Mat 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man a glutton, and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
What does Christ mean when he says, "wisdom is justified in her children." "The Sun of Man" is huios (son) anthropos (man).
"Glutton" is phagos, which simply means "a glutton." "Drunkard" is oinopotês, which means "wine drinker." "Tax collectors" is telônês, which means a collector of taxes, tolls, or customs. "Sinners" is hamartôlos, which means "erroneous," "erring," and "of bad character."
"But" is kai, which is means either "and" or "but" though it is usually translated as "and" in the Bible. "Wisdom" is sophia, which means "cleverness," "skill," "learning," and "wisdom." Among the Jews, sophia was first recognized as an attribute of God and was later identified with the Spirit of God. "Justified" is dikaioô , which means "to set right," "hold or deem right," "proved," "tested," and "to do a man justice."
"By" is apo, which is a preposition of separation, separating from a place upon leaving, separating a part from a whole, separation of time or space. It is also a preposition of origin, of a place where something came from or the origin of a cause.
"Her" is autos, which means "self" and "the same," "myself," "yourself," "himself" and "herself" which can mean "by itself," and "by itself alone."
"Children" is teknon, which means "that which is born," "child," and "the young."
I don't think Christ is referring to these children as "wisdom's children" as the common translation would indicated. Lets look at the entire context.
The generation or society that Christ is clearly condemning, are the little boys and girls in the market criticizing others for not dancing to their tune. John was criticized for fasting. Christ is criticized for eating. In describing society, Christ says, "Wisdom is set right apart from these same children." Or "Wisdom does a person justice apart from these same children."
Looking at the common English translations, several try to make this phrase in "Wisdom is justified by its deeds." However, using apo as the proposition of origin rather than separation. The English seem based directly on the Latin Vulgate rather than the original Greek, but I maybe I am reading this wrong.
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