Matthew 23:17

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that hath sanctified the gold?

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Μωροὶ καὶ τυφλοί: τίς γὰρ μείζων ἐστίν, ὁ χρυσὸς, ἢ ὁ ναὸς ὁ ἁγιάζων τὸν χρυσόν;

Transliteration

Mōroi and typhloi: which gar meizōn estin, the chrysos, or the naos the one hagiazōn the chryson?

Grammar Details

*Mōroi*: vocative, masculine, plural - fools (direct address)
*typhloi*: vocative, masculine, plural - blind (direct address)
*tis*: interrogative pronoun, nominative - which/what
*gar*: conjunction - for/because
*meizōn*: nominative, masculine/feminine, singular, comparative - greater
*estin*: present, active, indicative, 3rd person singular - is
*chrysos*: nominative, masculine, singular - gold
*ē*: disjunctive particle - or/than
*naos*: nominative, masculine, singular - temple/sanctuary
*ho hagiazōn*: present, active, participle, nominative, masculine, singular with article - the one sanctifying
*chryson*: accusative, masculine, singular - gold

Word Meanings

*Mōroi*: fools/foolish ones/morons
*typhloi*: blind/unable to see
*meizōn*: greater/more important
*chrysos*: gold/golden ornaments
*naos*: temple/sanctuary/shrine
*hagiazōn*: sanctifying/making holy/consecrating

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Matt 23:19 : 19 Ye blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
Exod 30:26-29 : 26 And thou shalt anoint therewith the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, 27 and the table and all the vessels thereof, and the candlestick and the vessels thereof, and the altar of incense, 28 and the altar of burnt-offering with all the vessels thereof, and the laver and the base thereof. 29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.
Num 16:38-39 : 38 even the censers of these sinners against their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before Jehovah; therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel. 39 And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, which they that were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar,
Ps 94:8 : 8 Consider, ye brutish among the people; And ye fools, when will ye be wise?

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Matt 23:18-27
10 verses
89%
18And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is a debtor.
19Ye blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
20He therefore that sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
21And he that sweareth by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
22And he that sweareth by the heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
23Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone.
24Ye blind guides, that strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel!
25Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full from extortion and excess.
26Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean also.
27Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Matt 23:15-16
2 verses
86%
15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves.
16Woe unto you, ye blind guides, that say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor.
Luke 11:39-40
2 verses
73%
39And the Lord said unto him, Now {G2511} ye the Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.
40Ye foolish ones, did not he that made the outside make the inside also?
1 Cor 3:17-18
2 verses
71%
17If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.
18Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.
Matt 12:5-6
2 verses
71%
5Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless?
6But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here.
Luke 21:5
70%
5And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings, he said,
Joel 3:5
69%
5Forasmuch as ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly precious things,
Mark 11:17
69%
17And he taught, and said unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? but ye have made it a den of robbers.
Isa 30:22
69%
22And ye shall defile the overlaying of thy graven images of silver, and the plating of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as an unclean thing; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.
Jer 7:4
68%
4Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, are these.
Matt 15:14
68%
14Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit.
Matt 21:13
68%
13and he saith unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers.
2 Chr 4:22
68%
22and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the firepans, of pure gold: and as for the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house, [to wit], of the temple, were of gold.
Matt 22:18
68%
18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why make ye trial of me, ye hypocrites?
Luke 6:39
67%
39And he spake also a parable unto them, Can the blind guide the blind? shall they not both fall into a pit?
Eccl 5:1
67%
1Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.
Isa 46:6
67%
6Such as lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, they hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a god; they fall down, yea, they worship.
Ezek 7:19
67%
19They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be as an unclean thing; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of Jehovah: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels; because it hath been the stumblingblock of their iniquity.
Prov 17:16
67%
16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?
Luke 19:46
67%
46saying unto them, It is written, And my house shall be a house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of robbers.
Lam 4:1
67%
1How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most pure gold changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
Matt 7:6
67%
6Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you.
Rom 2:22
67%
22thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?
Matt 15:5
67%
5But ye say, whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is given [to God];
Matt 21:23
67%
23And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
Ps 135:15
67%
15The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men's hands.
Jer 5:21
66%
21Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; that have eyes, and see not; that have ears, and hear not:
Luke 20:23
66%
23But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them,
Luke 24:25
66%
25And he said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
Exod 20:23
66%
23Ye shall not make [other gods] with me; gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you.
Matt 23:29
66%
29Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and garnish the tombs of the righteous,
Matt 22:20
66%
20And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
Matt 5:35
66%
35nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Prov 26:5
66%
5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Ps 115:4
66%
4Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands.
Prov 17:24
66%
24Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.