Matthew 5:19
So whoever breaks one of these smallest commandments...
Sermon on Mount, law and fulfillment
Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Who when in fact he unties one of the commands here, the smallest one, and teaches the people this same way. "Smallest", he will be named in the realm of the skies. Who, however, when he does and teaches them, this "great" one he will be called in the realm of the skies.
Greek
Greek Word Order
ὃς ἐὰν οὖν λύσῃ μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων καὶ διδάξῃ οὕτως τοὺς ἀνθρώπους,
Who when in fact he unties one of the commands here, the smallest one, and teaches in this way the people
ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν:
"Smallest," he will be named in the realm of the skies.
ὃς δ᾽ ἂν ποιήσῃ καὶ διδάξῃ, οὗτος μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν.
Who, however, when he does and teaches them this one "great" he will be called in the realm of the skies.
Seeking the highest means doing more than seeking the sufficient.
Lost in Translation
The word translated as "break/sets aside/ignore" doesn't mean "break" in the sense of not following commandments. It means to "untie" or "loosen", which has the sense of releasing people from the obligation of following them.
This verse introduces a pair of Jesus's favorite double meaning opposite words, "least" and "great". "Least" is a superlative that also means "smallest", "shortest" and "fewest". Great" is not a superlative (Jesus never uses the superlative form of this word.) and also means "big", "full grown", "high", "loud", "mighty", "important" and "strong". There is no "the" before "least", but there is a "this" before "great".
There is a demonstrative pronoun ("this", "that") before "great' that is either ignored or translated as referring to the commandments, but its form is a subject that matches the "great", so it has the sense of "this great one".
Vocabulary (Greek word by word)
ὃς (pron sg masc nom) "Who-" is hos, which means "this", "that", "he", "she", "which", "what", "who", "whosoever", "where", "for which reason" and many similar meanings.
ἐὰν (conj) "-soever" is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (might), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event.
οὖν (partic) "Therefore" is from oun, which means "certainly", "in fact", "really", "in fact", "so", "then" (continuing a narrative), "then" and "therefore."
λύσῃ (3rd sg aor subj act "Shall break" is from lyo, which means "unfasten", "unbind", "unyoke", "released by payment or ransom", "deliverance from guilt", "blotting out" of sins, "dissolve", "breakup", "break a whole into parts", "break" [legal obligations], "destroy", "solve", "fulfill", "accomplish", "atone", "pay wages in full" and "make up for".
μίαν (adj sg fem acc) "One" is from heis, which means "one", "single" and "one and the same". This adjective is irregular, having a number of forms depending on sex, number, and case: heis, henos, heni, hen, hena, mia, mias, miai, mian; hen, henos, hen. The form here is mia, feminine singular.
τῶν (article pl fem gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἐντολῶν (noun pl fem gen) "Commandments" is from entole which means "injunction", "order" and "command".
τούτων (adj pl fem gen) "Of these" is from toutou, which is a demonstrative pronoun that means "this", "here", "the nearer" and "the familiar".
τῶν (article pl fem gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones".
ἐλαχίστων (adj pl fem gen) "Least" is from elachistos, which is the superlative form of elachus which means "small", "little" and "short". It means "the smallest", "the shortest", "the least" and "the fewest".
καὶ (conj) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and" or "but". After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also". Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also" and "just".
διδάξῃ (3rd sg aor subj act) "Shall teach" is from didasko, which means "to teach", "to instruct", "to indicate", "to explain" and "to give sign of".
οὕτως (adv) "So" is from houtos, which as an adverb, it means "in this way", "therefore", "so much", "to such an extent" and "that is why".
τοὺς (article pl masc acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἀνθρώπους (noun pl masc acc) "Men" is from anthropos, which is "man" and, in plural, "mankind". It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate.
ἐλάχιστος (adj sg masc nom) "The least" is from elachistos, which is the superlative form of elachus which means "small", "little", and "short". It means "the smallest", "the shortest", "the least" and "the fewest".
κληθήσεται (3rd sg fut ind pass) "Shall be called" is from kaleo, which means "call", "summon", "invite", "invoke", "call by name" and "demand".
ἐν (prep) "In" is from en, which means "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power" and "with".
τῇ (article sg fem dat) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
βασιλείᾳ (noun sg fem dat) "The kingdom" is from basileia, which means "kingdom", "dominion", "hereditary monarchy", "kingly office" (passive) "being ruled by a king" and "reign".
τῶν (article) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
οὐρανῶν (noun pl fem gen) "Of heaven" is from ouranos, which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky", "heaven as the seat of the gods", "the sky", "the universe" and "the climate".
ὃς (pron sg masc nom) "Who-" is from hos, which is the demonstrative pronoun in its various forms (hê, ho, gen. hou, hês, hou, etc. ; dat. pl. hois, hais, hois, etc. gen. hoou). It means "this", "that", "he", "she", "which", "what", "who", "whosoever", "where", "for which reason" and many similar meanings.
δ᾽ (partic) "But" is from de which means "but" and "on the other hand". It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be a weak connective ("and") and explanation of cause ("so") and a condition ("if").
ἂν (conj) "-soever" is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (might), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event.
ποιήσῃ (3rd sg aor subj act) "Shall do" is from poieô ( poieo), which means "to make", "to produce", "to create", "to bring into existence", "to bring about", "to cause", "to render", "to consider", "to prepare", "to make ready" and "to do".
καὶ (conj) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and" or "but". After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also". Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also" and "just."
διδάξῃ, (3rd sg aor subj act) "Teach" is from didasko, which means "to teach", "to instruct", "to indicate", "to explain" and "to give sign of".
οὗτος (adj sg masc nom) "The same" is from houtos, which means "this", "that", "the nearer". This is the same word translated as "so" above, but in a different form.
μέγας (noun/adj sg masc nom) "Great" is from megas, which means "big", "full grown", "great", "high", "loud", "mighty", "important" and "strong".
κληθήσεται (3rd sg fut ind pass) "Shall be called" is kaleo, which means "call", "summon", "invite", "invoke", "call by name" and "demand".
ἐν (prep) "In" is from en, which means "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power" and "with".
τῇ (article sg fem dat) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
βασιλείᾳ (noun sg fem dat) "The kingdom" is from basileia, which means "kingdom", "dominion", "hereditary monarchy", "kingly office", (passive) "being ruled by a king" and "reign".
τῶν (article) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
οὐρανῶν: (noun pl fem gen) "Of heaven" is from ouranos, which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky", "heaven as the seat of the gods", "the sky", "the universe" and "the climate".
KJV — word by word
Whosoever- The word translated as "who" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this", "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.
missing "when" -- (MW) The untranslated word "if might" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".
therefore -- The "therefore" is a particle that can mean "certainly" or, to continue a narrative, "therefore" or "then".
shall -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if" or "when" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.
break -- (WW) The word translated as "break" means to"loosen" or "unbind" and means "to annul" a law. It doesn't mean "disobey" in any sense. The word means "to loosen" with the sense of releasing or untying. This is the Greek word used in those verses where Jesus talks about "binding" and "loosing" on earth and in heaven (for example, Matthew 18:18). Jesus almost always used this word to mean undo something that "binds" you to another. In the case of legal agreements, it means to break a contract, but, again, the idea is that contracts are "binding" and binds are untied.
one -- The Greek word translated as "one" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same". As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word "the" is before "least", which follows "commandments". It is the Greek definite article, "the", which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
least -- The word translated as "least" also means "smallest", but it is used as a noun, "the smallest one", after the word "command" not as a pure modifier of "command". This could well be a description of breaking down general rules into more and more trivial rules, each one less important than the last. This follows the "commandments" with its own article so "the smallest one".
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word before "commandments" is the Greek definite article, "the". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
commandments, -- The word translated a "commandments" means an "order" or a "command". This is not the word from the previous verses, meaning "customs", "tradition" or the "law". Commands were components of the law.
missing "these" -- (MW) The untranslated word "these" is a demonstrative pronoun that means "this", "here", "the nearer" and "the familiar".
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
shall -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if" or "when" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.
teach -- The word "teach" is the most common word for "teach". It also means to "explain". It also is not in the future tense, but a form that indicates something that might happen at some time.
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
men -- The Greek word for "man" means "man", "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men", "people" and "peoples".
so, The adverb translated as "so" means "in this manner".
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
called -- The word translated as "shall be called" means "to call" in the sense of "summon" or "invite" but also in the sense of "the call by name". This word is in the future tense. This tense ends a "future probable" conditional clause.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.
least -- The word translated as "least" also means "smallest", but it is used as a noun, "the smallest one", after the word "command", not as a pure modifier of "command". This could well be a description of breaking down general rules into more and more trivial rules, each one less important than the last. This follows the "commandments" with its own article so "the smallest one".
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with" or "among". With the accusative, it means "into", "on" and "for". When referring to time, it means "during".
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") that the English "the". See this article for more.
kingdom -- The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Jesus does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" or "realm" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will.
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession,
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
heaven: - (WN) The word translated as "heaven" means "sky", the "climate" and the "universe". It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article. This word is plural, not singular, so "skies".
but -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but", "however" and "on the other hand". It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
whosoever -- The word translated as "whosoever" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this", "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.
missing "when" -- (MW) The untranslated word "if might" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".
shall -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if" or "when" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.
do -- The Greek verb translated as "do" means primarily "to make", "to produce" and "to create". It is the "doing" of creating and producing. It is not in the future tense, but a form that indicates something that might happen at some time.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
teach -- The word "teach" is the most common word for "teach". It also means to "explain". It also is not in the future tense, but a form that indicates something that might happen at some time.
them, -- This English objective pronoun is added and not in the Greek source. In Greek, however, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence.
the same -- (WW) "The same" is translated from a Greek word that means "this", "that", "the nearer". It normally modifies a noun, but when it appears before an adjective, as it does here, the sense is "this one".
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
called -- The word translated as "shall be called" means "to call" in the sense of "summon" or "invite" but also in the sense of "to call by name". This word is in the future tense. This tense ends a "future probable" conditional clause.
great - The word translated as "great" means "great", "mighty" and "important". Because of the demonstrative article before it, the sense is "this great one".
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with" or "among". With the accusative, it means "into", "on" and "for". When referring to time, it means "during".
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") that the English "the". See this article for more.
kingdom -- The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Jesus does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" or "realm" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will.
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession,
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
heaven: - (WN) The word translated as "heaven" means "sky", the "climate" and the "universe". It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article. This word is plural, not singular, so "skies".
NIV — word by word
Therefore -- The "therefore" is a particle that can mean "certainly" or, to continue a narrative, "therefore" or "then".
anyone -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "anyone" in the Greek source.
who- The word translated as "who" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this", "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.
missing "when" -- (MW) The untranslated word "if might" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".
sets aside -- The word translated as "sets aside" means to "loosen" or "unbind" and means "to annul" a law. The word means "to loosen" with the sense of releasing or untying. This is the Greek word used in those verses where Jesus talks about "binding" and "loosing" on earth and in heaven (for example, Matthew 18:18). Jesus almost always used this word to mean undo something that "binds" you to another. In the case of legal agreements, it means to break a contract, but, again, the idea is that contracts are "binding" and binds are untied.
one -- The Greek word translated as "one thing" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same". As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article before "least". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") that the English "the". See this article for more.
least -- The word translated as "least" also means "smallest", but it is used as a noun, "the smallest one", after the word "command" not as a pure modifier of "command". This could well be a description of breaking down general rules into more and more trivial rules, each one less important than the last. This follows the "commandments with its own article so "the smallest one".
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
these -- "These" is a demonstrative pronoun that means "this", "here", "the nearer" and "the familiar".
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word before "commandments" is the Greek definite article, "the". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
commands, -- The word translated a "commands" means an "order" or a "command". This is not the word from the previous verses, meaning "customs", "tradition" or the "law". Commands were components of the law.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
teaches -- The word "teaches" is the most common word for "teach". It also means to "explain". It also is not in the future tense, but a form that indicates something that might happen at some time.
accordingly -- The adverb means "in this manner", "so much", "to such an extent" and "that is why".
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
others -- (WW) The Greek word for "man" means "man", "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men", "people" and "peoples".
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
called -- The word translated as "shall be called" means "to call" in the sense of "summon" or "invite" but also in the sense of "the call by name". This word is in the future tense. This tense ends a "future probable" conditional clause.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.
least -- The word translated as "least" also means "smallest", but it is used as a noun, "the smallest one", after the word "command" not as a pure modifier of "command". This could well be a description of breaking down general rules into more and more trivial rules, each one less important than the last. This follows the "commandments" with its own article so "the smallest one".
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with" or "among". With the accusative, it means "into", "on" and "for". When referring to time, it means "during".
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") that the English "the". See this article for more.
kingdom -- The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Jesus does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" or "realm" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will.
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession,
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
heaven: - (WN) The word translated as "heaven" means "sky", the "climate" and the "universe". It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article. This word is plural, not singular, so "skies".
but -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but", "however" and "on the other hand". It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
whoever- -- The word translated as "whoever" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this", "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.
missing "when" -- (MW) The untranslated word "if might" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".
practices -- The Greek verb translated as "practices" means primarily "to make", "to produce", "perform" and "to create". It is the "doing" of creating and producing. It is not in the future tense, but a form that indicates something that might happen at some time.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
teach -- The word "teach" is the most common word for "teach". It also means to "explain". It also is not in the future tense, but a form that indicates something that might happen at some time.
these -- (WF) "These" is translated from a Greek word that means "this", "that", "the nearer". It normally modifies a noun, but when it appears before an adjective, as it does here, the sense is "this one". It is singular and a subject not an object of a verb.
commands -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "commands" in the Greek source.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
called -- The word translated as "shall be called" means "to call" in the sense of "summon" or "invite" but also in the sense of "to call by name". This word is in the future tense. This tense ends a "future probable" conditional clause.
great - The word translated as "great" means "great", "mighty" and "important". Because of the demonstrative article before it, the sense is "this great one".
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with" or "among". With the accusative, it means "into", "on" and "for". When referring to time, it means "during".
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") that the English "the". See this article for more.
kingdom -- The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Jesus does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" or "realm" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will.
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession,
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
heaven: - (WN) The word translated as "heaven" means "sky", the "climate" and the "universe". It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article. This word is plural, not singular, so "skies."