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....than for a rich man to get into heaven.
I've heard that this passage is a mistranslation and would like clarification from those who have studied more than I. What I heard is that the hebrew (or maybe Greek?) word for "camel" is the same as the hebrew word for "coarse thread". Certainly the sentence would make more sense if it read "It is easier for a coarse thread to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven." It would also give more hope to the rich, if that were the case, for every now and then a coarse thread does go through. If the rich did have even a glimmer of hope, wouldn't they be more likely to TRY. If they only have as much chance of getting into heaven as a camel has of going through the eye of a needle...i.e.-none... why would they even bother? If their only choice is to give up their riches for a God they may not know well, well....human nature would dictate that they say "to heck with it", keep their money, and not concern themselves with learning about compassion, or God, or anything else divine.
If this is even possibly a mistranslation, why is it never mentioned in any footnotes or subtexts in bibles today? Is it just kept that way for tradition's sake? Are there other possible mistranslations out there? Thanks in advance to all who contribute. I'm a new member and so glad I found this site! I'm looking forward to sharing, learning, and getting answers to questions that have plagued me for years!
I've heard that this passage is a mistranslation and would like clarification from those who have studied more than I. What I heard is that the hebrew (or maybe Greek?) word for "camel" is the same as the hebrew word for "coarse thread". Certainly the sentence would make more sense if it read "It is easier for a coarse thread to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven." It would also give more hope to the rich, if that were the case, for every now and then a coarse thread does go through. If the rich did have even a glimmer of hope, wouldn't they be more likely to TRY. If they only have as much chance of getting into heaven as a camel has of going through the eye of a needle...i.e.-none... why would they even bother? If their only choice is to give up their riches for a God they may not know well, well....human nature would dictate that they say "to heck with it", keep their money, and not concern themselves with learning about compassion, or God, or anything else divine.
If this is even possibly a mistranslation, why is it never mentioned in any footnotes or subtexts in bibles today? Is it just kept that way for tradition's sake? Are there other possible mistranslations out there? Thanks in advance to all who contribute. I'm a new member and so glad I found this site! I'm looking forward to sharing, learning, and getting answers to questions that have plagued me for years!