KJV: And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
YLT: And the king answering, shall say to them, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye did it to one of these my brethren -- the least -- to me ye did it.
Darby: And the King answering shall say to them, Verily, I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.
ASV: And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me.
ἀποκριθεὶς | answering |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἀποκρίνομαι Sense: to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer. |
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Βασιλεὺς | King |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: βασιλεύς Sense: leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king. |
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ἐρεῖ | will say |
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: λέγω Sense: to utter, speak, say. |
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αὐτοῖς | to them |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Root: αὐτός Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself. |
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Ἀμὴν | Truly |
Parse: Hebrew Word Root: ἀμήν Sense: firm. |
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λέγω | I say |
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular Root: λέγω Sense: to say, to speak. |
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ὑμῖν | to you |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural Root: σύ Sense: you. |
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ἐφ’ | to the extent |
Parse: Preposition Root: ἐπί Sense: upon, on, at, by, before. |
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ὅσον | as much as |
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: ὅσος Sense: as great as, as far as, how much, how many, whoever. |
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ἐποιήσατε | you did [it] |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural Root: ποιέω Sense: to make. |
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ἑνὶ | to one |
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Singular Root: εἷς Sense: one. |
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τούτων | of these |
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Plural Root: οὗτος Sense: this. |
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ἀδελφῶν | brothers |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural Root: ἀδελφός Sense: a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother. |
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μου | of Me |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
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ἐλαχίστων | least |
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural, Superlative Root: ἐλάχιστος Sense: smallest least. |
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ἐμοὶ | to Me |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
Greek Commentary for Matthew 25:40
Dative of personal interest. Christ identifies himself with the needy and the suffering. This conduct is proof of possession of love for Christ and likeness to him. [source]
The word in the Greek order is emphatic: One of these my brethren, the least. So Rev., even these least. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 25:40
The Hebrew form occurs also in Acts 22:7; Acts 26:14 where it is expressly stated that the voice was in the Hebrew (Aramaic) tongue as also in Acts 9:17 (Ananias). Deissmann (Bible Studies, p. 316) terms this use of με Saoul “the historian‘s sense of liturgical rhythm.” For the repetition of names by Jesus note Luke 10:41 (Martha, Martha), Luke 22:31 (Simon, Simon). Me (me). In persecuting the disciples, Saul was persecuting Jesus, as the words of Jesus in Acts 9:5 made plain. Christ had already spoken of the mystic union between himself and his followers (Matthew 10:40; Matthew 25:40, Matthew 25:45; John 15:1-5). The proverb (Pindar) that Jesus quotes to Saul about kicking against the goad is genuine in Acts 26:14, but not here. [source]
In persecuting the disciples, Saul was persecuting Jesus, as the words of Jesus in Acts 9:5 made plain. Christ had already spoken of the mystic union between himself and his followers (Matthew 10:40; Matthew 25:40, Matthew 25:45; John 15:1-5). The proverb (Pindar) that Jesus quotes to Saul about kicking against the goad is genuine in Acts 26:14, but not here. [source]
Not temporal, quamdiu, “so long as” (Matthew 9:15), but qualitative quatenus “in so far then as” (Matthew 25:40). I glorify my ministry (την διακονιαν μου δοχαζω tēn diakonian mou doxazō). As apostle to the Gentiles (ετνων αποστολος ethnōn apostolos objective genitive). Would that every minister of Christ glorified his ministry. [source]
That fact they were overlooking. Jesus had said to Saul that he was persecuting him when he persecuted his disciples (Acts 9:5). One may wonder if Paul knew the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:40, “ye did it unto me.” [source]