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Mar 13:26

Mar 13:26           And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

καὶ τότε ὄψονται “τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐρχόμενον ἐν νεφέλαις” μετὰ δυνάμεως πολλῆς καὶ δόξης:

And at that time they shall perceive the child of humanity arriving through this mists along with great power and honor.

The term "meta" uses with "great power and glory" has a double meaning here. It means "with" but it also means "by the aid of." There is a sense that this arrival is made possible by great power.

Mat 24:30,christswords.com/node/490 Mat 26:64

While we read a verse like this, we envision Christ descending from the sky. There is a greater sense to the word translated as "clouds" that refers to a mist that obscures our vision. As we might say, "Our vision is clouded."

During the end of an age, whether we are talking about the end of a person's life, the end of a civilization, or the end of the world,  the future is obscured.  In other words, it is clouded. Christ arrives in this mist.

How does he arrive?

Christ uses the term translated as "power" to mean both the regular abilities of people (Mat 25:15) to great deed  (Mat 7:22) to the power of God (Mat 26:64). When Christ says that he is given "all power in heaven and earth" (Mar 28:18), he does not use this term but another Greek word (exousia), which means "authority."

The term for "power" used here has the sense of abilities and capacities, what actions a person can do or has done.  It does not carry the sense of authority over others, either people or laws.

This idea of power fits better with the meaning of the term translated as "glory," which more typically refers to a reputation, usually an honorable...

καὶ "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

τότε "Then" is from tote, which means "at that time" and "then."

ὄψονται "They hall see" is from optanomai (verb, 3rd, plural, future, indicative), which means "to see" and object, "to behold," "to perceive," and "to observe." It is used as a metaphor for mental sight.

υἱὸν "Son" is from huios (huios), which means a "son," and more generally, a "child."

ἀνθρώπου "of man" is from anthrôpos (anthropos), which "man," and, in plural, "mankind." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate.

ἐρχόμενον "Coming" is from erchomai (erchomai), (participal, singular, present, masculine, accusative) which means to start,"  "to set out," "to come," "to go," and any kind of motion. It means both "to go" on a journey and "to arrive" at a place.

νεφέλαις "Clouds" is from nephelê, which means "clouds," "mist," and "fog."

μετὰ "With" is from meta, which means "in the midst of," "among," "between," "in common," "along with," and "by the aid of."

"Power" is from δυνάμεις dunamis, (dynamis) which means "power," "might," "influence," "authority," "capacity," "elementary force," "force of a word," and "value of money." Elemental forces are forces such as heat and cold.

πολλῆς "Great" is from polus, which means "many (in number)," "great (in size or power or worth)," and "large (of space)." As an adverb is means "far," "very much," "a great way," and "long."

δόξης "Glory" is from doxa, which means "expectation," "notion," "opinion," "reputation," and "popular repute." Translations as "glory" or "splendor" referring to external appearance (as opposed to reputation) are found exclusively in translating the Bible. The term usually implies a good reputation, but it can also mean a poor one.

 

Reflection Prayers

The prayer/verse below is designed to demonstrate the wordplay and shades of meaning in Christ's original words in the Greek that are often lost in translation.

Beatitudes: Playing On Words and Patterns

While often the wordplay in Christ's words are lost in translation, at other times, word play is added, perhaps to simplify Christ's ideas. The common translation of the Beatitudes is an example of this as we explain in detail on our page about them. The following prayer tries to illustrate how Christ player with words while keeping closer to the meaning of the original Greek. To make the wordplay a little clearer, we have reorganized the verses to emphasize a larger pattern of meaning, inter-shuffling the lines of the first and second half to show their relationship.

Lord help us see that:

We are lucky when we are careless because we have Your universal laws.
And we are also lucky when we are caring because we will be cared for.

We are lucky when we are broken-hearted from losing a loved one because  then we can hear Your summons.
We are also lucky when our hearts are full of the love of life because then we can see You.

We are lucky when we are peaceful because then we will be given the Earth.
We are also lucky when we become peace keepers, because then others will recognize us as Your children.

We are lucky when we are hungry and thirsty for what is right because only then will we be satisfied.
We are also lucky when others persecute us for doing what is right because we have Your universal laws.

Help us see that in everything You take away as well as in everything You give, there is a hidden gift.

Most Recent Verses

Mar 13:26           And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with... And at that time they shall perceive the child of humanity arriving through this mists along with great power and honor.... view post
Mar 13:25  And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. "And the sky's stars shall be toppled and the forces given to the cosmos shall be unbalanced." view post
 Mar 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her li... Still in those times, during that oppression, "the sun shall be made to darkened, and the moon shall not give the s... view post
Mar 13:2  But take heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. You must just look to see: I have recounted everything beforehand. view post
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, ev... Because there shall awaken "false kings" and "false prophets" and "they shall give signs ... view post
Mar 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here [is] Christ; or, lo, [he is] there; believe [him] not: And at that time if anyone tells you "Behold here is the Christ! See there!" Do not believe it. view post
Mar 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom h... And if the Lord had not shortened these days nothing physical would be preserved, but for those He has chosen He has cho... view post
Mar 13:19  For [in] those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God... Because these days shall be this sort of oppression such as has not come into being since the origin of the settlement,... view post
Mar 13:18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. Pray that this doesn't happen during a calamity.  view post
Mar 13:17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! Woe to those who are big with child and those who are nursing in those so civilized times. view post
Mar 13:14

Mar 13:14 But when you shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that reads understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

...

Mar 13:13

Mar 13:13 And you shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Alternative: And you shall be hated by all thanks to my name but he that stands his ground until the fulfillment shall be saved from death.

Wordplay: Christ makes a little joke...

Mar 13:12

Mar 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against [their] parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

Alternative: But brother will turn in brothers as far as death and father, children and child shall rise against their parents to condemn them to death. ...

Mar 13:11

Mar 13:11 But when they shall lead [you], and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what you shall speak, neither do you premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak you: for it is not you that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Alternative: But since they will fetch [you] to turn you in, don't worry beforehand about what you...

Mar 13:10

Mar 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

Alternative: And among all people, first the reward for bringing good news must be announced.

Wordplay: This statement is highly self-referential in the Greek because the two key words both refer to the task...