Matthew 20:16

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

So the last shall be first, and the first last.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Οὕτως ἔσονται οἱ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι, καὶ οἱ πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι: πολλοὶ γάρ εἰσιν κλητοί, ὀλίγοί δὲ ἐκλεκτοί.

Transliteration

Thus will be esontai the eschatoi prōtoi, and the prōtoi eschatoi: for many gar eisin klētoi, but few de eklektoi.

Grammar Details

• *houtōs*: adverb - thus/so
• *esontai*: future, 3rd plural - will be
• *eschatoi*: nominative, masculine, plural - last ones
• *prōtoi*: nominative, masculine, plural - first ones
• *gar*: conjunction - for
• *eisin*: present, 3rd plural - are
• *klētoi*: nominative, masculine, plural - called
• *de*: conjunction - but
• *oligoi*: nominative, masculine, plural - few
• *eklektoi*: nominative, masculine, plural - chosen/elect

Word Meanings

• *klētoi*: called/invited
• *eklektoi*: chosen/elect/selected

Referenced Verses

• Matt 19:30 : 30 But many shall be last [that are] first; and first [that are] last.
• Mark 10:31 : 31 But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last first.
• Luke 14:24 : 24 For I say unto you, that none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper.
• Luke 17:17-18 : 17 And Jesus answering said, Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 Were there none found that returned to give glory to God, save {G3361} this stranger?
• John 12:19-22 : 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Behold how ye prevail nothing: lo, the world is gone after him. 20 Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast: 21 these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: {G2532} {G3825} Andrew cometh, and Philip, and they tell Jesus.
• Rom 8:30 : 30 and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
• 1 Thess 2:13 : 13 And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, [even the word] of God, ye accepted [it] not [as] the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.
• Luke 13:28-30 : 28 There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast forth without. 29 And they shall come from the east and west, and from the north and south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last.
• Matt 7:13 : 13 Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby.
• Jas 1:23-25 : 23 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: 24 for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But he that looketh into the perfect law, the [law] of liberty, and [so] continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.
• Matt 22:14 : 14 For many are called, but few chosen.
• 2 Thess 2:13-14 : 13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God {G138} chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Rom 9:30 : 30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:
• Rom 5:20 : 20 And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:
• Luke 15:7 : 7 I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, [more] than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who {G2192} need no repentance.
• Luke 7:47 : 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little.
• Matt 8:11-12 : 11 And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven: 12 but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast forth into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
• Matt 21:31 : 31 Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.