A Textual Commentary On The Greek NT

Matthew 6:28

Matthew 6:28 auvxa,nousin\ ouv kopiw/sin ouvde. nh,qousin {B}

The reading of K L W D P ¦¹³ 28 565 700 892 al, giving the verbs in the singular number, appears to be a scribal correction introduced because the plural subject is neuter gender (compare also Luke 12:27).

The original reading of codex Sinaiticus, which was detected when the manuscript was examined under an ultra-violet ray lamp, is ouv xe,nousin $Ê xai,nousin% ouvde. nh,qousin ouvde. kopiw/sin, “they do not card neither do they spin nor toil.” This reading, though regarded as original by some scholars, doubtless arose as a scribal idiosyncrasy that was almost immediately corrected. ¹⁵ Codex Koridethi, supported by the Curetonian Syriac, reverses the order of verbs, placing the specific word (“spin”) before the general word (“toil”).

¹⁵ On the variant, sec T. C. Skeat, Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft, XXXVII (1938), pp. 211—214; Peter Katz, Journal of Theological Studies, New Series, V (1954), pp. 207—209; and T. F. Glasson, ib., XIII (1962), pp. 331—332.

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A Textual Commentary On The Greek NT

Matthew 6:28

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