ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

Matthew 20.34

Book: Matthew · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"32. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I should do unto you? 33. They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened."

"34. And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and straightway they received their sight, and followed him." (Matthew 20:32-34, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"32. Jesus stood still, and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33. They told him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”"

"34. Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him." (Matthew 20:32-34, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"32. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33. They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened."

"34. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him." (Matthew 20:32-34, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"32. And having stood, Jesus called them, and said, 'What will ye [that] I may do to you?' 33. they say to him, 'Sir, that our eyes may be opened;'"

"34. and having been moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him." (Matthew 20:32-34, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: Matthew (traditionally) the tax-collector-apostle / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
  • Audience: Jewish-Christian audience (heavy OT-fulfillment emphasis)
  • Location: first-century Palestine (events); possibly Antioch (composition)
  • Time period: events c. 4 BC, AD 30/33; composed c. AD 60-80

Theological reading

Key words

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.