# Camel through eye of needle

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-through-eye-of-needle/266282>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [September 27, 2004, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-through-eye-of-needle/266282 "2004-09-27T08:40:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![NewKenner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3da27b/32.png) [@NewKenner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NewKenner)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-through-eye-of-needle/266282/1 "2004-09-27T08:40:36Z")

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Eye of the needle has always been portrayed as the small entry point in a fortified - small enough that made it very difficult for a large animal [like a came to get through. It is my understanding this meant that opening in the wall and had nothing to do with a sewing needle. This should [in my opinion] be taken as a metaphor.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-through-eye-of-needle/266282/2 "2004-09-27T09:10:33Z")

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Hi **NewKenner** and welcome to the boards

I think you’re referring to [this](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mrichman.html) article or [this](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mrichma2.html) one.

As the first article mentions, there is no sound historical basis for the ‘gate’ interpretation.

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**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-through-eye-of-needle/266282/3 "2004-09-30T18:48:49Z")

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Hi, NewKenner!

We know you can’t search because you’re a guest, so you may be interested in these earlier threads on the subject.

> **[Needle Through the Camel's Eye](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=2408)**
>
> Regarding http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mrichman.html I had heard once that the Hebrew word for “rope” is very close to the word for “camel,” and this marvellous metaphor is actually the result of a mistranslation. Any evidence to support /...

> **[Eye of a Needle](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=112370)**
>
> I have recently purchase a Bible . It is From the Aramaic of the Peshitta . In Matthew 19:24 Where it is said that it is easier for the camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God . In my bible the...