Matthew 9:36 - Exposition

But when he saw the multitudes . The substance of this verse is found in Mark 6:34 on the return of the apostles, equivalent to our Matthew 14:13 , seq. (cf. supra ) . According to the context, the multitudes here spoken of are those of the various cities and villages through which he had passed. He was moved with compassion on ( for , Revised Version) them ( ἐσπλαγχνίσθη περὶ αὐτῶν ). After the vivid Hebrew metaphor ( Genesis 43:30 ), which the LXX . seldom ventured to translate literally, but which is common in the New Testament writings. Because they fainted . So the Received Text ( ἐκλελυμένοι , cf. Matthew 15:32 ), but the Revised Version, with manuscripts, "were distressed" ( ἐσκυλμένοι ). σκύλλω , which in the classics is equivalent, to

( Mark 5:35 [parallel passage: Luke 8:49 ]; Luke 7:6 ). And were scattered abroad ; Revised Version simply, and scattered. (For the thought, cf. Ezekiel 34:5 ; also Numbers 27:17 ; 2 Chronicles 18:16 ; and its parallel passage, 1 Kings 22:17 .) The two participles express different aspects of their now normal and continuous state ( ἦσαν ἐσκυλμένοι καὶ ἐριμμένοι ) . Yet the Authorized Version margin, "and lay down," is probably nearer the meaning of ἐριμμένοι here than the Authorized Version and Revised Version; cf. 1 Macc. 11:4 (" They showed him the temple of Dagon burnt... and the bodies cast out" ); Jeremiah 14:16 (" The people … shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem … and they shall have none to bury them" ), whine the thought is hardly "scattered," but "cast out and lying prostrate." So here the people are pictured as sheep harassed and prostrated by fatigue, etc.; cf. Vulgate, vexati et jacentes. As sheep having no shepherd ; not having a shepherd (Revised Version); cf. the Old Testament passages just referred to.