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Today's Verse Analysis

Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear [you, then]

The addition of new ideas in the context of those like the Sermon on the Mount.

Spoken to
an individual

Matthew 18:16 ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀκούσῃ, παράλαβε μετὰ σοῦ ἔτι ἕνα ἢ δύο, ἵνα “ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων ἢ τριῶν σταθῇ πᾶν ῥῆμα:”

KJV Verse

Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

NIV Verse:

Matthew 18:16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

What His Listeners Heard:

When, however, he doesn't listen, call in with you, one or two besides , because upon a mouth, two witnesses or three, stands every statement.

Lost In Translation:

If you think of this verse as spoken speech, the entire flow of this verse makes perfect sense, as Jesus plays with the words, putting the numbers out one at a time. It starts out with a humorous line, that means "doesn't want to listen" or "doesn't want to be silent."  The word "want" isn't in the Greek, but the subjective negative is, indicating that it is a feeling. In Jewish law and as a practical matter, you cannot be considered a witness about your own situation unless you have others offering to support your testimony. Jewish courts and judges didn't even listen the testimony unless there was more than one person supporting it.

KJV w/Translation Issues :

But if he will(WT) not hear [thee, then(IP)] take(CW) with thee one or two more(WP), that in(WW) the(IW) mouth of two or three witnesses every word(CW) may be established(CW).

KJV List (See full page for word-by-word analysis):
For analysis of each word of original Greek and biblical verses, click here.

Constantly Updated

My analysis standards and methods are constantly improving. New information on each verse is provided as articles are updated. It requires approximately two years for me to work through updating each of Jesus's verses.

What Jesus's Listeners Heard

The everyday meanings of the Greek words Jesus used were different than the definitions they have been given over time in biblical translation. The word translations here are based upon documents of his time such as the Greek Septuagint, not ideas unknown in his time.

About this Site

See what Jesus said in Greek and see how his words are changed in English translation. My goal is to translate Jesus's words as they were heard when he taught, not the way they are interpreted today. The work here resurrects the humor and cleverness of Jesus's words lost in translation.

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Each article provides detailed information on all the Greek words in each verse with links simplifying your own research. It compares the Greek to popular translations to show where words are confused, changed, left out, and added. This site offers research available nowhere else, such as how often Jesus uses a specific Greek word and links to a list of every verse in which he uses a given word.