Matthew 23 · Verse 19

Matthew 23:19

Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
Matthew 23:19, King James Version

Matthew 23:19 in other translations

BSBYou blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes it sacred?
WEBYou blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
ASVYe blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
YLTFools and blind! for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that is sanctifying the gift?
DARBYFools and blind ones, for which is greater, the gift, or the altar which sanctifies the gift?
BBEYou blind ones: which is greater, the offering, or the altar which makes the offering holy?
WebsterYe fools, and blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

What does Matthew 23:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. Ye fools, and blind! for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?--(See Ex 29:37).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. The altar that sanctifieth the gift. The altar, dedicated to God, gave all the value or holiness to the offering, and must therefore be the greatest, or of the most importance. If, therefore, either bound to the fulfillment of an oath, it must be the altar.

(f) "sanctifieth the gift" Ex 29:37, 30:29

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 23:13-33

The scribes and Pharisees were enemies to the gospel of Christ, and therefore to the salvation of the souls of men. It is bad to keep away from Christ ourselves, but worse also to keep others from him. Yet it is no new thing for the show and form of godliness to be made a cloak to the greatest enormities. But dissembled piety will be reckoned double iniquity. They were very busy to turn souls to be of their party…

Read the full comment on Matthew 23:13-33 →

Matthew 23:19 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.

μωροὶmōroifoolishG3474
καὶkaiandG2532
τυφλοί,tuphloiYou blind men!G5185
τίtiWhichG5101
γὰρgarforG1063
μεῖζον,meizon[is] greater,G3173
τὸtotheG3588
δῶρονdōrongiftG1435
ἢēorG2228
τὸtotheG3588
θυσιαστήριονthusiastērionaltarG2379
τὸtowhichG3588
ἁγιάζονhagiazonis sanctifyingG37
τὸtotheG3588
δῶρον;dōrongift?G1435

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

Cross references for Matthew 23:19

  • Exodus 29:37

    Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.

  • Exodus 30:29

    And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
or.
Ex 29:37; 30:29

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

Context

  • Matthew 23:18

    And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

  • Matthew 23:19

    Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

  • Matthew 23:20

    Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

Read all of Matthew 23

Matthew 23:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¡Necios y ciegos! porque, ¿cuál es mayor, el presente, ó el altar que santifica al presente?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Aveugles! car lequel est le plus grand, ou le don, ou l’autel qui sanctifie le don?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Narren und Blinde! denn was ist größer, die Gabe oder der Altar, der die Gabe heiligt?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cæci: quid enim majus est, donum, an altare, quod sanctificat donum?