Responding to Peter's request to explain his saying Matthew 15:11 That which goes into the mouth
Matthew 15:16 Are ye also yet without understanding?
Matthew 15:16 Are you still so dull?
At this critical point, and you yourselves unable to put things together, are you?
At some point, we have to be able to put the pieces we are given together.
This short verse, only five Greek words, contains two words uncommon words. Both are only loosely translated. One, the first word in the Greek, is used only once and it glossed over when it is translated as "yet" in the middle of the KJV translation. The other is the word translated as "without understanding," which Jesus uses only here and in the parallel verse in Mark. Jesus is very blunt, perhaps humorously so, in the original Greek. This is lost in translation.
- WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "are" doesn't appear here but at the end of the verse.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "yourselves" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "yet" is not the common word usually translated as "yet."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "without understanding" is a play on the word meaning "put together."
- WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "are" doesn't appear here but at the end of the verse.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "yourselves" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "still" is not the common word usually translated as "still."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "so" should be something more like "also."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "dull" is a from the common word that means "dull" that Jesus uses frequently.
Are - (WP) The verb "are" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. This ends the verse.
ye - -- The pronoun "you" is used explicitly as the subject of the sentence. Since it is already part of the verb, its use here creates emphasis on the "you" as we might say "you yourselves." It is plural.
missing "yourselves" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "you yourself."
also - The Greek word translated as "also" is usually used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also."
yet - (CW) "Yet" is from an adverbial form of a noun which means the highest or culminating point of anything, a "zenith," esp. of man's age, generally, "supreme effort, " "climax," an, of Time, "the best, most fitting time," or "a critical moment." In English, we would say "at this critical point." Jesus only uses this word once and it begins the sentence. It is not the common word translated as "yet."
without - -- This is from the prefix of the previous verb that means "not" or "without."
understanding? -- (CW) "Without understanding" is from a Greek adjective that means "stupid" and "witless," literally "not intelligent." It is from a base word that indicates the ability to put things "together." We saw the verb from the same oot word in Matthew 15:10.
Are you still so dull?
Are - (WP) The verb "are" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. This ends the verse.
you - -- The pronoun "you" is used explicitly as the subject of the sentence. Since it is already part of the verb, its use here creates emphasis on the "you" as we might say "you yourselves." It is plural.
missing "yourselves" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "you yourself."
still - (CW) "Still" is from an adverbial form of a noun which means the highest or culminating point of anything, a "zenith," esp. of man's age, generally, "supreme effort," "climax," an, of Time, "the best, most fitting time," or "a critical moment." In English, we would say "at this critical point." Jesus only uses this word once and it begins the sentence. It is not the common word translated as "still."
so - (WW) The Greek word translated as "so" is usually used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). It is not one of the Greek words translated as "so."
dull? -- (CW) "Dull" is from a Greek adjective that means "stupid" and "witless," literally "not intelligent." It is from a base word that indicates the ability to put things "together." We saw the verb from the same root word in Matthew 15:10.
Ἀκμὴν [1 verse](adv) "Yet" is akmen, which as a noun means "a point," "edge," "extremity," generally, highest or culminating point of anything, therefore a "flower," one's "prime," a "zenith," esp. of man's age, generally, "strength," "vigor," "supreme effort," "culmination," "climax," of Time, "the best, most fitting time, " "the nick of time," and "a critical moment."
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."
ὑμεῖς [1 verse]"You" is from hymeis (humeis), which is the plural nominative form of the second person, "you."
ἀσύνετοί [2 verse](adj pl masc nom) "Without understanding" is from the Greek, asynetos, which means "stupid" "witless," "void of understanding," "witless," "not able to understand," and, in the passive, "not to be understood, and "unintelligible." Literally, "not" , that is, "intelligence" or "wise."
ἐστε; (verb 2nd pl pres ind act ) "Are" is from eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," and "is possible." -
The word translated as "without understanding/dull" is a play on the word used in Matthew 15:10 Hear, and understand that means "put together."