Matthew 19 · Verse 12

Matthew 19:12

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.
Matthew 19:12, King James Version

Matthew 19:12 in other translations

BSBFor there are eunuchs who were born that way; others were made that way by men; and still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
WEBFor there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.”
ASVFor 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.
YLTfor 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.'
DARBYfor 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.
BBEFor there are men who, from birth, were without sex: and there are some who were made so by men: and there are others who have made themselves so for the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to take it, let him take it.
WebsterFor there are some eunuchs, who were so born from their mothers womb: and there are some eunuchs, who were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs, who 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?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. For there are some eunuchs which were so born from their mother's womb--persons constitutionally either incapable of or indisposed to marriage. and there are some eunuchs which were made eunuchs of men--persons rendered incapable by others. and there be eunuchs which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake--persons who, to do God's work better, deliberately choose this state. Such was Paul (1Co 7:7). He that is able to receive it, let him receive it--"He who feels this to be his proper vocation, let him embrace it"; which, of course, is as much as to say--"he only." Thus, all are left free in this matter.

Mt 19:13-15. Little Children Brought to Christ. ( = Mr 10:13-16; Lu 18:15-17).

For the exposition, see on Lu 18:15-17.

Mt 19:16-30. The Rich Young Ruler. ( = Mr 10:17-31; Lu 18:18-30).

For the exposition, see on Lu 18:18-30.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. Jesus proceeds to state that there were some who were able to receive that saying, and to remain in an married state. Some were so born; some made such by the cruelty of men; and some who voluntarily abstained from marriage for the kingdom of heaven's sake--that is, that they might devote themselves entirely to the proper business of religion. Perhaps he refers here to the ESSENES, a sect of the Jews Mt 3:7 who held that marriage was unsuitable to their condition, who had no children of their own, but perpetuated their sect by adopting the poor children of others. Eunuchs were employed chiefly in attending on the females, or in the harem. They rose often to distinction, and hold important offices in the state. Hence the word sometimes denotes such an officer of state, Acts 8:27.

(h) "kingdom of heaven's sake" 1Cor 7:32

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Eunuchs - Ευνουχος, from ευνην εχειν, to have the care of the bed or bedchamber; this being the principal employment of eunuchs in the eastern countries, particularly in the apartments of queens and princesses. These are they whom our Lord says are made eunuchs by men, merely for the above purpose. So born from their mother's womb - Such as are naturally incapable of marriage, and consequently should not contract any. For the kingdom of heaven's sake - I believe our Lord here alludes to the case of the Essenes, one of the most holy and pure sects among the Jews. These abstained from all commerce with women, hoping thereby to acquire a greater degree of purity, and be better fitted for the kingdom of God: children they had none of their own, but constantly adopted those of poor people, and brought them up in their own way. Philo, Josephus, and Pliny have largely described this very singular sect; and Dean Prideaux, with his usual fidelity and perspicuity, has given the substance of what each has said. Connex. vol. iii. p. 483, etc.; edit. 1725. The account is very interesting, and well worthy the attention of every Christian. Among the rabbins we find these different kinds of eunuchs, not only mentioned, but circumstantially described, סריס חמה saris chama, eunuchs of the sun, i.e. eunuchs by the hand of God; men born impotent. סריס אדם saris Adam, eunuchs of men, those who were castrated. And they add a third sort; those who make themselves eunuchs, abstain from marriage, etc., that they may give themselves Up to the study of the Divine law. See many examples in Schoettgen. He that is able to receive - Χωρειν χωρειτω. These words are variously translated: he who can take; let him take it; comprehend, let him comprehend it: admit, let him admit it. The meaning seems to be, Let the man who feels himself capable of embracing this way of life, embrace it; but none can do it but he to whom it is given, who has it as a gift from his mother's womb. The great Origen, understanding the latter clause of this verse (which I have applied to the Essenes) literally - O human weakness! - went, and literally fulfilled it on himself!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 19:3-12

The Pharisees were desirous of drawing something from Jesus which they might represent as contrary to the law of Moses. Cases about marriage have been numerous, and sometimes perplexed; made so, not by the law of God, but by the lusts and follies of men; and often people fix what they will do, before they ask for advice. Jesus replied by asking whether they had not read the account of the creation, and the first…

Read the full comment on Matthew 19:3-12 →

Matthew 19:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἰσὶνeisinThere areG1510
γὰρgarforG1063
εὐνοῦχοιeunouchoieunuchsG2135
οἵτινεςoitineswhoG3748
ἐκekfrom [the]G1537
κοιλίαςkoiliaswombG2836
μητρὸςmētrosof [their] motherG3384
ἐγεννήθησανegennēthēsanwere bornG1080
οὕτως,houtōsthus,G3779
καὶkaiandG2532
εἰσὶνeisinthere areG1510
εὐνοῦχοιeunouchoieunuchsG2135
οἵτινεςoitineswhoG3748
εὐνουχίσθησανeunouchisthēsanwere made eunuchsG2134
ὑπὸhupobyG5259
τῶνtōn<the>G3588
ἀνθρώπων,anthrōpōnmen,G444
καὶkaiandG2532
εἰσὶνeisinthere areG1510
εὐνοῦχοιeunouchoieunuchsG2135
οἵτινεςoitineswhoG3748
εὐνούχισανeunouchisanmade eunuchs ofG2134
ἑαυτοὺςhe'autousthemselvesG1438
διὰdiafor the sake ofG1223
τὴνtēntheG3588
βασιλείανbasileiankingdomG932
τῶνtōnof theG3588
οὐρανῶν.ouranōnheavens.G3772
ὁhoThe [one]G3588
δυνάμενοςdunamenosbeing ableG1410
χωρεῖνchōreinto receive [it]G5562
χωρείτω.¶chōreitōhe should receive [it].G5562

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 19:12

  • 1 Corinthians 7:32-38

    But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. …

  • 1 Corinthians 9:5

    Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

  • Isaiah 56:3-4

    Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;

  • Isaiah 39:7

    And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:15

    But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
which were made.
Isa 39:7; 56:3,4
which have.
1Co 7:32-38; 9:5,15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 19:11

    But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

  • Matthew 19:12

    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.

  • Matthew 19:13

    Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

Read all of Matthew 19

Matthew 19:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque hay eunucos que nacieron así del vientre de su madre; y hay eunucos, que son hechos eunucos por los hombres; y hay eunucos que se hicieron á sí mismos eunucos por causa del reino de los cielos; el que pueda ser capaz de eso, séalo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car il y a des eunuques qui sont nés tels dès le ventre de leur mère; et il y a des eunuques qui ont été faits eunuques par les hommes; et il y a des eunuques qui se sont faits eux-mêmes eunuques pour le royaume des cieux. Que celui qui peut le recevoir, le reçoive.
German
Elberfelder 1871		denn es gibt Verschnittene, die von Mutterleibe also geboren sind; und es gibt Verschnittene, die von den Menschen verschnitten worden sind; und es gibt Verschnittene, die sich selbst verschnitten haben um des Reiches der Himmel willen. Wer es zu fassen vermag, der fasse es.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sunt enim eunuchi, qui de matris utero sic nati sunt: et sunt eunuchi, qui facti sunt ab hominibus: et sunt eunuchi, qui seipsos castraverunt propter regnum cælorum. Qui potest capere capiat.