Matthew 20:16

KJV1611 – Modern English

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called, but few chosen.

📖 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

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  So the last will be first, and the first will be last. For many are called, but few are chosen.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

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

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Soo the laste shalbe fyrste and the fyrste shalbe laste. For many are called and feawe be chosen.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  So the last shalbe the first, & the first the last. For many are called, but few are chosen.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  So the last shalbe first, and the first last: for many are called, but fewe chosen.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  So the last, shalbe the first, & the first shalbe last: For many be called, but fewe be chosen.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  So the last shall be first, and the first last, for many are called, and few chosen.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

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

• World English Bible (2000)

  So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Referenced Verses

• Matt 19:30 : 30 But many who are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.
• Mark 10:31 : 31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
• Luke 14:24 : 24 For I say to you, That none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.
• Luke 17:17-18 : 17 And Jesus answered and said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?
• John 12:19-22 : 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Do you see that you are accomplishing nothing? Look, the world has gone after him. 20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we wish to see Jesus. 22 Philip went and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
• Rom 8:30 : 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
• 1 Thess 2:13 : 13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectively works also in you who believe.
• Luke 13:28-30 : 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And they will come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.
• Matt 7:13 : 13 Enter by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who go in by it.
• Jas 1:23-25 : 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 For he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.
• Matt 22:14 : 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
• 2 Thess 2:13-14 : 13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brothers beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 To which he called you by 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 did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith.
• Rom 5:20 : 20 Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more:
• Luke 15:7 : 7 I say to you, that likewise there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
• Luke 7:47 : 47 Therefore I say to you, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.
• Matt 8:11-12 : 11 And I say to you, that many will come from the east and west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
• Matt 21:31 : 31 Which of the two did the will of his father? They said to him, The first. Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, that tax collectors and harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.