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Matthew

Note Journal Prayer

11

:

11

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Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the least in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he!

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
Truly Verily, truly, amen; at the end of sentences may be paraphrased by: So let it be. Heb H281 Ἀμὴν amēn
I say (denoting speech in progress), (a) to say, speak; to mean, mention, tell, (b) to call, name, especially in the pass., (c) to tell, command. V-PIA-1S H3004 λέγω legō
among [those] In, on, among. Prep H1722 ἐν en
born Begotten, born. Adj-DMP H1084 γεννητοῖς gennētois
of women A woman, wife, my lady. N-GFP H1135 γυναικῶν gunaikōn
there has not risen (a) to wake, arouse, (b) to raise up. V-RIM/P-3S H1453 ἐγήγερται egēgertai
one greater Large, great, in the widest sense. Adj-NMS-C H3173    
Analysis:

One: God

Refers to HaShem (God), Who is One. This number can also refer to unity. The first place the number "one" occurs is in Genesis 1:5. There one reads, "And there was an evening and there was a morning— one day". Later on in this same book of Genesis, it is stated concerning the man and his wife, "And they became one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). It is very significant that in both of these examples there was a multiplicity for the subject. In the first example, the evening and the morning became one day and in the second example, it was Adam and Eve who became one flesh.

One of the most famous passages in the Torah concerning HaShem is Deuteronomy 6:4 which states, "Hear O Israel the Lord your God the Lord is One." The question that a person must ask himself is what is the connection between the use of the Hebrew word אחד "one" which identifies a multiplicity being one and the fact that the Lord God of Israel is One? The answer is that the Hebrew word אחד can relate to the concept for one as in "unification". There is another Hebrew word that would have been possible to be used if the author wanted to refer to an absolute oneness or singleness. This is the Hebrew word יחיד. In fact, there is a well-known prayer in Judaism which states, "אחד ואין יחיד כיחודו". This phrase should be translated as, "(God is) One and there is no singularity as His singularity." The idea that is being expressed in this prayer is that the Lord God of Israel is One; but not an absolute One; rather there is a uniqueness and a complexity to His Oneness.

The number one is frequently employed to express in the Scriptures one object, such as one man or one tabernacle. This usage would be the simple or common purpose that the number one or for that matter any number, would appear in a Biblical text. Often the appearance of a number does not contain any of the significance that Hebrew numerology might offer. Therefore, the reader must always consider when coming across a verse which contains a number, that the number only expresses an amount and no additional significance. 

Because the number one is often associated with God, there is a unique phenomenon in the Scriptures concerning this number. Sometimes the number one is employed to express a unique relationship that the object has to HaShem. For example,

"And it will be one day, it will be known to HaShem..." Zechariah 14:7

In the text above, Zechariah could have stated simply, "And it will be a day…" The fact that the prophet said "one day" is to convey that this day is uniquely related to God. Similarly, it is stated by the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 37, "one King", "one nation" and "one Shepherd" (see Ezekiel 37:22, 24). Each of these objects—King, nation and Shepherd—has a connection to HaShem. The King and Shepherd is Messiah Yeshua, the Son of God and the one nation is Israel, the people of God.

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than John John: the Baptist, the apostle, a member of the Sanhedrin, or John Mark. N-GMS H2491 Ἰωάννου iōannou
Analysis:
Read more about: John
the The, the definite article. N-GMS H910 βαπτιστοῦ baptistou
Yet A weak adversative particle, generally placed second in its clause; but, on the other hand, and. Conj H1161 δὲ de
[the] least Little, small. Adj-NMS-C H3398 μικρότερος mikroteros
kingdom Kingship, sovereignty, authority, rule, especially of God, both in the world, and in the hearts of men; hence: kingdom, in the concrete sense. N-DFS H932 βασιλείᾳ basileia
heavens Heaven, (a) the visible heavens: the atmosphere, the sky, the starry heavens, (b) the spiritual heavens. N-GMP H3772 οὐρανῶν ouranōn
greater Large, great, in the widest sense. Adj-NMS-C H3173    

People

John

John [N] [H] [S]   One who, with Annas and Caiaphas, sat in judgment on the apostles Peter and John (Act 4-6). He was of the kindred of the high priest; otherwise unknown.    The Hebrew name of Mark (q.v.). He is designated by this name in the acts of the Apostles ( Acts 12:12  Acts 12:25 ;  Acts 13:5  Acts 13:13 ;  15:37 ).    THE APO... View Details

John the Baptist

John the Baptist  the "forerunner of our Lord." We have but fragmentary and imperfect accounts of him in the Gospels. He was of priestly descent. His father, Zacharias, was a priest of the course of Abia ( 1 Chronicles 24:10 ), and his mother, Elisabeth, was of the daughters of Aaron ( Luke 1:5 ). The mission of John was the subject of prophecy ( Matthew 3:3 ;  Isaiah 40:3 ;  Mal... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
Berean Bible Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the least in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he!
King James Bible Truly Verily I say to unto you, among those Among them that are born of women there has hath not risen one a greater than John the Baptist. Yet the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of the heavens heaven is greater than he!he.
Hebrew Greek English Truly "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist. Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of the heavens heaven is greater than he!he.
New American Standard Bible 1995 Truly "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist. Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of the heavens heaven is greater than he!he.