Sometimes, translating Greek is straightforward. But other times, translation is complex and/or near impossible. Not because the grammar is challenging but because you have to think long and hard about how to convey what the Greek meant. Today's example will outline why literal, word-for-word translation is a myth.

Jesus tells us:

But I say to you that everyone [πᾶς, pas] who looks at a woman [γυναῖκα, gunē] with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28, ESV)

Since you can only commit adultery if you're married, the ESV et al. don't (and can't) properly convey the Greek in a "literal" word-for-word translation. For instance, if the man and woman were both single, then this is not a true statement. Gunē can mean woman or wife. Therefore, for this to be accurate, the translation would have to read:

But I say to you that everyone [who is married] that looks at a woman, [or] anyone who looks at a married woman with lustful intent, has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Of course, that's not very word-for-word and literal. The literal police will surely give you a ticket with that translation. However, it is what Jesus was asserting, but it was simpler to say it in Greek. If I was translating this "literally" and word-for-word, I would probably go with:

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a married woman to lust after her, at that moment, he has committed adultery with her in his heart.

For further evidence on why we can't translate the Bible "literally," Bill Mounce makes excellent points on literal translation on his YouTube channel.


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