Matthew 18:12

Authorized King James Version

How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
Τί
G5101
How
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
#2
ὑμῖν
G5213
ye
to (with or by) you
#3
δοκεῖ
G1380
think
compare the base of g1166) of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem (truthfully or uncertainly)
#4
ἐὰν
G1437
if
a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty
#5
γένηταί
G1096
have
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
#6
τινι
G5100
some or any person or object
#7
ἀνθρώπῳ
G444
a man
man-faced, i.e., a human being
#8
ἑκατὸν
G1540
an hundred
a hundred
#9
πρόβατα
G4263
sheep
something that walks forward (a quadruped), i.e., (specially), a sheep (literally or figuratively)
#10
καὶ
G2532
and
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
#11
πλανώμενον
G4105
be gone astray
to (properly, cause to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue)
#12
ἓν
G1520
one
one
#13
ἐξ
G1537
of
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
#14
αὐτῶν
G846
them
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
#15
οὐχὶ
G3780
not
not indeed
#16
ἀφεῖς
G863
doth he
to send forth, in various applications (as follow)
#17
τὸ
G3588
that which
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#18
ἐννενήκονταεννέα,
G1768
the ninety and nine
ninety-nine
#19
ἐπὶ
G1909
into
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
#20
τὸ
G3588
that which
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#21
ὄρη
G3735
the mountains
a mountain (as lifting itself above the plain)
#22
πορευθεὶς
G4198
and goeth
to traverse, i.e., travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove (figuratively, die), live, etc.)
#23
ζητεῖ
G2212
and seeketh
to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by hebraism) to worship (god), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life)
#24
τὸ
G3588
that which
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#25
πλανώμενον
G4105
be gone astray
to (properly, cause to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within Roman imperial rule over Jewish Palestine with messianic expectations. The author writes to address Jewish Christians seeking to understand Jesus as Messiah, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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