After the Last Supper, Jesus says to the apostles "you trust right now, but..."
John 16:32 Behold, the hour comes, yea, is now come, that you shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
John 16:32 A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
Look! An hour starts and has started when you may be dispersed, each towards those one's own. And you may leave me alone, and not I am alone because the Father is along with me.
The biggest mistake is in the tenses of the verbs "scattered" and "leave," with are translated with a "shall" and a "will" before them, making them the future tense, but both are in the form of probability, something that "might" happen, not something that "will" happen. And indeed, not all of the apostle's left him. John, at least, was at the cross.
There are three "and" conjunctions here. The Biblical translators ignore some of them and make the last one "and yet," which is a different Greek word that means "and yet." We have to think of this line as spoken, were all every "and" becomes a point for a dramatic pause.
We are never alone because the Father is with us.
ἰδοὺ ἔρχεται ὥρα καὶ ἐλήλυθεν
Look! It begins, an hour and it has started
ἵνα σκορπισθῆτε ἕκαστος εἰς τὰ ἴδια
when you may be dispersed, each toward those one's own.
κἀμὲ μόνον ἀφῆτε: καὶ οὐκ εἰμὶ μόνος,
And me alone you may leave, and not I am alone
ὅτι ὁ πατὴρ μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἐστίν.
because the Father along with me is.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "yea" should be something more like "and."
- WT --Wrong Tense - The English verb "see" is the present tense, but Greek is in the past perfect, "has come."
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "now" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
- CW - Confusing Word - This "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/those" before "his own" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word - This "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "yet" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "Look!" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "time" is not the common word usually translated as "time."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "in fact" doesn't exist in the source.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/those" before "his own" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "home" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "all" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "yet" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "my" should be something more like "the."
Behold, -- "Behold" is a verbal command meaning "See!" and "Look!" It is from the most common word meaning "to see" in Greek. In a humorous vein, it is also an adverbial exclamation like we use the phrase "ta-da" in a magic show, or "voila" in French which means "see there". "Look here!" or "See there!" comes closest in English. Jesus uses it both ways.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.
hour - The word translated as "hour" means a period of time equal to the one-twelfth part of the daylight, like an "hour." More generally, it means a period of time, like a "season."
comes, -- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.
yea, -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "yea" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
is -- (WT) This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb, but the tense is the past perfect, so this should be "has."
now -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "now" in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used. Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.
come, --- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.
that -- The word translated as "when" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" "when," or "because." It is used as an introduction to a command, where it isn't translated.
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
shall -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
scattered, - "Scattered " is a verb which means "to scatter," "to disperse," "to dissipate," and "to disintegrate." The verb is from the noun that means "scorpion," possibly describing how baby scorpions scatter from the back of their mother who carries them.
every man -- The Greek word translated as "each man" means "each," "all and each severally," and "each by himself."
to -- The word translated as "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject,"up to" limits in time and measure, and "for" a purpose or object.
missing "the/those" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
his own, -- The word translated as "hisown" is a very unusual word. It is not the very common pronoun usually translated as "his," but a specific word that means "one's own," "pertaining to oneself," and "private."
and -- -- This is from a contraction of the conjunction "and" and the subject pronoun "me." The ka- represents the "and" part, which can be translated as "also."
shall -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.
leave -- The word translated as "leave" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away." It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop. This same word is usually translated as "leave," "forgive," "suffer," and "let" in the New Testament. See this article for more.
me -- -- This is from a contraction of the conjunction "and" and the subject pronoun "me." The ka- represents the "and" part, which can be translated as "also." "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.
alone: -- "Alone" is an adjective that means "alone," "solitary," "only," "single," "unique," "made in one piece," "without [someone]," "only [something]," "unique," "one above all others," and "on one condition only."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
yet -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "yet" in the Greek source.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
am -- The verb "am" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. -- When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."
not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
alone, -- "alone" is an adjective that means "alone," "solitary," "only," "single," "unique," "made in one piece," "without [someone]," "only [something]," "unique," "one above all others," and "on one condition only."
because -- The word translated as "because" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.
is -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.
with -- "With" is the Greek word that usually means "with" or a related concept such as "among" or "by the means of." It also refers to "after" or "behind" when referring to a place, time, or pursuit.
me. -- "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means movement away from something or a position away from something else. So the sense is "moving with me.
missing "look!" -- (MW) The untranslated word "See!" and "Look!" It is from the most common word meaning "to see" in Greek. In a humorous vein, it is also an adverbial exclamation like we use the phrase "ta-da" in a magic show, or "voila" in French which means "see there". "Look here!" or "See there!" comes closest in English. Jesus uses it both ways.
A -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
time - (CW) The word translated as "time " means a period of time equal to the one-twelfth part of the daylight, like an "hour." More generally, it means a period of time, like a "season." It is not the common word for "time."
is -- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb. It is used here to form the present, progressive tense, which doesn't exist in Greek but which can smooth the flow of English sentences.
coming , -- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.
and The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
in fact -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "in fact" in the Greek source.
has -- This helping verb indicates the past perfect tense of the verb.
come, --- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.
when -- -- The word translated as "when" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" "when," or "because." It is used as an introduction to a command, where it isn't translated.
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
will -- (WT) This helping verb "will" indicates the future tense, but the verb is not the future.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
scattered, - "Scattered " is a verb which means "to scatter," "to disperse," "to dissipate," and "to disintegrate." The verb is from the noun that means "scorpion," possibly describing how baby scorpions scatter from the back of their mother who carries them.
each -- The Greek word translated as "each" means "each," "all and each severally," and "each by himself."
to -- The word translated as "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject,"up to" limits in time and measure, and "for" a purpose or object.
missing "the/those" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
your own, -- The word translated as "your own" is a very unusual word. It is not the very common pronoun usually translated as "his," but a specific word that means "one's own," "pertaining to oneself," and "private."
home -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "home" in the Greek source.
missing "and" -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" and the subject pronoun "me." The ka- represents the "and" part, which can be translated as "also."
You -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
will -- (WT) This helping verb "will" indicates the future tense, but the verb is not the future.
leave -- The word translated as "leave" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away." It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop. This same word is usually translated as "leave," "forgive," "suffer," and "let" in the New Testament. See this article for more.
me -- -- This is from a contraction of the conjunction "and" and the subject pronoun "me." The ka- represents the "and" part, which can be translated as "also." "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.
all -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "all" in the Greek source.
alone: -- "Alone" is an adjective that means "alone," "solitary," "only," "single," "unique," "made in one piece," "without [someone]," "only [something]," "unique," "one above all others," and "on one condition only."
missing "and" -- (MW) The untranslated word . "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
Yet -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "yet" in the Greek source.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
am -- The verb "am" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. -- When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."
not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
alone, -- "alone" is an adjective that means "alone," "solitary," "only," "single," "unique," "made in one piece," "without [someone]," "only [something]," "unique," "one above all others," and "on one condition only."
for -- The word translated as "because" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore.
my -- (WW) The word translated as "my" is the Greek definite article. When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.
is -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.
with -- "With" is the Greek word that usually means "with" or a related concept such as "among" or "by the means of." It also refers to "after" or "behind" when referring to a place, time, or pursuit.
me. -- "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. So the sense is "moving with me.
ἰδοὺ [52 verses](adv, verb 2nd sg aor imperat mid) "Behold is idou, which means "to behold," "to see," and "to perceive." It acts as an adverbial phrase in this form meaning "Lo! Behold!" and "See there!' It is a form of the verb eido, which means "to see."
ἔρχεται [198 verses](3rd sg pres ind mp) "Comes" is erchomai, 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.
ὥρα [37 verses](noun sg fem nom ) "Hour" is hora, which means "any period," "season," (especially springtime), "year' (generally), "climate" (as determined by seasons), "duration," "the twelve equal parts into which the period of daylight was divided," "the fitting time" (for a task).
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." 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."
ἐλήλυθεν [198 verses](3rd sg perf ind act) "Is now come" is erchomai, 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.
ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place," "there," "where," "when," but when beginning a phrase "so that," "in order that," "when," and "because."
σκορπισθῆτε [4 verses](2nd pl aor subj pass) "Scattered" is from skorpizo, which means "to scatter," "to disperse," "to disintegrate," "to reduce to powder," and "to dissipate."
ἕκαστος [9 verses] (adj sg masc nom) "Every man" is from hekastos, which means "each," "all and each severally," and "each by himself."
εἰς [325 verses](prep) "Into" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)," "until (of time)," "as much as (of measure or limit)," "as far as (of measure or limit)," "towards (to express relation)," "in regard to (to express relation)," "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."
τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). -
ἴδια [16 verses](adj pl neut acc) "His own" is idios, which means "one's own," "pertaining to oneself," "private," "personal," "personally attached" to one, "separate," "distinct," "strange," and "unusual."
κἀμὲ [34 verses](conj, pron 1st sg masc acc) "And...me" is kago, a contraction of kai-ego. It also appears as a contraction of other forms of the pronoun, kamoi (dative) and kame (acc). "And" is kai-, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." 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." "I" is -ego, which is the first-person singular pronoun meaning "I" or in this form "me." "
μόνον [18 verses](adj sg masc acc) "Alone" is monos, which means "alone," "solitary," "only," "single," "unique," "made in one piece," "without [someone]," "only [something]," "unique," "one above all others," and "on one condition only."
ἀφῆτε: [73 verses](verb 2nd pl aor subj act) "Shall leave" is aphiemi, which means "to let fall," "to send away," "give up," "hand over," "to let loose," "to get rid of," "to leave alone," "to pass by," "to permit," and "to send forth from oneself."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." 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."
οὐκ [269 verses](partic) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.
εἰμὶ [614 verses](1st sg pres ind act) "Am" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen," and "is possible." With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." It can also mean "must" with a dative.
μόνος, [18 verses](adj sg masc nom) "Alone" is monos, which means "alone," "solitary," "only," "single," "unique," "made in one piece," "without [someone]," "only [something]," "unique," "one above all others," and "on one condition only."
ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "Because" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
πατὴρ [191 verses](noun sg masc nom) "The Father" is pater, which means "father," "grandfather," "author," "parent," and "forefathers."
μετὰ [103 verses](prep) "With" is meta, which means "with," "in the midst of," "among," "between," "in common," "along with," "by the aid of," "in one's dealings with," "into the middle of," "coming into," "in pursuit of," "after," "behind," "according to," "after," "behind," and "next afterward." With genitive, it means generally, "with," "together with," "in the midst of," "among," "between." "in common," "along with," "by the aid of," and "in conjunction with." With dative, "between," "among," "in company with," with a number "complete," and "over and above." With accusative, generally, "among" and "between" as with dative, of motion, "into the middle of," "coming into or among," "in pursuit or quest of," of place, "after," "behind," of time, "after," "next to," of worth/rank, "next after," of ideas, "after," "according to."
μου [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "Me" is from mou (emou), which means "me," and "mine." As a genitive object means movement away from something or a position away from something else.
ἐστίν. [614 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "Is" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen," and "is possible." With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." It can also mean "must" with a dative.