Luke 11:23 He that is not with me is against me:

Spoken to: 

challengers

After Jesus is accused of casting out demons by Beelzebub.

KJV: 

Luke 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

NIV : 

Luke 11:23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

The one not wanting to be with me is against me, and the one not wanting to gather with me, scatters.

MY TAKE: 

We have a choice to be with or against, gather or scatter.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

           μὴ               ὢν     μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ κατ᾽     ἐμοῦ ἐστίν, καὶ            μὴ                συνάγων  μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ σκορπίζει.
The one not wanting to be with me    against me   is      , and the one not wanting to gather with me,    scatters.

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

The first "is" and the "gathers" are both participles, "being" and "gathering." However, they both are negated by a negative implying a choice. This  usually changes the "being" to "not seeming to be, but here, the sense seems to be "not wanting to be" and the "gathering" to "not wanting to gather."

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

6
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "he" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This "is" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- With the verb "to be," this negative means "doesn't seem."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "he" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This "gathers" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" does not capture the word's subjective meaning of choices.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

6
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "whoever" should be something more like "the one."
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This "is" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- With the verb "to be," this negative means "doesn't seem."
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "whoever" should be something more like "the one."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" does not capture the word's subjective meaning of choices.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This "gathers" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

He - (IW) This is from the third-person, singular form of the participle, but since the participle acts and an adjective or a noun, it doesn't imply a subject.

that  -- The word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

is -- (WF) 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.  The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."

not -- (CW) The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests.  It applies to will, feeling, and thought. Used with verbs in the mood of possibility to express a prohibition. With the verb "to be," the sense is "doesn't seem." 

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, "my," "me," and "mine."

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.  The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.

against   -- The word translated as "against" means "down from," "down into," "against," "opposite," "at a point" (geometry), "separately," "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."

me: -- "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my," "me," and "mine."

and  -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

he  - (IW) This is from the third-person, singular form of the participle, but since the participle acts and an adjective or a noun, it doesn't imply a subject.

that  -- The word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

gathereth --(WF) The Greek word translated as "gather" means "to bring together." It has many different uses, but it does not specifically mean gathering in the crops. That is why that idea is provided specifically by the phrase that follows. Jesus most often uses this word to mean bringing people together. He only uses it to mean "gather" crops a handful of times. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."

not -- (CW) The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests.  It applies to will, feeling, and thought. Used with verbs in the mood of possibility to express a prohibition.

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, "my," "me," and "mine." Usually follows the noun so, "of mine."

scattereth. -- The word used for "Scatters" means "to scatter among," "to disperse among" and "to winnow," which is separating the wheat from the straw.  It is often used as the opposite of "gathered."

EACH WORD of NIV : 

Whoever -- (WW)  The word translated as "whoever " is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.  This word doesn't mean "whoever ." 

is -- (WF) 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.  The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."

not -- (CW) The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests.  It applies to will, feeling, and thought. Used with verbs in the mood of possibility to express a prohibition. With the verb "to be," the sense is "doesn't seem." 

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, "my," "me," and "mine."

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.  The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.

against   -- The word translated as "against" means "down from," "down into," "against," "opposite," "at a point" (geometry), "separately," "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."

me: -- "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my," "me," and "mine."

and  -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

whoever -- (WW)  The word translated as "whoever " is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.  This word doesn't mean "whoever ."

does -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English.

not -- (CW) The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests.  It applies to will, feeling, and thought. Used with verbs in the mood of possibility to express a prohibition.

gather --(WF) The Greek word translated as "gather" means "to bring together." It has many different uses, but it does not specifically mean gathering in the crops. That is why that idea is provided specifically by the phrase that follows. Jesus most often uses this word to mean bringing people together. He only uses it to mean "gather" crops a handful of times. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."

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, "my," "me," and "mine." Usually follows the noun so, "of mine."

scatters. -- The word used for "Scatters" means "to scatter among," "to disperse among" and "to winnow," which is separating the wheat from the straw.  It is often used as the opposite of "gathered."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

 (article sg masc nom) [821 verses](article sg masc nom)  "That" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").   It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative.There is no vocative definite article, (despite being shown in Perseus). When the vocative is meant, no article is used or they used ω or εSee this article

μὴ [447 verses](conj) "Not" is me , which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." The negative, μή, rejects, is relative,  and subjective. It is used with verbs of subjective action:  thinking, feeling, seeing, etc. It is used in imperative and subjunctive clauses because both express opinions. With pres. or aor. subjunctive, it is used in a warning or statement of fear, "take care." The combination of ἵνα μή means "lest." The combination of ὅτι μή, means "except." Used before tis with an imperative to express a will or wish for something in independent sentences and, with subjunctives, to express prohibitions. It is used with infinitives that express a purpose. When used with verbs of physical action, its sense is that "not wanting" or "thinking" something, not that it isn't done or thought.  With these verbs, the sense is rejecting the action, rather than simply not doing it. With the verb "to be," the sense is "doesn't seem." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. Used with an imperative to express a will or wish. Used in negative conditional "when/if/whoever" clauses. With "have," the sense is "lacks" or "wants."

ὢν  [614 verses] (part sg pres act masc nom) "He...is" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen,"  and "is possible." With the possessive (genitive) object, it means "is descended from," "is the type of," "belongs to," "is made of," "is a duty of," "is at the mercy of," or " is dependent on." With an indirect (dative) object, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed.  "It is to him" becomes "it is his" or "he has it."  With the preposition,"into" (εἰς), the sense is "consist of." 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."

μετ᾽ [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 genitive,  with pl. Nouns "in the midst of," "among," "between," " in common," "along with", of things, "in conjunction with,"  rarely of Time, "during ."With dative, "between," "among," "in company with," with a number "complete," and "over and above." generally, "among," "between,"  with both indirect (dative) and direct (accusative) object. With direct objects:  of motion, "into the middle of," "coming into or among," esp. where a number of persons is implied, in pursuit or quest of, of persons, "to go after," "in quest of," of sequence or succession,  of Place, "after," "behind," "on the far side of," of Time, "after," "next to," in order of Worth, Rank, etc., "next after," "following," "to be inferior to."

ἐμοῦ [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.  As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.

κατ [60 verses](prep/adv) "Against" is kata can be a preposition or an adverb. As a preposition with the genitive, it means, means "downwards," "down from," "down into," "against," "down toward," "down (from),"  "by," and, or time, "for." With the accusative, it means "down (to)," "according to," "about," "by," " during," of motion, "on," "over," "throughout a space," "opposite," "at a point" (geometry), "separately," "individually," "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally." As an adverb, it means  "downward" "separately," "individually," "according as," "just as," "in so far as," "wherefore," "like as if" and "exactly as."

ἐμοῦ [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.  As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a 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 possessive (genitive) object, it means "is descended from," "is the type of," "belongs to," "is made of," "is a duty of," "is at the mercy of," or " is dependent on." With an indirect (dative) object, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed.  "It is to him" becomes "it is his" or "he has it."  With the preposition,"into" (εἰς), the sense is "consist of." 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."

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." In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

 (article sg masc nom) [821 verses](article sg masc nom)  "That" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").   It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative.There is no vocative definite article, (despite being shown in Perseus). When the vocative is meant, no article is used or they used ω or εSee this article.

μὴ [447 verses](conj) "Not" is me , which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." The negative, μή, rejects, is relative,  and subjective. It is used with verbs of subjective action:  thinking, feeling, seeing, etc. It is used in imperative and subjunctive clauses because both express opinions. With pres. or aor. subjunctive, it is used in a warning or statement of fear, "take care." The combination of ἵνα μή means "lest." The combination of ὅτι μή, means "except." Used before tis with an imperative to express a will or wish for something in independent sentences and, with subjunctives, to express prohibitions. It is used with infinitives that express a purpose. When used with verbs of physical action, its sense is that "not wanting" or "thinking" something, not that it isn't done or thought.  With these verbs, the sense is rejecting the action, rather than simply not doing it. With the verb "to be," the sense is "doesn't seem." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. Used with an imperative to express a will or wish. Used in negative conditional "when/if/whoever" clauses. With "have," the sense is "lacks" or "wants."

συνάγων [20 verses](part sg pres act masc nom) "Gather" is synago, which means "bring together," "gather together," "pit [two warriors against each other]," "join in one," "unite," "make friends of," "lead with one," "receive," "reconcile," "draw together," "narrow," "contract," "conclude [from premises]," " infer," and "prove."

μετ᾽ [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 genitive,  with pl. Nouns "in the midst of," "among," "between," " in common," "along with", of things, "in conjunction with,"  rarely of Time, "during ."With dative, "between," "among," "in company with," with a number "complete," and "over and above." generally, "among," "between,"  with both indirect (dative) and direct (accusative) object. With direct objects:  of motion, "into the middle of," "coming into or among," esp. where a number of persons is implied, in pursuit or quest of, of persons, "to go after," "in quest of," of sequence or succession,  of Place, "after," "behind," "on the far side of," of Time, "after," "next to," in order of Worth, Rank, etc., "next after," "following," "to be inferior to."

ἐμοῦ [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.

σκορπίζει. [6 verses] (3rd sg pres ind act) "Scattereth" is from diaskorpizo, which means literally, to "scatter among" or "disperse among," and "to scatter abroad." In the passive, it means "to squander," "to confound," and "to winnow."

Related Verses: 

parallel comparison: 

This verse is identical to Matthew 12:30. Both verses appear that a  series of verses began with explaining that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Jesus is responding to the accusation that he cast out demons by the power of Satan or Beelzebub. 

Front Page Date: 

May 15 2024