who from womb who who (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰσίν Γάρ εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός ἐγεννήθησαν οὕτως καί εἰσίν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνουχίσθησαν ὑπό τῶν ἀνθρώπων καί εἰσίν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνούχισαν ἑαυτούς διά τήν Βασιλείαν τῶν Οὐρανῶν Ὁ δυνάμενος χωρεῖν χωρείτω)
If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [whose mothers gave birth to them thus]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς
from womb (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰσίν Γάρ εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός ἐγεννήθησαν οὕτως καί εἰσίν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνουχίσθησαν ὑπό τῶν ἀνθρώπων καί εἰσίν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνούχισαν ἑαυτούς διά τήν Βασιλείαν τῶν Οὐρανῶν Ὁ δυνάμενος χωρεῖν χωρείτω)
The phrase from their mother’s womb indicates that these people were eunuchs already when they were born. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [from their birth] or [from the beginning of their lives]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
οἵτινες εὐνουχίσθησαν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων
who who ˓were˒_castrated who (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰσίν Γάρ εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός ἐγεννήθησαν οὕτως καί εἰσίν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνουχίσθησαν ὑπό τῶν ἀνθρώπων καί εἰσίν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνούχισαν ἑαυτούς διά τήν Βασιλείαν τῶν Οὐρανῶν Ὁ δυνάμενος χωρεῖν χωρείτω)
If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [whom men made eunuchs]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations
τῶν ἀνθρώπων
¬the people
Although the term men is masculine, Jesus is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: [humans]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνούχισαν ἑαυτοὺς
eunuchs who eunuchs who eunuchs who castrated (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰσίν Γάρ εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός ἐγεννήθησαν οὕτως καί εἰσίν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνουχίσθησαν ὑπό τῶν ἀνθρώπων καί εἰσίν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνούχισαν ἑαυτούς διά τήν Βασιλείαν τῶν Οὐρανῶν Ὁ δυνάμενος χωρεῖν χωρείτω)
Jesus speaks as if people physically made themselves eunuchs in order to describe people who live like eunuchs, that is, they do not marry or have children. Since this is an important metaphor in the context, if possible preserve the metaphor or express the idea in simile form. Alternate translation: [people living like eunuchs who made themselves that way] or [people who made themselves to live like eunuchs]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
διὰ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰσίν Γάρ εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός ἐγεννήθησαν οὕτως καί εἰσίν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνουχίσθησαν ὑπό τῶν ἀνθρώπων καί εἰσίν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνούχισαν ἑαυτούς διά τήν Βασιλείαν τῶν Οὐρανῶν Ὁ δυνάμενος χωρεῖν χωρείτω)
The phrase because of could mean that: (1) they are making themselves eunuchs in order to act for or in service of the kingdom of the heavens. Alternate translation: [for the sake of] or [in order to work for] (2) they are making themselves eunuchs in order to enter the kingdom of the heavens. Alternate translation: [to participate in] or [in order to enter]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p
ὁ δυνάμενος χωρεῖν, χωρείτω
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰσίν Γάρ εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός ἐγεννήθησαν οὕτως καί εἰσίν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνουχίσθησαν ὑπό τῶν ἀνθρώπων καί εἰσίν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνούχισαν ἑαυτούς διά τήν Βασιλείαν τῶν Οὐρανῶν Ὁ δυνάμενος χωρεῖν χωρείτω)
If your language does not use the third-person imperative in this way, you could state this in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [The one being to accept this must accept it]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations
χωρείτω
˱him˲_˓let_be˒_accepting_‹it›
Although the term him is masculine, Jesus is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: [let that person accept it]
19:12 Eunuchs are males castrated either by a birth defect or by a surgical operation. Jesus also uses the term metaphorically for those who choose not to marry (see Luke 14:26; 18:29; 1 Cor 7:7-8).
• for the sake of the Kingdom: Jesus was not denigrating marriage; he was simply indicating that the unmarried often have greater potential for ministry (see 1 Cor 7:25-35).
OET (OET-LV) For/Because there_are eunuchs who were_born thus from womb of_mother, and there_are eunuchs who were_castrated by the people, and there_are eunuchs who castrated themselves because_of the kingdom of_the heavens.
The one being_able to_be_accepting it, him _let_be_accepting it.
OET (OET-RV) Because there are some men who are born from their mother’s womb without testicles, there are some who’ve been castrated by others, and there are some who castrate themselves because of the heavenly kingdom. Anyone who is able to accept this can accept it.”
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.