Lexical Summary trupéma: Hole, opening Original Word: τρύπημα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance eye. From a derivative of the base of trumalia; an aperture, i.e. A needle's eye -- eye. see GREEK trumalia NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originvariant reading for tréma, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5169: τρύπηματρύπημα, τρυπήματος, τό (τρυπάω to bore), a hole (eye of needle): Matthew 19:24 (here WH text τρῆμα, which see). (Aristophanes, Plutarch, Geoponica, others.) Topical Lexicon Concept and Imagery Strong’s Greek 5169 designates the “eye,” “opening,” or “small aperture” of a sewing needle. In both New Testament settings it is employed figuratively by Jesus Christ to present an impossibility from a human standpoint, using the largest common beast of burden (the camel) contrasted with the tiniest commonly known opening (the needle’s eye). The stark contrast underscores the insurmountable barrier that wealth-dependence erects between a sinner and the kingdom of God. Biblical Occurrences 1. Matthew 19:24 – “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (The parallel saying in Mark 10:25 contains the identical illustration but employs a slightly different lexical form.) Context in the Synoptic Gospels In each Gospel the statement follows the encounter with the rich ruler who, though morally upright by outward standards, refuses to part with his great possessions. Jesus responds by exposing the false security wealth can foster and the spiritual blindness it can produce. The disciples, stunned, ask, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus directs them away from human competence to divine grace: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Theological Themes • Human inability and divine omnipotence The metaphor seals the truth that salvation cannot be secured by personal merit or resources. The richest man in the world is no closer to forcing his way into God’s reign than a camel is to slipping through a needle’s eye. Only God’s regenerating work can accomplish the impossible task (John 1:12-13; Ephesians 2:8-9). • Stewardship versus idolatry Scripture does not condemn wealth per se (Abraham, Job, Joseph of Arimathea), yet it consistently warns of its idolatrous pull (Proverbs 11:4; 1 Timothy 6:17-19). Jesus’ hyperbolic imagery presses believers to examine whether earthly riches have become a rival master (Matthew 6:24). • Kingdom entrance as a gracious gift The “eye of a needle” in both sayings highlights entrance language: “to enter the kingdom of God.” The metaphor thus resonates with John 3:5 (“unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter”) and Hebrews 10:20 (“a new and living way”). All underline the necessity of divine initiative. Historical and Cultural Reflections Rabbinic writings contain occasional hyperbolic illustrations—such as an elephant going through the eye of a needle—to describe impossible feats, suggesting Jesus’ imagery would have been recognizable to His audience. Medieval speculation about a low city gate named “Needle’s Eye” lacks historical evidence; the earliest allusion appears centuries after Christ and serves more to soften the saying than to illuminate it. The Gospel writers present the statement as deliberate extremity, not as a call for partial self-reformation but as a summons to surrender all confidence in riches. Reception in the Early Church Patristic commentators (e.g., Augustine, Chrysostom) uniformly read the camel-and-needle proverb as a warning against the spiritual perils of wealth and an affirmation of saving grace. They appealed to it during seasons of persecution and material loss, exhorting believers to hold possessions lightly while laying up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:20). Pastoral and Missional Application • Discipleship calls for open-handed generosity. Churches must teach faithful stewardship, freeing believers from the bondage of accumulation so they may invest in gospel mission, care for the poor, and model kingdom values (Acts 4:32-35; 2 Corinthians 8–9). • Evangelism among the affluent requires deep conviction that salvation is God’s work. Rather than diluting Christ’s demands, missionaries and pastors can present the full call to repentance, confident that the Spirit can pierce even wealth-hardened hearts. • Social ethics grounded in eternal priorities. The passage shapes a biblical worldview that prizes righteousness over riches, encouraging advocacy for just economic practices while avoiding both materialism and envy. Intertextual Echoes • Proverbs 30:8-9 – A prayer to be spared both poverty and riches lest one deny or profane the LORD. Summary The scarcity of Strong’s 5169 in the New Testament belies its significant theological weight. The “eye of a needle” functions as a vivid emblem of human impossibility and divine capability. By confronting the idol of wealth, Jesus directs every age toward humble dependence on the saving power of God, who alone can thread the unthreadable and bring sinners into His everlasting kingdom. Forms and Transliterations τρηματος τρήματος τρυπήματος trematos trēmatos trḗmatos trupematos trupēmatos trypematos trypēmatos trypḗmatosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 19:24 N-GNSGRK: κάμηλον διὰ τρυπήματος ῥαφίδος διελθεῖν KJV: through the eye of a needle, INT: a camel through [the] eye of a needle to pass Luke 18:25 N-GNS Strong's Greek 5169 |
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