Matthew 11:22 But I tell you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre

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About John the Baptist, critics

KJV

Matthew 11:22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

NIV

Matthew 11:22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

LISTENERS HEARD

Except I tell you all: for Tyre and Sidon? More bearable they are going to be during a time of crisis than for you.

MY TAKE

During a time of crisis, the true nature of a society is revealed.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

There is a natural tendency for many to interpret verses with a phrase like "day of judgment" as referring to the end of the world. The actual words don't conform to this interpretation. For one thing, the Greek doesn't say "the day" but "a day." And the word can mean judgment, but has the more general meaning of "separation" or "turning point" as the source of our word "crisis."  See this article on the words Christ uses referring to the "end of the world." Of course, our personal day of judgment is also a separation: our separation from our lives.

"But I tell you" is a common Greek phrase in Jesus's words, but this is not that common phrase. It does not include the usual word translated as "but" nor does it use the first-person pronoun.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
3
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" is not the common words usually translated as "but."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "judgment" is closed in meaning to "separating" or "turning point."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" is not the common words usually translated as "but."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "judgment" is closed in meaning to "separating" or "turning point."
EACH WORD of KJV

But -- (CW) The Greek word translated here as "but" is not the common conjunctions used to mean "but." He usually uses two other words to mean "but." The primary meaning of the word used here is "except" or "save."

 

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

 

say- The "say" is one of the common verbs that means "to say" or "to tell." 

unto -- This word "unto" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.

you,  - The "you" here is plural, indicating many of Christ's listeners, which is normal with this phrase.

It  - -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be  - The "it shall be" verb here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It is singular and the future tense.

more tolerable - "More tolerable" is the comparative form ("more") of an adjective which "bearable" or "sufferable."

for -- This word "for" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose another prepositions: "with,"  "in,"   "of,"  "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.

Tyre -- This is from the Greek name of the historical city.

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

Sidon -- This is from the Greek name of the historical city.

at  -- The word translated as "at" means "in," "within," "with," "during" (time), or "among"  with a dative object as the one here. 

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

day The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time," in general, and specifically to the "daytime."

of - This word "of"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

judgment,  - (CW) The Greek word translated as "judgment" means distinguishing among choices and "separating" things. Christ uses it in a variety of ways, though the KJV usually translates it as "judgment." It also means a "turning point," since it is the source of the meaning of "crisis" has in English. Only secondarily does it means "judgment" as in a court judgment. This Greek word (krisis) is the source of our word "crisis" in the sense that a "crisis" is a time of choosing or a separation. 

than -- "Than" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparisons.

for -- This word "for" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can chose another prepositions: "with,"  "in,"   "of,"  "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.

you.  - The "you" here is plural, indicating many of Christ's listeners.

EACH WORD of NIV

But -- (CW) The Greek word translated here as "but" is not the common conjunctions used to mean "but." He usually uses two other words to mean "but." The primary meaning of the word used here is "except" or "save."

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

tell  - The "I tell" is one of the common verbs that means "to say" or "to tell." 

you,  - The "you" here is plural, indicating many of Christ's listeners, which is normal with this phrase.

It  - -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be  - The "it shall be" verb here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It is singular and the future tense.

more tolerable - "More tolerable" is the comparative form ("more") of an adjective which "bearable" or "sufferable."

for -- This word "for" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose another prepositions: "with,"  "in,"   "of,"  "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.

Tyre -- This is from the Greek name of the historical city.

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

Sidon -- This is from the Greek name of the historical city.

on -- The word translated as "on" means "in," "within," "with," "during" (time), or "among"  with a dative object as the one here. 

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

day The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time," in general, and specifically to the "daytime."

of - This word "of"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

judgment,  - The Greek word translated as "judgment" means distinguishing among choices and "separating" things. Christ uses it in a variety of ways, though the KJV usually translates it as "judgment." It also means a "turning point," since it is the source of the meaning of "crisis" has in English. Only secondarily does it means "judgment" as in a court judgment. This Greek word (krisis) is the source of our word "crisis" in the sense that a "crisis" is a time of choosing or a separation. 

than -- "Than" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparisons.

for -- This word "for" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can chose another prepositions: "with,"  "in,"   "of,"  "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.

you.  - The "you" here is plural, indicating many of Christ's listeners.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

πλὴν (prep) "But" is from plen, which means as a preposition means "except," "save," taking the genitive, and acts as the conjunction "but."

λέγω (verb 1st sg pres ind act)  "I tell" is from lego, which means "to recount," "to tell over," "to say," "to speak," "to teach," "to mean," "boast of," "tell of," "recite," nominate," and "command." It has a secondary meaning "pick out," "choose for oneself," "pick up," "gather," "count," and "recount." A less common word that is spelt the same means "to lay," "to lay asleep" and "to lull asleep."

ὑμῖν, (pron 2nd pl dat) "Unto you" is from hymin (humin), which is the 2nd person plural dative pronoun. Dative is the case which indicates to whom something is given.

Τύρῳ (noun sg fem dat) "Tyre" is from Tyros, which is the Greek name of the historical city.

καὶ (conj) "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."

Σιδῶνι (noun sg fem dat) "Sidon" is from Sidon, which is the Greek name of the historical city.

ἀνεκτότερον (adj sg neut nom comp ) More tolerable" is anektoteros (the comparative "more" form of anektos), which "bearable," "sufferable," "that which can be endured," or "tolerable." --

ἔσται (3rd sg fut ind mid) "It shall be" is from eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," and "is possible." It can also mean "must" with a dative.

ἐν (prep) "At" is from en, which means "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," and "with."

ἡμέρᾳ (noun sg fem dat) "Day" is from hemera, which, as a noun, means "day" "a state or time of life," "a time (poetic)," "day break" and "day time." It is also and also has a second meaning, of "quiet," "tame (animals)," "cultivated (crops)," and "civilized (people)."

κρίσεως (noun sg fem gen ) "Judgment" is from krisis, which means "separating," "distinguishing," "judgment," "choice," "election," "trial," "dispute," "event," and "issue."

 (prep) "Than" is e which is a particle meaning "either," "or," or "than."

ὑμῖν.(pron 2nd pl dat) "You" is from hymin (humin), which is the 2nd person plural dative pronoun. Dative is the case which indicates to whom something is given. -

Wordplay

Jesus is exaggerating here and in the following verses, for humorous effect. He may be mimicking the style of John that Baptist, who was the subject of the verses proceeding these. However, he doesn't take is as seriously, as he makes clear at the end, in  Mat 11:25

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings

“A true teacher would condemn those pagan cities!” accused one of the Distinguished.
“Except I tell you all,” the Master said to the Distinguished. “In Tyre and Sidon? They will be more bearable during a time of crisis than for you.”

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