Matthew 19:12
10 His disciples said to Him, “If this is the case between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.”
11 “Not everyone can accept this word,” He replied, “but only those to whom it has been given.
For there are eunuchs who were born that way; others were made that way by men; and still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
13 Then the little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For there are eunuchs who were born that way; others were made that way by men; and still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
- KJV
- For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
- WEB
- For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.”
- ASV
- For there are eunuchs, that were so born from their mother`s womb: and there are eunuchs, that were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs, that made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven`s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
- DARBY
- for there are eunuchs which have been born thus from [their] mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs of men; and there are eunuchs who have made eunuchs of themselves for the sake of the kingdom of the heavens. He that is able to receive [it], let him receive [it].
- BLB
- For there are eunuchs who were born thus from the womb of [their] mother, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of the heavens. The one being able to receive [it], let him receive [it].”
- ÅB
- For det finnes evnukker som er født slik fra mors liv, og det finnes evnukker som er kastrert av mennesker, og det finnes evnukker som har kastrert seg selv for himlenes rikes skyld. Den som kan forstå dette, la ham forstå det!»
- OTB
- For det finnes evnukker som ble født slik, og det finnes evnukker som ble gjort til evnukker av andre, og det finnes de som velger å leve som evnukker for himmelrikets skyld. La enhver akseptere dette som kan.»
- B1930
- For der er gildinger som er født slik av mors liv, og der er gildinger som er gildet av menneskene, og der er gildinger som har gildet sig selv for himlenes rikes skyld. Den som kan fatte dette ord, han fatte det!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Corinthians 7:32–38
I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.
Read in context1 Corinthians 9:5
Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
Read in contextIsaiah 56:3–4
Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will utterly exclude me from His people.” And let the eunuch not say, “I am but a dry tree.”
Read in contextIsaiah 39:7
And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
Read in context1 Corinthians 9:15
But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.
Read in context