Matt 5:19 ESV

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jfschultz

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Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Not being up on Greek, I am wondering about the way the ESV translates this verse using "relaxes" instead of usual "break." Do any of the PB Greek scholars have any insight on this?
 
John,

The word is λύω, which can often (even primarily) mean "loose." It gets its meaning of "break" or "destroy" from the thought of being loosed to the point of disintegration. The ESV is likely following the RSV here.

Here is the BDAG entry:
4639 [FONT=&quot]λύω [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]λύω [/FONT]impf. [FONT=&quot]ἔλυον[/FONT]; fut. [FONT=&quot]λύσω [/FONT]LXX; 1 aor. [FONT=&quot]ἔλυσα[/FONT]. Pass.: impf. [FONT=&quot]ἐλυόμην[/FONT]; 1 fut. [FONT=&quot]λυθήσομαι[/FONT]; 1 aor. [FONT=&quot]ἐλύθην[/FONT]; pf. [FONT=&quot]λέλυμαι[/FONT], 2 sg. [FONT=&quot]λέλυσαι[/FONT], ptc. [FONT=&quot]λελυμένος [/FONT](Hom.+).

1. to undo someth. that is used to tie up or constrain someth., loose, untie bonds (Da 5:12 Theod.), fetters (Lucian, Dial. Mar. 14, 3; Job 39:5 [FONT=&quot]δεσμούς[/FONT]; Philo, Somn. 1, 181; Hippol., Ref. 5, 19, 20) or someth. similar.

a. lit. [FONT=&quot]τὰ δεσμά [/FONT]AcPl Ha 3, 14; [FONT=&quot]τὸν ἱμάντα [/FONT]Mk 1:7; Lk 3:16; J 1:27. [FONT=&quot]τὴν ζώνην [/FONT]MPol 13, 2 (JosAs 10:11; 13:3); [FONT=&quot]σφραγῖδας [/FONT]break (Polyaenus 5, 2, 12) Rv 5:2, 5 v.l. (of the broken seals of a will: BGU 326 II, 21 [FONT=&quot]ἡ διαθήκη ἐλύθη[/FONT]; POxy 715, 19.—[FONT=&quot]λύω [/FONT]of the opening of a document: ParJer 7:21 [FONT=&quot]λῦσον τὴν ἐπιστολὴν ταύτην[/FONT]; 7:36; Plut., Dio 31, 4 [a letter]; Vi. Aesopi W 92 P.)

b. fig. [FONT=&quot]ἐλύθη ὁ δεσμὸς τ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]γλώσσης αὐτοῦ [/FONT]Mk 7:35; cp. Lk 1:63 D. [FONT=&quot]λύε πάντα σύνδεσμον ἀδικίας [/FONT]loose every unjust fetter B 3:3 (Is 58:6).

2. to set free someth. tied or similarly constrained, set free, loose, untie

a. lit. a pers., animal, or thing that is bound or tied: a prisoner (Jos., Bell. 2, 28, Ant. 13, 409; Ps 145:7) Ac 22:30; cp. vs. 29 v.l.; ISm 6:2 (cp. b below); AcPl Ha 3, 6. Angels that are bound Rv 9:14f. Also more gener. (IAndrosIsis, Kyme 48 [FONT=&quot]ἐγὼ τοὺς ἐν δεσμοῖς λύω[/FONT]) release, set free prisoners Ac 24:26 v.l.; [FONT=&quot]τοὺς δεσμίους [/FONT]AcPl Ha 11, 9. Of Satan, bound and imprisoned in an abyss Rv 20:3. [FONT=&quot]λυθήσεται ὁ σατανᾶς ἐκ τῆς φυλακῆς αὐτοῦ [/FONT]vs. 7.—Of Lazarus, bound in grave-clothes [FONT=&quot]λύσατε αὐτόν [/FONT]unbind him J 11:44 (Vi. Aesopi I 83 [FONT=&quot]λύσατε αὐτόν[/FONT]=take off his fetters).—Of animals (X., An. 3, 4, 35) a colt that is tied up Mt 21:2; Mk 11:2, 4f; Lk 19:30f, 33ab (perh. these passages suggest a kind of commandeering of transport indicated by the term [FONT=&quot]ἀγγαρεύω [/FONT]JDerrett, NovT 13, ’71, 241-58), [FONT=&quot]τὸν βοῦν ἀπὸ τῆς φάτνης [/FONT]untie the ox from the manger Lk 13:15 ([FONT=&quot]λ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]ἀπό [/FONT]as Quint. Smyrn. 4, 373; Is 5:27; Jer 47:4).—[FONT=&quot]λ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]τὸ ὑπόδημα [/FONT]untie the sandal Ac 7:33 (Ex 3:5; Josh 5:15); 13:25. —Pass. [FONT=&quot]τὰς τρίχας λελυμέναι [/FONT]with unbound hair Hs 9, 9, 5; cp. [FONT=&quot]τὰς τρίχας λελυμένας [/FONT]Hs 9, 13, 8.

b. fig. free, set free, release [FONT=&quot]ἀπό τινος [/FONT](TestJos 15:6; Cyranides p. 97, 12) [FONT=&quot]λυθῆναι ἀπὸ τ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]δεσμοῦ τούτου [/FONT]be set free from this bond Lk 13:16. [FONT=&quot]λέλυσαι ἀπὸ γυναικός; [/FONT]are you free from a wife, i.e. not bound to a wife? 1 Cor 7:27 (a previous state of being ‘bound’ need not be assumed; cp. Chion, Ep. 7, 3 [FONT=&quot]λελυμένως[/FONT]=[speak] in an unrestrained manner. See also Simplicius in Epict. p. 129, 3: ‘one who does not found a family is [FONT=&quot]εὔλυτος[/FONT]’, i.e. free). The pf. pass. ptc. IMg 12:1 is the negation of [FONT=&quot]δέδεμαι [/FONT]i.e. unbound. On ISm 6:2 s. comm. by WBauer. [FONT=&quot]ἐκ [/FONT]instead of [FONT=&quot]ἀπό[/FONT]: [FONT=&quot]λ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]τινὰ ἐκ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν [/FONT]free someone from sins Rv 1:5. [FONT=&quot]τινὰ ἐκ χειρὸς σιδήρου [/FONT]1 Cl 56:9 (Job 5:20). Bonds from pers. loose, remove [FONT=&quot](Χριστὸς) λύσει ἀφ᾽ ὑμῶν πάντα δεσμόν [/FONT]IPhld 8:1.

3. to reduce someth. by violence into its components, destroy (Iren. 1, 8, 1 [Harv. I 67, 9]), of a building tear down (Il. 16, 10; X., An. 2, 4, 17f; Herodian 7, 1, 7; 1 Esdr 1:52; Jos., Bell. 6, 32; SibOr 3, 409) [FONT=&quot]τ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]ναὸν τοῦτον [/FONT]J 2:19. [FONT=&quot]τὸ μεσότοιχον [/FONT]Eph 2:14 (in imagery).—[FONT=&quot]ἡ πρύμνα ἐλύετο [/FONT]the stern began to break up Ac 27:41 (PLond III 1164h, 19 p. 164 [III AD] uses [FONT=&quot]λ[/FONT]. of the dismantling of a ship). Of the parts of the universe, as it is broken up and destroyed in the final conflagration 2 Pt 3:10-12 (cp. Just., D. 5, 4; Tat. 25, 2).—Of a meeting (Il. 1, 305; Od. 2, 257; Apollon. Rhod. 1, 708; X., Cyr. 6, 1, 2; Diod. S. 19, 25, 7; EpArist 202; Jos., Ant. 14, 388 [FONT=&quot]λυθείσης τ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]βουλῆς[/FONT]) [FONT=&quot]λυθείσης τ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]συναγωγῆς [/FONT]when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up Ac 13:43.—[FONT=&quot]λυθεῖσα [/FONT]Ox 1081, 3 as edited (so also Otero I 82, no. 3) is incorrectly read instead of [FONT=&quot]ἐ]ληλύθεισαν[/FONT], s. s.v. [FONT=&quot]ἔρχομαι [/FONT]1a[FONT=&quot]ζ[/FONT].

4. to do away with, destroy, bring to an end, abolish (Socrat., Ep. 28, 2 and 4 ‘dispel’ slanders; Tat. 13, 1 [FONT=&quot]ψυχὴ [/FONT]… [FONT=&quot]λύεται μετὰ τοῦ σώματος[/FONT]; Mel., P. 43, 301 [FONT=&quot]ὁ τύπος ἐλύθη[/FONT]=the type was abolished [when the antitype made its appearance]) [FONT=&quot]λ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]τὰ ἔργα τ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]διαβόλου [/FONT]destroy the works of the devil 1J 3:8. Pass. [FONT=&quot]ἐλύετο πᾶσα μαγεία [/FONT]all magic began to be dissolved IEph 19:3. [FONT=&quot]λύεται ὁ ὄλεθρος ἐν τ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]ὁμονοίᾳ [/FONT]his destructiveness comes to an end through the unity 13:1.—[FONT=&quot]λ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]τ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]ὠδῖνας τ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]θανάτου [/FONT]must mean in its context: (God) brought the pangs to an end (IG IV2, 128, 49 [280 BC] [FONT=&quot]ἔλυσεν ὠδῖνα[/FONT]; Lycophron vs. 1198 [FONT=&quot]ὠδῖνας ἐξέλυσε γονῆς[/FONT]; Himerius, Or. 64 [=Or. 18], 1 [FONT=&quot]λυθῆναι τὰς ὠδῖνας [/FONT]of the cessation of labor pains; Job 39:2; Aelian, HA 12, 5 [FONT=&quot]τοὺς τῶν ὠδίνων λῦσαι δεσμούς[/FONT]; Eutecnius 3 p. 30, 26), so that the ‘birth’ which is to bring Christ to light may attain its goal (Haenchen ad loc.) Ac 2:24 (but s. [FONT=&quot]θάνατος [/FONT]1b[FONT=&quot]β[/FONT]; originally it is probable that ‘the bonds of death’ went with ‘loose’); Pol 1:2—Of commandments, laws, statements repeal, annul, abolish (Hdt. 1, 29, 1 [FONT=&quot]νόμον[/FONT]. Text fr. Nysa in Diod. S. 1, 27, 4 [FONT=&quot]ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐνομοθέτησα[/FONT], [FONT=&quot]οὐδεὶς αὐτὰ δύναται λῦσαι[/FONT]; Ael. Aristid. 30 p. 573 D.: [FONT=&quot]νόμους[/FONT]; Achilles Tat. 3, 3, 5; SIG 355, 21; 1219, 12; Jos., Ant. 11, 140) [FONT=&quot]ἐντολήν [/FONT]Mt 5:19. [FONT=&quot]τὸ σάββατον [/FONT]abolish the Sabbath J 5:18 (in John, Jesus is accused not of breaking the Sabbath, but of doing away w. it as an ordinance). Pass. (Dio Chrys. 58 [75], 10 [FONT=&quot]τ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]νόμου λυθέντος[/FONT]) 7:23; 10:35 (RJungkuntz, CTM 35, ’64, 556-65 [J 10:34-6]).—[FONT=&quot]λύειν τὸν Ἰησοῦν [/FONT]annul (the true teaching about) Jesus (by spurning it); (cp. Alex. Aphr., Fat. 26, II 2 p. 196, 18 [FONT=&quot]λ[/FONT]. [FONT=&quot]τινὰ τῶν Ζήνωνος λόγων[/FONT]=certain teachings of Zeno; opp. [FONT=&quot]ὁμολογεῖν[/FONT]: s. Iren. 1, 9, 3 [Harv. I 85, 10]) 1J 4:3 v.l. (for the rdg. [FONT=&quot]λύει [/FONT]s. Iren. 3, 16, 8 [Harv. II 90, 3]; Cl. Al., fgm. 35 p. 218, 10ff Stählin; Orig. XI [GCS] 152, 28; Socrates, HE 7, 32; EHarnack, SBBerlAk 1915, 556-61=Studien I ’31, 132-37; A Rahlfs, TLZ 40, 1915, 525; OPiper, JBL 66, ’47, 440-44 [exorcistic, break a spell]).
 
Thought the primary meaning is "loosed" it looks like most versions use "break" cause it fits the context better or is perhaps more descriptive of what is going on.

Here's the basic definition:

Definition: 1) to loose any person (or thing) tied or fastened
1a) bandages of the feet, the shoes,
1b) of a husband and wife joined together by the bond of matrimony
1c) of a single man, whether he has already had a wife or has not
yet married
2) to loose one bound, i.e. to unbind, release from bonds, set free
2a) of one bound up (swathed in bandages)
2b) bound with chains (a prisoner), discharge from prison, let go
3) to loosen, undo, dissolve, anything bound, tied, or compacted together
3a) an assembly, i.e. to dismiss, break up
3b) laws, as having a binding force, are likened to bonds
3c) to annul, subvert
3d) to do away with, to deprive of authority, whether by precept
or act
3e) to declare unlawful
3f) to loose what is compacted or built together, to break up,
demolish, destroy
3g) to dissolve something coherent into parts, to destroy
3h) metaph., to overthrow, to do away with a primary verb; to "loosen" (literally or figuratively):-break (up),
destroy, dissolve, (un-)loose, melt, put off.
 
Yes, "loose" is a perfectly valid translation of "λύσῃ" found in this passage.
Since v.18 speaks of the smallest part of the Law, I don't think v.19 would speak about a "total breaking" but rather a "loosening in any way" since the least bit of it carries importance.
 
I believe luw in this context might be best understood as "to loose from the responsibility of observing" the Law of God. To break then, as the KJV and other translations have it, is simply another way of saying to loose (excuse) oneself from observance.
 
Thanks for the comments. This shows that there is a range in how the Greek could be translated.

The use of "relax" would go beyond just the practice in violating a commandment but also the teaching concerning it. This would point to the contemporary treatment of the "nine" commandments as illustrated by the 2000 change in the Baptist Faith and Message article VIII which weakens the SBC stand on the Lord's Day into virtual non-existence.
 
I was wondering, in Matthew 5-7 we get the Sermon on the Mount. As I understand it, this sermon is meant to show Jesus as the new Moses. As the new Moses, he also gives the law... I mean he underlines the law, he intensify it. In that context the possible translation of the Greek word as "relaxes" may work, as Jesus is preaching here the opposite of relaxing the Law.
 
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