What is the true meaning of a camel not fitting through the eye of a needle?

Question

God bless all.

Answer 1

That it's something impossible.

Answer 2

The original Greek tells not of a camel, but a rope (kamilos ). When it was translated into Latin, kamilos was confused with kamelos ( camel).

This translation error has been perpetuated into almost every language in which the Scriptures has been printed.

The Scriptural statements are almost identical to each other in English. There is some variation in Greek. The needle in MattithYAH [Matthew] and YAHchanan Mark [Mark] is a rafic. In Luke it is a belone. Both refer to needles used in sewing.

There are a few variations of the following. The usual explanation of the meaning of the text, is as follows:


There was in a Jerusalem city wall, a narrow gate known as the "eye of the needle". It was very difficult for a camel to pass through this gate. Either the camel would have to be unloaded or pass through on its knees.

There is a slight problem with this explanation, in that there is no evidence there ever was such a gate.

In the fifteenth century, some theologians presented the notion that the "eye of the needle" was to mean a small gate entrance to a city. Apparently the architect designing the gates, forgot about all the camels that needed to get inside the city!

Luke clears this up, by carefully using the Greek word for a surgeon's needle, nullifying this interpretation.
YAHshua selected the eye of the needle because it was the smallest opening. The rope because it was an impossible situation.

"... Again I tell you, it is easier for a rope to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Yahweh." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be redeemed?" YAHshua looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with Yahweh all things are possible."

Answer 3

The gate to the city was known as the needle's eye, it was arched and low. Camels had difficulty getting through because of the huge loads they carried and could only do so if they bent their knees. Even then it was very difficult.

Knowing how difficult this was for camels Jesus was saying that it was still easier for the camel to get through the gate than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. He said it would be difficult NOT impossible. If a rich man does not put his riches before his love of Christ then the rich man could go to heaven but if his riches get in the way of giving honour and praise where it is due (to God) the he will spend eternity without God.

Answer 4

The speech quality would be hyperbole.

In an illustration pertaining to entry into the Kingdom, Jesus Christ said: “It is easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God.” (Mt 19:24; Mr 10:25)

Some have held the needle’s eye to be a small gate through which a camel, if relieved of its load, could pass with difficulty. However, the Greek word for “needle” found at Matthew 19:24 and Mark 10:25 (rha·phis′) is drawn from a verb meaning “sew.”

Also, the Greek word appearing in the parallel passage of Luke 18:25 (be·lo′ne) is used to refer to a literal surgical needle. Regarding these Greek terms Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words notes: “The idea of applying ‘the needle’s eye’ to small gates seems to be a modern one; there is no ancient trace of it. The Lord’s object in the statement is to express human impossibility and there is no need to endeavour to soften the difficulty by taking the needle to mean anything more than the ordinary instrument.”—1981, Vol. 3, p. 106.

As a hyperbole, the illustration emphasized how difficult it would be for rich men not simply to begin serving God but actually to enter into the Kingdom.—1Ti 6:17-19; Lu 13:24.


Another example,

(Matthew 18:6) 6 But whoever stumbles one of these little ones who put faith in me, it is more beneficial for him to have hung around his neck a millstone such as is turned by an *** and to be sunk in the wide, open sea.

These millstones were large, into the hundreds of pounds. The use of the term shows the "heavy" judgment that would be meted out.

Answer 5

In those days the city was surrounded by a wall for protection and it had a big gate to come in and out, but at night the gate was closed and a small doorways was the only entrance available and a person with a camel had to unload the camel and the camel had to crawl through this small doorway... The doorway was called the "the needle gate"

In other words, Jesus is saying that it was easier for a camel to go through the needle gate than a person with ill gotten gains to enter into salvation. A person that has ill gotten gains needs to unload their ill gotten riches and repent in order to for salvation.

Answer 6

It is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for rich man to enter heaven.

Answer 7

The eye of the needle in Jesus' time was a very small entrance into the city. At night the main gates were closed for security and the only way a person could enter is through this small tunnel that was barely big enough for a camel to fit through. This made it easier for the guards to know who was entering the city at night and what they were bringing in. Anyone who had baggage on their camel had to unload it and carry it through. Anyone who was unwilling to unload their camels had to wait outside of the city until the gates were opened in the morning.

Jesus meant that it was very hard, but not impossible for a rich man to enter heaven. That man just needed to be willing to unload his worldly "things" and trust God for all of his needs to be met.

Answer 8

Jesus meant a literal sewing needle and a real camel. He was using these to emphasize the impossibility of something. But did Jesus mean that no rich man could ever get into the Kingdom? No, for Jesus’ statement was not meant to be taken literally. He was using hyperbole to illustrate that just as a literal camel cannot go through the eye of an actual sewing needle, it is impossible for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom if he continues to cling to his riches and does not put God first in his life.—Luke 13:24; 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

Answer 9

It was an example of an analogy of impossibility.

But in context with the last few verses before and after this one in the bible, it means that no rich man will ever get to heaven. Ever. But just how much money makes a man rich?

Is it 1 million dollars? A couple thousand? A hundred bucks? 20? 15 cents?

Christians, you might as well just give all your money away and live a life of poverty while spreading the word of your God. You can meat a lot of people out in the streets.

Jesus said you'll never get to heaven if you're rich and doesn't specify the amount that does makes you rich. Better play it safe and go broke.

Answer 10

It means that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle because a rich man Money is his God. He doesn't need to pray or seek God . I think! You know I am going to ask my pastor this Sunday. will get back to you.

Answer 11

Supposedly, there was an actual gate in the city of Jerusalem called "The eye of a needle," because it was so tiny and narrow. Camels would have to be unloaded or some would get on their knees and crawl through the opening to get through.