KJV: Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
YLT: 'And when ye may fast, be ye not as the hypocrites, of sour countenances, for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear to men fasting; verily I say to you, that they have their reward.
Darby: And when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, downcast in countenance; for they disfigure their faces, so that they may appear fasting to men: verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
ASV: Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
| Ὅταν | Whenever |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: ὅταν Sense: when, whenever, as long as, as soon as. |
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| δὲ | now |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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| νηστεύητε | you fast |
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Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural Root: νηστεύω Sense: to abstain as a religious exercise from food and drink: either entirely, if the fast lasted but a single day, or from customary and choice nourishment, if it continued several days. |
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| ὡς | like |
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Parse: Adverb Root: ὡς Sense: as, like, even as, etc. |
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| ὑποκριταὶ | hypocrites |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: ὑποκριτής Sense: one who answers, an interpreter. |
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| σκυθρωποί | gloomy |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: σκυθρωπός Sense: of a sad and gloomy countenance. |
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| ἀφανίζουσιν | they disfigure |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἀφανίζω Sense: to snatch out of sight, to put out of view, to make unseen. |
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| πρόσωπα | appearance |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural Root: πρόσωπον Sense: the face. |
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| αὐτῶν | of them |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural Root: αὐτός Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself. |
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| ὅπως | so that |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: ὅπως Sense: how, that. |
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| φανῶσιν | they might appear |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Plural Root: φαίνω Sense: to bring forth into the light, cause to shine, shed light. |
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| τοῖς | - |
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Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| ἀνθρώποις | to men |
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Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural Root: ἄνθρωπος Sense: a human being, whether male or female. |
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| νηστεύοντες | [as] fasting |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: νηστεύω Sense: to abstain as a religious exercise from food and drink: either entirely, if the fast lasted but a single day, or from customary and choice nourishment, if it continued several days. |
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| ἀμὴν | Truly |
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Parse: Hebrew Word Root: ἀμήν Sense: firm. |
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| λέγω | I say |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular Root: λέγω Sense: to say, to speak. |
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| ὑμῖν | to you |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural Root: σύ Sense: you. |
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| ἀπέχουσιν | they have |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἀπέχω Sense: have. |
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| μισθὸν | reward |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: μισθός Sense: dues paid for work. |
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Greek Commentary for Matthew 06:16
Only here and Luke 24:17 in the N.T. It is a compound of σκυτρος skuthros (sullen) and οπς ops (countenance). These actors or hypocrites “put on a gloomy look” (Goodspeed) and, if necessary, even “disfigure their faces” They conceal their real looks that they may seem to be fasting, conscious and pretentious hypocrisy. [source]
Observe the force of the present tense as indicating action in progress: Whenever ye may be fasting. [source]
An uncommon word in the New Testament, occurring only here and at Luke 24:17. Trench (“Studies in the Gospels”) explains it by the older sense of the English dreary, as expressing the downcast look of settled grief, pain, or displeasure. In classical Greek it also signifies sullenness and affected gravity. Luther renders, Look not sour. [source]
The idea is rather conceal than disfigure. There is a play upon this word and φανῶσιν (they may appear ) which is untranslatable into English: they conceal or mask their true visage that they may appear unto men. The allusion is to the outward signs of humiliation which often accompanied fasting, such as being unwashed and unshaven and unanointed. “Avoid,” says Christ, “the squalor of the unwashed face and of the unkempt hair and beard, and the rather anoint thy head and wash thy face, so as to appear ( αφνῇς ) not unto men, but unto God as fasting.” Wycliffe's rendering is peculiar: They put their faces out of kindly terms. [source]