Lexical Summary karphos: Speck, splinter, mote Original Word: κάρφος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance mote, speckFrom karpho (to wither); a dry twig or straw -- mote. HELPS Word-studies 2595 kárphos – properly, a small particle (a splinter of straw or wood); "a dry stalk; a chip of wood" (Souter); something dry and light; a "chip or splinter, of the same material with the beam" (WS, 35). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom karphó (to dry up, wither) Definition a small dry stalk NASB Translation speck (6). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2595: κάρφοςκάρφος, καρφεος (καρφους), τό (from κάρφω to contract, dry up, wither), a dry stalk or twig, a straw; chaff (A. V. mote): Matthew 7:3-5; Luke 6:41f, where it figuratively denotes a smaller fault. (Genesis 8:11; in Greek writings from Aeschylus and Herodotus down.) Topical Lexicon Summary of the PictureStrong’s Greek 2595 (kárphos) paints an image of something minute and weightless—a tiny splinter, straw, or dry chaff. The word always appears in the plural “eye-log” parable of Jesus (Matthew 7:3-5; Luke 6:41-42). In every instance it is contrasted with δοκός (dókos, “beam”), heightening the absurdity of noticing another person’s trivial fault while harboring a massive one of one’s own. Occurrences in the Gospels • Matthew 7:3—“Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?” The Matthean setting is the Sermon on the Mount; Luke records a parallel message in the Sermon on the Plain. Both sermons emphasize kingdom ethics, stressing inward righteousness over outward show. Historical and Cultural Setting Carpenters, farmers, and householders in first-century Galilee would know the irritation of a bit of chaff blowing into the eye or a wood sliver lodged under the eyelid. Jesus, raised in Joseph’s carpenter shop, selected an everyday nuisance to illustrate a spiritual danger. The humor of a man with a rafter protruding from his eye volunteering ophthalmic help for someone else would have been evident to His listeners. Theological Themes 1. Hypocrisy Unmasked: The contrast between speck and beam exposes self-deception (Matthew 7:5). Small sins in others seem large when one is blind to personal rebellion. Old Testament Echoes Though κάρφος itself is absent from the Septuagint, the imagery recalls passages where chaff or straw symbolizes what is valueless or fleeting (Job 21:18; Psalm 1:4; Isaiah 40:24). Such background reinforces the insignificance of the brother’s fault compared with one’s own unaddressed iniquity. Ministry Applications • Pastoral Counseling: Encourage believers to confront hidden sin before addressing another’s shortcomings. Related New Testament Parallels Romans 2:1 warns that judging others while practicing the same deeds invites divine judgment. James 4:11-12 counsels against speaking evil of a brother. These passages complement the speck-beam lesson by rooting right judgment in humility and love. Preaching and Teaching Pointers 1. Illustrate with modern annoyances (e.g., a contact lens irritation) to bridge the imagery. Practical Takeaway Before any believer presumes to perform spiritual eye surgery on another, the mirror of Scripture must first expose the surgeon’s own impediment. Once grace has cleared the vision, the same grace motivates gentle restoration, fulfilling the law of Christ. Forms and Transliterations καρφος κάρφος κασία κασσιτέρινον κασσίτερον κασσίτερος κασσιτέρου κασσιτέρω karphos kárphosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 7:3 N-ANSGRK: βλέπεις τὸ κάρφος τὸ ἐν NAS: do you look at the speck that is in your brother's KJV: beholdest thou the mote that is in INT: look you on the speck that [is] in Matthew 7:4 N-ANS Matthew 7:5 N-ANS Luke 6:41 N-ANS Luke 6:42 N-ANS Luke 6:42 N-ANS |