The Meaning of Matthew 19:12 Explained

Matthew 19:12

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.

YLT: for there are eunuchs who from the mother's womb were so born; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who kept themselves eunuchs because of the reign of the heavens: he who is able to receive it -- let him receive.'

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.

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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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]. 

What does Matthew 19:12 Mean?

Study Notes

kingdom

Context Summary

Matthew 19:1-12 - Jesus' View Of Marriage
Divorce was common among the Jews of that decadent age, being justified by Deuteronomy 24:1. Concerning this it should be remembered that this legislation, though in advance of the standards of its age, was a distinct concession to the state of morality which had then been reached. You can legislate only slightly ahead of the general maxims and practices of the people, else you discourage them and bring your laws into disuse.
The Lord takes us back to the original constitution of the family, where the one man was for the one woman. The only act that justifies divorce is the act which violates the marriage vow. Some are debarred from marriage by circumstances, but for such there is provided special grace, if they will seek it. Some refuse marriage in order to be more free for their life-work. Christ does not set these above others. He does not put special honor on celibacy: but in Matthew 19:13-14 places special emphasis on the beauty of family life. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 19

1  Jesus heals the sick;
3  answers the Pharisees concerning divorce;
10  shows when marriage is necessary;
13  receives the little children;
16  instructs the young man how to attain eternal life;
20  and how to be perfect;
23  tells his disciples how hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God;
27  and promises reward to those who forsake all to follow him

What do the individual words in Matthew 19:12 mean?

There are for eunuchs who from [the] womb of [their] mother were born thus and were made eunuchs by - men made eunuchs of themselves for the sake of the kingdom of the heavens The [one] being able to receive [it] let him receive [it]
εἰσὶν γὰρ εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς ἐγεννήθησαν οὕτως καὶ εὐνουχίσθησαν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων εὐνούχισαν ἑαυτοὺς διὰ τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν δυνάμενος χωρεῖν χωρείτω

εἰσὶν  There  are 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
εὐνοῦχοι  eunuchs 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: εὐνοῦχος  
Sense: a bed keeper, bed guard, superintendent of the bedchamber, chamberlain.
ἐκ  from  [the] 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐκ 
Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
κοιλίας  womb 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: κοιλία  
Sense: the whole belly, the entire cavity.
μητρὸς  of  [their]  mother 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: μήτηρ  
Sense: a mother.
ἐγεννήθησαν  were  born 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: γεννάω  
Sense: of men who fathered children.
οὕτως  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὕτως  
Sense: in this manner, thus, so.
εὐνουχίσθησαν  were  made  eunuchs 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εὐνουχίζω  
Sense: to castrate, to neuter a man.
τῶν  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀνθρώπων  men 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
εὐνούχισαν  made  eunuchs  of 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εὐνουχίζω  
Sense: to castrate, to neuter a man.
ἑαυτοὺς  themselves 
Parse: Reflexive Pronoun, Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἑαυτοῦ  
Sense: himself, herself, itself, themselves.
διὰ  for  the  sake  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
βασιλείαν  kingdom 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: βασιλεία  
Sense: royal power, kingship, dominion, rule.
τῶν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
οὐρανῶν  heavens 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: οὐρανός  
Sense: the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it.
  The  [one] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
δυνάμενος  being  able 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
χωρεῖν  to  receive  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: χωρέω  
Sense: to leave space (which may be filled or occupied by another), to make room, give place, yield.
χωρείτω  let  him  receive  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: χωρέω  
Sense: to leave space (which may be filled or occupied by another), to make room, give place, yield.