Matthew 9:17

An Exegetical Analysis of καινος and νεος in Matthew 9:17

This exegetical study of An Exegetical Analysis of καινος and νεος in Matthew 9:17 is based on a b-greek discussion from Mon Sep 13 1999. The initial inquiry concerns the semantic distinction between the Greek adjectives καινος and νεος as they appear in Matthew 9:17, specifically in the phrase `αλλα βαλλουσιν οινον νεον εισ ασκουσ καινουσ` (“but they put new wine into new skins”). A secondary question probes whether καινος can imply “renewed” rather than merely “new.”

The central exegetical issue lies in discerning the precise semantic nuances of νεος and καινος, two Greek terms often translated as “new,” and understanding how their distinct meanings illuminate Jesus’ parabolic teaching in Matthew 9:17. The passage describes the incompatibility of “new wine” with “old wineskins” and the necessity of “new wineskins” for “new wine.” A clear understanding of these adjectives is crucial for grasping the theological implications of Jesus’ teaching regarding the nature of the Kingdom of God and its relationship to existing religious traditions. The discussion aims to clarify whether these terms refer to temporal newness, qualitative newness, or a combination thereof, and how this distinction impacts the interpretation of the metaphor.

Greek text (Nestle 1904)

ἀλλὰ βάλλουσιν οἶνον νέον εἰς ἀσκοὺς καινούς.

Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):

• No key differences were found in the specified clause (`ἀλλὰ βάλλουσιν οἶνον νέον εἰς ἀσκοὺς καινούς`) between the Nestle 1904 text provided and the SBLGNT (2010). Both texts present the same wording for this particular phrase.

Textual criticism (NA28), lexical notes (KITTEL, BDAG):

Regarding Matthew 9:17, the critical text of NA28 (28th edition) also presents `ἀλλὰ βάλλουσιν οἶνον νέον εἰς ἀσκοὺς καινούς` without significant variants for the adjectival forms νεον and καινους in this clause. The textual tradition for this specific phrase is remarkably stable.

Lexical analysis reveals important distinctions between νεος and καινος:

• νεος (neos):
  • **BDAG:** Primarily denotes “new” in the sense of youth, recency, or newness in time. It often contrasts with παλαιος (palaios), meaning “old” in terms of age or elapsed time. It refers to something that has recently come into existence or is in its early stages.
  • **KITTEL (TDNT, s.v. νεος):** Emphasizes newness in time or age, focusing on the freshness of something recently created or born. It implies youth, immaturity, or the beginning stage of something. When applied to wine, it signifies wine that is young, recently produced, and still undergoing fermentation, hence its vigorous and expansive properties.
• καινος (kainos):
  • **BDAG:** Signifies “new” in terms of quality, kind, or character; something fresh, unprecedented, or superior, often implying a qualitative improvement over what existed before. It contrasts with ἀρχαῖος (archaios, “ancient”) or παλαιος (palaios, “old”) not necessarily in age, but in nature.
  • **KITTEL (TDNT, s.v. καινος):** Highlights newness in quality, emphasizing that something is new in kind or nature, distinct from the old. It denotes something fresh, untried, or superior, and often carries a connotation of qualitative renewal or transformation. When applied to wineskins, it refers to skins that are fresh, pliable, and therefore suitable for the vigorous expansion of new, fermenting wine, as opposed to old, rigid skins which would burst. The suggestion that καινος might mean “renewed” is partially captured by its emphasis on qualitative newness and freshness, though its primary meaning is “new in kind,” rather than “restored to a previous state.”

Translation Variants

with grammatical & rhetorical analysis.

The phrase under examination is `ἀλλὰ βάλλουσιν οἶνον νέον εἰς ἀσκοὺς καινούς` (“but they put new wine into new skins”).

• **Grammatical Analysis:** Both νεον and καινους are adjectives in the accusative masculine plural, agreeing with their respective nouns: οἶνον (wine) and ἀσκοὺς (wineskins). The verb βάλλουσιν (“they put”) governs the direct object οἶνον νεον and the prepositional phrase εἰς ἀσκοὺς καινούς, indicating the destination. The syntax is straightforward, presenting a clear statement about the appropriate pairing of wine and containers.
• **Rhetorical Analysis:** The passage employs a powerful metaphor to illustrate Jesus’ teaching on the incompatibility of his new message and ministry with the rigid, established forms of Judaism. The distinction between νεος and καινος is central to the rhetorical force of the parable.
  • The “wine” is described as νεον, emphasizing its newness in time, its youth, and its active, fermenting nature. This new wine represents the vibrant, dynamic, and expansive reality of the Kingdom of God and Jesus’ new covenant. Its very youth implies a strong, potentially explosive, process of change and growth.
  • The “wineskins” are described as καινους, emphasizing their newness in quality or kind. A new wineskin is fresh, pliable, and elastic, capable of expanding with the fermentation of young wine. In contrast, old wineskins (implied by the preceding verse, Mt 9:16, where παλαιον is used) are stiff and inelastic, unable to accommodate the expansion of fermenting wine and thus prone to bursting. The choice of καινος here highlights the need for a qualitatively different, adaptable structure or paradigm to contain the new spiritual reality.

The rhetorical impact is that the new, dynamic reality of the Gospel (νεος wine) cannot be confined within old, inflexible structures (παλαιος wineskins) without destroying both. It requires new, qualitatively suitable structures (καινος wineskins) that can adapt and grow with it. This nuanced distinction, often lost in English translations that use a single word “new” for both, is vital for a complete understanding of Jesus’ teaching on the discontinuity and qualitative difference introduced by his ministry.

Conclusions and Translation Suggestions

The detailed lexical and rhetorical analysis confirms that the choice of νεος for “wine” and καινος for “wineskins” in Matthew 9:17 is deliberate and semantically significant. νεος underscores the temporal newness, youth, and dynamic, fermenting character of the wine, while καινος emphasizes the qualitative newness, freshness, and pliability of the wineskins, rendering them suitable for the new wine. This distinction is crucial for understanding the metaphorical implications of Jesus’ teaching regarding the new dispensation he inaugurates.

1. But they put young wine into fresh wineskins.

   This translation uses “young” to highlight the temporal newness and active state of the wine, and “fresh” to denote the qualitative newness and pliability of the skins.

2. Rather, they pour newly made wine into new-quality wineskins.

   This option explicitly differentiates the temporal aspect of the wine (“newly made”) from the qualitative aspect of the wineskins (“new-quality”), emphasizing their suitability.

3. Instead, they place recently produced wine into unworn wineskins.

   Here, “recently produced” stresses the recency and vitality of the wine, while “unworn” conveys the idea of the skins being unused, supple, and therefore qualitatively appropriate for the fermenting liquid.