Textual variants in the Gospel of Matthew are the subject of the study called textual criticism of the New Testament. Textual variants in manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to a text that is being reproduced. An abbreviated list of textual variants in this particular book is given in this article below.
Origen, writing in the 3rd century, was one of the first who made remarks about differences between manuscripts of texts that were eventually collected as the New Testament. He declared his preferences among variant readings. For example, in , he favored "Barabbas" against "Jesus Barabbas" (In Matt. Comm. ser. 121). "Gergeza" was preferred over "Geraza" or "Gadara" (Commentary on John VI.40 (24) – see Matthew 8:28).
Most of the variations are not significant and some common alterations include the deletion, rearrangement, repetition, or replacement of one or more words when the copyist's eye returns to a similar word in the wrong location of the original text. If their eye skips to an earlier word, they may create a repetition (error of dittography). If their eye skips to a later word, they may create an omission. They may resort to performing a rearranging of words to retain the overall meaning without compromising the context. In other instances, the copyist may add text from memory from a similar or parallel text in another location. Otherwise, they may also replace some text of the original with an alternative reading. Spellings occasionally change. Synonyms may be substituted. A pronoun may be changed into a proper noun (such as "he said" becoming "Jesus said"). John Mill's 1707 Greek New Testament was estimated to contain some 30,000 variants in its accompanying textual apparatusAdam Fox, John Mill and Richard Bentley: A Study of the Textual Criticism of the New Testament 1675–1729 (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1954), pp. 105–115; John Mill, Novum Testamentum Graecum, cum lectionibus variantibus MSS (Oxford 1707) which was based on "nearly 100 [Greek] manuscripts."Metzger and Ehrman (2005), p.154 Peter J. Gurry puts the number of non-spelling variants among New Testament manuscripts around 500,000, though he acknowledges his estimate is higher than all previous ones.Peter J. Gurry, "The Number of Variants in the Greek New Testament: A Proposed Estimate" New Testament Studies 62.1 (2016), p. 113
The critical editions of the Gospel of Matthew are based on all available papyri: Papyrus 1, Papyrus 19, Papyrus 21, Papyrus 25, Papyrus 35, Papyrus 37, Papyrus 44, Papyrus 45, Papyrus 53, Papyrus 62, Papyrus 64, Papyrus 70, Papyrus 71, Papyrus 77, Papyrus 86, and on the following uncials: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 019, 032, 035, 038, 058, 064, 067, 071, 073, 074, 078, 084, 085, 087, 089, 090, 092a, 094, 0104, 0106, 0107, 0118, 0119, 0128, 0135, 0136, 0137, 0138, 0148, 0160, 0161, 0164, 0170, 0171, 0197, 0200, 0204, 0231, 0234, 0237, 0242, 0249, 0255, 0271, 0275.NA26, p. 49*
Note: This running list of textual variants is nonexhaustive, and is continually being updated in accordance with the modern critical publications of the Greek New Testament — United Bible Societies' Fifth Revised Edition (UBS5) published in 2014, Novum Testamentum Graece: Nestle-Aland 28th Revised Edition of the Greek New Testament (NA28) published in 2012, and Novum Testamentum Graecum: Editio Critica Maior (ECM) last published in 2017 — and supplemented by nonmodern publications wherever applicable, including those of Hodges & Farstad, Greeven, Lachmann, Legg, Merk, Nestle-Aland editions 25–27, Aland's Synopsis Quattuor Evangeliorum (SQE), Souter, Swanson, Tischendorf, Tregelles, von Soden, and Westcott & Hort.
Legend
Textual variants
Matthew 1:3 Ζαρε — B mae-1 Ζαρα — rell (i.e., all other extant manuscripts)
Matthew 1:6 Δαυιδ δε ο βασιλευς (Also David the king) — C K L W Δ Π 33 157 892 1071 𝔐/Byz itmss vg syrh geo Δαυιδ δε (Also David) — א B Γ ƒ ƒ 579 700 it vg syr cop arm Didymus
Matthew 1:9 Αχαζ — B L W Θ ƒ ƒ Byz Αχας — א C g1
Matthew 1:11 τον Ιωακιμ, Ιωακιμ δε εγεννησεν — M U Θ Σ ƒ 33 258 478 661 954 1216 1230 1354 1604 Lectionary 54 syrh geo omitted by majority
Matthew 1:12-13 γεννα – Β εγεννησεν (begot) – א
Matthew 1:16 τον ανδρα Μαριας, εξ ης εγεννηθη Ιησους ο λεγομενος Χριστος – א Β C K L P W (Δ omit τον) Π (ƒ omit Ιησους) 28 33 565 700 892 1009 1010 1071 1079 1195 1216 1230 1241 1242 1365 1546 1646 2148 2174, Byz, Lect, ℓ 76, ℓ 211, vg ω μνηστευθεισα παρθενος Μαριαμ εγεννησεν Ιησουν τον λεγομενον Χριστον – Θ ƒ13
Matthew 1:16 Ιησους (Jesus) – omitted by ƒ
Matthew 1:18 Ιησου (Jesus) — W Χριστου (Christ) – 71 Latt syr Diatessaron Theophilus Irenaeus Chromatius Jerome Augustine Χριστου Ιησου (Christ Jesus) – B Origen Jerome Ιησου Χριστου (Jesus Christ) — rell ( א C E K L P Z Δ Θ Π Σ ƒ ƒ, most minuscules, Byz, Lect, syrp,h,pal cop arm (eth) geo slav Diatessaronarm Irenaeusgr Origenpt Eusebius Epiphanius Chrysostom)
Matthew 1:21 τεξεται δε σοι υιον (Then she will bring forth to you a son) – syr τεξεται δε υιον (Then she will bring forth a son) – rell
Matthew 1:21 αυτος γαρ σωσει τον κοσμον (for he will save the world) — syr αυτος γαρ σωσει τον λαον αυτου (for he will save his people) — rell
Matthew 1:22 δια Ησαιου του προφητου (through Isaiah the prophet) – D 269 954 it vg syr cop arm Diatessaron Irenaeus δια στοματος Ησαιου του προφητου (through the mouth of Isaiah the prophet) – syr δια του προφητου (through the prophet) – rell
Matthew 1:23 καλεσεις το ονομα (you will call his name) – D it cop Origen Eusebius καλεσει το ονομα (he will call his name) – it καλεσουσιν το ονομα (they will call his name) – rell
Matthew 1:24 ἐγερθεὶς (woke) – א B C* Z 071 ƒ διεγερθεὶς (was awakened) – C D L W 087 ƒ 33 𝔐/Byz
Matthew 1:25 ουκ εγινωσκεν αυτην εως ου (was not knowing her until which [time]) – omitted by it syr
Matthew 1:25 υιον (a son) – א B Z 071 ƒ ƒ 33 1192 it syr mae-1 geo Ambrose Chromatius αυτω υιον (to him a son) – syr τον υιον (the son) – cop υιον αυτης (her son) – 1182 cop τον υιον τον πρωτοτοκον (the firstborn son) — D* L it τον υιον αυτης τον πρωτοτοκον (her firstborn son) — rell
Matthew 2:3 πασα (everyone) — omitted by D
Matthew 2:4 παρ' αυτων (close to them) — omitted by D Γ
Matthew 2:5 per Esiam prophetam dicentum (through Isaiah the prophet who related) — it δια του προφητου Μιχαιου (through the prophet Micah) — 4 cop δια του προφητου (through the prophet) – rell
Matthew 2:9 επανω (over) — omitted by syr Origen
Matthew 2:9 του παιδιου (of the child) — D it ου ην το παιδιον (where the child was) — rell
Matthew 2:11 ευρον (they found) — 2, 474, it vg ειδον (they saw) — rell
Matthew 2:11 τας πηρας (their bag) — Epiphanius τους θησαυρους (their treasures) — rell
Matthew 2:12 εις την χωραν αυτων (into their country) – Β εις την εαυτων χωραν (into their own country) – א f1 157 a b g1 vg cop
Matthew 2:13 κατ οναρ εφανη – Β 372 copsa φαινεται κατ οναρ (appeared in a dream) – א
Matthew 2:15 του στοματος Ησαιου του προφητου (the mouth of Isaiah the prophet) — syr του προφητου (the prophet) — rell
Matthew 2:17 ρηθεν υπο Κυριου δια Ιερεμιου (spoken by the LORD through Jeremiah) — D it
Matthew 2:18 κλαυθμὸς (weeping) — א, B, Z, Z, 0250, ƒ, 22 279 372 1491 ℓ lat syr cop eth Justin Hilary Jerome Augustine Hesychius θρηνος (lamentation) — cop θρῆνος καὶ κλαυθμός (lamentation and weeping) — C D E K L W Δ Π Σ 0233 ƒ, most minuscules 𝔐/Byz, ℓ 70, ℓ 150, ℓ 185, ℓ 1761, it syr arm eth geo slav Origen Proclus
Matthew 2:18 βρυγμος (gnashing) — Z οδυρμος (wailing) — rell
Matthew 2:21
ηλθεν (came) – D L W 0233 0250 ƒ ƒ 33 cop 𝔐 εισηλθεν (entered) – א B C cop επανηλθεν (was returning) – cop Eusebius
Matthew 3:3 φωνη βοωντος εν τη ερημω (A voice shouting in the wild) – omitted by syr
Matthew 3:3 ευθειας ποιειτε τας τριβους αυτου (Make his paths straight) – omitted by it syr
Matthew 3:3 (see Isaiah 40:3) του Θεου ημων (of our God) – it syr Irenaeus omitted (see previous variant) – it syr αυτου – rell
Matthew 3:5 παιδια Ιεροσολυμα (the children of Jerusalem) – syr τα Ιεροσολυμα (the Jerusalemites) – 157 1071 πασα Ιεροσολυμα (all Jerusalem) – 517 892 1424 πασα η Ιεροσολυμα (all of Jerusalem) – ƒ 22 1365 it vg arm Origen Ιεροσολυμα (Jerusalem) – rell
Matthew 3:6 εις τον Ιορδανην (into the Jordan) – 983 1689 εν τω Ιορδανη (in the Jordan) – C D K L Π ƒ 28 700 892 𝔐 lat mae-1 εν τω Ιορδανη ποταμω (in the Jordan River) – א B C* M S W Δ 0233 ƒ 22 33 157 346 579 1424 it syr cop arm Origen
Matthew 3:9 εν εαυτοις (in yourselves) – omitted by it syr Chrysostom
Matthew 3:11 οπισω μου (behind me) – omitted by it cop Cyprian
Matthew 3:11 και πυρι (and fire) – omitted by E S V Ω 2 28 517 579 1424 𝔐 syr
Matthew 3:14 Ιωαννης (John) – omitted by א* B 𝑙 cop Eusebius
Matthew 3:15 τοτε αφιησιν αυτον βαπτισθηναι (Then he permitted him to be baptized.) — syr [τοτε αφιησιν αυτον] et cum baptizaretur lumen ingens circum fulsit de aqua, ita ut timerent omnes qui advenerant (Then he permitted him. And when he should be baptized, a prodigious light shone about from (down upon?) the water, so that all they who had come would fear.) — it [τοτε αφιησιν αυτον] et cum baptizaretur Iesus lumen magnum fulgebat de aqua, ita ut timerant omnes qui congregati erant (Then he permitted him. And when Jesus should be baptized, a great light was shining from (down upon?) the water, so that all they who were gathered together would fear.) — it και πυρ ανηφθη εν τω Ιορδανη (And fire was kindled in the Jordan.) — Justin Martyr ...the light that appeared on the water [of the Jordan]... — Diatessaron (per Ephrem) και ευθυς περιελαμψε τον τοπον φως μεγα (And immediately a great light illuminated that place) — Gospel (per Epiphanius)Epiphanius, Panarion 30:13 τοτε αφιησιν αυτον (Then he permitted him.) — rell
Matthew 3:17 λεγουσα προς αυτον Συ ει ο υιος μου (saying to him, "You are my son") – D it syr Irenaeus λεγουσα Ουτος εστιν ο υιος μου (saying, "This is my son") – rell
Matthew 4:2 και νυκτας τεσσερακοντα (and forty nights) – omitted by ƒ syr Irenaeus
Matthew 4:4 εκπορευομενω δια στοματος (going out through the mouth) – omitted by D it Clement Tertullian Augustine
Matthew 4:6 βαλε σεαυτον εντευθεν κατω (Throw yourself down from here) – C* Θ syr cop βαλε σεαυτον κατω (Throw yourself down) – rell
Matthew 4:8 δικνυει (showed) – א δεικνυσιν (showed) – Β εδειξεν (showed) – D 372
Matthew 4:10
υπαγε (Go away!) – א B C* K P S V W Δ Σ 0233 ƒ ƒ 22 372 565 579* 700 892* 1079 1546 2680 2737 𝑙 it vg syr cop geo slav Diatessaron Ignatius Irenaeus Tertullian Origen Hilary Chromatius Basil Jerome vade retro (Go behind!) – it vg Irenaeus υπαγε οπισω μου (Get behind me!) – C D E L Z 28 33 118 157 180 205 209 597 892 1006 1009 1010 1071 1195 1216 1230 1241 1242 1243 1253 1292 1365 1424 1505 1582 1646 2148 2174 𝔐 𝑙 it vg syr cop arm eth geo slav Diatessaron Justin Liber Graduum Athanasius Asterius Ephraem (Ambrose) Chrysostom (Augustine) Nestorius υπαγε οπισω σου (Get behind you or Get you behind) – syr
Matthew 4:12 ο Ιησους (Jesus) – omitted by א B C* D Z 33 700 1010 1241 it syr cop Origen
Matthew 4:13 παραθαλασσαν (by the sea) – א W παραθαλασσιαν (by the sea) – B παραθαλασσιον (by the sea) – D 372
Matthew 4:17 μετανοειτε (Repent!) – omitted by it syr (Justin) Clement Origen (Eusebius)
Matthew 4:18 Παραγων (while passing) – D it syr Eusebius Περιπατων (while walking) – rell
Matthew 4:18 τον λεγομενον Πετρον (who is called Peter) – omitted by syr
Matthew 4:21-22 Both verses omitted – W 33
Matthew 4:23 ο Ιησους (Jesus) – omitted by B 𝑙 𝑙 it syr cop
Matthew 4:23 εν τη Γαλιλαια (in Galilee) – א εν ολη τη Γαλιλαια (in all Galilee) – B C 157 cop syr eth ολην την γαλιλαιαν (all Galilee) – D
4:23b διδασκων αυτοις – א διδασκων – Β
Matthew 4:24 πασαν την Συριαν (whole of Syria) – א 157 ολην την Συριαν (all Syria) – Β
Matthew 4:24