Matthew 23:27
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. | Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. | Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. |
In context
Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.
Original Greek words
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woe | Οὐαὶ | Ouai | G3759 | woe!οὐαί (ouai) οὐαί interj. of grief or denunciation, [in LXX for הוֹי, etc. ;] alas! woe! most frequently with dative of person(s) Mat.11:21 23:14, Mrk.13:17 14:21, Luk.6:24-26 Ju 11, al.; with vocat. (nom.), Rev.18:10, 16 18:19 (cf. Isa.1:24, al.); with accusative, Rev.12:12, before ἐκ, Rev.8:13; with dative before ἀπό (see M, Pr., 246), Mat.18:7. As subst., 1Co.9:16 (cf. Jer.6:4); ἡ οὐ., Rev.9:12 11:14; pl., Rev.9:12; οὐ., οὐ., οὐ., Rev.8:13 (AS) |
| to you, | ὑμῖν, | humin | G4771 | youσέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; … |
| scribes | γραμματεῖς | grammateis | G1122 | scribeγραμματεύς (grammateus) γραμματεύς, -έως (accusative pl., -εῖς, see Bl., §8, 2), ὁ (γράμμα), [in LXX always for שׁטר in Hex., elsewhere chiefly for ספר ;] 1. a secretary; γ. τ. πόλεως, a state-clerk: Act.19:35. 2. In π., of a military officer (Deiss., BS, 110f.). So Jdg.5:14, 4Ki.25:19 (ספר), al. … |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| Pharisees | Φαρισαῖοι | Pharisaioi | G5330 | PhariseeΦαρισαῖος (Pharisaios) Φαρισαῖος, -ου, ὁ (Aram. פְּרִישָׁא; see Dalman, Gr., 157.n, Words, 2.n), a Pharisee: Mat.23:26, Php.3:5; usually in pl., Mat.9:11, Mrk.2:18, al.; Φ. κ. γραμματεῖς, Mat.5:20, Mrk.2:16, Luk.5:21, al.; Φ. κ. Σαδδυκαῖοι, Mat.16:1, Act.23:6, 7 al.; ἀρχιερεῖς, Mat.21:45, Jhn.7:32, al. (see DB, iii, 826b). (AS) |
| hypocrites! | ὑποκριταί, | hupokritai | G5273 | hypocriteὑποκριτής (hupokritēs) ὑπο-κριτής, -οῦ, ὁ (ὑποκρίνομαι, which see) [in LXX Job.34:30 36:13 (חָנֵף) * ;] 1. one who answers, an interpreter (Plat.). 2. a stage player, actor (Plut., Xen., al.). Metaphorical (in LXX and NT), a pretender, dissembler, hypocrite: Mat.6:2, 5 6:16 7:5 15:7 22:18 23:13-15 24:51, Mrk.7:6 Luk.6:42 12:56 13:15.† (AS) |
| For | ὅτι | hoti | G3754H | that/since: thatὅτι (hoti) ὅτι, conjc. (prop. neut. of ὅστις). I. As conjc, introducing an objective clause, that; 1. after verbs of seeing, knowing, thinking, saying, feeling: Mat.3:9 6:32 11:25, Mrk.3:28, Luk.2:49, Jhn.2:22, Act.4:13, Rom.1:13 8:38 10:9, Php.4:15, Jas.2:24, al.; elliptically, Jhn.6:46, Php.3:12, al. 2. After εἶναι (γίνεσθαι): defining a demonstr. or of person(s) pron., Jhn.3:19 16:19, Rom.9:6, 1Jn.3:16 al.; with pron. interrog., Mat.8:27, Mrk.4:41, Luk.4:36, Jhn.4:22 al.; id. elliptically, Luk.2:49, Act.5:4, 9, al.; … |
| you resemble | παρομοιάζετε | paromoiazete | G3945 | to resembleπαρομοιάζω (paromoiazō) παρ-ομοιάζω to be like: with dative, Mat.23:27.† (AS) |
| tombs | τάφοις | taphois | G5028 | graveτάφος (taphos) τάφος, -ου, ὁ (θάντω), [in LXX chiefly for קֶבֶר ;] 1. a burial (Hom., al.). 2. a grave, tomb (Res., Hdt., al.): Mat.23:27, 29 27:61, 64 27:66 28:1, Rom.3:13" (LXX) .† (AS) |
| whitewashed | κεκονιαμένοις | kekoniamenois | G2867 | to whitewashκονιάω (koniaō) κονιάω, -ῶ (κονία, dust, lime), [in LXX: Deu.27:2, 4 (שִׂיד), Pro.21:9 * ;] to plaster or whiten over: of tombs, Mat.23:27; figuratively, of a hypocrite, Act.23:3.† (AS) |
| which | οἵτινες | oitines | G3748 | who/whichὅστις (hostis, hētis) ὅστις, ἥτις, ὅ τι (also written ὅ, τι and ὅτι; see LS, see word; WH, §411; Tdf., Pr., 111), in NT scarcely ever except in nom. (M, Pr., 91), the only instance of the oblique cases being found in ἕως ὅτου (see: ἕως), relative of indef. reference (related to simple ὅς as Lat. quisquis to qui), whoever, anyone who; (a) of an indef. person or thing: in general statements, Mat.5:39, 41 13:12, and freq., Luk.14:27, Gal.5:4, al.; in relative sentences, Mat.7:26, Luk.15:7, Php.3:7, al.; πᾶς, with indic., Mat.7:24 10:32; ὅ ἄν (ἐάν), with subjc., Mat.12:50 13:12, Jhn.14:13, 1Co.16:2, Gal.5:10, al.; … |
| outside | ἔξωθεν | exōthen | G1855 | outsideἔξωθεν (exōthen) ἔξωθεν adv. (ἔξω opposite to ἔσωθεν), [in LXX for חוּץ ;] 1. prop. (in answer to the question, Whence ?), from without: Mrk.7:18 2. More often (= ἔξω; cf. Bl., § 25, 3), without: Mat.23:27-28 Mrk.7:18, 2Co.7:5; τὸ ἔ., Mat.23:25, Luk.11:39-40; οἱ ἔ., 1Ti.3:7, Mrk.4:11 (WH, mg.); ὁ ἔ. κόσμος, 1Pe.3:3; ἐκβάλλειν ἔ., Rev.11:2. As prep. with genitive: Mrk.7:15, Rev.11:1-19 4Ki.14:20 (cf. Robertson, Gr., 548).† (AS) |
| indeed | μὲν | men | G3303 | on the other handμέν (men) μέν, conjunctive particle (originally a form of μήν), usually related to a following δέ or other adversative conjunction, and distinguishing the word or clause with which it stands from that which follows. It is generally untranslatable and is not nearly so frequent in NT as in cl. Like δέ, it never stands first in a clause. … |
| appear | φαίνονται | phainontai | G5316 | to shine/appearφαίνω (phainō) φαίνω [in LXX for אוֹר hi., רָאָה ni., etc. ;] I. Act., 1. to bring to light, cause to appear (so most frequently in cl.). 2. Absol., to give light, shine (Hom., Plat., al.): Jhn.1:5 5:35, 2Pe.1:19, 1Jn.2:8, Rev.1:16 8:12 18:23 21:23. … |
| beautiful, | ὡραῖοι, | hōraioi | G5611 | Beautifulὡραῖος (hōraios) ὡραῖος, -α, -ον (ὥρα), [in LXX for נָאָה, טוֹב, יָפָה, etc. ;] seasonable, timely, esp. of ripe fruits; hence, blooming, beautiful (both of things and persons): Mat.23:27, Act.3:2, 10, Rom.10:15 (LXX, ὥρα).† (AS) |
| Inside | ἔσωθεν | esōthen | G2081 | inwardlyἔσωθεν (esōthen) ἔσωθεν (ἔσω), adv., [in LXX for בַּיִת, פָּנִים and cognate forms ;] 1. from within: Mrk.7:21, 23, Luk.11:7. 2. within: Mat.7:15 23:25-28, 2Co.7:5, Rev.4:8 5:1; τὸ ἔ., Luk.11:40; id. with genitive, Luk.11:39.† (AS) |
| however | δὲ | de | G1161 | thenδέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; … |
| they are full | γέμουσιν | gemousin | G1073 | be fullγέμω (gemō) γέμω (used only in present and impf.), [in LXX for מלא, נשׂא ;] to be full; 1. properly, of a ship (Xen.). 2. Generally (Plat., al.), (a) with genitive of thing(s): Mat.23:27, Luk.11:39, Rom.3:14" (LXX), Rev.4:6, 8 5:8 15:7 17:3 (Rec.) 4 21:9 (b) before ἐκ: Mat.23:25; (with) with accusative of thing(s) (called a solecism in WM, 251; Bl., §36, 4), as in later Gk. from Byz. to Mod. times (Jannaris, Gr., 1319): Rev.17:3. † (AS) |
| of bones | ὀστέων | osteōn | G3747 | boneὀστέον (osteon) ὀστέον (Att.. contr. ὀστοῦν, -οῦ, and so Jo, l.with), -ου, τό [in LXX chiefly for עֶצֶם ;] a bone: contr., ὀστοῦν (see supr.), Jhn.19:36 (LXX); uncontr. (as in Hom., Hdt.), ὀστέα, Luk.24:39; ὀστέων, Mat.23:27, Heb.11:22.† (AS) |
| of [the] dead | νεκρῶν | nekrōn | G3498 | deadνεκρός (nekros) νεκρός, -α, -ον, [in LXX chiefly for מֵת ;] dead, I. as adj., 1. prop.: Act.5:10 20:9, Jas.2:26, Rev.1:18, al.; ὡσεὶ ν., Mat.28:4, Mrk.9:26, Rev.1:17; of that which is subject to death, Rom.8:10. 2. Metaphorical, (a) of persons: Luk.15:24, 32; of those immersed in worldly cares, Mat.8:22, Luk.9:60; of spiritual death, Jhn.5:25, Rom.6:13, Eph.5:14, Rev.3:1; τ. παραπτώμασιν, Eph.2:1, 5 Col.2:13; of the opposite condition, ν. τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ, Rom.6:11; (b) of things regarded as inoperative, devoid of power: ἁμαρτία, Rom.7:8; πίστις, Jas.2:17, 26; ἔργα, Heb.6:1 9:14. … |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| of all | πάσης | pasēs | G3956 | allπᾶς (pas) πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, genitive, παντός, πάσης, παντός, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] all, every. I. As adj., 1. with subst. anarth., all, every, of every kind: Mat.3:10 4:23, Mrk.9:49, Luk.4:37, Jhn.2:1o, Act.27:20, Rom.7:8, Rev.18:17, al. mult.; pl., all, Act.22:15, Rom.5:12, Heb.1:6, al.; of the highest degree, π. ἐξουσία (προθυμία, χαρά), Mat.28:18, Act.17:11, Phi 2:29, al.; also the whole (though in this sense more frequently with art.), Mat.2:3, Act.2:36, Rom.11:26. … |
| impurity. | ἀκαθαρσίας. | akatharsias | G0167 | impurityἀκαθαρσία (akatharsia) ἀκαθαρσία, -ας, ἡ (ἀκάθαρτος), [in LXX chiefly for טֻמְאָה, טָמֵא ;] uncleanness, impurity, (a) physical (MM, VGT, see word): Mat.23:27; (b) moral: Rom.1:24 6:19, 2Co.12:21, Gal.5:19, Eph.4:19 5:3, Col.3:5, 1Th.2:3 4:7. † (AS) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.