The Meaning of Matthew 25:33 Explained

Matthew 25:33

KJV: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

YLT: and he shall set the sheep indeed on his right hand, and the goats on the left.

Darby: and he will set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left.

ASV: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  he shall set  the sheep  on  his  right hand,  but  the goats  on  the left. 

What does Matthew 25:33 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 25:31-46 - Serve Christ By Serving Others
We are called to watch the procedure of God's moral government. This is primarily a forecast of the judgment of the nations, Matthew 25:32. It would seem as though, in the first instance, their doom will be largely affected by their treatment of the Hebrew people, the brethren of Jesus after the flesh, Matthew 25:40. Probably this parable is being enacted before our eyes-Spain in the Cuban war and Russia today.
But the parable has a wider range. Our Lord evidently identifies Himself, not so much with great causes as with all who are weary and heavy laden, who are sorrowful or sinful, who have drifted into the hospitals and prisons of the world. None are too desolate and sorrowful to attract His loving notice, and He hails as "blessed" all who sympathize with and help them. In the closing verse, it should be noticed that in the r.v. the word eternal stands in each clause; and it should be remembered that it stands for a quality of existence which is altogether independent of time. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 25

1  The parable of the ten virgins,
14  and of the talents
31  Also the description of the last judgment

Greek Commentary for Matthew 25:33

Goats [ἐρίφια]
Diminutive. Lit., kidlings. The sheep and goats are represented as having previously pastured together. Compare the parables of the Tares and the Net. [source]
On the right [ἐκ δεξιῶν]
Lit., form the right side or parts. The picture to the Greek reader is that of a row, beginning at the judge's right hand. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 25:33 mean?

And He will set - indeed the sheep on [the] right hand of Him and the goats on [the] left
καὶ στήσει τὰ μὲν πρόβατα ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ δὲ ἐρίφια ἐξ εὐωνύμων

στήσει  He  will  set 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἵστημι  
Sense: to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set.
τὰ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
μὲν  indeed 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: μέν  
Sense: truly, certainly, surely, indeed.
πρόβατα  the  sheep 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: προβάτιον 
Sense: any four footed, tame animal accustomed to graze, small cattle (opp. to large cattle, horses, etc.), most commonly a sheep or a goat.
δεξιῶν  [the]  right  hand 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: δεξιός  
Sense: the right, the right hand.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἐρίφια  the  goats 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ἐρίφιον  
Sense: a kid, a young goat.
εὐωνύμων  [the]  left 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: εὐώνυμος  
Sense: of good name and of good omen.