MAT 7:14 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not necessarily natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for Bible-translators and others doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still early looks into the drafted texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal Speaker(s)=Yeshua,Narrator (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

GHT what narrow the gate and having-been-pressed/constricted/oppressed the way, the leading-off/away into the being-alive[noun], and few are-being the discovering same.

ULT For the gate, is narrow and the road has been made narrow[fn] that is leading to life, and there are few finding it.

Many ancient manuscripts read, How narrow is the gate and having been made narrow the road.

UST No UST MAT 7:14 verse available

BSB But small [is] the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

MSB But small[fn] [is] the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

7:14 Literally How small

BLB For small is the gate and narrow the way leading to life, and few are those finding it.

AICNT {how}[fn] narrow [is the gate][fn] and constricted is the road that leads to life, and few are those who find it.

7:14, how: C(04) W(032) Latin(a b h k) BYZ NA28 THGNT ‖ Some manuscripts read “for.” ℵ(01) B(03) SBLGNT TR.

7:14, is the gate: Absent from Latin(a h k).

OEB For the gate is small, and the road narrow, that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

WEBBE & WMBB How[fn] narrow is the gate and the way is restricted that leads to life! There are few who find it.

7:14 TR reads “Because” instead of “How”

NET But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

LSV how narrow [is] the gate and compressed the way that is leading to life, and few are those finding it!

FBV But the entrance is narrow, and the way is difficult that leads to life, and only a few find it.

TCNT [fn]How narrow is the gate, and restricted the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it!

7:14 How … it! ¦ For … it. SBL TR WH

T4T No T4T MAT 7:14 verse available

LEB because narrow[fn] is the gate and constricted is the road that leads to life, and there are few who find it!

7:14 Some manuscripts have “how narrow”

BBE For narrow is the door and hard the road to life, and only a small number make discovery of it.

Moff But the road that leads to life is both narrow and close,
⇔ and there are few who find it.

Wymth because narrow is the gate and contracted the road which leads to Life, and few are those who find it.

ASV For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.

DRA How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it!

YLT how strait [is] the gate, and compressed the way that is leading to the life, and few are those finding it!

Drby For narrow the gate and straitened the way that leads to life, and they are few who find it.

RV For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few be they that find it.
(For narrow is the gate, and straightened the way, that leadeth/leads unto life, and few be they that find it.)

SLT For strait the gate and afflicted the way leading into life, and few are they finding it.

Wbstr Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth to life, and few there are that find it.

KJB-1769 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
( Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth/leads unto life, and few there be that find it.)

KJB-1611 [fn]Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth vnto life, and few there be that finde it.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

7:14 Or, how.

Bshps Because, strayte is the gate, and narowe is the way, which leadeth vnto lyfe, and fewe there be that fynde it.
(Because, straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth/leads unto life, and few there be that find it.)

Gnva Because the gate is streight, and the way narowe that leadeth vnto life, and fewe there be that finde it.
(Because the gate is straight, and the way narrow that leadeth/leads unto life, and few there be that find it.)

Cvdl But strayte is the gate, and narowe ys the waye, which leadeth vnto lyfe, and fewe there be that fynde it.
(But straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth/leads unto life, and few there be that find it.)

TNT But strayte is the gate and narowe ys the waye which leadeth vnto lyfe: and feawe there be that fynde it.
(But straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth/leads unto life: and few there be that find it.)

Wycl Hou streit is the yate, and narwy the weye, that ledith to lijf, and ther ben fewe that fynden it.
(How straight is the gate, and narrow the way, that leadeth/leads to life, and there been few that finding it.)

Luth Und die Pforte ist enge, und der Weg ist schmal, der zum Leben führet; und wenig ist ihrer, die ihn finden.
(And the gate is narrow, and the/of_the way/path/road is narrow, the/of_the for_the life leads; and few is of_their/her, the him/it find.)

ClVg Quam angusta porta, et arcta via est, quæ ducit ad vitam: et pauci sunt qui inveniunt eam ![fn]
(How narrow gate/door, and close way/road it_is, which leads to life: and a_few are who/which they_find her !)

7.14 Quam angusta. Satis angustum est omnia prætermittere, unum solum diligere, unum quærere, ad unum quotidie pulsare, prospera non ambire, adversa non timere. Et pauci. Si pauci inveniunt, pauciores per eam intrare contendunt. Nemo intrat sine labore, et sine animi puritate.

7.14 How narrow. Satis angustum it_is everything to_postpone, one only to_love, one to_seek/search_for, to one daily pulsare, prosperous not/no ambire, adverse not/no to_be_afraid. And a_few. When/But_if a_few they_find, a_fewores through her to_enter they_strive. Nobody enters without with_hard_work, and without of_the_soul puritate.

UGNT ὅτι στενὴ ἡ πύλη καὶ τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τὴν ζωήν, καὶ ὀλίγοι εἰσὶν οἱ εὑρίσκοντες αὐτήν.
(hoti stenaʸ haʸ pulaʸ kai tethlimmenaʸ haʸ hodos haʸ apagousa eis taʸn zōaʸn, kai oligoi eisin hoi heuriskontes autaʸn.)

SBL-GNT ⸀ὅτι στενὴ ἡ πύλη καὶ τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τὴν ζωήν, καὶ ὀλίγοι εἰσὶν οἱ εὑρίσκοντες αὐτήν.
(⸀hoti stenaʸ haʸ pulaʸ kai tethlimmenaʸ haʸ hodos haʸ apagousa eis taʸn zōaʸn, kai oligoi eisin hoi heuriskontes autaʸn.)

RP-GNT τί στενὴ ἡ πύλη, καὶ τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τὴν ζωήν, καὶ ὀλίγοι εἰσὶν οἱ εὑρίσκοντες αὐτήν.
(ti stenaʸ haʸ pulaʸ, kai tethlimmenaʸ haʸ hodos haʸ apagousa eis taʸn zōaʸn, kai oligoi eisin hoi heuriskontes autaʸn.)

TC-GNT [fn]τί στενὴ ἡ πύλη, καὶ τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τὴν ζωήν, καὶ ὀλίγοι εἰσὶν οἱ εὑρίσκοντες αὐτήν.
(ti stenaʸ haʸ pulaʸ, kai tethlimmenaʸ haʸ hodos haʸ apagousa eis taʸn zōaʸn, kai oligoi eisin hoi heuriskontes autaʸn.)

7:14 τι ¦ οτι ꜱʙʟ ᴛʀ ᴡʜ

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:1–7:29: Jesus preached a sermon on a mountain

For many years, English versions and Christians have commonly referred to Matthew 5–7 as “The Sermon on the Mount.” In some translations, it may be helpful to include a heading for chapters 5–7 that is on a level above the section heading for 5:1–12.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The Sermon on the Mountain

The sermon that Jesus preached on a mountain

Jesus taught people on the side of a mountain/hill

7:14a

But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life,

But the gate that leads to eternal life is narrow, and the path that goes there is hard to follow,
But the gate/entrance is small and the road/path is narrow that leads to life in heaven,

But: There is a textual issue here:

Some Greek manuscripts begin this verse with a word that functions as an exclamation. For example:
How narrow the gate (NAB)
Other Greek manuscripts begin this verse with the conjunction that means “For/because.” For example:
For the gate is narrow (RSV) (RSV, ESV, NASB, KJV)

The BSB, along with most English versions, do not follow option (2), but neither do they clearly translate option (1). Instead, they make explicit the contrast between 7:13 and 7:14 by beginning this verse with But. It is recommended that you also indicate the contrast between these two verses.

On the other hand, here is one way to indicate both the Greek exclamation and the contrast:

But very narrow is the gate

But the gate is really narrow

small is the gate: In the Greek, the word small is the same as “narrow” in 7:13a. You should translate it here as you did there. For example:

the gate is narrow

the entrance is small

narrow the way: The Greek word that the BSB translates as narrow refers to something being pressed/squeezed from both sides. This way/path is the opposite of the “wide/easy” path in 7:13b. You should translate it in a way that contrasts with “the way is easy.” For example:

the road is narrow (NCV)

The road that leads there is so hard to follow (CEV)

that leads to life: The word life refers to eternal life. In some languages a literal translation would refer only to life on earth. If that is true in your language, you may want to add some implied meaning. For example:

eternal life

life that never ends

life in heaven

Both the narrow gate and the narrow road lead to life. It is not only the narrow road. One way to make this clear is:

But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow (CEV)

7:14b

and only a few find it.

and only a few people find it.”
and few people find that gate and enter.”

only a few find it: The Greek word that the BSB translates as find includes the meanings: “find from searching,” “find accidentally,” and “obtain, secure, or receive” Here it probably refers to finding after searching.

The pronoun it could refer to the gate, the path, or life. Because this clause is parallel to “enter through it” in 7:13c, this pronoun probably refers to the narrow gate. One way to translate this clause is:

few people find that gate

In some languages, the word find may not also imply entering. If that is true in your language, you may want to include the implied information. For example:

only a few people find it and enter

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-textvariants

ὅτι στενὴ ἡ πύλη καὶ τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδὸς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί στενή ἡ πύλη καί τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδός ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τήν ζωήν καί ὀλίγοι εἰσίν οἱ εὑρίσκοντες αὐτήν)

Many ancient manuscripts read For the gate is narrow and the road has been made narrow. The ULT follows that reading. Other ancient manuscripts read “How narrow is the gate and having been made narrow the road.” If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of the ULT.

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ὅτι

Here, the word For introduces another reason why people should enter through the narrow gate. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a reason for a command, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [Enter through the narrow gate because]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

στενὴ ἡ πύλη καὶ τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τὴν ζωήν, καὶ ὀλίγοι εἰσὶν οἱ εὑρίσκοντες αὐτήν

Here Jesus continues to speak of how people live as if they were walking on a way and of what happens when they die as if it were entering through a gate. When a gate is narrow and a way has been made narrow, that means that they are difficult to go through and that not many people go through them. Express the idea as you did in [7:13](../07/13.md). Alternate translation: [only a few people live like travelers who find the narrow gate and travel on the road that has been made narrow, and this road leads to life]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδὸς

˓having_been˒_narrowed_‹is› the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί στενή ἡ πύλη καί τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδός ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τήν ζωήν καί ὀλίγοι εἰσίν οἱ εὑρίσκοντες αὐτήν)

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. If you need to say who did the action, it is clear from the context that it was God. Alternate translation: [the road is narrow] or [God has made the road narrow]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὴν ζωήν

Here Jesus implies that life is eternal or undying life. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [true life] or [eternal life]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

εἰς τὴν ζωήν

to (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί στενή ἡ πύλη καί τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδός ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τήν ζωήν καί ὀλίγοι εἰσίν οἱ εὑρίσκοντες αὐτήν)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of life, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [to being able to live]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

ὀλίγοι

few

Jesus is using the adjective few as a noun to mean few people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [few travelers]

Note 8 topic: writing-pronouns

αὐτήν

Here, the word it could refer to: (1) both the gate and the road. Alternate translation: [them]; (2) just the road. Alternate translation: [this road]; (3) just the gate. Alternate translation: [this gate]

Parallel MAT 7:14

Section 5:1–7:29: Jesus preached a sermon on a mountain

7:14a

7:14b