Paragraph 6:22–23

This paragraph is a complex metaphor. It uses the figures of speech of a lamp, light, darkness, the eye, and the body. Jesus used this complex metaphor to teach people that they should focus their attention on what God wanted them to do. If their spiritual eyesight was good, they would understand the danger of being distracted by earthly wealth (6:19). They would clearly see that they needed to serve God with undivided loyalty (6:24).

These verses occur with almost identical wording in Luke 11:34–35, but the context is different. Jesus used the same complex metaphor in different contexts to teach slightly different truths. However, the metaphor itself is the same, so you should translate both passages in a similar way.

Jesus used the singular form for “you” and “your” here, but what he was saying applies to anyone and everyone. In some languages, it may be more natural to use other pronouns here. For example:

22aThe eye is the lamp of a person’s body. 22bWhen a person’s eyes are good, 22chis whole body also is full of light. 23aBut when his eyes are bad, 23bhis body also is full of darkness.
-or-

22aThe eyes are the lamp of our(incl.) body. 22bWhen our eyes are good, 22cour whole body also is full of light. 23aBut when our eyes are bad, 23bour body also is full of darkness.

6:22a

The eye is the lamp of the body: This clause is the first part of the metaphor. It compares a person’s eye with a lamp. They are similar in that both a lamp and an eye enable a person to see. A person’s physical eyes enable him to see where he is going. His spiritual eyes enable him to understand the truth of Jesus’ message.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

The eye is the lamp of the body.
-or-
The lamp of the body is the eye.

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

The eyes are like a lamp for the body (Good News Translation)

• Change the metaphor to a simile and make explicit the similarity between the eye and the lamp. For example:

The eye is ⌊like⌋ a lamp ⌊that illuminates/lights⌋ the body.
-or-
Your eyes are ⌊like⌋ a lamp. ⌊They let light⌋ enter your mind.

• You may want to add a footnote to explain what the Jews understood about the eye, the mind, and the body. A sample footnote is:

In the time of Jesus, people considered the eye to be a source of light. They thought that the eye was the part of the body that shined light into a person’s mind or heart.

eye: This word is singular, but it refers to a person’s eyes in general. In some languages, it may be more natural to use the plural “eyes.” For example:

eyes (New International Version)

lamp: A lamp was a small clay container that people put oil in. It had a wick that they lit at night to provide light for their house. See how you translated this word in 5:15.

of the body: The phrase the body is a figure of speech. It represents the person as a whole.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

The eye is a person’s lamp
-or-
Your eyes are your lamp

6:22b

In Greek, this clause begins with a conjunction that is often translated as “so” (English Standard Version) or “therefore” (Revised Standard Version). This word introduces the next step in Jesus’ reasoning. It indicates that the following statements are based on the comparison of the eye to a lamp. This word does not occur in the parallel passage in Luke 11:34b.

Many English versions leave this relationship implied. For example, the Berean Standard Bible and New International Version say:

If your eyes are good (New International Version)

Express this relationship in a natural way in your language.

If your eyes are good: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as eyes are good means that the person has good eyesight. He can see clearly. Figuratively, it means that the person has good spiritual eyesight. He can see/understand the truth about God and is able to focus his thoughts clearly on the truth. He has a good attitude toward Jesus and is willing to receive Jesus’ message. In the context of not storing up earthly wealth, it probably also implies that the person has a generous attitude toward others.

Here are some ways to translate this clause:

If your eyes are good (New Century Version)
-or-
If you have clear/strong eyesight
-or-
If you can see clearly/well

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the figurative meaning of healthy eyes explicit. For example:

⌊A person who is willing to receive my teaching is like⌋ someone with good/healthy eyes. If your ⌊thinking⌋ is like that,

In some languages, it will be good to explain the figurative meaning of healthy eyes in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:

A healthy eye represents a good attitude or clear thinking. A person who thinks clearly about God and money will not be greedy. He will be generous with others.

6:22c

your whole body will be full of light: This clause means that light enters the inside of the body from the eye and lights up the entire person. Here, the meaning of this figure of speech is that the person will fully understand the truth and will be filled with goodness.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

the inside of your body will be lit
-or-
there will be light in the whole body

-or-

⌊it is as if⌋ your entire mind/being will be illuminated

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the figurative meaning of light explicit. For example:

⌊you will completely understand the truth. It will be as if⌋ your whole body is illuminated.

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