Matthew 19:26 in the Original Greek: What English Translations Don't Capture
Introduction: The Power of the Original Language
English translations of Matthew 19:26 are accurate. But they're incomplete. The original Greek captures nuances that even the best English rendering can't fully convey.
When Jesus said these words in Aramaic (His native language) and Matthew recorded them in Greek, specific word choices carried layers of meaning that translate literally but lose texture in English.
This study guide walks through the Greek text, word by word, and shows you what the original language reveals about Jesus' meaning—what was lost in translation.
The Greek Text: Matthew 19:26
Let's start with the actual Greek text:
"Emblepas de autois ho Iesous eipen autois, Para anthropois adunaton estin touto, para de theo panta dunata."
Breaking this down word by word: - Emblepas = Having looked (at them) - de = And/but - autois = Them - ho Iesous = Jesus - eipen = Said - autois = To them - Para anthropois = With/alongside men - adunaton = Impossible - estin = Is - touto = This (thing) - para de theo = But alongside God - panta = All things - dunata = Possible
English: "And Jesus, having looked at them, said to them, 'This is impossible with men, but alongside God all things are possible.'"
Now let's examine what each crucial Greek word reveals.
Word 1: Emblepas—The Quality of Jesus' Gaze
The first significant word is emblepas, which means "having looked" or "looking intently."
The word comes from em (in/at) and blepo (to look or see). Combined, it means to look directly, intently, with focus and purpose. It's not a casual glance. It's a meaningful, purposeful gaze.
In Matthew's gospel, this word appears in moments of theological significance: - Jesus uses it when looking at Peter and calling him "rock" (Matthew 16:18) - Jesus uses it when looking at the rich young ruler before telling him to sell his possessions (Matthew 19:21) - Jesus uses it throughout moments of deep spiritual significance
What English translations miss: English says "Jesus looked at them and said." But the Greek suggests something more: Jesus looked intently at them, fixed His gaze upon them, looked at them with purpose and significance, then spoke.
The gaze itself is part of the communication. Jesus isn't just delivering information. He's looking directly at their fear and astonishment, seeing their crisis of faith, and addressing it with His gaze and His words.
Word 2: Adunaton—The Strength of "Impossible"
The word adunaton is crucial to understanding the verse's power.
Adunaton (a- + dunaton) means "not able" or "not possible." In ancient Greek, it describes something that is: - Not within human power - Not capable of being done by humans - Genuinely, absolutely impossible (not just difficult)
This word appears in classical Greek literature when philosophers describe logical contradictions or physical impossibilities. When Aristotle discusses what is adunaton, he means what cannot be done.
The negative prefix (a-) is emphatic. It's not a soft negation. It's a hard negation. Not "unlikely to happen" but "impossible to happen."
What English translations miss: English says "impossible," which is accurate. But the Greek emphasizes the absolute character of the impossibility. Not "very difficult" but "genuinely impossible under human power."
The rich young ruler had proven this. He had tried and failed. He couldn't surrender his wealth despite wanting to follow Jesus. It was impossible for him.
Word 3: Para Anthropois—The Specific Source
The phrase para anthropois literally means "alongside humans" or "with humans" or "by the standard of humans."
The preposition para is crucial. It doesn't mean "for" (hypo). It doesn't mean "from" (apo). It means "alongside," "with," "by the measure of," "according to the standard of."
In this context, para anthropois means "according to human power," "by human effort," "alongside human capacity."
What English translations miss: English says "with man" or "for man," which is close. But the Greek suggests more: According to human standard, human measure, human capacity, human power—this is impossible.
The emphasis is on the human standard being insufficient. Not that humans can't try. But that the human measure of power is inadequate for the task.
Word 4: Touto—What Is the "This"?
The word touto (this/this thing) is the object of the sentence. What is the "this" that's impossible?
In context, "this" refers to what has just been discussed: salvation. Specifically, the salvation of a rich person. More broadly, the salvation of any human through human effort.
The disciples had asked, "Who then can be saved?" The "this" that Jesus says is impossible is salvation—salvation through human achievement, through effort, through moral accomplishment.
What English translations don't clarify: English doesn't indicate what "this" refers to. A reader might think "this" means anything or everything. But in context, "this" is salvation specifically—the topic of the entire passage.
Word 5: Panta Dunata—The Shift to Possibility
After establishing that salvation is adunaton (impossible) for humans, Jesus shifts to what's possible with God.
Panta means "all things." Dunata means "possible" or "able to be done."
The structure here is crucial. Jesus doesn't say "some things" or "difficult things." He says panta (all things). The scope is comprehensive. Not selectively possible, but all-encompassing possibility.
But what does "all things" refer to? In context, "all things" still refers to what has been discussed: salvation. Though the scope could extend to other impossible things God accomplishes, the primary "all things" is salvation—the one impossible thing that becomes possible with God.
What English translations don't capture: English says "all things are possible," which readers often interpret as a blank promise: Anything is possible with God. But the Greek, in context, means "all things [related to salvation] are possible."
The verse is specific, not a universal promise about anything.
Word 6: Para De Theo—But Alongside God
The contrast is signaled by de (but), emphasizing the shift from humans to God.
Para theo means "alongside God," "with God," "according to God's standard," "by God's measure/power."
Just as para anthropois meant "according to human measure," para theo means "according to God's measure." But God's measure is infinitely greater than human measure.
What English translations miss: The parallelism. English says "with God," which is accurate. But the Greek structure emphasizes the contrast: Alongside humans, impossible. Alongside God, possible. The contrast isn't just between "man" and "God," but between "man's measure" and "God's measure."
Word 7: Eipen—The Act of Speaking
The verb eipen (said) is simple and direct. Jesus speaks this truth.
But notice the construction: emblepas de autois ho Iesous eipen autois—Having looked at them, Jesus said to them.
The gaze precedes the speech. The intensity of Jesus' look sets the context for what He's about to say.
What English translations miss: The primacy of the gaze. English says "looked at them and said," treating them as parallel actions. But the Greek suggests the look is primary, and the saying flows from it. Jesus first fixes His gaze upon them, seeing their crisis, then speaks.
Connecting the Greek Words: The Complete Meaning
Now let's put it together. The full Greek sentence carries this meaning:
Jesus, having looked intently at them with purpose and spiritual significance, said to them: "This salvation that you're asking about—it is genuinely impossible according to human power, human effort, human measure. But according to God's power, God's measure, God's capacity, all things become possible."
The emphasis shifts from human impossibility to divine possibility. Not in terms of effort (as if trying harder with God's help), but in terms of source and capacity. Humans lack the capacity. God possesses infinite capacity.
Greek Nuances English Can't Capture
The Subjunctive of Possibility vs. Statements of Achievement
English speakers might read "all things are possible" and think it means "all things will happen if you believe." But the Greek uses dunata (possible/able), not a future tense that would indicate what will definitely happen.
The verse is about what's possible/capable, not what will definitely occur. Possibility isn't the same as certainty.
The Emphasis on Divine Power, Not Human Faith
English readers often emphasize the "faith" required to make things possible. But the Greek emphasizes God's power, not human faith. The possibility comes from God's capacity, not from human belief intensity.
The verse doesn't say "if you have faith, all things are possible." It says "with God, all things are possible." The source is God, not your faith.
The Completeness of "All Things"
In Greek, panta (all things) is comprehensive. But in context, it refers to the "all things" being discussed—salvation. The verse isn't claiming that literally every single thing is possible with God (some things may be contrary to God's character), but that the impossible work of salvation is possible.
Cross-References in the Original Greek
Other passages use similar Greek terminology to talk about God's power:
Luke 1:37 uses panta dunata para to theo (literally "all things possible alongside God") when Gabriel tells Mary she will conceive. The phrasing is nearly identical to Matthew 19:26, connecting two impossible-made-possible moments (salvation and virgin conception).
Genesis 18:14 (in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament) uses language about God's power in the context of Sarah's impossible conception.
Job 42:2 declares ou dunaton (it is not possible) for anything to oppose God's purposes.
These cross-references confirm that Matthew 19:26 is part of a larger Greek theme: What's impossible for humans is possible for God.
What This Reveals About Jesus' Intent
By examining the Greek closely, several things about Jesus' intent become clear:
1. He's making a theological statement, not a promise about wishes. The Greek emphasizes what's impossible and what's possible in spiritual terms—specifically salvation. It's not a blank promise that God will grant any desire.
2. He's addressing a crisis of faith, not teaching a general principle. The gaze, the context, the specific words all point to Jesus responding to the disciples' astonishment. He's not making a general statement. He's addressing their specific crisis.
3. He's shifting the source of power from human to divine. The parallel structure of "para anthropois...para theo" (with men...with God) emphasizes a complete shift in where power comes from. Not self-improvement but divine grace.
4. He's teaching about grace, not about achieving results through belief. The Greek doesn't suggest that faith intensity determines outcomes. It suggests that God's power determines what's possible.
Implications for How You Read the Verse
Understanding the Greek changes how you should read Matthew 19:26:
1. Read it in context. Don't isolate the verse. Read it as Jesus' answer to the disciples' crisis about salvation. The crisis and the question are part of the meaning.
2. Understand "impossible" as genuinely impossible. Not difficult or very hard. Truly impossible under human power.
3. Understand "possible with God" as grace. Not as a promise that you'll get what you want if you believe hard enough. But as a statement that God's power transcends human limitation.
4. Recognize the shift in source of power. The verse is teaching you to shift from relying on your effort to relying on God's power. From striving to surrendering.
FAQ: Greek Language and Meaning
Q: Does the Greek suggest anything about whether this verse applies beyond salvation? A: The Greek emphasizes what has been discussed (salvation specifically). The verse could extend to other impossible situations, but the Greek doesn't explicitly extend it. The principle might apply, but careful interpretation is needed.
Q: What does the Greek tell us about whether God will give us what we ask for? A: The Greek emphasizes possibility, not promise of outcomes. "Possible" doesn't mean "will happen." It means "within God's capacity." The verse doesn't promise specific outcomes, just affirms God's capacity.
Q: Does "para" (alongside/with) have different meaning than English "with"? A: Slightly. "Para" emphasizes a standard or measure. It's "according to God's standard" or "by God's measure," not just "alongside God." The nuance is that God's measure is what makes things possible.
Q: Does the Greek suggest Jesus was being harsh or comforting? A: Both. The gaze is meaningful and direct (not harsh, but intense). The message is hard (your impossibility is real) but ultimately comforting (God's power transcends it).
Going Deeper: Greek Word Studies
If you want to explore Greek words more deeply:
- Use resources like Blue Letter Bible or BibleHub, which provide Greek text and word definitions
- Study lexicons (dictionaries of biblical Greek) like BDAG (Bauer-Arndt-Gingrich-Danker)
- Compare different English translations to see how translators handle the same Greek words
- Read commentaries that discuss the original language
Study Matthew 19:26 at the Deepest Level with Bible Copilot
Understanding Matthew 19:26 in the original Greek requires patience and depth. Bible Copilot's study modes help you:
- Observe the Greek text and compare translations
- Interpret the meaning of each Greek word in context
- Apply the truth to your life
- Pray through the implications
- Explore how the Greek connects to other passages
Discover the richness of the original language. It will deepen your understanding of what Jesus meant.
Study Matthew 19:26 in the original Greek. Bible Copilot helps you understand the nuances of Scripture in its original language. Start your free trial—10 sessions included.