A parable about the final judgment of the sheep and the goats.
Matthew 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Matthew 25:33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
And he will place these ones, certainly, sheep beyond a right [fortunate] side of his but, these ones, however, goats beyond a left [honored] side.
Leftists have always been the goats.
The way Jesus says "on the right" and "on the left" is different than how we say it in English and, surprisingly, both "right" and "left" have a number of positive meanings in Greek. Jesus recognizes these positive meanings in Matthew 20:23 and Mark 10:40 where he recognizes both positions as ones of honor. The Greek word used here for "left" actually begins with the prefix that means "good."
The division here is between those who are "skilled," "clever," and "kindly" and those who have a "good name" and are "honored." The suggestion is that those who are skilled and kind are not honored and those who have been honored are not skilled and kindly.
The word translated as "on" means "beyond." The sense is that both groups were initially outside of the honored positions of the right and left.
This is the last time "sheep" and "goats" are mentioned in this story. With this verse, Jesus changes to talking about those on the right and left.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "indeed" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "on" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "on" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "indeed" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "on" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "however."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "on" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
he -- 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.
set - The word translated as "set," like the English words "put" and "set," has a number of specific meanings from "to put down [in writing]," "to bury," "to establish," "to make," "to cause," and "to assign."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
missing "indeed" -- (MW) The untranslated word is a Greek word that is generally used to express certainty and means "indeed," "certainly," "surely," and "truly." This is the Greek word that is the equivalent of Aramaic "amen."
sheep - "Sheep" is Christ's symbol for his followers. The Greek word refers to any domesticated animal and works better if translated simply as "flock" or "herd." The flock follows the shepherd, which is above them. It is also together, a united group.
on - (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "on" means "out of" or "from" when referring to movement, but "beyond" when referring to a place. It is not the word meaning "on."
his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
right hand, -- The Greek term translated as "right hand" as a noun, it means the "right hand," "assurance," and "pledge," and as an adjective means "on the right hand," "fortunate," "skillful," "ready," "clever," "courteous," and "kindly." Here it acts more like a noun because of the following "of his."
but -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
goats - "Goat" is a word, meaning "young goat" or "kid," that Jesus uses only twice in this parable and in Luke.
on - (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "on" means "out of" or "from" when referring to movement, but "beyond" when referring to a place. It is not the word meaning "on."
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.
left. - The word for "left" is also plural. It primarily means "of a good name," "honored," and similar positive things, and is only a euphemism for "left."
missing "and" -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
He -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
will -- This helping verb "will " indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
put - The word translated as "put ," like the English words "put" and "set," has a number of specific meanings from "to put down [in writing]," "to bury," "to establish," "to make," "to cause," and "to assign."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
missing "indeed" -- (MW) The untranslated word is a Greek word that is generally used to express certainty and means "indeed," "certainly," "surely," and "truly." This is the Greek word that is the equivalent of Aramaic "amen."
sheep - "Sheep" is Christ's symbol for his followers. The Greek word refers to any domesticated animal and works better if translated simply as "flock" or "herd." The flock follows the shepherd, which is above them. It is also together, a united group.
on - (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "on" means "out of" or "from" when referring to movement, but "beyond" when referring to a place. It is not the word meaning "on."
his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
right , -- The Greek term translated as "right " as a noun, it means the "right hand," "assurance," and "pledge," and as an adjective means "on the right hand," "fortunate," "skillful," "ready," "clever," "courteous," and "kindly." Here it acts more like a noun because of the following "of his."
and -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
goats - "Goat" is a word, meaning "young goat" or "kid," that Jesus uses only twice in this parable and in Luke.
on - (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "on" means "out of" or "from" when referring to movement, but "beyond" when referring to a place. It is not the word meaning "on."
his -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "his" in the Greek source.
left. - The word for "left" is also plural. It primarily means "of a good name," "honored," and similar positive things, and is only a euphemism for "left."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "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."
στήσει [28 verses](verb 3rd sg fut ind act) "He shall set" is from histemi, which means "to make to stand," "to stand," "to set up," "to bring to a standstill," "to check," "to appoint," "to establish," "to fix by agreement," "to be placed," "to be set," "to stand still," "to stand firm," "to set upright," "to erected," "to arise," and "to place." Like the English words "put" and "set," it has a number of specific meanings from "to put down [in writing]," "to bury," "to establish," "to make," "to cause," and "to assign."
τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Here it is separated from its noun by an particle below.
μὲν [31 verses](partic) Untranslated is men, which is generally used to express certainty and means "indeed," "certainly," "surely," and "truly."
πρόβατα[26 verses] (noun pl neut acc) "Sheep" is from probaton, which means any domesticated four-footed animal, "sheep," "cattle," "herds," and "flocks.
ἐκ [121 verses] (prep)"On" is from ek, which means 1) [of motion] "out of," "from," "by," "away from;" 2) [of place] "outside of," "beyond;" 3) [of succession] "after," "from;" 4) [of rest] "on," "in," 5) [of time] "since," "from," "at," "in;" 5) [of materials] "out of," "made from."
δεξιῶν [14 verses](noun pl fem gen) "Right" is dexios, which means, as an adjective, "on the right hand," "fortunate," "skillful," "ready," "clever," "courteous," and "kindly." As a noun, it means the "right hand," "assurance," "pledge," "treaty,"
αὐτοῦ [720 verses](adj sg masc gen) "His" is from autos, which means "the same," and oblique cases of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord."
τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Here it is separated from its noun by the particle below.
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is from de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of cause ("so").
ἐρίφια [3 verses](noun pl masc gen) "Goats" is from eriphos, which means "young goat" and "kid."
ἐξ [121 verses] (prep)"On" is from ek, which means 1) [of motion] "out of," "from," "by," "away from;" 2) [of place] "beyond," "outside of," "beyond;" 3) [of succession] "after," "from;" 4) [of rest] "on," "in," 5) [of time] "since," "from," "at," "in;" 5) [of materials] "out of," "made from."
εὐωνύμων. [4 verses](adj pl masc gen) "Left " is from euonymos, which means "of good name," "honored," "expressed in well-chosen terms," "prosperous," and "fortunate." It is a euphemism for "left," "on the left hand," and "bad omens."
The word "right" means "lucky."
The word "left" means "honored."
"And," he continued, "he shall certainly place the sheep out on his skilled side..."
He paused, allowing the followers on the right to applaud.
"But, he continued again, "The kids out on his honored side."
He gave his the followers on the left a chance to sound off, though several made bleating noises instead.