An Exegetical Examination of κοπιουσιν in Matthew 6:28
This exegetical study of the textual variant κοπιουσιν in Matthew 6:28 is based on a b-greek discussion from December 28, 2003. The initial query concerned the reading κοπιουσιν found in Codex Vaticanus (B) in Matthew 6:28, as noted in NA27, where the standard reading is κοπιωσιν (or κοπιᾷ in later editions and SBLGNT). The inquirer questioned whether a verb κοπιοω existed in Greek, or if this was a scribal error. Further questions explored whether there was a historical period where –αω verbs contracted as –οω verbs, or if the –ου– ending was used to distinguish present indicative from present subjunctive.
The main exegetical issue under investigation is the morphological and textual validity of the variant κοπιουσιν in Matthew 6:28. Specifically, the discussion seeks to determine if this form represents a legitimate grammatical construction within Koine Greek, possibly indicative of a phonological or morphological shift in verb paradigms, or if it should be understood as a scribal error. This impacts the critical apparatus’s inclusion of the variant and its potential implications for the interpretation of the passage concerning the effortless existence of the lilies.
Καταμάθετε τὰ κρίνα τοῦ ἀγροῦ πῶς αὐξάνει· οὐ κοπιᾷ οὐδὲ νήθει. (Matthew 6:28, Nestle 1904)
Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):
- The SBLGNT (2010) text for Matthew 6:28 reads κοπιᾷ, aligning with the Nestle 1904 text and not incorporating the variant κοπιουσιν into its main reading.
- SBLGNT therefore follows the widely accepted textual tradition, indicating that the variant κοπιουσιν, while attested in Codex Vaticanus (B), is not considered the primary or original reading.
Textual Criticism (NA28) and Lexical Notes (KITTEL, BDAG)
The Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece (NA28) presents κοπιᾷ as the primary reading in Matthew 6:28, derived from the verb κοπιάω. The critical apparatus of NA28 notes the variant κοπιουσιν as found in Codex Vaticanus (B). This variant represents a 3rd person plural present indicative form if derived from a hypothetical verb κοπιοω, or a morphological anomaly if related to κοπιάω.
Lexically, the verb κοπιάω (kopiaō) is well-attested in the New Testament. BDAG defines κοπιάω as “to grow tired, weary,” or “to labor, toil, strive.” In Matthew 6:28, it refers to the strenuous effort involved in human work, contrasting with the lilies’ natural growth. KITTEL’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT) further elaborates on κόπος and κοπιάω, highlighting the concept of intense, often wearisome labor, which is presented as unnecessary for the care of God’s creation in this context.
The variant κοπιουσιν has been a point of grammatical and textual discussion. Blass-Debrunner-Funk (B-D-F) § 90 discusses “Confusion of paradigms in –αν and –ειν,” noting “some traces in Koine of a mixture of –αν and –ειν, resulting in a single paradigm in which ου appears for ω.” However, B-D-F incorrectly cites Matthew 6:28 D for this example, whereas the variant κοπιουσιν is primarily associated with Codex Vaticanus (B). While B-D-F suggests a broader phenomenon, the consensus among scholars is that there is no distinct Greek verb κοπιοω. Thus, κοπιουσιν cannot be derived from a regular –οω verb conjugation.
Scholarly opinion, as reflected in the b-greek discussion, largely regards κοπιουσιν as a scribal error, rather than a legitimate morphological form or a deliberate attempt to distinguish indicative from subjunctive. The suggestion that –αω contract verbs used –ου– to distinguish present indicative from present subjunctive is generally refuted, as Greek speakers did not typically invent new forms where contractions produced identical sounds. Furthermore, the prosodic feature of diectasis in Homeric Greek, which involves re-lengthening ω (omega) into οω for metrical purposes (e.g., τιμοωσιν from τιμαουσιν), is a distinct poetic phenomenon and not applicable to the Koine prose of the New Testament or the specific form κοπιουσιν. While other instances of such morphological fluidity exist (e.g., κοπιουσασ in Rom 16:12 in some manuscripts), the evidence for a systematic paradigm shift that would validate κοπιουσιν in Matthew 6:28 is weak. The inclusion of this variant in NA27’s apparatus primarily serves to document textual diversity, rather than endorsing its grammatical validity.
Translation Variants and Grammatical & Rhetorical Analysis
The standard reading in Matthew 6:28, οὐ κοπιᾷ οὐδὲ νήθει, employs the 3rd person singular present indicative of κοπιάω, meaning “it (the lily) does not toil, nor does it spin.” This singular form grammatically agrees with the singular subject (the lily) implied by the preceding context (τὰ κρίνα … πῶς αὐξάνει, “the lilies… how it grows”). Rhetorically, this highlights the individual effortlessness of each bloom, emphasizing God’s direct provision for every part of creation.
The variant κοπιουσιν, if it were grammatically valid, would be a 3rd person plural present indicative. This form, in the context of “the lilies,” could refer to the lilies collectively, implying “they (the lilies) do not toil, nor do they spin.” While the plural subject “lilies” is present in the beginning of the verse (τὰ κρίνα), the intervening singular verb αὐξάνει (it grows) makes the subsequent singular κοπιᾷ more syntactically coherent. If κοπιουσιν were accepted, it would introduce a minor shift in number from αὐξάνει, though not grammatically impossible given the collective nature of “lilies.” However, as established in the textual criticism section, the consensus is that κοπιουσιν is a scribal error, lacking a valid morphological basis in Koine Greek for the verb κοπιάω.
Therefore, the grammatical and rhetorical analysis must proceed from the understanding that κοπιουσιν is an anomaly. Its presence in Codex Vaticanus likely represents a mistaken scribal transcription or an orthographical variant that did not become standardized. It does not reflect a distinct grammatical nuance intended by the original author or a viable alternative meaning to be preserved in translation. The singular form κοπιᾷ maintains a clear and consistent grammatical flow, emphasizing the singular nature of divine provision for each instance of creation.
Conclusions and Translation Suggestions
Based on the textual and grammatical analysis, the variant κοπιουσιν in Matthew 6:28 is best understood as a scribal error in Codex Vaticanus (B), lacking a consistent morphological basis in Koine Greek for the verb κοπιάω. There is no evidence for a verb κοπιοω, nor for a systematic use of –ου– endings to distinguish indicative from subjunctive in –αω contract verbs in this period. The standard reading, κοπιᾷ, remains the most textually robust and grammatically coherent option, aligning with the singular subject implied by the preceding verb αὐξάνει and the singular emphasis in the passage.
Given these conclusions, the translation of Matthew 6:28 should reflect the established reading. The following suggestions aim for accuracy and nuance:
- “Observe the lilies of the field, how it grows; it does not toil nor does it spin.”
This translation prioritizes strict grammatical agreement with the singular form αὐξάνει and κοπιᾷ, highlighting the individual nature of each lily’s effortless existence. - “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they do not labor or make clothing.”
This translation offers a slightly more interpretative rendering of αὐξάνει and κοπιᾷ as plural in English, while still adhering to the sense of the singular verb form in Greek, acknowledging the collective “lilies” as the overarching subject. “Make clothing” is a more dynamic translation of νήθει (to spin). - “Look at the wildflowers, how they flourish; they neither work hard nor weave.”
This rendering provides a more idiomatic and contemporary English expression for the passage, retaining the core meaning of effortless growth and absence of human-like toil, while acknowledging the plural “wildflowers” as a collective subject for the singular verb.