Matthew 23:8
 
Matthew 23:8
(KJV) But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
(1611 KJV) But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, euen Christ, and all ye are brethren.
(1587 Geneva Bible) But be not ye called, Rabbi: for one is your doctour, to wit, Christ, and all ye are brethren.
(1526 Tyndale) But ye shall not suffre youre selves to be called Rabi. For one is youre master that is to wyt Christ and all ye are brethre.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(CSB) “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters.
(NIV) "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.
(NASV) "But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.
(THE MESSAGE) "Don't let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates.
(AMP) But you are not to be called rabbi (teacher), for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers.
(NLV) “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.
(ESV) But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.
(CEV) But none of you should be called a teacher. You have only one teacher, and all of you are like brothers and sisters.
(NCV) "But you must not be called 'Teacher,' because you have only one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters together.
(1901 ASV) But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren.
(NLV) "But you are not to be called teacher. There is only one Teacher, and all of you are brothers.
(HCSB) "But as for you, do not be called 'Rabbi,' because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
(RSV) But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren.
(NAB-Roman Catholic) As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) But YOU, do not YOU be called Rabbi, for one is YOUR teacher, whereas all YOU are brothers.
 
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
umeiV de mh klhqhte rabbi eiV gar estin umwn o kaqhghthV o cristoV panteV de umeiV adeljoi este
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
umeiV de mh klhqhte rabbi eiV gar estin umwn o didaskaloV panteV de umeiV adeljoi este
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century
L 019 - Seventh century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
K 017 - Ninth century
Gamma 036 - Ninth or Tenth century
Delta 037 - Ninth century
13 (Minuscule) - Eighth century
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “even Christ”
Greisbach, Johann - 1805
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Wordsworth, Christopher - 1856 revised in 1870
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
 
Affected Teaching
The Pharisees had loved titles and Rabbi was one of the titles they coveted. It meant “my master.” The Lord Jesus Christ had told them not to be called Rabbi because they too had a master in Heaven and that was the Lord Jesus Christ. The modern versions omit the specific reference to Christ as being “the Master.” This opens the door for anyone to claim the title of Master. That title belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ alone and not to any earthly person. The title Rabbi at first was one of respect but as time went on it became the title for one who was in charge of a synagogue. Christ had forbade His disciples to look to an earthly man as their master, since Christ was their Master. Once again the modern versions omit the name of Christ robbing Him of His title as Master. The King James once again proves its superiority by proclaiming Christ as Master of His redeemed children.

Back