SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:13
¶ Vosotros sois la sal de la tierra; y si la sal se perdiere su sabor ¿con qu ser salada? No vale ms para nada, sino para ser echada fuera y hollada por los hombres.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:13
Verse 13. Ye are the salt of the earth] Our Lord shows here what the preachers of the Gospel, and what all who profess to follow him, should be; the salt of the earth, to preserve the world from putrefaction and destruction. See the note on "Lev. ii. 13". But if the salt have lost his savour] That this is possible in the land of Judea, we have proof from Mr. Maundrell, who, describing the Valley of Salt, speaks thus: "Along, on one side of the valley, toward Gibul, there is a small precipice about two men's lengths, occasioned by the continual taking away of the salt; and, in this, you may see how the veins of it lie. I broke a piece of it, of which that part that was exposed to the rain, sun, and air, though it had the sparks and particles of salt, YET IT HAD PERFECTLY LOST ITS SAVOUR: the inner part, which was connected to the rock, retained its savour, as I found by proof." See his Trav., 5th edit., last page. A preacher, or private Christian, who has lost the life of Christ, and the witness of his Spirit, out of his soul, may be likened to this salt. He may have the sparks and glittering particles of true wisdom, but without its unction or comfort. Only that which is connected with the rock, the soul that is in union with Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit, can preserve its savour, and be instrumental of good to others.
To be trodden underfoot] There was a species of salt in Judea, which was generated at the lake Asphaltites, and hence called bituminous salt, easily rendered vapid, and of no other use but to be spread in a part of the temple, to prevent slipping in wet weather. This is probably what our Lord alludes to in this place. The existence of such a salt, and its application to such a use, Schoettgenius has largely proved in his Horae Hebraicae, vol. i. p. 18, &c.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. Ye are the salt of the earth , etc.] This is to be understood of the disciples and apostles of Christ; who might be compared to salt, because of the savoury doctrines they preached; as all such are, which are agreeable to the Scriptures, and are of the evangelic kind, which are full of Christ, serve to exalt him, and to magnify the grace of God; and are suitable to the experiences of the saints, and are according to godliness, and tend to promote it: also because of their savoury lives and conversations; whereby they recommended, and gave sanction to the doctrines they preached, were examples to the saints, and checks upon wicked men. These were the salt of the earth; that is, of the inhabitants of the earth, not of the land of Judea only, where they first lived and preached, but of the whole world, into which they were afterwards sent to preach the Gospel. But if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? The savour here supposed that it may be lost, cannot mean the savour of grace, or true grace itself, which cannot be lost, being an incorruptible seed; but either gifts qualifying men for the ministry, which may cease; or the savoury doctrines of the Gospel, which may be departed from; or a seeming savoury conversation, which may be neglected; or that seeming savour, zeal, and affection, with which the Gospel is preached, which may be dropped: and particular respect seems to be had to Judas, whom Christ had chosen to the apostleship, and was a devil; and who he knew would lose his usefulness and place, and become an unprofitable wretch, and at last be rejected of God and men; and this case is proposed to them all, in order to engage them to take heed to themselves, their doctrine and ministry. Moreover, this is but a supposition; if the salt , etc. and proves no matter of fact; and the Jews have a saying f252 , that all that season lose their savour hm[j hgypm hnya jlmw , but salt does not lose its savour. Should it do so, it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot . Salt is good for nothing, but to make things savoury, and preserve from putrefacation; and when it has lost its savour, it is of no use, neither to men nor beasts, as some things are when corrupted; nor is it of any use to the land, or dunghill, for it makes barren, and not fruitful: so ministers of the word, when they have dropped the savoury doctrines of the Gospel, or have quitted their former seeming savoury and exemplary conversations; as their usefulness is gone, so, generally speaking, it is never retrieved; they are cast out of the churches of Christ, and are treated with contempt by everyone.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 13-16 - Ye are the salt of the earth. Mankind, lying in ignorance an wickedness, were as a vast heap, ready to putrify; but Christ sen forth his disciples, by their lives and doctrines to season it with knowledge and grace. If they are not such as they should be, they ar as salt that has lost its savour. If a man can take up the professio of Christ, and yet remain graceless, no other doctrine, no other means can make him profitable. Our light must shine, by doing such good work as men may see. What is between God and our souls, must be kept to ourselves; but that which is of itself open to the sight of men, we must study to make suitable to our profession, and praiseworthy. We must aim at the glory of God.
Greek Textus Receptus
υμεις 5210 P-2NP εστε 2075 5748 V-PXI-2P το 3588 T-NSN αλας 217 N-NSN της 3588 T-GSF γης 1093 N-GSF εαν 1437 COND δε 1161 CONJ το 3588 T-NSN αλας 217 N-NSN μωρανθη 3471 5686 V-APS-3S εν 1722 PREP τινι 5101 I-DSN αλισθησεται 233 5701 V-FPI-3S εις 1519 PREP ουδεν 3762 A-ASN ισχυει 2480 5719 V-PAI-3S ετι 2089 ADV ει 1487 COND μη 3361 PRT-N βληθηναι 906 5683 V-APN εξω 1854 ADV και 2532 CONJ καταπατεισθαι 2662 5745 V-PPN υπο 5259 PREP των 3588 T-GPM ανθρωπων 444 N-GPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
13. Have lost his savor (mwranqh). The kindred noun (mwrov) means dull, sluggish; applied to the mind, stupid or silly; applied to the taste, insipid, flat. The verb here used of salt, to become insipid, also means to play the fool. Our Lord refers here to the familiar fact of salt losing its pungency and becoming useless. Dr. Thompson ("The Land and the Book") cites the following case: "A merchant of Sidon, having farmed of the government the revenue from the importation of salt, brought over a great quantity from the marshes of Cyprus - enough, in fact, to supply the whole province for many years. This he had transferred to the mountains, to cheat the government out of some small percentage of duty. Sixty-five houses were rented and filled with salt. Such houses have merely earthen floors, and the salt next the ground was in a few years entirely spoiled. I saw large quantities of it literally thrown into the road to be trodden under foot of men and beasts. It was 'good for nothing.'"
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:13 {Lost its savor} (mwranqei). The verb is from mwros (dull, sluggish, stupid, foolish) and means to play the fool, to become foolish, of salt become tasteless, insipid (#Mr 9:50). It is common in Syria and Palestine to see salt scattered in piles on the ground because it has lost its flavour, "hae tint its tang" (_Braid Scots_), the most worthless thing imaginable. Jesus may have used here a current proverb. and means to play the fool, to become foolish, of salt become tasteless, insipid (#Mr 9:50). It is common in Syria and Palestine to see salt scattered in piles on the ground because it has lost its flavour, "hae tint its tang" (_Braid Scots_), the most worthless thing imaginable. Jesus may have used here a current proverb.
