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 6:16
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]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 6:16
This terrible word of Jesus appears first from him in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16; Matthew 7:5), then in Matthew 15:7 and Matthew 22:18. Here it appears “with terrific iteration” (Bruce) save in the third of the seven woes (Matthew 23:13, Matthew 23:15, Matthew 23:23, Matthew 23:25, Matthew 23:27, Matthew 23:29). The verb in the active The MSS. that insert it put it either before Matthew 23:13 or after Matthew 23:13. Plummer cites these seven woes as another example of Matthew‘s fondness for the number seven, more fancy than fact for Matthew‘s Gospel is not the Apocalypse of John. These are all illustrations of Pharisaic saying and not doing (Allen). [source]
In Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16, the Rev. has properly changed “they have their reward” to “they have received. ” The verb, compounded of ἀπό , off orfrom, and ἔχω , lo have, literally means to have nothing left to desire. Thus in Philemon 4:18, when Paul says, “I have all things ( ἀπέχω πάντα ),” he does not mean merely an acknowledgment of the receipt of the Church's gift, but that he is fully furnished. “I have all things to the full.” [source]
Only here and Matthew 6:16, on which see note. The best texts put the interrogation point after walk, add καὶ ἐστάθησαν , and render, and they stood still, looking sad. So Rev. [source]
Genitive absolute with επισυναχτεισων episunachtheisōn (first aorist passive participle feminine plural because of μυριαδων muriadōn), a double compound late verb, επισυναγω episunagō to gather together unto. The word “myriads” is probably hyperbolical as in Acts 21:20, but in the sense of ten thousand, as in Acts 19:19, it means a very large crowd apparently drawn together by the violent attacks of the rabbis against Jesus.Insomuch that they trode one upon another (ωστε καταπατειν αλληλους hōste katapatein allēlous). The imagination must complete the picture of this jam.Unto his disciples first of all This long discourse in Luke 12 is really a series of separate talks to various groups in the vast crowds around Jesus. This particular talk goes through Luke 12:12.Beware of (προσεχετε εαυτοις απο prosechete heautois apo). Put your mind (νουν noun understood) for yourselves (dative) and avoid (απο apo with the ablative).The leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy In Mark 8:15 Jesus had coupled the lesson of the Pharisees with that of Herod, in Matthew 16:6 with that of the Sadducees also. He had long ago called the Pharisees hypocrites (Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16). The occasion was ripe here for this crisp saying. In Matthew 13:33 leaven does not have an evil sense as here. See note on Matthew 23:13 for hypocrites. Hypocrisy was the leading Pharisaic vice (Bruce) and was a mark of sanctity to hide an evil heart. [source]
This long discourse in Luke 12 is really a series of separate talks to various groups in the vast crowds around Jesus. This particular talk goes through Luke 12:12.Beware of (προσεχετε εαυτοις απο prosechete heautois apo). Put your mind (νουν noun understood) for yourselves (dative) and avoid (απο apo with the ablative).The leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy In Mark 8:15 Jesus had coupled the lesson of the Pharisees with that of Herod, in Matthew 16:6 with that of the Sadducees also. He had long ago called the Pharisees hypocrites (Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16). The occasion was ripe here for this crisp saying. In Matthew 13:33 leaven does not have an evil sense as here. See note on Matthew 23:13 for hypocrites. Hypocrisy was the leading Pharisaic vice (Bruce) and was a mark of sanctity to hide an evil heart. [source]
In Mark 8:15 Jesus had coupled the lesson of the Pharisees with that of Herod, in Matthew 16:6 with that of the Sadducees also. He had long ago called the Pharisees hypocrites (Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16). The occasion was ripe here for this crisp saying. In Matthew 13:33 leaven does not have an evil sense as here. See note on Matthew 23:13 for hypocrites. Hypocrisy was the leading Pharisaic vice (Bruce) and was a mark of sanctity to hide an evil heart. [source]
Rather, I became. Supply ἐγενόμην or γέγονα . Become as I am, for I became a Gentile like you. Comp. Philemon 3:7, Philemon 3:8. For the phrase γινέσθαι ὡς tobecome as, see Matthew 6:16; Romans 9:29; 1 Corinthians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 9:20-22. [source]
As a receipt in full in appreciation of their kindness. Απεχω Apechō is common in the papyri and the ostraca for “receipt in full” (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 110). See Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16. [source]