Translation commentary on Matthew 19:24

Again I tell you is almost the identical transitional formula used in 18.19; here it serves the same emphatic function as “Truly, I say to you” of verse 23. In fact I tell you translates the same Greek words as does “I say to you” of verse 23.

The order of the two Greek clauses, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle and than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, is inverted by Good News Translation. This requires that a shift be made from it is easier for to “it is much harder for,” thus forming an excellent balance with “will be hard for” of the previous verse: “it is much harder for a rich person to enter … than for a camel to go through.” For some languages it will be more effective to mention the comparison first, as do the Greek text and RSV. In yet other languages, the normal way to make the comparison is to say something like “It would be difficult for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, but it would be even more difficult for a rich man to become one of God’s subjects.”

Since it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, some interpreters have sought alternative meanings for eye and camel. However, Jesus is probably using a proverbial expression known to his hearers, which is intended to be an exaggeration. And, as has previously been noted, it is the nature of parables to exaggerate for the sake of emphasis and interest.

In areas where a camel is unknown, translators can use a descriptive phrase, such as “a large animal with a humped back,” “a large beast of burden called a camel,” or “a domestic animal bigger than a cow.” Jesus is illustrating his point by comparing the biggest domestic animal the people there knew with something very small, and there is therefore no real reason to substitute some other animal for camel. However, if retaining camel results in an unduly awkward sentence or one where too much focus is on what a camel actually is, then translators can consider using some other large animal such as a horse or a cow.

Most societies are familiar with needles but may call the eye of a needle different things; for example, “the mouth of a needle.”

This is one of the rare passages where kingdom of God is used by Matthew in place of the more common “kingdom of heaven” (see 12.28; 21.31, 43). That the two expressions are synonymous is supported by the observation that kingdom of God is used here parallel with “kingdom of heaven” of verse 23. New Jerusalem Bible employs “kingdom of Heaven” in both places, while New American Bible prefers “kingdom of God.” It is suggested that whatever form is chosen for verse 23 be maintained in verse 24. The problem is that for Jesus’ audience (as for Matthew’s readers) the two terms were immediately recognized as synonyms, whereas for contemporary readers this may not be evident.

See also the discussion on “kingdom of heaven” at 3.2.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 19:24



19:24a

Again I tell you: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as I tell you are the same words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “I tell you” in 19:23a. These words together with the word Again emphasize a second time how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

Furthermore
-or-
To say it another way
-or-
I’ll say it again (New Living Translation (2004))

19:24b–c

In 19:24b–c, Jesus compared two things. He compared a difficult thing (a rich man entering the kingdom of God) to an impossible thing (a camel going through the eye of a needle). This comparison shows that it is also impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

It may be more natural in your language to translate the comparison in another way. For example:

The difficulty for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God surpasses the difficulty for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.
-or-
It is not possible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. But the difficulty for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God surpasses even that.
-or-
It is difficult for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. It is even more difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

19:24b

a camel: A camel is a large animal that carries people and cargo in desert areas. It was the largest animal that lived in the land of the Jews.

Here are some other ways to translate the word camel:

• Use the current word for camel in your language.

• Spell the word camel (or the major language word for camel) as a speaker of your language will say it. Use a picture with a camel and a person in it to show how large a camel is. Or you may want a footnote to explain. A sample footnote is:

A camel is a large animal that carries people and cargo. It generally lives in desert areas. It was the largest animal that lived in the land of the Jews.

• Spell the word camel (or the major language word for camel) as a speaker of your language will say it and add a descriptive phrase. For example:

⌊a large domesticated animal called⌋ a camel

• Use a descriptive phrase instead of the word camel. For example:

a large ⌊domesticated⌋ animal

the eye of a needle: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as needle is a thin, sharp piece of metal, wood or bone that is used to sew cloth or animal skins. It has a small hole at one end for thread to go through and be held during stitching. That hole is called the eye of the needle. It was the smallest hole that the Jews knew.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the hole of a needle
-or-
a ⌊sewing⌋ needle hole

19:24c

a rich man: This is the same term as in 19:23b. Translate it the same way here as there.

to enter the kingdom of God: The verb enter also occurs in 19:23b. Translate it the same way here as there.

Matthew rarely used the kingdom of God. More frequently he used “kingdom of heaven.” In these two verses, he used both phrases in the same context. This shows that they mean the same thing.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

to become a citizen of the kingdom of God
-or-
to become one of those who are in God’s kingdom

-or-

to be added to the people over whom God rules

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