KJV: The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
YLT: 'The lamp of the body is the eye, if, therefore, thine eye may be perfect, all thy body shall be enlightened,
Darby: The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body will be light:
ASV: The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
λύχνος | lamp |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: λύχνος Sense: a lamp, candle, that is placed on a stand or candlestick. |
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τοῦ | of the |
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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σώματός | body |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular Root: σῶμα Sense: the body both of men or animals. |
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ὀφθαλμός | eye |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὀφθαλμός Sense: the eye. |
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σου | of you |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular Root: σύ Sense: you. |
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ἁπλοῦς | clear |
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἁπλόος Sense: simple, single. |
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ὅλον | [the] whole |
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: ὅλος Sense: all, whole, completely. |
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τὸ | - |
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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σῶμά | body |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: σῶμα Sense: the body both of men or animals. |
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φωτεινὸν | full of light |
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: φωτεινός Sense: light. |
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ἔσται | will be |
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular Root: εἰμί Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present. |
Greek Commentary for Matthew 6:22
Used of a marriage contract when the husband is to repay the dowry “pure and simple” There are various other instances of such usage. Here and in Luke 11:34 the eye is called “single” in a moral sense. The word means “without folds” like a piece of cloth unfolded, simplex in Latin. Bruce considers this parable of the eye difficult. “The figure and the ethical meaning seem to be mixed up, moral attributes ascribed to the physical eye which with them still gives light to the body. This confusion may be due to the fact that the eye, besides being the organ of vision, is the seat of expression, revealing inward dispositions.” The “evil” eye The passage may be elliptical with something to be supplied. If our eyes are healthy we see clearly and with a single focus (without astigmatism). If the eyes are diseased (bad, evil), they may even be cross-eyed or cock-eyed. We see double and confuse our vision. We keep one eye on the hoarded treasures of earth and roll the other proudly up to heaven. Seeing double is double-mindedness as is shown in Matthew 6:24. [source]
The picture underlying this adjective is that of a piece of cloth or other material, neatly folded once, and without a variety of complicated folds. Hence the idea of simplicity or singleness (compare simplicity from the Latin simplex; semel, once; plicare, to fold )So, in a moral sense, artless, plain, pure. Here sound, as opposed to evil or diseased. Possibly with reference to the double-mindedness and indecision condemned in Matthew 6:24. [source]
Bengel says, “As if it were all eye.” [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 6:22
(ο οπταλμος σου πονηρος εστιν ho ophthalmos sou ponēros estiṅ) See note on Matthew 6:22-24 about the evil eye and the good eye. The complainer had a grudging eye while the householder has a liberal or generous eye. See note on Romans 5:7 for a distinction between dikaios and agathos f0). [source]
See on Matthew 6:22. [source]
Luke 11:34 is like Matthew 6:22 ., which see notes for details. [source]
See on single, Matthew 6:22, and compare James 1:5, where it is said that God gives ἁπλῶς simplySee note there. In 2 Corinthians 8:2; 2 Corinthians 9:11, 2 Corinthians 9:13, the A.V. gives liberality; and in James 1:5, liberally. Rev. accepts this in the last-named passage, but gives singleness in margin. In all the others liberality is, at best, very doubtful. The sense is unusual, and the rendering simplicity or singleness is defensible in all the passages. [source]
Late word from περισσευω perisseuō to overflow. Their deep poverty (η κατα βατους πτωχεια αυτων hē kata bathous ptōcheia autōn). Πτωχεια Ptōcheia is old word from πτωχευω ptōcheuō to be a beggar, as of Jesus in 2 Corinthians 8:9 (from πτωχος ptōchos cowering in fear and poverty, as in Luke 14:13, but ennobled by Christ as in Matthew 5:3; 2 Corinthians 8:9). Poverty down deep. Strabo (LX 419) has κατα βατους kata bathous down to the bottom. Liberality From απλους haplous single, simple (Matthew 6:22). “The passage from single-mindedness or simplicity to liberality is not quite obvious” (Plummer). Perhaps “heartiness” supplies the connecting link. See also 2 Corinthians 9:11-13. [source]
From απλους haplous single, simple (Matthew 6:22). “The passage from single-mindedness or simplicity to liberality is not quite obvious” (Plummer). Perhaps “heartiness” supplies the connecting link. See also 2 Corinthians 9:11-13. [source]
Present active imperative of αιτεω aiteō “let him keep on asking.”Of God (παρα του τεου para tou theou). “From (from beside) God,” ablative case with παρα para Liberally (απλως haplōs). This old adverb occurs here only in the N.T. (from απλους haplous single-fold, Matthew 6:22, and απλοτης haplotēs simplicity, generosity, is common - 2 Corinthians 8:2; Romans 12:8). But the adverb is common in the papyri by way of emphasis as simply or at all (Moulton and Milligan‘s Vocabulary). Mayor argues for the sense of “unconditionally” (the logical moral sense) while Hort and Ropes agree and suggest “graciously.” The other sense of “abundantly” or “liberally” suits the idea in απλοτης haplotēs in 2 Corinthians 8:2; Romans 12:8, but no example of the adverb in this sense has been found unless this is one here. See Isaiah 55:1 for the idea of God‘s gracious giving and the case of Solomon (1 Kings 3:9-12; Proverbs 2:3).Upbraideth not Present active participle of ονειδιζω oneidizō (old verb to reproach, to cast in one‘s teeth, Matthew 5:11) in the ablative case like διδοντος didontos agreeing with τεου theou and with the usual negative of the participle This is the negative statement of διδοντος απλως didontos haplōs (giving graciously). The evil habit of giving stinging words along with the money is illustrated in Sirach 41:22 and Plutarch (Deut adulat., p. 64A). ] Cf. Hebrews 4:16.And it shall be given him (και δοτησεται αυτωι kai dothēsetai autōi). First future passive of διδωμι didōmi a blessed promise in accord with the words of Jesus (Matthew 7:7, Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13), meaning here not only “wisdom,” but all good gifts, including the Holy Spirit. There are frequent reminiscences of the words of Jesus in this Epistle. [source]
“From (from beside) God,” ablative case with παρα para Liberally This old adverb occurs here only in the N.T. (from απλους haplous single-fold, Matthew 6:22, and απλοτης haplotēs simplicity, generosity, is common - 2 Corinthians 8:2; Romans 12:8). But the adverb is common in the papyri by way of emphasis as simply or at all (Moulton and Milligan‘s Vocabulary). Mayor argues for the sense of “unconditionally” (the logical moral sense) while Hort and Ropes agree and suggest “graciously.” The other sense of “abundantly” or “liberally” suits the idea in απλοτης haplotēs in 2 Corinthians 8:2; Romans 12:8, but no example of the adverb in this sense has been found unless this is one here. See Isaiah 55:1 for the idea of God‘s gracious giving and the case of Solomon (1 Kings 3:9-12; Proverbs 2:3). [source]