Matius 19:12

19:12 For there are some eunuchs who were that way from birth, ¹  and some who were made eunuchs ²  by others, ³  and some who became eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this should accept it.”

Matius 19:1

Questions About Divorce

19:1 Now when ⁴  Jesus finished these sayings, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan River. ⁵ 

1 Korintus 7:26-27

7:26 Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are. 7:27 The one bound to a wife should not seek divorce. The one released from a wife should not seek marriage. ⁶ 

[19:12]  ¹ tn Grk “from the womb of the mother” (an idiom).

[19:12]  ² tn The verb εὐνουχίζω occurs twice in this verse, translated the first time as “made eunuchs” and the second time as “became eunuchs.” The term literally refers to castration. The second occurrence of the word in this verse is most likely figurative, though, referring to those who willingly maintain a life of celibacy for the furtherance of the kingdom (see W. D. Davies and D. C. Allison, Matthew [ICC], 3:23).

[19:12]  ³ tn Grk “people.”

[19:1]  ⁴ tn Grk “it happened when.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[19:1]  ⁵ tn “River” is not in the Greek text but is supplied for clarity. The region referred to here is sometimes known as Transjordan (i.e., “across the Jordan”).

[7:27]  ⁶ tn Grk “should not seek a wife.”