King James Version

Matthew 20:16

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

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Greek

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The KJV’s Greek text (Textus Receptus) adds a longer phrase after last: πολλοὶ γὰρ εἰσιν κλητοί ὀλίγοι δὲ ἐκλεκτοί..

οὕτωςhoutōsSoοὕτω(ς)adverb — “So”G3779thus, so, in this manner.Soἔσονταιesontaishall beεἰμί (eimi)verb, future middle indicative, 3rd person plural — “shall be”, an action still aheadG1510I am, exist.shall beοἱhoitheὁ (ho)article, nominative, plural, masculine — “the”, the subject formG3588the, the definite article.ἔσχατοιeschatoilastἔσχατος (eschatos)adjective, nominative, plural, masculine — “last”, the subject formG2078last, at the last, finally, till the end.This verse uses “last”.lastπρῶτοιprōtoifirstπρῶτος (prōtos)adjective, nominative, plural, masculine — “first”, the subject formG4413first, before, principal, most important.This verse uses “first”.καὶkaiandκαίconjunction — “and”G2532and, even, also, namely.This verse uses “and”.οἱhoitheὁ (ho)article, nominative, plural, masculine — “the”, the subject formG3588the, the definite article.πρῶτοιprōtoifirstπρῶτος (prōtos)adjective, nominative, plural, masculine — “first”, the subject formG4413first, before, principal, most important.This verse uses “first”.ἔσχατοιeschatoilastἔσχατος (eschatos)adjective, nominative, plural, masculine — “last”, the subject formG2078last, at the last, finally, till the end.This verse uses “last”.

Textus Receptus Words Not in the SBL Text

πολλοὶpolloimanyπολύς (polus)adjective, nominative, plural, masculine — “many”, the subject formG4183much, many; often.This verse uses “many”.γὰρgarforγάρconjunction — “for”G1063for.εἰσινeisinbeεἰμί (eimi)verb, present active indicative, 3rd person plural — “be”, an ongoing or repeated actionG1510I am, exist.κλητοίklētoicalledκλητός (klētos)adjective, nominative, plural, masculine — “called”, the subject formG2822called, invited, summoned by God to an office or to salvation.This verse uses “called”.ὀλίγοιoligoifewὀλίγος (oligos)adjective, nominative, plural, masculine — “few”, the subject formG3641(a) especially in plur: few, (b) in sing: small; hence, of time: short, of degree: light, slight, little.This verse uses “few”.δὲdebutδέconjunction — “but”G1161a weak adversative particle, generally placed second in its clause; but, on the other hand, and.This verse uses “but”.ἐκλεκτοίeklektoichosenἐκλεκτός (eklektos)adjective, nominative, plural, masculine — “chosen”, the subject formG1588chosen out, elect, choice, select, sometimes as subst: of those chosen out by God for the rendering of special service to Him (of the Hebrew race, particular Hebrews, the Messiah, and the Christians).This verse uses “chosen”.

Literal (Young’s Literal Translation)

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

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Young’s Literal Translation

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

World English Bible

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

Darby Translation

Thus shall the last be first, and the first last; for many are called ones, but few chosen ones.

Douay-Rheims

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

American Standard Version (1901)

Young’s Literal Translation

World English Bible

Darby Translation

Douay-Rheims

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