Matthew 19:17

KJV1611 – Modern English

And he said to him, Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν; οὐδεὶς ἀγαθός εἰ μὴ εἷς, ὁ Θεός: εἰ δὲ θέλεις εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν ζωὴν, τήρησον τὰς ἐντολάς.

Transliteration

He de eipen to him, Why me legeis agathon? oudeis agathos ei mē one, the Theos: ei de theleis eiselthein eis the zōēn, tērēson the entolas.

Grammar Details

• *de*: postpositive particle - but/and
• *eipen*: aorist, 3rd singular, active - said
• *legeis*: present, 2nd singular, active - you call
• *agathon*: accusative, masculine, singular - good
• *oudeis*: nominative, masculine, singular - no one
• *agathos*: nominative, masculine, singular - good
• *ei mē*: conditional phrase - except/if not
• *Theos*: nominative, masculine, singular - God
• *ei*: conditional particle - if
• *theleis*: present, 2nd singular, active - you wish
• *eiselthein*: aorist infinitive, active - to enter
• *eis*: preposition + accusative - into
• *zōēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - life
• *tērēson*: aorist imperative, 2nd singular, active - keep
• *entolas*: accusative, feminine, plural - commandments

Word Meanings

• *legeis agathon*: call me good/say I am good
• *oudeis agathos ei mē*: none is good except/no one is good but
• *theleis eiselthein*: you wish to enter/you want to enter
• *tērēson*: keep/observe/obey
• *entolas*: commandments/precepts

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Jesus replied, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only One who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G1161} he said{G2036} unto him,{G846} Why{G5101} askest thou{G3004} me{G3165} concerning that which{G3762} is good?{G18} One{G1520} there{G1487} is{G3361} who is good:{G2316} but{G1161} if{G1487} thou wouldest{G2309} enter{G1525} into{G1519} life,{G2222} keep{G5083} the commandments.{G1785}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G1161} he said{G2036}{(G5627)} unto him{G846}, Why{G5101} callest thou{G3004}{(G5719)} me{G3165} good{G18}? there is none{G3762} good{G18} but{G1508} one{G1520}, that is, God{G2316}: but{G1161} if{G1487} thou wilt{G2309}{(G5719)} enter{G1525}{(G5629)} into{G1519} life{G2222}, keep{G5083}{(G5657)} the commandments{G1785}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  He sayde vnto him: why callest thou me good? there is none good but one and that is God. But yf thou wylt entre in to lyfe kepe the commaundementes.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  He sayde vnto him: Why callest thou me good? there is none good, but God onely. Neuertheles yf thou wilt entre into life, kepe ye comaudemetes.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And he said vnto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, eue God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keepe ye commandemets.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  He sayde vnto hym: why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, and that is God. But yf thou wylt enter into lyfe, kepe the commaundementes.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And he said unto him, ‹Why callest thou me good?› [there is] ‹none good but one,› [that is], ‹God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  He said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And he said to him, `Why me dost thou call good? no one `is' good except One -- God; but if thou dost will to enter into the life, keep the commands.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he said unto him, Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he said unto him, Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And he said to him, Why are you questioning me about what is good? One there is who is good: but if you have a desire to go into life, keep the rules of the law.

• World English Bible (2000)

  He said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  He said to him,“Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Referenced Verses

• Lev 18:5 : 5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, which if a man does, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
• 1 John 4:16 : 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.
• Rom 10:5 : 5 For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, that the man who does those things shall live by them.
• Gal 3:11-13 : 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for 'The just shall live by faith.' 12 And the law is not of faith, but 'The man who does them shall live in them.' 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.'
• Jas 1:17 : 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
• 1 John 4:8-9 : 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, because God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
• 1 Sam 2:2 : 2 There is none holy like the LORD; for there is none besides you; neither is there any rock like our God.
• Neh 9:29 : 29 You testified against them, that You might bring them back to Your law. Yet they acted proudly and did not heed Your commandments but sinned against Your judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them. And they shrugged their shoulders, stiffened their necks, and would not hear.
• Ps 52:1 : 1 Why do you boast in mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually.
• Ps 145:7-9 : 7 They shall abundantly express the memory of your great goodness, and shall sing of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9 The LORD is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works.
• Ezek 20:11-12 : 11 And I gave them my statutes, and showed them my judgments, which if a man does, he shall even live in them. 12 Moreover I also gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
• Ezek 20:21 : 21 Nevertheless the children rebelled against me: they did not walk in my statutes, nor kept my judgments to do them, which if a man does, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
• Luke 10:26-28 : 26 He said to him, What is written in the law? How do you read it? 27 And he answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. 28 And he said to him, You have answered rightly: this do, and you shall live.