The camel/elephant line is a mistranslation. In Greek the words camel and rope are homophones. It makes it a more apt analogy, as a rope is essentially a much thicker thread.
From my understanding, it’s not referring to the eye of a physical needle, but the city he was in when he made that analogy had a small gate known as “The Eye of the Needle” that was meant for human passage and not carts/large animals, which would go through the main gates. You could theoretically force a camel through it, but it would be nearly impossible. I heard that long long ago from some video that analyzed the meaning and context behind biblical stories and have no idea if that’s actually real, so I’d be happy to be proven wrong or right.
It would be weird for the guy who only speaks in metaphor to not use a metaphor this one time.
Really this is just a modern reinterpretation of this verse that lets people drive their Mercedes from their gated community once a week to church and not feel bad about it
"Some theorize that the needle Jesus was speaking of was the Needle Gate, supposedly a low and narrow after-hours entrance found in the wall surrounding Jerusalem. It was purposely small for security reasons, and a camel could only go through it by stripping off any saddles or packs and crawling through on its knees. The problem with this theory is there is no evidence such a gate ever existed. Beyond that, what sane camel driver would go through such contortions when larger gates were easily accessible?
Others claim that the word translated “camel” (Greek: kamelos) should actually be “cable” (Greek: kamilos). Then the verse would read that it is easier for a cable (or rope) to go through the eye of a needle. To believe this, however, brings up more problems than it solves, namely casting doubt on the inerrancy and inspiration of Scripture"
This answer came from a christian website and I don’t believe the bible is infallible or anything so I don’t care about that final line and think the 2nd option is more likely. Like even if you are Christian, to believe a possible mistranslation is “casting doubt” is fucking wild. There are proven mistranslations in the King James version already.
Interesting! I also agree the second option sounds far more likely. I was raised super Christian (am not anymore) and I never understood or agreed with the belief that the Bible can’t be mistranslated, deliberately or accidentally. It’s been hundreds of years that humans have had their hands on it and humans suck. Of course it’s been twisted and misconstrued.
The camel/elephant line is a mistranslation. In Greek the words camel and rope are homophones. It makes it a more apt analogy, as a rope is essentially a much thicker thread.
From my understanding, it’s not referring to the eye of a physical needle, but the city he was in when he made that analogy had a small gate known as “The Eye of the Needle” that was meant for human passage and not carts/large animals, which would go through the main gates. You could theoretically force a camel through it, but it would be nearly impossible. I heard that long long ago from some video that analyzed the meaning and context behind biblical stories and have no idea if that’s actually real, so I’d be happy to be proven wrong or right.
It would be weird for the guy who only speaks in metaphor to not use a metaphor this one time.
Really this is just a modern reinterpretation of this verse that lets people drive their Mercedes from their gated community once a week to church and not feel bad about it
This is what I found.
"Some theorize that the needle Jesus was speaking of was the Needle Gate, supposedly a low and narrow after-hours entrance found in the wall surrounding Jerusalem. It was purposely small for security reasons, and a camel could only go through it by stripping off any saddles or packs and crawling through on its knees. The problem with this theory is there is no evidence such a gate ever existed. Beyond that, what sane camel driver would go through such contortions when larger gates were easily accessible?
Others claim that the word translated “camel” (Greek: kamelos) should actually be “cable” (Greek: kamilos). Then the verse would read that it is easier for a cable (or rope) to go through the eye of a needle. To believe this, however, brings up more problems than it solves, namely casting doubt on the inerrancy and inspiration of Scripture"
This answer came from a christian website and I don’t believe the bible is infallible or anything so I don’t care about that final line and think the 2nd option is more likely. Like even if you are Christian, to believe a possible mistranslation is “casting doubt” is fucking wild. There are proven mistranslations in the King James version already.
Interesting! I also agree the second option sounds far more likely. I was raised super Christian (am not anymore) and I never understood or agreed with the belief that the Bible can’t be mistranslated, deliberately or accidentally. It’s been hundreds of years that humans have had their hands on it and humans suck. Of course it’s been twisted and misconstrued.