| The Hebrew Synoptic Gospels |
| Matthew 11: 12 |
The key to the understanding of this passage is a rabbinic interpretation ofMicah 2: 12, 13. The breach-maker is John the Baptist, who opens the way for the King, who isJesus. The Kingdom is bursting forth into the world like water from a broken dam, and, at thesame time, the people within the Kingdom are finding liberty and freedom.
| AB | And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time the kingdom ofheaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize]-- a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought for with most ardent zeal and intense exertion. |
| CEV | From the time of John the Baptist until now, violent people have been trying to take overthe kingdom of heaven by force. |
| DRB | And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence,and the violent bear it away. |
| EBR | But <from the days of John the Immerser until even now> The kingdom of theheavens/ is being invaded/, And /invaders/ are //seizing upon it//. |
| LBP | From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been administered byforce, and only those in power control it. |
| MCT | From the days of John until now heaven's kingdom is roughly treated, and violent menforcefully lay hold of it. |
| NBV | But from the time of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has endured violence,the violent seize it by force. |
| NEB | Ever since the coming of John the Baptist the kingdom of Heaven has been subjected toviolence and violent men are seizing it. Footnote: subjected to violence andviolent men: Or has been forcing its way forward, and men of force ... . |
| NET | From the time of John the Baptizer until now the Kingdom of heaven has been advancing withtriumphant force and intense men grasp it quickly. Footnote: triumphant force:Or "has been suffering violence." Footnote: grasp it quickly: A referenceto men who act decisively on something they know or believe to be true. The next verseindicates the reason these men acted decisively, namely because the Law and the prophets werebeginning to convince them that the Messianic Age had come. An alternate translation might be:"and violent men take it by force." |
| NIV | From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefullyadvancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. |
| NLV | From the days of John the Baptist until now, the holy nation of heaven has suffered verymuch. Fighting men try to take it. |
| NWT | But from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of the heavens is the goaltoward which men press, and those pressing forward are seizing it. |
| SGAT | But from the time of John the Baptist until now men have been taking the Kingdom of Heavenby storm and impetuously crowding into it. |
| SNB | But from the days of John the Immerser until even now, the Kingdom of the heavens is beinginvaded, and invaders are seizing upon it. |
| SV | From the time of John the Baptist until now Heaven's imperial rule has been breaking inviolently, and violent men are attempting to gain it by force. Footnote: Sources:Q, Matthew. [In grey print, meaning this quote may have been said byJesus, but there is not certainty.] |
| TEV | From the time John preached his message until this very day the Kingdom of heaven hassuffered violent attacks, and violent men try to seize it. |
| TM | For a long time now people have tried to force themselves into God's kingdom. |
| WNT | And from the days of John the Baptist until the present moment the kingdom of heaven hasbeen continuously taken by storm, and those who take it by storm are seizing it as aprecious prize. |
A few versions imply the positive idea of what is happening as people desireto be a part of the kingdom. Such words as "precious prize" indicate this. Such words as"suffer," "violence," "seize," "invade'" "assault'" "subjected," and "roughly" tend to give anegative idea of what is occurring.