Matthew 23:6
New International Version
they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;

New Living Translation
And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.

English Standard Version
and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues

Berean Standard Bible
They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,

Berean Literal Bible
and they love the chief place at the banquets, and the first seats in the synagogues,

King James Bible
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

New King James Version
They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,

New American Standard Bible
And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues,

NASB 1995
“They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues,

NASB 1977
“And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

Legacy Standard Bible
And they love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues,

Amplified Bible
They love the place of distinction and honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues [those on the platform near the scrolls of the Law, facing the congregation],

Christian Standard Bible
They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues,

American Standard Version
and love the chief place at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they love the first class places at feasts and first class seats in the synagogues

Contemporary English Version
They love the best seats at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And they love the first places at feasts, and the first chairs in the synagogues,

English Revised Version
and love the chief place at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They love the place of honor at dinners and the front seats in synagogues.

Good News Translation
They love the best places at feasts and the reserved seats in the synagogues;

International Standard Version
They love to have the places of honor at festivals, the best seats in the synagogues,

Literal Standard Version
they also cherish the first couches at the banquets, and the first seats in the synagogues,

Majority Standard Bible
They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,

New American Bible
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,

NET Bible
They love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues

New Revised Standard Version
They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues,

New Heart English Bible
and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,

Webster's Bible Translation
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

Weymouth New Testament
and love the best seats at a dinner party or in the synagogues,

World English Bible
and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,

Young's Literal Translation
they love also the chief couches in the supper, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Woes to Scribes and Pharisees
5All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, 7the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.…

Cross References
Mark 12:39
and to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.

Luke 11:43
Woe to you Pharisees! You love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.

Luke 14:7
When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable:

Luke 20:46
"Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.


Treasury of Scripture

And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

Matthew 20:21
And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

Proverbs 25:6,7
Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: …

Mark 12:38,39
And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, …

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Banquets Best Chief Couches Desired Dinner Feasts First Honor Important Love Party Places Rooms Seats Supper Synagogues Uppermost
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Banquets Best Chief Couches Desired Dinner Feasts First Honor Important Love Party Places Rooms Seats Supper Synagogues Uppermost
Matthew 23
1. Jesus admonishes the people to follow good doctrine, not bad examples
5. His disciples must beware of their ambition.
13. He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness,
34. and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem.














(6) The uppermost rooms.--Better, the first places, the word "room," which had that meaning at the time when the English version was made, having now become identical with "chamber." Strictly speaking, they would be the first places, nearest to the host, on the couches or ottomans (as we have learnt to call them from their modern Eastern use) on which the guests reclined, these being assigned (as in the case of "the disciple whom Jesus loved," in John 13:23) to the most favoured guests.

The chief seats in the synagogues.--These were at the upper or Jerusalem end of the synagogue (corresponding to the east end of most Christian churches), where was the ark, or chest that contained the Law. These were given, either by common consent or by the elders of the synagogue, to those who were most conspicuous for their devotion to the Law, and as such, were coveted as a mark of religious reputation.

Verse 6. - The uppermost rooms; τὴν πρωτοκλισίαν: primos recubitus; chief place (Luke 14:7). The custom of reclining on cushions set in horseshoe fashion at three sides of the table was now prevalent, the old custom of squatting round a low table, as at present practised in the East, having been long abandoned. The place of honour is said to have been at the upper end of the right side, the president being placed, not in the centre of that end of the table which faced the opening, but at the side. The most honoured guest would be at his right hand (but see on Matthew 26:23). There was often much manoeuvring to obtain this post, and many petty squabbles about precedence arose on every festal occasion (see Luke 14:1, 7, etc.). The chief seats in the synagogues. The usual arrangement of the synagogue is given by Dr. Edersheim ('Life and Times of Jesus,' 1. pp. 434, etc.). It was built of stone, with an entrance generally on the south, and so arranged that the worshippers might direct their prayers towards Jerusalem. In the centre was placed the lectern of the reader; the women's gallery was at the north end. "The inside plan is generally that of two double colonnades, which seem to have formed the body of the synagogue, the aisles east and west being probably used as passages. At the south end, facing north, is a movable ark, containing the sacred rolls of the Law and the prophets. Right before the ark, and facing the people, are the seats of honour, for the rulers of the synagogue and the honourable." These were the places for which the Pharisees contended, thinking more of gaining these, where they could sit enthroned in the sight of the congregation, than of the Divine worship which nominally they came to offer (comp. James 2:2, 3).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
They love
φιλοῦσιν (philousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 5368: From philos; to be a friend to (an individual or an object), i.e. Have affection for; specially, to kiss.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

places of honor
πρωτοκλισίαν (prōtoklisian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4411: From protos and klisia; a reclining first at the dinner-bed, i.e. Preeminence at meals.

at
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

banquets,
δείπνοις (deipnois)
Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1173: A dinner, an afternoon or evening meal. From the same as dapane; dinner, i.e. The chief meal.

the
τὰς (tas)
Article - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

chief seats
πρωτοκαθεδρίας (prōtokathedrias)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4410: A chief (most honorable) seat. From protos and kathedra; a sitting first, i.e. Preeminence in council.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
ταῖς (tais)
Article - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

synagogues,
συναγωγαῖς (synagōgais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4864: From sunago; an assemblage of persons; specially, a Jewish 'synagogue'; by analogy, a Christian church.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 23:6 And love the place of honor at (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 23:5
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