Mattityah 19:12 (middle part of the verse)
BYZR: kai eisin eunouchoi, hoitines eunouchisan heautous :: dia tēn basileian tōn ouranōn :: / (ho dynamenos chōrein, chōreitō.)
Deviation scores of the whole verse text (if the verse is missing completely): ·AND¹₁ ·ARE¹₁ ·EUNUCHS³₁ ·WHO¹₁ ·MADE₀ ·THEMSELVES³₁ ·EUNUCHS³₁ ·BECAUSE³₁ ·OF₀ ·THE ·KINGDOM³₁ ·OF₁ ·THE ·HEAVENS³₁
The most common formal deviation in the translations of this verse is writing “heavens” in singular: “heaven”. Some translations
use the expression “for heavens sake” without an apostrophe, so that it is unclear whether the expression is meant to be singular or plural.
These have been accepted with 0 deviation points — even if the Bible translation never uses plural in the word “heaven” anywhere else in the Bible.
This review focuses on a short section of text in the middle of this verse. The beginning and the end of this verse are omitted from the review.
The text samples BYZR, SAMPLET and SAMPLEP show the end of the verse text in brackets (“who can approve, let him approve”), although it is not included in the review,
and does not affect any of the reviewed Bible translations, because the end of the verse affects the punctuation of BYZR, SAMPLET and SAMPLEP.
The expression “because of the kingdom of heavens” is between the thoughts “some have made themselves eunuchs” and “who can
approve, let him approve”. It is not self-evident, to which of these two thoughts the expression “because of the kingdom
of heavens” is intended to be connected logically. Translations SPIRITS and UPDBIBL do not include this verse at all. All the other
reviewed Bible translations interpret the thought so that some have made themselves eunuchs (or remain single) because of the kingdom of heavens. This
statement can feel very inconvenient theologically and morally, and many translations take distance from it by using a paraphrase that says something
completely else, which is done because of the kingdom of heavens.
The text samples BYZR, SAMPLET and SAMPLEP deviate from the general convention by using a double colon (::) on both sides of the expression “because of
the kingdom of heavens”, to highlight to the reader that it is unclear but potentially significant, whether this expression is logically connected
to the preceding or the following thought.
The greek text does not give any hints that “eunuchs” should be understood less literally at the end of this verse than earlier in the same verse,
where the meaning is obviously literal: physically incapable of any sexual activity. Many translations have found this thought inconvenient, and they have
said something totally different instead. Such paraphrases are often carelessly designed, so that they accidentally define new scenarios of moral thinking
which the Bible never defines anywhere else. I have treated such cases strictly with a maximum score of 9 points. This can seem harsh in the cases where the
translation merely leaves the possibility for very controversial interpretations, without directly mentioning them, and probably without intending them.
In the case of a few translations, the review quotes in brackets some text also from the beginning of the verse, which is not included in this review. This is done
when the reviewed part of the verse contains an expression such as “so”, “this” or “that way”, which refers to the
beginning of the verse. The referred text is quoted in order to indicate, which concept is being referred to. Identical
words that are used in such references can receive different deviation points, depending on how correct the referred thought is.
Main thoughts in this verse:
A) Some have made eunuchs of themselves. 9 points: Some have made themselves incapable of “marriage”. (Neither the Tanakh nor the New Testament sets requirements of physical ability for having the right to get married or remain married. The readers of these translations may conclude that such requirements exist, because Yeshua is quoted as saying that they exist.) / These people avoid “normal” sexual activity. (This description can be understood so that abnormal or deviant sexual activities are not necessarily avoided.) / These people will not have sex with “women”. (This leaves it ambiguous, what remains if sex with women is excluded.) 3 points: This thought is not mentioned at all. / A sexless or marriageless lifestyle is not mentioned very clearly (e.g. “not able to have children”, which could also be understood as infertility or vasectomy). / The “impossibility” of marriage is mentioned in an ambiguous way, so that it is unclear, what is meant with it. 2 points: Physical inability to have sex is not mentioned. / It is not mentioned that these people may have done something to themselves (e.g. “kept” rather than “made”). 1 point: It is not clearly mentioned that these people may have done physical changes to their body. / “Making eunuchs of themselves” is in square brackets, and it is unclear if this is meant as an alternative reading, or as an addition that is not based on the original Bible text.
B) Because of the kingdom of heavens. (No connection is required between thoughts A and B, because the source text is ambiguous about the possible connection between these.) 9 points: “Heavens” is changed into an invented philosophical concept “Quantopia”. 3 points: This thought is not mentioned at all. 2 points: The concept is changed from “Kingdom of Heavens” into a description of social welfare work. 1 point: The concept is changed from “Kingdom of Heavens” into a very different description of spiritual work. 0 points: “Kingdom of Heavens” is translated as “Kingdom of God” or “God’s heavenly kingdom”.
Z) Thoughts added by translators. 3 points: This choice “takes effort” (continually) from these persons. 1 point: God rules over all. / These people want to be free from the duties of parenthood or family. / These people will “serve”, “work”, “devote more time” or “give their priority” for the kingdom of heavens.
Inconvenient readability of words. 3 points: ŧer / encumbrances / endearments / propagating / eunuchized / geldyde / geldide / geldid / geldit / gelt / geldings / geldingis / geldyngis / sarisim / han, hane (have) / constituted / hem silf / ŧem self / peeps / sirat / rewme (kingdom) / Malkhut / Malchut / HaShomayim / HaShamayim / shamayim / Quantopia. 2 points: ŧere / be (are) / ben (have been) / ŧat / persuasion / resolutely / conjugal / chaste / gelded / disabled / eunuches / unfit / haue / themselues / them selues / hem self / hemsilf / tha (the) / ŧe / thos (the in plural) / kyngdome / kyngdam / sovereigndom / realm / dominion / reign / hevenes / heuenes / heauens / heauen / heuens / heuen. 1 point: ther (there) / vvhich / whiche / render / subdue / extensively / eunuchs, emasculated (rare terminology in modern society) / celibate (as an adjective, but not in “celibate life”) / renounced / sexless / self-made / them selves / so (such) / purposely / furtherance / empire / kingdome / kyngdom / kingdam / off (of) / hevens / skies.
Inconvenient readability of expressions. 6 points: walking the good road from above. 3 points: have had themselves made that way / not be able (unable) / rhyming of text takes attention away from the main thought (BELOVED) / long text in UPPERCASE. 2 points: eunuchs, the ones who (eunuchs who) / those of such a nature (such) / as to have (that they have) / made eunuchs themselves / turned themselves into eunuchs / eunuchized by themselves (who made themselves eunuchs) / bar themselves from marrying / do without (cope without) / faithful ones (eunuchs) / uniting their bodies with that of / these, for example, may (For example, these may) / in the cause of (for the cause of) / for kingdom reasons / because of the holy nation of heaven. 1 point: some there are / others again / given up marriage / practised self-restraint / that way (such, but not in “live that way”) / on account of / in order that (so that) / thinking it to be / kingdom from heaven / [while being] single / every word begins with uppercase letter / comma before word “that” / a long comment in brackets separates “of” from its main word / no apostrophe in the genitive “heavens”, which would differentiate singular from plural / inconvenient or insufficient punctuation (PARENTH, LIBERNT, ROTHERH x4, UNFOLDS).
Inconvenient readability scores for translation LITTRCH. 6 points: they-bed-held-to (made eunuchs) / to-a-ruling-of (kingdom). 3 points: they-be (there are) / bed-holders (eunuchs) / to-the-one (the). 2 points: which-ones (which) / to-selves (themselves) / through (because of) / of-the-ones (of) / of-skies (heavens).
Literal and formal deviations, approximately in the order that they appear in the text of this verse: ·AND¹₁ / also⁰₀ / additionally¹₁ / still¹₁ / then¹₁ / while¹₁ / other²₁ / so²₁ / but³₁ / finally³₁ | *men¹₁ | *still¹₁ / *then¹₁ | *there⁰₀ / *ŧere⁰₀ / *ŧer⁰₀ / *ther⁰₀ | ·ARE¹₁ / be₁ / ben₁ / were₁ / they-be₁ | *also¹₁ | *some¹₁ / *other¹₁ / *others¹₁ | *self¹₁-*made³₁ | ·EUNUCHS³₁ / sarisim⁰ / geldings⁰ / geldyngis⁰ / gelded⁰₁ / castrated₀ *men⁰₀ / impotent¹₁ / chaste³₁ / faithful³ ones₀ / celibate³₁ / men³ / people³ / others³ / some³ / those³ / those³ *of₀ *such¹₁ *a *nature³₁ / bed-holders³ | *persons¹₁ / *the *ones¹₁ | *again²₁ | *as¹₁ | *some¹₁ | ·WHO¹₁ / *because¹₁ they₁ | *purposely³₁ / *resolutely³₁ / *voluntarily³₁ / *freely³₁ | ·MADE₀ ... ·EUNUCHS³₁ / castrated / (have) gelded / haue gelded / han geldid / eunuchized⁰ / eunuchized⁰₁ *by₁ / castrate₁ / emasculate₁ / make₁ sarisim⁰₀ / (have) made₀ ... eunuchs₀ / haue made₀ ... eunuches₀ / turned₀ (themselves) into₀ eunuchs₀ / to₀ have₀ constituted¹₁ ... eunuchs₀ / became²₁ ... eunuchs₀ / they-bed-held-to³ / kept³₀ ... eunuchs₀ / kept³₀ ... such³₀ / make₁ sarisim⁰₀ / made₀ ... unfit³₀ / have disabled³₀ / haue made₀ ... chaste³₀ / have made₀ ... so³₀ / have made₀ ... so²₀ / have made₀ ... such²₀ / make₁ ... that²₀ *way¹₁ / have made₀ ... that²₀ *way¹₁ / have *had³₁ ... made₀ that³₀ *way¹₁ / have made₀ ... incapable¹₀ *of₀ *marriage³₁ / choose³₁ *to₀ *be³₁ eunuchs₀ / decided³₀ ... *to₀ *become³₁ one²₁ / chose³₀ *to₀ *avoid³₁ *normal³₁ sexual³₁ *activity³₁ / bar³₁ ... *from₁ marrying³₁ / refrain³₁ *from₁ marriage³₁ / have given³₀ up₀ *the *possibility³₁ *of₀ marriage³₁ / have renounced³₀ sexual³₁ *relations³₁ / have ... renounced³₀ sex³₁ / have ... renounced³₀ marriage³₁ / have given³₀ up₀ marriage³₁ / said³₁, *I³₁ *will₀ *not³₁ marry³₁ / refuse³₁ *to₀ marry³₁ / have decided³₀ *to₀ *do³₁ *without³₁ marriage³₁ / decide³₁ *not³₁ *to₀ get₀ married³₁ / will₀ choose³₁ *not³₁ *to₀ get₀ married³₁ / have chosen³₀ *not³₁ *to₀ marry³₁ / choose³₁ *not³₁ *to₀ marry³₁ / choose³₁ *not³₁ *to₀ *have³₁ sex³₁. *They¹₁ *do₀ *not³₁ *marry³₁ / have ... made₀ *marriage³₁ impossible³₁ / don’t³₁ marry³₁ / do₀ not³₁ marry³₁ / are³₁ *not³₁ married³₁ / decided³₀ *to₀ *remain³₁ unmarried³₁ / have chosen³₀ *to₀ *be³₁ celibate³₁ / have decided³₀ *to₀ *be³₁ celibate³₁ / have chosen³₀ *the celibate³₁ *life³₁ / have chosen³₀ *to₀ live³₁ *in₁ celibacy³₁ / make₀ *the *choice³₁ *of₁ celibacy³₁ / live³₁ *in₁ celibacy³₁ / stay³₁ single³₁ / keep³₁ ... single³₁ / chose³₀ *to₀ *live³₁ that²₀ *way¹₁ / have chosen³₀ *to₀ *live³₁ that²₀ *way¹₁ / choose³₁ *to₀ *live³₁ *like³₁ eunuchs₀ / live³₁ *like³₁ eunuchs₀ / have ... renounced³₀ *all¹₁ conjugal³₁ *endearments³₁ / subdue³₁ *their¹₁ desire³₁ / made₀ ... *not³₁ *be₀ *able³₁ *to₀ *have³₁ sex³₁ *with₀ *women³₁ / choose³₁ *to₀ *live³₁ *their¹₁ *lives¹₁ *without³₁ sexually³₁ *uniting³₁ *their¹₁ *bodies³₁ *with₁ *that¹₁ *of₁ *a *woman³₁ | *are³₁ self₁-made₁ faithful³₀ ones₀ / have practised³₀ self₁-restraint³₁ | *of₁ / *for₁ | ·THEMSELVES³₁ / ₁themselves | *because¹₁ *then¹₁ | *they¹₁ *can¹₁ | *put³₁ *all³₁ *their¹₁ *strength³₁ *into₀ *walking³₁ *the *good³₁ / *work³₁ *better³₁ / *devote³₁ *more¹₁ *time³₁ *to₁ / *devote³₁ ... *to₁ / *serve³₁ / *give³₁ | *these¹₁ *for₀ *example³₁ *may¹₁ *make³₁ *such¹₁ *a *choice³₁ *to₀ *be³₁ *free³₁ *of₀ *the *duties³₁ *of₀ *marriage³₁ *and¹₁ *parenthood³₁ | ·BECAUSE³₁ ·OF₀ / for / ₁for / because of₀ / because [⁰of] / for the₀ sake⁰₀ of₀ / for sake⁰₀ of₀ / for ... s’₀ sake⁰₀ / for ... ’s₁ sake⁰₀ / for ... s₁ sake⁰₀ / for ... *reasons¹₁ / on₀ account¹₁ of₀ / in₁ *the₀ *cause²₁ *of₀ / in₁ *the₀ *sirat²₁ *of₀ / for *the *sacred³₁ *purpose²₁ *of₀ / in₀ order₀ to₁ / in₀ order₀ that₁ / to₁ / so¹₁ / so¹₁ *that¹₁ / through⁰ / from₁ *a *persuasion³₁ *that¹₁ | *these¹₁ *peeps³₁ *it₀ *takes³₁ *effort³₁ | *they¹₁ | *can³₁ | *devote³₁ | *wholly³₁ *to₀ *God³₁ *and¹₁ *the *furtherance³₁ *of₁ | *promoting³₁ / *serve³₁ / *the *work³₁ *of₁ / *love³₁ *of₁ | *thinking³₁ *it¹₁ *to₀ *be¹₁ | *the *encumbrances³₁ *of₀ *a *family³₁ *would₀ *render³₁ *them¹₁ *less¹₁ *extensively³₁ *useful³₁ *in₀ *preaching³₁ *and¹₁ | *the *consuming³₁ *demands³₁ *of₀ *being³₁ *at₀ *work³₁ *in₁ | *in₁ | ·THE | *holy³₁ | ·KINGDOM³₁ / sovereigndom⁰ / realm⁰ / kingdom *realm¹₁ / dominion⁰ / reign⁰ / ruling⁰ / malkhut⁰ / malchut⁰ / empire⁰ / nation² / kindom² (intentionally changed meaning, not misspelled) / religion³ / God³ / work³ / road³ / honor³₁ / serve³₁ / to₀ serve³₁ / propagating³₁ | ·OF₁ / off⁰ / ha⁰ / from₁ / in₁ | ·THE | *God³₁ / *God’s³₁ | ·HEAVENS³₁ / shamayim⁰ / shomayim⁰ / skies⁰ / heaven₁ / heauen₁ / heaven’s₁ / heavens₀ (sake) / heauens₀ (sake) / heuens₀ (sake) / hevens₀ (sake) / heavenly₂ / above²₁ / Yahweh³₁ / God³₁ / God’s³₁ / His³₁ / gospel³₁ / Quantopia’s⁹₀ | *by₀ *helping³₁ *others³₁ | *their¹₁ *priority³₁ / *better³₁ | *only³₁ *and¹₁ *remain³₁ *sexless³₁ | *single³₁ | *who¹₁ *rules³₁ *over₀ *all³₁ | *God³₁ *wants³₁ *to₀ *rule³₁ *people’s³₁ *lives³₁.