A parable about the final judgment of the sheep and the goats.
Matthew 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Matthew 25:37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
Then the law-abiding will answer him saying, "Master, when did we see you hungering and fatten [you] up, or thirsting and watered [you].
We don't always see how what we do is related to the Divine.
This verse uses terms usually applied to feeding and watering animals, "to feed" and "watering." These were the same words Jesus used in Matthew 25:35. The joke is that it is the "sheep" saying this.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "an hungered" is not a noun or adjective but a participle, "hungering."
- WF - Wrong Form - The "thirsty" is not an adjective but a participle, "thirsting."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "saying" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "an hungered" is not a noun or adjective but a participle, "hungering."
- WF - Wrong Form - The "thirsty" is not an adjective but a participle, "thirsting."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "he" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "to drink" is not a noun but a verb "drink."
Then " -- The "when" is from an adverb meaning "when," "at what time," "at some time or other," "at some unknown time, and "at some time in the future."
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.
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.
righteous -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.The word translated as "the righteous" is a noun that means "the virtuous" but it is also a play on the idea of "the right." The two words are similar in Greek, though not as similar as in English.
answer-- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb."Shall answer" is a verb that means to "set apart," "choose," "answer" a question, "answer charges," and "defend oneself."
him,-- The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
saying, - The word translated as "saying" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak." It is in the form of a participle, "saying" and "speaking."
Lord,-- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.The Greek word translated as "lord," means "having power," "being in authority" and "being in possession of" and means "lord" or "master."
when -- The "when" is from an adverb meaning "when," "at what time," "at some time or other," "at some unknown time, and "at some time in the future."
saw -- The verb translated as "saw we" means "to see" but it is often used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive."
we -- This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb.
thee -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
an hundred, - (WF) The "an hungered" here is the same verb translated as "hungered" in Matthew 25:35, but here it is in the form of an adjective, "hungering."
and - -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
fed - The word translated as "feedeth" doesn't mean feed as much as the idea of "nurturing" or "causing to grow." It is not the words used in Matthew 25:35 to means "give to eat." It was, however, used in Matthew 6:26 to refer to caring for birds regarding food. Since its primary meaning is "to thicken," the sense might be described better as "to fatten up."
thee? -- This English objective pronoun is added and not in the Greek source. In Greek, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence.
or -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi" or the adverb meaning "in truth."
thirsty, - (WF) The word for "thirst" is the same used in Matthew 25:35 that means "to be thirsty" or, more generally, "to want" or "lack" anything. It is in the form of an adjective, "thirsting."
and- -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
gave - The "gave...drink," which is from a word that means "to give a drink," "to water," "to moisten," and metaphorically "to saturate one's mind." It is not the word the Christ always uses for "give" (as used above) or "to drink" but a word that he rarely uses.
thee -- This English objective pronoun is added and not in the Greek source. In Greek, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence.
drink? - This completes the action of the verb.
Then " -- The "when" is from an adverb meaning "when," "at what time," "at some time or other," "at some unknown time, and "at some time in the future."
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.
righteous -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.The word translated as "the righteous" is a noun that means "the virtuous" but it is also a play on the idea of "the right." The two words are similar in Greek, though not as similar as in English.
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.
answer-- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb."Shall answer" is a verb that means to "set apart," "choose," "answer" a question, "answer charges," and "defend oneself."
him,-- The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
missing "saying" -- (MW) The untranslated word "saying" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak." It is in the form of a participle, "saying" and "speaking."
Lord,-- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.The Greek word translated as "lord," means "having power," "being in authority" and "being in possession of" and means "lord" or "master."
when -- The "when" is from an adverb meaning "when," "at what time," "at some time or other," "at some unknown time, and "at some time in the future."
did -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English, but the Greek could be either a question or a statement.
we -- This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb.
see -- The verb translated as "see" means "to see" but it is often used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive."
you -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
hungry , - (WF) The "an hungered" here is the same verb translated as "hungry " in Matthew 25:35, but here it is in the form of an adjective, "hungering."
and , or and give you something to drink?
and - -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
feed - The word translated as "feedeth" doesn't mean feed as much as the idea of "nurturing" or "causing to grow." It is not the words used in Matthew 25:35 to means "give to eat." It was, however, used in Matthew 6:26 to refer to caring for birds regarding food. Since its primary meaning is "to thicken," the sense might be described better as "to fatten up."
you? -- This English objective pronoun is added and not in the Greek source. In Greek, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence.
or -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi" or the adverb meaning "in truth."
thirsty, - (WF) The word for "thirst" is the same used in Matthew 25:35 that means "to be thirsty" or, more generally, "to want" or "lack" anything. It is in the form of an adjective, "thirsting."
and- -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
gave - The "gave...drink," which is from a word that means "to give a drink," "to water," "to moisten," and metaphorically "to saturate one's mind." It is not the word the Christ always uses for "give" (as used above) or "to drink" but a word that he rarely uses.
you -- This English objective pronoun is added and not in the Greek source. In Greek, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence.
something -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "something" in the Greek source.
to drink: -- (WF) This finished the concept of the verb. This is not an infinitive verb.
τότε [53 verses](adv) ""Then" is from tote, which means "at that time" and "then."
ἀποκριθήσονται [17 verses](verb 3rd pl fut ind pass) "Shall answer" is from apokrinomai that means to "set apart," "choose," "exclude," "reject on examination," "decide," "answer" the question, "answer charges," and "defend oneself" and, in the passive, "to be parted or separated." In the Gospels, it is always translated as "answered."
αὐτῷ [720 verses](adj sg masc dat) "Him" is from autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case 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."
οἱ [821 verses](article pl masc n)om Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
δίκαιοι [21 verses](adj pl masc nom) "The righteous" is from dikaios which means "observant of rules," "observant of customs," "well-ordered," "civilized," and "observant of duty." Later it means "well-balanced," "impartial," and "just." As a verb, it means to "set right," "hold or deem right," "claim or demand as a right," "pronounce judgment," "do a man right or justice," "chastise," "punish, and in passive, "have right done one."
λέγοντες [264 verses](part pl pres act masc nom) "Saying" 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 spelled the same means "to lay," "to lay asleep" and "to lull asleep."
Κύριε, [92 verses](noun sg masc voc) "Lord" is from kyrios (kurios), which means "having power," "being in authority" and "being in possession of." It also means "lord," "master of the house," and "head of the family."
πότε[26 verses] (part) "When" comes from pote, which means "when," "at what time," "at some time or other," "at some unknown time, and "at some time in the future."
σε [47 verses](pron 2nd sg acc) "Thee" is from su which means "you" and "your."
εἴδαμεν [166 verses](1st pl aor act ind) "Saw we" is from eido which means "to see," "to examine," "to perceive," "to behold," "to know how to do," "to see with the mind's eye," and "to know."
πεινῶντα [9 verses](part sg pres act masc acc) "An hungered" is peinao, which means "to be hungry," "crave after," or "to be starved," and it is a metaphor for desire and cravings.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you).
ἐθρέψαμεν,[4verses] (verb 1st pl aor ind act) "Feedeth" is trepho, which means primarily, to "thicken or congeal [a liquid]," "cause to grow or increase," "bring up," "rear," "rear and keep [animals, slaves]," "tend," "cherish," "let grow (of parts of the body)," "cherish," "foster," "breed," "produce," "teem [of earth and sea]," "have within oneself," "contain," "maintain," "support," .Pass. "to be bred," and "reared."
ἢ [92 verses](conj/adv) "Or" is e which is a particle meaning "either," "or," or "than." --
διψῶντα [10 verses](part sg pres act masc acc) "Thirst" is from dipsao, which means "to thirst," "to be thirsty," "to be parched," "to be in want of," "to lack," and "to thirst after" a thing.
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." ἐ
ποτίσαμεν; [7 verses](verb 1st pl aor ind act) "You gave...to drink" is potizo which means "to give a drink," "to water," "to moisten," and metaphorically "to saturate one's mind."
Play of on the right against the idea of righteous, though not as similar as the English, they are still similar in Greek.
The word for "thirst" means "lack" in general.
At that time, the righteous," he continued, indicating the followers are his right, "are going to answer him saying..."
At this point, he moved to over to the side of the sheep. Speaking for them, he used the voice of a sheep, "Mah-bah-master, when did we, bah-bah, m know you were hungering and, bah, we fattened [you] up...or thirsting and, bah, we watered [you]."
The crowd laughed A sheep was describing the care of animals.