Philip W. Comfort on Matthew 11:19

  

Matthew 11:19

 

WH NU            ἐδικαιώθη ἡ σοφία ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων αὐτῆς

“wisdom is justified by her works”

 

א B* W syr^h, cop MSS^{according to Jerome} (f¹³ it^k add παντων = “all [her works]”)

nkjvmg rsv nrsv esv nasb niv tniv neb reb njb nab nlt hcsb net

 

variant/TR       εδικαιωθη η σοφια απο των τεκνων αυτης

“wisdom is justified by her children”

 

B² C D L Θ f¹ 33 Maj syr^c,

kjv nkjv rsvmg nrsvmg esvmg njbmg hcsbmg netmg

 

The WH NU reading has superior manuscript support inasmuch as it is found in א B* W, several early versions (notably it^k, syr, cop), and was known by Jerome to be the reading in some manuscripts (which had to be earlier than ca. 400). The variant has support from later manuscripts and is probably the result of a scribal attempt to conform this verse to Luke 7:35, a parallel passage. Wisdom, though momentarily jeered, is always proven correct by her future deeds. The emphasis in Luke is on Wisdom’s future generations. (Philip W. Comfort, New Testament Text and Translation Commentary: Commentary on the Variant Readings of the Ancient New Testament Manuscripts and How They Relate to the Major English Translations [Carol Stream, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008], 33)