Matthew 2:11

Kαὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν, προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα, χρυσὸν, καὶ λίβανον καὶ σμύρναν.

When they entered into the house, they saw the child with Maria his mother; and they fell down to worship him; when they had opened their treasures, they presented to him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

* fell down = fell down to their feet = bowed down

Matt 2:11 [Textus Receptus (Elzevir) (1624)]5
Καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, εὗρον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν, προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα, χρυσὸν, καὶ λίβανον, καὶ σμύρναν.

Matt 2:11 [Codex Sinaiticus (א or 01) (4th century)]
Kαι ελθοντες εις την οικιαν εϊδον το παιδιον μετα μαριας της μητρος αυτου· και πεσοντες προσεκυνησαν αυτω· και ανοιξαντες τους θησαυρους ἁυτων προσηνεγʼκαν αυτω δωρα χρυσον· και λιβανο- και σμυρναν

Matt 2:11 [Codex Vaticanus Graecus 1209 (B03) (4th century)]
Kαι ελθοντες εις την οικιαν ειδον το παιδιον μετα μαριας της μητρος αυτου ϗ πεσοντες προσεκυνησαν αυτω και ανοιξαντες τους θησαυρους αυτων προσηνεγκαν αυτω δωρα χρυσο και λιβανον και σμυρναν

Matt 2:11 [Codex Ephraemi Syri Rescriptus (C04) (5th century)]
Kαι ελθοντες εις την οικιαν ιδον το παιδιον μετα μαριας της μρς αυτου και πεσοντες προσεκυνησαν αυτω · και ανοιξαντες τους θησαυρους αυτων προσηνεγκαν αυτω δωρα χρυσον κα[.] [.]ιβανο- και σμυρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis (D05) (5th century)]4v|10
Kαι ελθοντες εις την οικειαν ειδον τον παιδα μετα μαριας της μητρος αυτου και πεσοντες προσεκυνησαν αυτω και ανοιξαντες τους θηνσαυρους αυτων προσηνεγκαν αυτω δωρα χρυσον και λιβανον και ζμυρναν

Matt 2:11 [Codex Basilensis (E07) (8th century)]6r-6v
και ελθοντες εις την οικιαν. ϊδον το παιδιο-· μετα μαριας της μρς αυτου· και πεσοντες, προσεκυνησαν αυτω· και ανοιξαντες τους θησαυρους αυτων. προσηνεγκαν αυτω δωρα. χρυσον. και λιβανον. και σμυρναν·

MSS: א*, C?, E, K, Σ, 9, 33 (f101v), 109, 478

Matt 2:11 [Codex Cyprius (Grec 63) (K017) (9th century)]16r-16v
Καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν· ἴδον τὸ παιδίον μετα μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πεσόντες· προσεκύνησαν αὐτῶ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν· προσήνεγκαν αὐτῶ δῶρα· χρυσόν· καὶ λιβανον· ϗ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Codex Regius (Grec 62) (L019) (8th century)]6rc2-6vc1
Καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς την οἰκίαν· εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ, καὶ πεσοντες προσεκυνησαν αὐτῶ· Καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τους θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν· προσήνεγκἀν αὐτῶ δωρα χρὺσὸν, καὶ λίβανον, καὶ σμύρναν·

MSS: א¹, L, M, S, Δ, Ω, 1, 3, 7, 8, 11, 12 (p46), 22 (f7v), 27? (f25v), 34 (f16r), 35 (f2v), 44, 46 (f34v), 57, 65, 72, 83, 113, 116, 200, 201, 230 (f17vc2), 272, 438, 439, 476, 490, 500, 504, 543, 556 (f2r-v), 652 (f30r), 699, 700, 892 (f23r), 901 (f10v), 1582, 2603, 2835 (f1vc2), ℓ1086 (f290vc1)

Matt 2:11 [Codex Washingtonianus (W032) (5th century)]4-5
Kαι ελθοντες εις την οικειαν ϊδον το παιδιον μετα μαριας της μητρος αυτου και πεσοντες προσεκυνησαν αυτω και ανοιξαντες τους θησαυρους αυτων ποσηνεγκαν αυτω δωρα χρυσον και λιβανον και ζμυρναν

Matt 2:11 [Codex Sangallensis 48 (Δ037) (9th century)]24
Και· ελθοντες· εις την οικιαν· ειδον το· παιδιον· μετα μαριας ·της· μητρος· αυτου· και πεσοντες προσεκυνησαν· αυτω· Και ανοιξαντες· τους· θησαυρους· αυτων· προσηνεγκαν· αυτω· δωρα· χρυσον· και· λιβανον· και σμυρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Codex Purpureus Rossanensis (Σ042) (6th century)]26-27
και ελθοντες εις την οικιαν ιδον το παιδιον μετα μαριας της μητρος αυτου και πεσοντες προσεκυνησαν αυτω και ανοιξαντες τους θησαυρους αυτων προσηνεγκαν || αυτω δωρα χρυσον και λιβανον και σμυρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 1 (12th century)]162r
καὶ ἐλΘόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρί{ας} τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν. προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα· χρυσόν· καὶ λίβαν{ον}· καὶ σμύρναν·

* {ας} = Greek ligature that cannot be presented at this website

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 2 (11th century)]4r-v
καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πεσόντες, προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ· καὶ ἀνυοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν, προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα· χρυσὸν καὶ λίβανον καὶ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 8 (Gr. 49) (11th century)]20rc1
καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν. εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετα μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πεσόντες. προσεκύνησαν αὐτῶ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν· προσήνεγκα- αὐτῶ δῶρα· χρυσὸν· καὶ λίβανον καὶ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 43 (8409) (11th century)]13v-14r
ϗ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν. εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ· ϗ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῶ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν. προσήνεγκαν αὐτῶ δῶρα· χρυσόν· καὶ λίβανον· ϗ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 44 (Add MS 4949) (12th century)]16r
και ελθοντες εις την οικιαν ειδον το παιδιον μετα μαριας της μρς αυτου· και πεσοντες προσεκυνησαν αυτῳ· και ανοιξαντʹʹ τους θησαυρους αυτων. προσηνεγκαν αυτῳ δωρα· χρυσον· και λιβανον· και σμυρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 65 (11th century)]8v-9r
ϗ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ. καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ· ϗ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν. προσήνεγκαν αὐτῶ δῶρα· χρυσὸν καὶ λίβανον καὶ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 72 (11th century)]6v
καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν. εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῶ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν. προσήνεγκαν αὐτῶ δῶρα. χρυσὸν· καὶ λίβανον· καὶ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 83 (11th century)]37
και ελθοντες εις την οικιαν͵ ειδον το παιδιον μετα μαριας της μρς αυτου· και πεσοντες προσεκυνησαν αυτω· και ανοιξαντες τȣς θησαυρους αυτων͵ προσηνεγκαν αυτω δωρα· χρυσον· ϗ λιβανον και σμυρναν·

*     right margin: ┬ ευρον

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 109 (1326)]28r
ϗ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν ἴδον τὸ παιδΐον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ. ϗ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ· ϗ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς· θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν͵ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα χρυσὸν· ϗ λΐβανον καὶ σμΰρναν.

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 113 (11th century)]28v
καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῶ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν· προσήνεγκαν αὐτῶ δῶρα· χρυσὸν, καὶ λΐβανον· καὶ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 116 (12th century)]17v
Καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν. εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πεσόντες, προσεκύνησαν αὐτῶ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν. προσήνεγκαν αὐτῶ δῶρα· χρυσὸν, ϗ λίβανον. καὶ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 201 (1357)]12rc2-vc1
ϗ Ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτȣ· ϗ πεσόντες, προσεκύνησαν αὐτῶ· Καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν, προσήνεγκαν αὐτῶ δῶρα· χρϋσὸν· καὶ λίβανον· καὶ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 272 (11th century)]7r
καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν. εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ· ϗ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῶ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυρȣς αὐτῶν. προσήνεγκαν αὐτῶ δῶρα· χρυσὸν. καὶ λίβανον. καὶ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 438 (12th century)]16v
καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῶ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες Τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν, προσήνεγκαν αὐτῶ δῶρα. χρυσὸν· καὶ λίβανον· καὶ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 439 (1159)]11rc2
καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτȣ· καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῶ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν, προσήνεγκαν αὐτῶ δῶρα· χρυσόν· καὶ λίβανον, καὶ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 476 (11th century)]9v-10r
καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκί{αν}. εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτȣ καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν. προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα. χρυσὸν· καὶ λίβανον· καὶ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 478 (10th century)]10v
καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν. ΐδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πεσόντες. προσεκύνησαν αὐτῶ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν. προσήνεγκαν αὐτῶ δῶρα· χρυσὸν· καὶ λίβανον. καὶ σμύρνα-·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 490 (11th century)]10rc1
ϗ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῶ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν· προσήνεγκαν αὐτῶ δῶρα· χρυσὸν· καὶ λίβανον, ϗ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 504 (1033)]13v
Καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῶ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν. προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα· χρυσὸν· καὶ λίβανον· καὶ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Minuscule 543 (12th century)]2ac2-bc1
καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν· εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μεΤὰ μαρίας τῆς μρς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῶ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν, προσήνεγκαν αὐτῶ δῶρα· χρυσὸν, καὶ λίβανον, καὶ σμύρναν·

Matt 2:11 [Peshitta]
ܘܥܰܠܘ ܠܒ݂ܰܝܬ݁ܳܐ ܘܰܚܙܰܐܘܽܗ݈ܝ ܠܛܰܠܝܳܐ ܥܰܡ ܡܰܪܝܰܡ ܐܶܡܶܗ ܘܰܢܦ݂ܰܠܘ ܣܓ݂ܶܕ݂ܘ ܠܶܗ ܘܰܦ݂ܬ݂ܰܚܘ ܣܺܝܡܳܬ݂ܗܽܘܢ ܘܩܰܪܶܒ݂ܘ ܠܶܗ ܩܽܘܪܒ݁ܳܢܶܐ ܕ݁ܰܗܒ݂ܳܐ ܘܡܽܘܪܳܐ ܘܰܠܒ݂ܽܘܢܬ݁ܳܐ܂

Matt 2:11 [Old Syriac Curetonian (Codex Curetonianus Syriacus syc)]
ܘܥܠܘ ܠܒܝܬܐ ܘܚܙܘܘܗܝ ܠܛܠܝܐ ܥܡ ܡܪܝܡ ܐܡܗ܂ ܘܢܦܠܘ ܣܓܕܘ ܠܗ܂ ܘܦܬܚܘ ܣܝ̈ܡܬܗܘܢ ܘܩܪܒܘ ܠܗ ܩܘܪܒܢܐ܂ ܕܗܒܐ ܘܡܘܪܐ ܘܠܒܘܢܬܐ܂

Matt 2:11 [Old Syriac Sinaitic (Codex Sinaiticus Syriacus sys)]
ܘܥܠܘ ܠܒܝܬܐ ܘܚܙܘܘܗܝ ܠܛܠܝܐ ܥܡ ܡܪܝܡ ܐܡܗ ܘܢܦܠܘ ܘܣܓܕܘ ܠܗ܂ ܘܦܬܚܘ ܣܝܡܬܗܘܢ ܘܩܪܒܘ ܠܗ ܩܘܪܒܢܐ ܕܗܒܐ ܘܡܘܪܐ ܘܠܒܘܢܬܐ

Matt 2:11 [Vulgate]
et intrantes domum invenerunt puerum cum Maria matre eius et procidentes adoraverunt eum et apertis thesauris suis obtulerunt ei munera aurum tus et murram

Critical Apparatus :

(1) οικιαν : א, B C, E, K, L, M, S, Δ, Σ, Ω, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, 22, 27, 33, 34, 35, 36, 43, 44, 46, 57, 65, 72, 83, 109, 113, 116, 157, 200, 201, 230, 272, 438, 439, 476, 478, 490, 500, 501, 504, 505, 543, 556, 652, 699, 700, 892, 901?, 1203, 1582, 2603, 2835, 3000, ℓ1086, Majority, Eusebius of Caesarea
(2) οικειαν : D

(3) ευρον : 83mg, 474, Vulgate (invenerunt)
(4) ειδον : א, B, D, L, M, S, Δ, Ω, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 18, 22, 27, 34, 35, 36, 43, 44, 46, 57, 65, 72, 83, 113, 116, 157, 200, 201, 230, 272, 438, 439, 476, 490, 500, 501, 504, 505, 543, 556, 652, 699, 700, 892, 901, 1203, 1582, 2603, 2835, 3000, ℓ1086, Majority, Peshitta (ܘܚܙܐܘܗܝ), Eusebius of Caesarea, Complutensian
(5) ιδον : C, E, K, Σ, 9, 33, 109, 478

(6) το παιδιον : א, B, C, E, K, L, M, S, Δ, Σ, Ω, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, 22, 27, 33, 34, 35, 36, 43, 44, 46, 57, 65, 72, 83, 109, 113, 116, 157, 200, 201, 230, 272, 438, 439, 476, 478, 490, 500, 501, 504, 505, 543, 556, 652, 699, 700, 892, 901, 1203, 1582, 2603, 2835, 3000, ℓ1086, Majority, Peshitta, Eusebius of Caesarea
(7) τον παιδα : D

(8) πεσοντες : א, B, C, D, E, K, L, M, S, W, Δ, Σ, Ω, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, 22, 27, 33, 34, 35, 36, 43, 44, 46, 57, 65, 72, 83, 109, 113, 116, 157, 200, 201, 230, 272, 438, 439, 476, 478, 490, 500, 501, 504, 505, 543, 556, 652, 699, 700, 892, 901, 1203, 1582, 2603, 2835, ℓ1086, Majority
(9) παισοντες : 3000

(10) αυτω (i) : א, B, C, D, E, K, L, M, S, W, Δ, Σ, Ω, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 18, 22, 27, 33, 34, 35, 43, 44, 46, 57, 65, 72, 83, 109, 113, 116, 200, 201, 230, 272, 438, 439, 476, 478, 490, 500, 501, 504, 543, 556, 652, 699, 700, 892, 901, 1582, 2603, 2835, 3000, ℓ1086, Majority
(11) αυτο : 10, 36, 157, 505, 1203

(12) θησαυρους : א, B, C, E, K, L, M, S, W, Δ, Σ, Ω, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, 22, 27, 33, 34, 35, 36, 43, 44, 46, 57, 65, 72, 83, 109, 113, 116, 157, 200, 201, 230, 272, 438, 439, 476, 478, 490, 500, 501, 504, 505, 543, 556, 652, 699, 700, 892, 901, 1203, 1582, 2603, 2835, 3000, ℓ1086, Majority, Eusebius of Caesarea
(13) θηνσαυρους : D

(14) σμυρναν : א, B, C, E, K, L, M, S, Δ, Σ, Ω, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, 22, 27, 33, 34, 35, 36, 43, 44, 46, 57, 65, 72, 83, 109, 113, 116, 157, 200, 201, 230, 272, 438, 439, 476, 478, 490, 500, 501, 504, 505, 543, 556, 652, 699, 700, 892, 901, 1582, 2603, 2835, 3000?, ℓ1086, Majority, Eusebius of Caesarea
(15) σμυρνα : 1203
(16) ζμυρναν : D, W

 

 

Tischendorf Mt 2:11

Tischendorf Mt 2:11

 

Early Church Fathers

(1) Eusebius of Caesarea (Demonstratio Evangelica, p330, 12, Eusebius Werke, Ivar A. Heikel)
καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα, χρυσὸν καὶ λίβανον καὶ σμύρναν.

(2) Eusebius of Caesarea (Demonstratio Evangelica, p404, 18, Eusebius Werke, Ivar A. Heikel)
καὶ εἰσελθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ.

 

 

A Textual Commentary On Matthew 2:11

(a) Kαὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ – Epiphanius  says that the Magi came two years after the birth of Christ, when Mary visited Bethlehem on account of her kindred. It may have been at the first or second passover after the nativity. See Luke 2:41. The Magi probably saw the star at the time of the actual birth; and their journey would occupy some time. If τὴν οἰκίαν is to be taken literally, it rather confirms the notion of Epiphanius, for Jesus was born, not in a house, but in a stable. (Edward Burton).

(b) καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα, χρυσὸν καὶ λίβανον καὶ σμύρναν – It has ever been the custom in the East not to appear before a king or a great man empty-handed (Bloomfield).

(c) εἶδον or εὗρον? Eἶδον has a stronger case, since, besides that internal evidence is quite in its favour, external authority is equally so, it being found in nearly all the uncials, and all the cursives. This testimony of manuscripts is further strengthened by that of the Peshitta, together with some early church fathers, as Origen and Eusebius of Caesarea, besides Protevangelium Jacobi.

(d) σμυρναν (א, B, Majority) or ζμυρναν (D, W)? The spelling ζβ, ζμ in place of σβ, σμ is widely disseminated in the Hellenistic and Roman period, in order to indicate the soft sound which σ has in this position only. This ζ, however, is found far more rarely in the middle than at the beginning of a word. (F. Blass) The majority of the manuscripts have σμυρνα, but ζμυρναν has little support, as D and W in Mt 2:11, σζμυρνης (א in Jn 19:39); ζβεννυναι (B1, D1, F, G).

(e) Bengelius, to restore the true text of the N.T. took a different method, by collating from all the printed editions (though all of them faulty) such readings as he judged would make one true text, bidding defiance to all the manuscripts from contributing any reading which had not the sanction of a printed edition. However different this may seem from Wetstein’s plan, yet it is less so than would be at first imagined ; for though the printed editions were his basis, yet the superstructure was formed from them all , and he gave a secret preference to such readings as the MSS. confirmed. What, for instance, should determine him to read, in the above-cited Matt. ii. 11, ειδον for ευρον, where the sense is as good which soever word we admit? No natural sagacity could suggest that the Complutensian edition had the true reading, and Erasmus’s the false, with which the subsequent editions concurred. It must therefore be the weight of MSS. which swayed him, though he pays his court to the printed editions. Ne syllabam quidem, etiamsi mille MSS. mille critici juberent, antehac [in editionibus] non receptam adducar ut recipiam, is what he says in his Prodromus ; which surely is the greatest deference that was ever paid to the press.
(William Bowyer, Critical Conjectures And Observations On The New Testament, 1812, p. 7)

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