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You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/matthew/23.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/matthew/23.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/matthew/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/23.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Blind guides--those straining out the gnat and swallowing the camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/matthew/23.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br /><i>Ye</i> blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/matthew/23.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/matthew/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/matthew/23.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/matthew/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/matthew/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />You blind guides, who strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/matthew/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />You [spiritually] blind guides, who strain out a gnat [consuming yourselves with miniscule matters] and swallow a camel [ignoring and violating God’s precepts]!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/matthew/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/matthew/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, yet gulp down a camel! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/23.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Ye blind guides, that strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/matthew/23.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />You blind leaders! You strain out a small fly but swallow a camel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/23.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Ye blind guides, which strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/matthew/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />You blind guides! You strain gnats [out of your wine], but you swallow camels.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/matthew/23.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Blind guides! You strain a fly out of your drink, but swallow a camel! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/matthew/23.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />You blind guides! You filter out a gnat, yet swallow a camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/matthew/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/matthew/23.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/matthew/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Ye blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/23.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />You blind guides, straining out the gnat while you gulp down the camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/23.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel! <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/matthew/23.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Blind guides! Who are straining out the gnat, and are swallowing the camel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/23.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Blind guides--those straining out the gnat and swallowing the camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'Blind guides! who are straining out the gnat, and the camel are swallowing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/matthew/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Blind guides, straining a gnat, and swallowing down a camel.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/matthew/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />You blind guides, straining out a gnat, while swallowing a camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/matthew/23.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/matthew/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/matthew/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />O blind guides, who strain at gnats and swallow camels!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/23.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />Blind guides who strain out gnats and swallow camels!<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/matthew/23.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />Blind guides! who strain out a gnat, but swallow a camel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/matthew/23.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>Ye blind guides, who strain out the gnat, and swallow down the camel.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/matthew/23.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />Ye blind guides! who strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/matthew/23.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />ye blind guides, who strain your liquor for a gnat, and swallow a beetle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/23.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />You blind guides, straining out the gnat while you gulp down the camel!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/matthew/23.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>Blind guides! straining out the gnat, and swallowing the camel!<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/matthew/23.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>Blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/matthew/23-24.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=6887" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/matthew/23.htm">Woes to Scribes and Pharisees</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">23</span>Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. <span class="reftext">24</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/5185.htm" title="5185: typhloi (Adj-VMP) -- Blind, physically or mentally. From, tuphoo; opaque, i.e. blind.">You blind</a> <a href="/greek/3595.htm" title="3595: hodēgoi (N-VMS) -- A leader, guide; met: an instructor, teacher. From hodos and hegeomai; a conductor (teacher).">guides!</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hoi (Art-VMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1368.htm" title="1368: diulizontes (V-PPA-VMP) -- To strain, put through a sieve. From dia and hulizo hoo-lid'-zo; to strain out.">You strain out</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ton (Art-AMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2971.htm" title="2971: kōnōpa (N-AMS) -- Apparently a derivative of the base of kentron and a derivative of optanomai; a mosquito.">a gnat</a> <a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">but</a> <a href="/greek/2666.htm" title="2666: katapinontes (V-PPA-VMP) -- To drink down, swallow, devour, destroy, consume. From kata and pino; to drink down, i.e. Gulp entire.">swallow</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2574.htm" title="2574: kamēlon (N-AFS) -- A camel or dromedary. Of Hebrew origin; a camel.">a camel.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">25</span>Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/11-39.htm">Luke 11:39-42</a></span><br />Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. / You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well? / But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/15-14.htm">Matthew 15:14</a></span><br />Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/9-16.htm">Isaiah 9:16</a></span><br />For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-31.htm">Jeremiah 5:31</a></span><br />The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/9-39.htm">John 9:39-41</a></span><br />Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.” / Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?” / “If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/2-19.htm">Romans 2:19-24</a></span><br />if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness, / an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— / you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/56-10.htm">Isaiah 56:10</a></span><br />Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6</a></span><br />My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/11-13.htm">2 Corinthians 11:13-15</a></span><br />For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/4-19.htm">Proverbs 4:19</a></span><br />But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/29-10.htm">Isaiah 29:10</a></span><br />For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/34-2.htm">Ezekiel 34:2-4</a></span><br />“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? / You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock. / You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/3-5.htm">Micah 3:5-7</a></span><br />This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths: / Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them. / Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be disgraced. They will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-3.htm">Matthew 7:3-5</a></span><br />Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? / How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? / You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-39.htm">Luke 6:39</a></span><br />Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">You blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/7-4.htm">Matthew 7:4</a></b></br> Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam <i>is</i> in thine own eye?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/15-2.htm">Matthew 15:2-6</a></b></br> Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/19-24.htm">Matthew 19:24</a></b></br> And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/23-19.htm">Blind</a> <a href="/matthew/19-24.htm">Camel</a> <a href="/matthew/20-23.htm">Drink</a> <a href="/matthew/6-26.htm">Fly</a> <a href="/matthew/23-16.htm">Guides</a> <a href="/isaiah/22-4.htm">Strain</a> <a href="/zechariah/6-7.htm">Straining</a> <a href="/jonah/1-17.htm">Swallow</a> <a href="/habakkuk/1-9.htm">Swallowing</a> <a href="/matthew/18-9.htm">Trouble</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/23-26.htm">Blind</a> <a href="/mark/10-25.htm">Camel</a> <a href="/matthew/24-49.htm">Drink</a> <a href="/revelation/9-6.htm">Fly</a> <a href="/john/5-30.htm">Guides</a> <a href="/luke/13-24.htm">Strain</a> <a href="/mark/6-48.htm">Straining</a> <a href="/mark/12-40.htm">Swallow</a> <a href="/revelation/12-16.htm">Swallowing</a> <a href="/matthew/24-29.htm">Trouble</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 23</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/23-1.htm">Jesus admonishes the people to follow good doctrine, not bad examples</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/23-5.htm">His disciples must beware of their ambition.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">34. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/23-34.htm">and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/23.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/23.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>You blind guides!</b><br>This phrase is a direct rebuke from Jesus to the religious leaders of His time, specifically the Pharisees and scribes. The term "blind guides" highlights their spiritual blindness and inability to lead others in truth, despite their position of authority. In the context of <a href="/matthew/23.htm">Matthew 23</a>, Jesus is delivering a series of "woes" to these leaders, criticizing their hypocrisy and legalism. The imagery of blindness is used throughout Scripture to denote a lack of spiritual insight (<a href="/isaiah/42-18.htm">Isaiah 42:18-20</a>, <a href="/john/9-39.htm">John 9:39-41</a>). Jesus, the true guide and light of the world (<a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a>), contrasts with these leaders who fail to see and lead others to the truth.<p><b>You strain out a gnat</b><br>The gnat represents the smallest of impurities, and the act of straining it out refers to the meticulous and exaggerated efforts of the Pharisees to maintain ritual purity. This reflects their focus on minor details of the law while neglecting more significant matters. The gnat is considered unclean according to Levitical law (<a href="/leviticus/11-20.htm">Leviticus 11:20-23</a>), and the Pharisees' practice of straining their drinks to avoid consuming such insects is indicative of their obsession with ceremonial cleanliness. This behavior is emblematic of their misplaced priorities, emphasizing external compliance over internal righteousness.<p><b>but swallow a camel.</b><br>The camel, in contrast, is one of the largest unclean animals mentioned in the law (<a href="/leviticus/11-4.htm">Leviticus 11:4</a>). The hyperbolic imagery of swallowing a camel underscores the absurdity of the Pharisees' actions. While they focus on trivial matters, they overlook significant moral and ethical issues, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness (<a href="/matthew/23-23.htm">Matthew 23:23</a>). This phrase illustrates the inconsistency and hypocrisy in their religious practices. The camel also serves as a metaphor for the weightier matters of the law that they neglect. This critique aligns with Jesus' broader teaching on the importance of inner purity and genuine righteousness over mere outward observance (<a href="/matthew/5-20.htm">Matthew 5:20, 15</a>:11).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>The speaker of this verse, addressing the Pharisees and scribes with a rebuke for their hypocrisy and misplaced priorities.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/p/pharisees_and_scribes.htm">Pharisees and Scribes</a></b><br>Jewish religious leaders known for their strict adherence to the law and traditions, often criticized by Jesus for their legalism and hypocrisy.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where Jesus delivered this discourse, a central place of Jewish worship and religious authority.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/gnat_and_camel.htm">Gnat and Camel</a></b><br>Metaphorical elements used by Jesus to illustrate the absurdity of focusing on minor details while neglecting more significant issues. The gnat represents the smallest of unclean animals, while the camel is one of the largest.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/h/hypocrisy_in_leadership.htm">Hypocrisy in Leadership</a></b><br>Jesus condemns the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, serving as a warning to leaders today to practice what they preach and focus on the heart of God's commandments.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/prioritizing_the_essentials.htm">Prioritizing the Essentials</a></b><br>Believers are encouraged to focus on the weightier matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness—rather than getting caught up in minor legalistic details.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/self-examination.htm">Self-Examination</a></b><br>This passage calls for personal reflection on whether we are guilty of similar behavior, emphasizing the need for humility and repentance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_blindness.htm">Spiritual Blindness</a></b><br>The term "blind guides" highlights the danger of spiritual blindness, urging believers to seek God's wisdom and guidance to see clearly.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/b/balance_in_christian_living.htm">Balance in Christian Living</a></b><br>While attention to detail is important, it should not overshadow the broader principles of love and justice that underpin the Christian faith.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_23.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 23</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'strain_at_a_gnat'_mean.htm">What does "strain at a gnat, swallow a camel" mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_david's_birthplace.htm">What does 'strain at a gnat, swallow a camel' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_mark_10_25's_camel_metaphor_plausible.htm">Is Mark 10:25’s metaphor of a camel passing through the eye of a needle scientifically or logically plausible? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_it_mean_to_be_pharisaical.htm">What does it mean to be pharisaical?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/23.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(24) <span class= "bld">Strain at a gnat.</span>--Better, as in Tyndale's and other earlier versions, <span class= "ital">strain out.</span> It is sometimes said that the present rendering of the Authorised version is but the perpetuation of a printer's blunder; but of this there is scarcely sufficient evidence, nor is it probable in itself. In the Greek both nouns have the emphasis of the article, "<span class= "ital">the</span> gnat--<span class= "ital">the</span> camel." The scrupulous care described in the first clause of the proverbial saying was literally practised by devout Jews (as it is now by the Buddhists of Ceylon), in accordance with <a href="/leviticus/11-23.htm" title="But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination to you.">Leviticus 11:23</a>; <a href="/leviticus/11-42.htm" title="Whatever goes on the belly, and whatever goes on all four, or whatever has more feet among all creeping things that creep on the earth, them you shall not eat; for they are an abomination.">Leviticus 11:42</a>. In the second clause, the camel appears, not only, as in <a href="/matthew/19-24.htm" title="And again I say to you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.">Matthew 19:24</a>, as the type of vastness, but as being among the unclean beasts of which the Israelites might not eat (<a href="/leviticus/11-4.htm" title="Nevertheless these shall you not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean to you.">Leviticus 11:4</a>).<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/matthew/23-24.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">You blind</span><br /><span class="grk">τυφλοί</span> <span class="translit">(typhloi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Vocative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5185.htm">Strong's 5185: </a> </span><span class="str2">Blind, physically or mentally. From, tuphoo; opaque, i.e. blind.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">guides!</span><br /><span class="grk">ὁδηγοὶ</span> <span class="translit">(hodēgoi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3595.htm">Strong's 3595: </a> </span><span class="str2">A leader, guide; met: an instructor, teacher. From hodos and hegeomai; a conductor (teacher).</span><br /><br /><span class="word">You strain out</span><br /><span class="grk">διϋλίζοντες</span> <span class="translit">(diulizontes)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Participle Active - Vocative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1368.htm">Strong's 1368: </a> </span><span class="str2">To strain, put through a sieve. From dia and hulizo hoo-lid'-zo; to strain out.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a gnat</span><br /><span class="grk">κώνωπα</span> <span class="translit">(kōnōpa)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2971.htm">Strong's 2971: </a> </span><span class="str2">Apparently a derivative of the base of kentron and a derivative of optanomai; a mosquito.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but</span><br /><span class="grk">δὲ</span> <span class="translit">(de)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary particle; but, and, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">swallow</span><br /><span class="grk">καταπίνοντες</span> <span class="translit">(katapinontes)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Participle Active - Vocative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2666.htm">Strong's 2666: </a> </span><span class="str2">To drink down, swallow, devour, destroy, consume. From kata and pino; to drink down, i.e. Gulp entire.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a camel.</span><br /><span class="grk">κάμηλον</span> <span class="translit">(kamēlon)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2574.htm">Strong's 2574: </a> </span><span class="str2">A camel or dromedary. Of Hebrew origin; a 'camel'.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/23-24.htm">Matthew 23:24 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/matthew/23-24.htm">Matthew 23:24 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/matthew/23-24.htm">Matthew 23:24 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/matthew/23-24.htm">Matthew 23:24 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/matthew/23-24.htm">Matthew 23:24 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/23-24.htm">Matthew 23:24 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/23-24.htm">Matthew 23:24 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/23-24.htm">Matthew 23:24 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/23-24.htm">Matthew 23:24 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/matthew/23-24.htm">Matthew 23:24 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/matthew/23-24.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 23:24 You blind guides who strain out (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/23-23.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 23:23"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 23:23" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/23-25.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 23:25"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 23:25" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>