Bible Encyclopedias
Strain

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

strān ( διυλίζω , diulı́zō , "to strain off," "to filter"): Matthew 23:24 , "Ye blind guides, that strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel" The imagery is that of a drinking-vessel full of liquid, from which tiny impurities are carefully removed while immense masses of other impure matter (Leviticus 11:4 ) are overlooked (compare Matthew 7:3 f). The first edition of the King James Version read the same as the Revised Version (British and American), but in the later editions a misprint converted "strain out" into "strain at," an error that has never been corrected.