• Matthew 26:26
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 26 ᾿Εσθιόντων Eating δὲ but αὐτῶν of them λαβὼν having taken ὁ the Ἰησοῦς Jesus ἄρτον loaf καὶ and εὐλογήσας having blessed ἔκλασεν he broke καὶ and δοὺς having given τοῖς to the μαθηταῖς disciples εἶπεν he said Λάβετε Take YOU φάγετε, eat YOU, τοῦτό this ἐστιν is τὸ the σῶμά body μου. of me.

  • Matthew Study Notes—Chapter 26
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 26:26

      took a loaf . . . broke it: The loaves common in the ancient Near East were thin and, if unleavened, brittle. There was no spiritual significance to Jesus’ breaking the bread; this was the normal way to divide that type of loaf.​—See study note on Mt 14:19.

      saying a blessing: This expression evidently refers to a prayer offering praise and thanks to God.

      means: The Greek word e·stinʹ (literally meaning “is”) here has the sense of “signifies; symbolizes; stands for; represents.” This meaning was evident to the apostles, since on this occasion Jesus’ perfect body was there in front of them and so was the unleavened bread that they were about to eat. Therefore, the bread could not have been his literal body. It is worth noting that the same Greek word is used at Mt 12:7, and many Bible translations render it “means.”