New American Standard Bible 1995

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Matthew

18

:

19

"Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
"Again back (of place), again (of time), further Adv H3825 Πάλιν palin
I say to say V-PIA-1S H3004 λέγω legō
to you, that if if (a conditional particle used like NG1487, but usually with the Gr. subjunctive mood) Conj H1437 ἐὰν ean
two two Adj-NMP H1417 δύο duo
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 

of you agree to call out with, to be in harmony, generally to agree V-ASA-3P H4856 συμφωνήσωσιν sumphōnēsōsin
on earth the earth, land N-GFS H1093 γῆς gēs
about about, concerning, around (denotes place, cause or subject) Prep H4012 περὶ peri
anything all, every Adj-GNS H3956 παντὸς pantos
that they may ask, to ask, request V-ASM-3P H154 αἰτήσωνται aitēsōntai
it shall be done to come into being, to happen, to become V-FIM-3S H1096 γενήσεται genēsetai
for them by My Father a father N-GMS H3962 πατρός patros
who is in heaven. heaven N-DMP H3772 οὐρανοῖς ouranois

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.
King James Bible "Again Again I say to unto you, that That if two of you shall agree on earth about anything as touching any thing that they may shall ask, it shall be done for them by My of my Father who which is in heaven.
Berean Bible "Again Again truly I say to you, you that if two of you on the earth might agree on earth about anything concerning any matter that they may shall ask, it shall will be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.the heavens.
Hebrew Greek English "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.