Matthew 11:12
And from the days of John the Baptist
until now the kingdom of heaven
suffereth violence,
and the violent take it by force.
Study
Other translations
New International Version
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.
New Living Translation
And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.
English Standard Version
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
Berean Study Bible
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it.
Berean Literal Bible
And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of the heavens is taken by violence and the violent seize it.
New King James Version
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
New American Standard Bible
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been treated violently, and violent men take it by force.
NASB 1995
“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.
NASB 1977
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.
Amplified Bible
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize].
□ ■ □
From the days of John the Baptist
That is,
▪︎ from the time he had borne his public testimony to the approach of the Messiah,
▪︎ or from the time when he had fulfilled his ministry,
The kingdom of heaven
The dispensation which admits all persons equally, upon their repentance and faith, suffered violence, and the taking it by force
Suffereth violence
The Greek verb
▪︎ may be either in the middle voice, “forces its way violently,”
▪︎ or passive, as in the English version,
but there is little doubt that the latter is the right rendering.
The words describe the eager rush of the crowds of Galilee and Judæa, first to the preaching of the Baptist, and then to that of Jesus. It was, as it were, a city attacked on all sides by those who were eager to take possession of it.
The violent take it by force.
The Greek noun is without the article, “men who are violent or use force.”
The meaning is determined by the preceding clause.
The “violent” are men of eager, impetuous zeal, who grasp the kingdom of heaven, that is its peace, and pardon, and blessedness, with as much eagerness as men would snatch and carry off, as their own the spoil, of a conquered city.
Their new life is, in the prophet’s language, “given them as a prey” (Jeremiah 21:9; 45:5). There is no thought of hostile purpose in the words.
The spirits of men are so excited and animated by a desire after this kingdom, that it is, as it were, attacked like a besieged city, men of all sorts pressing to get into it, with a violence like that of men who are taking a place by storm.
As if he had said, “Multitudes are flocking around me, to be instructed in the nature of my kingdom; and some, who were formerly of most licentious characters, and looked upon as utterly unfit to be subjects of the Messiah’s kingdom, are resolutely set on enjoying the blessings of it.”
Greek
From ☆ ἀπὸ (apo) ☆ Preposition ☆ From, away from. A primary particle; ‘off, ‘ i.e. Away, in various senses.
The ☆ τῶν (tōn) ☆ Article – Genitive Feminine Plural ☆ The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
Days ☆ ἡμερῶν (hēmerōn) ☆ Noun – Genitive Feminine Plural ☆ A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.
Of John ☆ Ἰωάννου (Iōannou) ☆ Noun – Genitive Masculine Singular ☆ Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.
The ☆ τοῦ (tou) ☆ Article – Genitive Masculine Singular ☆ The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all nflections; the definite article; the.
Baptist ☆ Βαπτιστοῦ (Baptistou) ☆ Noun – Genitive Masculine Singular ☆ From baptizo; a baptizer, as an epithet of Christ’s forerunner.
Until ☆ ἕως (heōs) ☆ Preposition ☆ A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until.
Now ☆ ἄρτι (arti) ☆ Adverb ☆ Now, just now, at this moment. Adverb from a derivative of airo through the idea of suspension; just now.
The ☆ ἡ (hē) ☆ Article – Nominative Feminine Singular ☆ The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
Kingdom ☆ βασιλεία (basileia) ☆ Noun – Nominative Feminine Singular ☆ From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.
Of ☆ τῶν (tōn) ☆ Article – Genitive Masculine Plural ☆ The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
Heaven ☆ οὐρανῶν (ouranōn) ☆ Noun – Genitive Masculine Plural ☆ Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.
Has been subject to violence, ☆ βιάζεται (biazetai) ☆ Verb – Present Indicative Middle or Passive – 3rd Person Singular ☆ From bios; to force, i.e. to crowd oneself, or to be seized.
And ☆ καὶ (kai) ☆ Conjunction ☆ And, even, also, namely.
[the] violent ☆ βιασταὶ (biastai) ☆ Noun – Nominative Masculine Plural ☆ A forceful, violent man; one who is eager in pursuit. From biazo; a forcer, i.e. energetic.
Lay claim ☆ ἁρπάζουσιν (harpazousin) ☆ Verb – Present Indicative Active – 3rd Person Plural ☆ To seize, snatch, obtain by robbery. From a derivative of haireomai; to seize.
To it ☆ αὐτήν (autēn) ☆ Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular ☆ He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.
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