Matthew 9:5

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

'Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Τί γάρ ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν, Ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι· ἢ εἰπεῖν, Ἔγειραι, καὶ περιπάτει;

Transliteration

For what estin eukopōteron, to eipein, Apheōntai to you the hamartiai; or to eipein, Egeirai, and peripatei?

Grammar Details

• *estin*: present indicative, 3rd person singular - is
• *eukopōteron*: comparative adjective, nominative, neuter, singular - easier
• *eipein*: aorist active infinitive - to say/speak
• *Apheōntai*: perfect passive indicative, 3rd person plural - have been forgiven
• *hamartiai*: nominative, feminine, plural - sins
• *Egeirai*: aorist middle imperative, 2nd person singular - rise up
• *peripatei*: present active imperative, 2nd person singular - walk/walk around

Word Meanings

• *eukopōteron*: easier/less difficult
• *Apheōntai*: have been forgiven/are forgiven/are sent away
• *Egeirai*: rise up/get up/stand up
• *peripatei*: walk/walk around/go about

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  For which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven you; or to say, Arise, and walk?

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk?

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Whether ys esyer to saye thy synnes be forgeven ye or to saye: arise and walke?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Whether ys it easier to saye: thy synnes be forgeue ye, or to saie: arise and walke?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For whether is it easier to say, Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee, or to say, Arise, and walke?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Whether is easyer to say, thy sinnes be forgeuen thee? Or to say, aryse and walke?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹For whether is easier, to say,› [Thy] ‹sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven;' or to say, 'Get up, and walk?'

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  for which is easier? to say, The sins have been forgiven to thee; or to say, Rise, and walk?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For which is the simpler, to say, You have forgiveness for your sins; or to say, Get up and go?

• World English Bible (2000)

  For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven;' or to say, 'Get up, and walk?'

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Which is easier, to say,‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say,‘Stand up and walk’?

Referenced Verses

• John 5:8-9 : 8 Jesus said to him, 'Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.' 9 Immediately, the man was made well; he picked up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, 'It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.' 11 But he answered them, 'The one who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’' 12 So they asked him, 'Who is the man who told you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk’?' 13 But the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, 'Look, you have been made well. Stop sinning, so that nothing worse happens to you.'
• Mark 2:9-9 : 9 ‘Which is easier: to say to the paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, take your mat, and walk”? ’ 10 ‘But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ he said to the paralyzed man, 11 ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat, and go home.’ 12 And immediately, the man got up, took his mat, and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this.'
• Isa 35:5-6 : 5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
• Acts 3:16 : 16 By faith in His name, this man—whom you see and know—has been made strong. The faith that comes through Jesus has given him this complete healing in the presence of you all.
• Luke 5:23-25 : 23 Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat, and go home." 25 Immediately he got up in front of them, took what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God.
• John 5:17-18 : 17 But Jesus answered them, 'My Father is working until now, and I too am working.' 18 Because of this, the Jews were all the more determined to kill Him, not only because He was breaking the Sabbath, but also because He was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
• Acts 3:6-9 : 6 But Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." 7 Then Peter took him by the right hand and helped him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were strengthened. 8 He jumped to his feet, stood, and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 They recognized him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 While the healed man clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them on Solomon’s Colonnade, utterly amazed.
• Acts 4:9-9 : 9 'If we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a sick man—how this man was healed—' 10 'let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.'
• Acts 14:8-9 : 8 In Lystra, there was a man who could not use his feet; he was lame from birth and had never walked. 9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke. Paul looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed. 10 Paul said loudly, 'Stand upright on your feet!' And the man jumped up and began to walk. 11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices in the Lycaonian language, saying, 'The gods have come down to us in human form!'
• Acts 9:34 : 34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!" Immediately he stood up.