Matthew 9:13

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

'Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Πορευθέντες δὲ μάθετε τί ἐστιν, Ἔλεον θέλω, καὶ οὐ θυσίαν: οὐ γὰρ ἦλθον καλέσαι δικαίους, ἀλλὰ ἁμαρτωλοὺς εἰς μετάνοιαν.

Transliteration

But having poreuthentes mathete what estin, Eleon I thelō, and not thysian: for not ēlthon to kalesai dikaious, but hamartōlous to metanoian.

Grammar Details

• *poreuthentes*: aorist passive participle, nominative, masculine, plural - having gone
• *mathete*: aorist active imperative, 2nd person plural - learn
• *estin*: present indicative, 3rd person singular - is
• *Eleon*: accusative, masculine, singular - mercy
• *thelō*: present active indicative, 1st person singular - I want/desire
• *thysian*: accusative, feminine, singular - sacrifice
• *ēlthon*: aorist active indicative, 1st person singular - I came
• *kalesai*: aorist active infinitive - to call
• *dikaious*: accusative, masculine, plural - righteous ones
• *hamartōlous*: accusative, masculine, plural - sinners
• *metanoian*: accusative, feminine, singular - repentance

Word Meanings

• *poreuthentes*: having gone/departing/proceeding
• *mathete*: learn/understand
• *Eleon*: mercy/compassion
• *thelō*: I want/desire/wish
• *thysian*: sacrifice/offering
• *kalesai*: to call/invite/summon
• *dikaious*: righteous ones/just ones
• *metanoian*: repentance/change of mind

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  But go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice: for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G1161} go ye and{G4198} learn{G3129} what{G5101} [this] meaneth,{G2076} I desire{G2309} mercy,{G1656} and{G2532} not{G3756} sacrifice,{G2378} for{G1063} I came{G2064} not{G3756} to call{G2564} the righteous,{G1342} but{G235} sinners.{G268}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G1161} go ye{G4198}{(G5679)} and learn{G3129}{(G5628)} what{G5101} that meaneth{G2076}{(G5748)}, I will{G2309}{(G5719)} have mercy{G1656}, and{G2532} not{G3756} sacrifice{G2378}: for{G1063} I am{G2064} not{G3756} come{G2064}{(G5627)} to call{G2564}{(G5658)} the righteous{G1342}, but{G235} sinners{G268} to{G1519} repentance{G3341}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Goo and learne what that meaneth: I have pleasure in mercy and not in offerynge. For I am not come to call the rightewes but the synners to repentaunce.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Go and learne, what that meaneth: I haue pleasure in mercy, and not in offerynge. For I am not come to call the righteous, but ye synners to repentaunce,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But goe yee and learne what this is, I will haue mercie, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Go ye, and learne what that meaneth, I wyll haue mercie, and not sacrifice: for I am not come, to call the righteous, but sinners to repentaunce.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹But go ye and learn what› [that] ‹meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But you go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  but having gone, learn ye what is, Kindness I will, and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call righteous men, but sinners, to reformation.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But go ye and learn what `this' meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But go ye and learn what [this] meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But go and take to heart the sense of these words, My desire is for mercy, not offerings: for I have come not to get the upright, but sinners.

• World English Bible (2000)

  But you go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Go and learn what this saying means:‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Referenced Verses

• Matt 12:7 : 7 If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.
• Mark 2:17 : 17 When Jesus heard this, he said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a doctor, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.'
• Hos 6:6 : 6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
• Prov 21:3 : 3 To do righteousness and justice is preferred by the LORD rather than sacrifice.
• Luke 19:10 : 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
• Luke 5:32 : 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
• Mic 6:6-8 : 6 With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand streams of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
• 1 Tim 1:13-16 : 13 Even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord overflowed abundantly along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. 16 But for this reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the foremost of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
• Acts 11:18 : 18 When they heard this, they became silent and glorified God, saying, 'So then, God has granted repentance leading to life even to the Gentiles.'
• Matt 3:2 : 2 and saying, 'Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.'
• Acts 3:19 : 19 Repent, therefore, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away.
• 2 Pet 3:9 : 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wanting any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
• Matt 21:28-32 : 28 What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go work today in the vineyard.' 29 The son replied, 'I don’t want to.' But later, he changed his mind and went. 30 The man then went to the second son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father? They said, 'The first.' Jesus said to them, 'Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.' 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him. And even when you saw it, you did not later change your minds and believe him.
• Matt 12:3 : 3 He said to them, 'Have you not read what David did when he and those with him were hungry?
• 1 Cor 6:9-9 : 9 Don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
• Luke 15:3-9 : 3 So He told them this parable, saying: 4 What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully places it on his shoulders. 6 And coming home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' 7 I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. 8 Or what woman, who has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
• Mark 12:26 : 26 Regarding the dead being raised—have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?
• Matt 3:8 : 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
• Rom 3:10-24 : 10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one." 11 "There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God." 12 All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. 13 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The venom of vipers is under their lips." 14 Their mouths are full of curses and bitterness. 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood. 16 Ruin and misery mark their paths. 17 And the way of peace they have not known. 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, testified to by the Law and the Prophets. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 24 And all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
• Acts 20:21 : 21 'I testified both to Jews and to Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.'
• Acts 26:18-20 : 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me. 19 So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. 20 Instead, I preached first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and then to all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.
• 2 Tim 2:25-26 : 25 Gently instruct those who oppose you, in the hope that God might grant them repentance, leading them to a knowledge of the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
• Rom 2:4-6 : 4 Or do you disrespect the riches of His kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will repay each person according to their deeds.
• Acts 2:38 : 38 Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• Acts 5:31 : 31 God exalted him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
• Acts 17:30-31 : 30 In the past, God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.
• Matt 18:10-13 : 10 See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man came to save what was lost. 12 What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go to look for the one that wandered away? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not wander away.
• Matt 19:4 : 4 He answered, "Have you not read that the Creator, from the beginning, made them male and female?"
• Matt 21:42 : 42 Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This came from the Lord and is wonderful in our eyes?
• Matt 22:31-32 : 31 And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you: 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.'
• Luke 10:26 : 26 He asked him, 'What is written in the Law? How do you read it?'
• Matt 4:17 : 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.'
• Matt 11:20-21 : 20 Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent: 21 ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.’
• Matt 12:5 : 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath, the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent?
• Isa 55:6-7 : 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the LORD, so that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
• Luke 24:47 : 47 And repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
• John 10:34 : 34 Jesus answered them, 'Is it not written in your Law: "I have said you are gods"?'