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Chapter 6

Matthew 6:19

Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσι καὶ κλέπτουσι·
RBT Greek Interlinear:
Strongs 3361  [list]
Λογεῖον
Mē
Μὴ
Not
Adv
Strongs 2343  [list]
Λογεῖον
thēsaurizete
θησαυρίζετε
store up
V-PMA-2P
Strongs 4771  [list]
Λογεῖον
hymin
ὑμῖν
to yourselves
PPro-D2P
Strongs 2344  [list]
Λογεῖον
thēsaurous
θησαυροὺς
treasure-storehouses
N-AMP
Strongs 1909  [list]
Λογεῖον
epi
ἐπὶ
upon
Prep
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
tēs
τῆς
the
Art-GFS
Strongs 1093  [list]
Λογεῖον
gēs
γῆς
earth
N-GFS
Strongs 3699  [list]
Λογεῖον
hopou
ὅπου
where
Adv
Strongs 4597  [list]
Λογεῖον
sēs
σὴς
moth/bookworm
N-NMS
Strongs 2532  [list]
Λογεῖον
kai
καὶ
and
Conj
Strongs 1035  [list]
Λογεῖον
brōsis
βρῶσις
eating
N-NFS
Strongs 853  [list]
Λογεῖον
aphanizei
ἀφανίζει
disfigure/put out of view
V-PIA-3S
Strongs 2532  [list]
Λογεῖον
kai
καὶ
and
Conj
Strongs 3699  [list]
Λογεῖον
hopou
ὅπου
where
Adv
Strongs 2812  [list]
Λογεῖον
kleptai
κλέπται
thieves
N-NMP
Strongs 1358  [list]
Λογεῖον
dioryssousin
διορύσσουσιν
dig through
V-PIA-3P
Strongs 2532  [list]
Λογεῖον
kai
καὶ
and
Conj
Strongs 2813  [list]
Λογεῖον
kleptousin
κλέπτουσιν
steal
V-PIA-3P
RBT Translation:
Where the Bookworm Disfigures
Don't store up to yourselves treasures upon the Earth where bookworm and feeding disfigure/put out of view and where thieves dig through, and steal.17
LITV Translation:
Do not treasure up for you treasures on the earth, where moth and rust cause to vanish, and where thieves dig through and steal.
ESV Translation:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,

Footnotes

17

The word "σής" (sēs) has a Hebrew origin: Hebrew סָס, sas Isaiah 51:8 see Strongs #5580.

Primary Meaning: Moth.

  • Example: "[χρυσὸν] οὐ σ. οὐδὲ κὶς δάπτει" (Gold neither moth nor rust consumes) - Pindar.
  • Also found in Aristophanes, Strabo, Matthew 6:19, and Luke 12:33.

Metaphorical: Refers to "bookworms" or "grammarians."

  • Example: "σῆτες ἀκανθοβάται" or "-λόγοι" (thorn-walkers or -speakers), referring to grammarians or bookworms in the Anthologia Palatina (Antiphanes, Philodemus).

It goes without saying that Jesus uses symbolic language. What is a moth? A bookworm that attacks books. See Logeion Greek for more info.