It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
Parallel translations
- WEB It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
- KJV It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
- BSB It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
- NKJV It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
- NLT In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
It is easier for a camel to pass through a needle's eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom. Salvation is humanly impossible for those bound to their wealth.
Overview
Jesus uses a deliberately extreme image to underline the impossibility of self-achieved salvation, especially when riches grip the heart. The saying does not condemn wealth outright but shatters any confidence that one can enter the kingdom on one's own terms. It drives hearers toward dependence on God's grace alone.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Matt 19:24–25Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
- Luke 18:25For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
- Matt 23:24You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!
- Jer 13:23Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may you also do good, who are accustomed to do evil.
- Matt 7:3–5Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 10:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.