VersePhraseExplanation
Mat 5:29pluck it out ... cut it offThese commands are exaggerations for a person doing whatever he needs to do to stop sinning.
Mat 5:30pluck it out ... cut it offThese commands are exaggerations for a person doing whatever he needs to do to stop sinning.
Mat 9:35all the citiesThe word "all" is an exaggeration to emphasize how very many cities Jesus went to. He did not necessarily go to every one of them. Alternate Translation: "many of the cities"
Mat 16:26if he gains the whole worldThe words "the whole world" are an exaggeration for great riches. Alternate Translation: "if he gains everything he desires"
Mat 18:8If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away from youJesus exaggerates here to emphasize that people must do anything necessary to remove from their lives what causes them to sin.
Mat 18:9If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from youThe command to destroy the eye, perhaps the most important part of the body, is probably an exaggeration for his hearers to do anything necessary to remove from their lives anything that causes them to sin.
Mat 19:23it is easier ... kingdom of GodJesus uses an exaggeration to illustrate how very difficult it is for rich people to enter the kingdom of God.
Mat 19:24it is easier ... kingdom of GodJesus uses an exaggeration to illustrate how very difficult it is for rich people to enter the kingdom of God.
Mat 23:9call no man on earth your fatherJesus is using hyperbole to tell his hearers that they must not allow even the most important people to be more important to them than God is. Alternate Translation: "do not call any man on earth your father" or "do not say that any man on earth is your father"
Mrk 1:32all who were sick or possessed by demonsThe word "all" is an exaggeration to emphasize the great number of people who came. Alternate Translation: "many who were sick or possessed by demons"
Mrk 1:37Everyone is looking for youThe word "Everyone" is an exaggeration to emphasize the very many people who were looking for Jesus. Alternate Translation: "Many people are looking for you"
Mrk 1:39He went throughout all of GalileeThe words "throughout all" are an exaggeration used to emphasize that Jesus went to many locations during his ministry. Alternate Translation: "He went to many places in Galilee"
Mrk 1:45from everywhereThe word "everywhere" is a hyperbole used to emphasize how very many places the people came from. Alternate Translation: "from all over the region"
Mrk 4:17no rootThis is an exaggeration to emphasize how shallow the roots were.
Mrk 4:34he explained everythingHere "everything" is an exaggeration. He explained all his parables. Alternate Translation: "he explained all his parables"
Mrk 8:3they may faintPossible meanings are 1) literal, "they may lose consciousness temporarily" or 2) hyperbolic exaggeration, "they may become weak."
Mrk 8:16no breadThe word "no" is an exaggeration. The disciples did have one loaf of bread ([Mark 8:14](./14.md)), but that was not much different from having no bread at all. Alternate Translation: "very little bread"
Mrk 8:36to gain the whole worldThe words "the whole world" are an exaggeration for great riches. Alternate Translation: "to gain everything he ever wanted"
Mrk 10:25It is easier ... kingdom of GodJesus uses an exaggeration to emphasize how very difficult it is for rich people to get into the kingdom of God.
Mrk 14:34even to the point of deathJesus is exaggerating because he feels so much distress and sorrow that he feels like he is about to die, though he knows he will not die until after the sun rises.
Luk 1:65all who lived around themThe word "all" here is a generalization. Alternate Translation: "those who lived around them" or "many who lived in that area"
Luk 2:37never left the templeThis is probably an exaggeration meaning that she spent so much time in the temple that it seemed as though she never left it. Alternate Translation: "was always at the temple" or "was often at the temple"
Luk 9:58nowhere to lay his headnowhere to rest my head or "nowhere to sleep." Jesus exaggerates to emphasize that he has no permanent home and that people did not often invite him to stay with them.
Luk 12:1they trampled on each otherThis is probably an exaggeration to emphasize that so many people were crowded close together that they would step on each other. Alternate Translation: "they were stepping on each other" or "they were stepping on one another's feet"
Luk 12:46cut him in pieces and appoint a place for him with the unfaithfulPossible meanings are 1) this is an exaggeration for the master dealing out harsh punishment toward the slave, or 2) this describes the manner in which the servant will be executed and buried as punishment.
Luk 13:19a big treeThe word "big" is an exaggeration that contrasts the tree with the tiny seed. Alternate Translation: "a very large shrub"
Luk 14:26If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father ... he cannot be my discipleHere, "hate" is an exaggeration for the lesser love people are to show to people other than Jesus. Alternate Translation: "If anyone comes to me and does not love me more than he loves his father ... he cannot be my disciple" or "Only if a person loves me more than he loves his own father ... can he be my disciple"
Luk 15:1all the tax collectorsThis is an exaggeration to stress that there were very many of them. Alternate Translation: "many tax collectors"
Luk 15:7ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repentJesus uses sarcasm to say that the Pharisees were wrong to think that they did not need to repent. Your language may have a different way to express this idea. Alternate Translation: "ninety-nine persons like you, who think they are righteous and do not need to repent"
Luk 15:30with prostitutesPossible meanings are 1) he assumed this is how his brother spent the money or 2) he speaks of prostitutes to exaggerate the sinfulness of his brother's actions in the "country far away" ([Luke 15:13](./13.md)).
Luk 17:10We are unworthy servantsThis is an exaggeration to express that they did not do anything worthy of praise. Alternate Translation: "We are ordinary slaves" or "We servants do not deserve your praise"
Luk 18:25a camel to go through a needle's eyeIt is impossible for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle. Jesus was probably using hyperbole to mean it is extremely difficult for a rich man to enter God's kingdom.
Luk 19:44They will not leave one stone upon anotherThey will not leave any of the stones in place. This is a hyperbole to express that the enemies will completely destroy the city, which is built of stones.
Luk 21:3this poor widow put in more than all of themGod considers her gift, a small amount of money, more significant than the large amounts of money the men gave. Alternate Translation: "the small gift of this widow is more valuable than the larger gifts of the rich men"
Luk 21:17You will be hated by everyoneThis can be translated in active form. The word "everyone" emphasizes how many people will hate the disciples, either through 1) exaggeration Alternate Translation: "It will seem like you are hated by everyone" or "It will seem like everyone hates you" or 2) a generalization. Alternate Translation: "You will be hated by most people" or "Most people will hate you"
Luk 21:24into all the nationsThe word "all" is an exaggeration to emphasize that they will be led into many countries. Alternate Translation: "into many other countries"
Luk 21:38All of the peopleThe word "all" is probably an exaggeration to emphasize that the crowd was very large. Alternate Translation: "A very large number of people in the city" or "Almost everyone in the city"
Luk 24:29they compelled himYou may need to make explicit what they compelled him to do. This is probably an exaggeration to show that they needed to speak with him for a long time before they could change his mind. The word "compel" means to use physical force, but it seems that they persuaded him using only words. Alternate Translation: "they were able to persuade him to stay"
Luk 24:53continually in the templeThis is an exaggeration to express that they went into the temple courtyard every day.
Jhn 3:32no one accepts his testimonyHere John exaggerates to emphasize that only a few people believe Jesus. Alternate Translation: "very few people believe him"
Jhn 4:29Come, see a man who told me everything that I have ever doneThe Samaritan woman exaggerates to show that she is impressed by how much Jesus knows about her. Alternate Translation: "Come see a man who knows very much about me, even though I have never met him before"
Jhn 4:39He told me everything that I have doneThis is an exaggeration. The woman was impressed by how much Jesus knew about her. Alternate Translation: "He told me many things about my life"
Jhn 11:49You know nothingThis is an exaggeration that Caiaphas uses to insult his hearers. Alternate Translation: "You do not understand what is happening" or "You speak as though you know nothing"
Jhn 12:19see, the world has gone after himThe Pharisees use this exaggeration to express their shock that so many people have come out to meet Jesus. Alternate Translation: "It looks like everyone is becoming his disciple"
Jhn 13:35everyoneYou may need to make explicit that this exaggeration refers only to those people who see how the disciples love each other.
Jhn 18:20where all the Jews come togetherHere "all the Jews" is an exaggeration that emphasizes that Jesus spoke where anyone who wanted to hear him could hear him.
Jhn 21:25even the world itself could not contain the booksJohn exaggerates to emphasize that Jesus did many more miracles than what people could write about in many books.
Act 2:5every nation under heavenevery nation in the world. The word "every" is an exaggeration that emphasizes that the people came from many different nations. Alternate Translation: "many different nations"
Act 4:16everyone who lives in JerusalemThis is a generalization. It may also be an exaggeration to show that the leaders think that this is a very big problem. Alternate Translation: "many of the people who live in Jerusalem" or "people who live throughout Jerusalem"
Act 4:34all who owned title to lands or housesThe word "all" here is a generalization. Alternate Translation: "Many people who owned title to lands or houses" or "People who owned title to lands or houses"
Act 6:2give up the word of GodThis is an exaggeration in order to emphasize the importance of their task of teaching the word of God. Alternate Translation: "stop preaching and teaching the word of God"
Act 7:22all the wisdom of the EgyptiansThis is an exaggeration to emphasize that he was trained in the best schools in Egypt.
Act 8:1the believers were all scatteredThe word "all" is a generalization to express that a large number of the believers left Jerusalem because of the persecution.
Act 8:10All the SamaritansThe word "all" is a generalization. Alternate Translation: "Many of the Samaritans" or "The Samaritans in the city"
Act 9:21All who heard himThe word "All" is a generalization. Alternate Translation: "Those who heard him" or "Many who heard him"
Act 9:26but they were all afraid of himHere "they were all" is a generalization, but it is possible that it refers to every person. Alternate Translation: "but they were afraid of him"
Act 9:32throughout the whole regionThis is an generalization for Peter's visiting the believers in many places in the region of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria.
Act 9:35everyone who lived in Lydda and in SharonThis is a generalization referring to many of the people there. Alternate Translation: "those who lived in Lydda and in Sharon" or "many people who lived in Lydda and Sharon"
Act 10:2he constantly prayed to GodThe word "constantly" is a generalization. Alternate Translation: "he prayed to God a lot" or "he prayed to God regularly"
Act 10:22all the nation of the JewsThis number of people is exaggerated with the word "all" to emphasize how widely this was known among the Jews.
Act 10:37throughout all JudeaThe word "all" is a generalization. Alternate Translation: "throughout Judea" or "in many places in Judea"
Act 10:38all who were oppressed by the devilThe word "all" is a generalization. Alternate Translation: "those who were oppressed by the devil" or "many people who were oppressed by the devil"
Act 11:28over all the worldThis was a generalization referring to the part of the world that they were interested in. Alternate Translation: "all over the inhabited world" or "throughout the Roman Empire"
Act 12:20They went to him togetherHere the word "They" is a generalization. It is unlikely that all the people of Tyre and Sidon went to Herod. Alternate Translation: "Men representing the people of Tyre and Sidon went together to talk with Herod"
Act 15:21in every cityThe word "every" here is a generalization. Alternate Translation: "in many cities"
Act 17:6turned the world upside downThis phrase is another way of saying Paul and Silas where causing trouble everywhere they went. The Jewish leaders were exaggerating the influence Paul and Silas were having with their teaching. Alternate Translation: "caused trouble everywhere in the world" or "caused trouble everywhere they have gone"
Act 17:21Now all the Athenians and the strangers living thereThe word "all" is a generalization referring to many. Alternate Translation: "Now many of the Athenians and the strangers living there" or "Now many of the Athenians and the strangers living there"
Act 17:21spent their time in nothing but either telling or listeningThe phrase "spent their time in nothing" is an exaggeration. Alternate Translation: "did not do much but tell or listen" or "spent much of their time telling or listening"
Act 18:17they all seizedThis may be an exaggeration to emphasize the strong feelings the people had. Alternate Translation: "many people seized" or "many of them grabbed"
Act 19:27whom all Asia and the world worshipsThis was an exaggeration to show how popular the goddess Artemis was. Here the words "Asia" and "the world" refer to the people in Asia and the known world. Alternate Translation: "whom many people in Asia and in other parts of the world worship"
Act 20:31for three years I did not stop instructing ... night and dayPaul did not teach them continuously for three years, but over the space of three years.
Act 21:30All the city was excitedThe word "All" here is an exaggeration for emphasis. The word "city" represents the people in Jerusalem. Alternate Translation: "Many people in the city became angry at Paul"
Act 21:31all Jerusalem was in an uproarThe word "Jerusalem" here represents the people of Jerusalem. The word "all" is an exaggeration to show a large crowd was upset. Alternate Translation: "a lot of people in Jerusalem were in an uproar"
Act 24:5all the Jews throughout the worldThe word "all" here is probably an exaggeration used to strengthen their accusation against Paul.
Act 25:24all the multitude of JewsThe word "all" is an exaggeration used to emphasize that a great number of Jews wanted Paul to die. Alternate Translation: "a great number of the Jews" or "many of the Jewish leaders"
Act 26:4all the JewsThis is a generalization. Possible meanings are 1) this refers to Jews in general who knew about Paul. Alternate Translation: "the Jews" or 2) this refers to Pharisees who knew Paul. Alternate Translation: "the Jewish leaders"
Rom 3:4even though every man is a liarThe words "every" and "liar" are exaggerations here to add emphasis that God alone is always true to his promises. Alternate Translation: "even if every man were a liar"
Rom 7:15what I want to do, I do not doThe words "I do not do" are an exaggeration to emphasize that Paul does not do what he wants to do as often as he would like or that he does what he does not want to do too often. Alternate Translation: "I do not always do what I want to do"
Rom 7:15what I hate, I doThe words "I do," which implies that he always does what he hates to do, are an exaggeration to emphasize that Paul does what he does not want to do too often. Alternate Translation: "the things that I know are not good are the things that I sometimes do"
Rom 9:13Jacob I loved, but Esau I hatedThe word "hated" is an exaggeration. God loved Jacob much more than he loved Esau. He did not literally hate Esau.
Rom 9:17in all the earthwherever there are people
Rom 15:13fill you with all joy and peacePaul exaggerates here to emphasize his point. Alternate Translation: "fill you with great joy and peace"
Rom 15:14filled with all knowledgePaul exaggerates here to emphasize his point. Alternate Translation: "filled with sufficient knowledge to follow God"
Rom 16:16All the churches of Christ greet youHere Paul speaks in a general manner concerning the churches of Christ. Alternate Translation: "The believers in all the churches in this area send their greetings to you"
1Co 1:5made you rich in every wayPaul is speaking in general terms. Alternate Translation: "made you rich with all kinds of spiritual blessings"
1Co 2:2I decided to know nothing ... except Jesus ChristWhen Paul said that he "decided to know nothing" he exaggerated to emphasize that he decided focus on and teach about nothing other than Jesus Christ. Alternate Translation: "I decided to teach nothing ... except Jesus Christ" or "I decided not to teach anything ... except Jesus Christ"
1Co 4:15ten thousand guardiansThis is an exaggeration of the number of people guiding them, to emphasize the importance of the one spiritual father. Alternate Translation: "very many guardians" or "a large crowd of guardians"
1Co 13:1the tongues of ... angelsPossible meanings are 1) Paul is exaggerating for the sake of effect and does not believe that people speak the language that angels use or 2) Paul thinks that some who speak in tongues actually speak the language that angels use.
2Co 11:27nakednessHere Paul exaggerates to show his need of clothing. Alternate Translation: "without enough clothing to keep me warm"
Eph 6:5and tremblingHere "trembling" is an exaggeration used to emphasize how important it is that slaves obey their masters. Alternate Translation: "and fear" or "as though you were shaking with fear"
Php 3:2mutilatePaul is exaggerating about the act of circumcision to insult the false teachers. The false teachers said God will only save a person who is circumcised, who cuts off the foreskin. This action was required by the law of Moses for all male Israelites.
Col 1:6in all the worldThis is a generalization referring to the part of the world that they knew about. Alternate Translation: "throughout the world"
2Th 1:3We should always give thanks to GodPaul uses "always" as a generalization meaning "often" or "regularly. The sentence emphasizes the greatness of what God is doing in the lives of the Thessalonian believers. Alternate Translation: "We should often give thanks to God"
2Th 2:13we should always give thanksThe word "always" is a generalization. Alternate Translation: "we should continually give thanks"
1Ti 1:4endless genealogiesWith the word "endless" Paul uses exaggeration to emphasize that the genealogies are very long.
Tit 1:12Cretans are always liarsCretans lie all the time. This is an exaggeration that means many Cretans lie a lot.
Jas 4:2You kill and covet, and you are not able to obtainThe phrase "You kill" expresses how badly the people behave in order to get what they want. It can be translated as "You do all kinds of evil things to get what you cannot have"
2Pe 3:4all things have stayed the same, since the beginning of creationThe mockers exaggerate with the word "all", and they argue that since nothing in the world has ever changed, it cannot be true that Jesus will return.
1Jn 2:27as his anointing teaches you everythingHere the word "everything" is a generalization. Alternate Translation: "because his anointing teaches you everything that you need to know"
Jud 1:23Hate even the garment stained by the fleshJude exaggerates to warn his readers that they can become like those sinners. Alternate Translation: "Treat them as though you could become guilty of sin just by touching their clothes"