The original Koine Greek, according to Westcott and Hort, reads: μὴ δῶτε τὸ ἅγιον τοῖς κυσὶν μηδὲ βάλητε τοὺς μαργαρίτας ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν χοίρων μήποτε καταπατήσουσιν αὐτοὺς ἐν τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτῶν καὶ στραφέντες ῥήξωσιν ὑμᾶς In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads: Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

The World English Bible translates the passage as: Don't give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

The New International Version provides a more colloquial interpretation for a contemporary worldview:Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.

Dogs were part of society, but were half wild and roamed the region in packs that were sometimes dangerous to humans.

Pigs were the quintessential unclean animal and were closely associated with the Gentile communities in the region which kept them in large numbers.

One suggestion is that a related metaphor is found in Proverbs 11:22: "Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

"[1]: 451  Alternatively the word pearls can be seen as a reference to the food prepared on holy days, which would never have been given to swine.

As Morris points out Jesus was silent before Herod and Paul abandoned the unsympathetic city of Corinth.

Thus the Temple is kept clean, religious meals treated with respect, and holy days honoured and kept separate from the turbulence and impiety of daily life.

The farmer may be wiser to sow in the good soil; or suffer weaker harvests (albeit the crops that do grow among weeds and/or thorns or in other, harder, places may prove more hardy: having survived and then been considered "good enough to keep" by the farmer despite the effects of the weeds and/or thorns).

As a more contemporary note, it is worth[citation needed] considering the sowing parables in light of subsequent monastic thought on selective breeding (see Augustinian Friar, Gregor Mendel and peas): the seeds from the crops that survived the weeds, thorns, path or rock may provide stronger, more durable, seed for sowing in all types of situation - albeit there may be differences in taste and quality to consider too.

In this interpretation, the "holy things" and the "pearls" are the "brother" who might be cast amongst the "dogs" and the "swine" of the world by such actions.

A film was made in 1999, Pearls Before Swine, starring Boyd Rice and Douglas P., directed by Richard Wolstencroft.

In the play "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams, there is a reference: "But I have been foolish – casting my pearls before swine!"

The pig-based Pokémon Spoink and Grumpig may be inspired by the idea of "casting pearls before swine".

For they are your brethren by nature but not by faith, and God gives the good things of this life equally to the worthy and the unworthy, but not so spiritual graces.

[15] Pseudo-Chrysostom: Otherwise; That which is holy denotes baptism, the grace of Christ's body, and the like; but the mysteries of the truth are intended by the pearls.

Hence I think that we are to understand by the dog, the Gentiles who are altogether unclean, both in their life, and in their faith; but by the swine are to be understood heretics, because they seem to call upon the name of the Lord.

[15] Pseudo-Chrysostom: Or; The swine not only trample upon the pearls by their carnal life, but after a little they turn, and by disobedience rend those who offend them.

The dogs also having trode upon holy things by their impure actions, by their disputings rend the preacher of truth.