Luke 11:28 Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God,

Spoken to: 

an individual

The response is to a woman's statement, "Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked."

KJV: 

Luke 11:28 Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

NIV : 

Luke 11:28 Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Truly, certainly. Fortunate the ones hearing the message of the Divine and defending it. 

MY TAKE: 

We are lucky is we know enough to defend the concept of the Divine.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

Μεν - οῦν         μακάριοι  οἱ           ἀκούοντες τὸν λόγον         τοῦ θεοῦ    καὶ  φυλάσσοντες.
Truly certainly Fortunate, the ones hearing      the message of the Divine and defending it. 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

The initial word in Greek is two separate words meaning either "truly, certainly." or "truly, then." Jesus is not denying the woman's statement, but adding to it. The NIV leaves out the "truly" and the KJV translates it as "yea." Both mistranslate the adverb that could either be emphasizing "truly" or  "then" and "rather." These words may be confused because of the de-emphasis of Jesus's mother by the Protestant church.

The word "blessed" in Greek is an adjective a noun meaning "happy" or "fortunate" but with the sense of favored by God. It can also mean "wealthy" with in the sense of "the wealthy" (men with a fortune). "Lucky" captures the idea well in English. 

"Word" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation," or "reasoning." It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. More about this word in this article. In English, we would say "idea" or "message" to describe it. 

The Greek word translated as "keep" and "obey" demonstrates how a poor translation leads to a wrong one. The  Greek verb that means "to keep watch", "to guard",and  "to defend." Translating it as "keep," makes it sound like the "logic of the Divine" is a law that we "keep." This leads to the translation of this word as "obey," in the KIV, which is completely wrong.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

8
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "rather" should be something more like "then."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "blessed" means "blessed" primarily in the sense of "lucky" or "fortunate" without a sense of a "blessing."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "they" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This "hear" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "word" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "keep" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This "keep"  is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

9
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "truly" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "rather" should be something more like "then."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "blessed" means "blessed" primarily in the sense of "lucky" or "fortunate" without a sense of a "blessing."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "who" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This "hear" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "word" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "obey" should be something more like "defend."
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This "obey"  is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."

EACH WORD of KJV : 

Yea   -- The "yea" here is a particle, which, when used alone, expresses certainty, "truly" and "certainly." Alone in a question, it assumes the answer like "I take it" or "isn't it." 

rather, -(WW) -- The Greek word translated as "rather" either emphasizes the truth of something ("certainly," "really") or it simply continues an existing narrative, "then," "therefore." Jesus uses it to respond positively to questions, but in parables, it can continue the story.

blessed  -- (CW) The word "blessed" in Greek is an adjective a noun meaning "happy" or "fortunate" but with the sense of being favored by God. However, it does not refer to a religious blessing. It can also mean "wealthy" with in the sense of "the wealthy" (men with a fortune).

are -- There is no verb "are" here in the Greek source but it is implied by the noun in the form of a subject having no verb associated with it.

they   - (IW) This is from the third-person, pluralform 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. 

hear  -- (WF) "Hear" is from a Greek verb that means "to hear," "to hear of," and "to listen." It has the same sense as the English not only of listening but of understanding.   It also means "to listen" and "to understand," but amusingly, it also means "to be silent." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing." 

the  -- The word translated as "the" 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. 

word - (CW) "Word" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation," or "reasoning," but it has many, many specific meanings from "deliberation" to "narrative."  It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. However, when applied to people, it means "repute" or "reputation." More about this word in this article. In English, we would say "logic," "concept, or "reasoning" to describe it but it also means the communication of various types, so "message" often works. "Teaching" might work but it is unrelated to the common words for "to teach," "teacher," and "student" that all have the same root. 

of -- This word "of"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word 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," and "those"). See this article for more. 

God, -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.

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."

keep-- (CW, WF) "Keep" is from a Greek verb that  means "to keep watch," "to guard," "to defend," "to keep watch and ward," and "to wait in ambush for."  It is a metaphor for "preserve," "maintain,"and "cherish." It does not mean "keep" in the sense of "abide by." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."

it. -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

missing "truly"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "truly" here is a particle, which, when used alone, expresses certainty, "truly" and "certainly." Alone in a question, it assumes the answer like "I take it" or "isn't it."

Blessed -- (CW) The word "blessed" in Greek is an adjective a noun meaning "happy" or "fortunate" but with the sense of being favored by God. However, it does not refer to a religious blessing. It can also mean "wealthy" with in the sense of "the wealthy" (men with a fortune).

rather, -(WW) -- The Greek word translated as "rather" either emphasizes the truth of something ("certainly," "really") or it simply continues an existing narrative, "then," "therefore." Jesus uses it to respond positively to questions, but in parables, it can continue the story.

are -- There is no verb "are" here in the Greek source but it is implied by the noun in the form of a subject having no verb associated with it.

those - -- The word translated as "those" 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. 

who - (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.

hear  -- (WF) "Hear" is from a Greek verb that means "to hear," "to hear of," and "to listen." It has the same sense as the English not only of listening but of understanding.   It also means "to listen" and "to understand," but amusingly, it also means "to be silent." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing." 

the  -- The word translated as "the" 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. 

word - (CW) "Word" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation," or "reasoning," but it has many, many specific meanings from "deliberation" to "narrative."  It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. However, when applied to people, it means "repute" or "reputation." More about this word in this article. In English, we would say "logic," "concept, or "reasoning" to describe it but it also means the communication of various types, so "message" often works. "Teaching" might work but it is unrelated to the common words for "to teach," "teacher," and "student" that all have the same root. 

of -- This word "of"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word 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," and "those"). See this article for more. 

God, -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.

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."

obey -- (WW, WF) "Obey " is from a Greek verb that  means "to keep watch," "to guard," "to defend," "to keep watch and ward," and "to wait in ambush for."  It is a metaphor for "preserve," "maintain,"and "cherish." It does not mean "obey" in the sense of "abide by." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."

it. -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

Μεν- [31 verses](partic) "Yes" is men , which is generally used to express certainty and means "indeed," "certainly," "surely," and "truly." Alone in a question, it assumes the answer like "I take it" or "isn't it."  Used with the conjunction de,  it points out the specific word being contrasted after the conjunction. In English, we usually say, "on one hand...on the other hand." See the article here for specific uses with other particles.

-οὖν [82 verses](adv) "rather" is oun, which means "certainly," "in fact," "really," "in fact," "so" and "then" (continuing a narrative), and "then" and "therefore."

μακάριοι [25 verses](adj pl masc nom) "Blessed"  is makarios which means "blessed," "prosperous," "happy," "fortunate," and "blissful."

οἱ [821 verses](article plmasc 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.  

ἀκούοντες   [95 verses](part pl pres act masc nom) "They that hear" is akouo,  which means "hear of," "hear tell of," "what one actually hears," "know by hearsay," "listen to," "give ear to," "hear and understand," and "understand." The accusative object is the person/thing heard about, while the genitive is the person/thing heard from.  However, two genitives can be used with the sense of "hear of a thing from a person." -

τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc)  "The" 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

λόγον [80 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Word" is logos, which means "word," "computation," "relation," "explanation," "law," "rule of conduct," "continuous statement," "tradition," "discussion," "reckoning," "reputation" (when applied to people), and "value." -

τοῦ   [821 verses] (article)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."

θεοῦ. [144 verses]( noun sg masc gen ) "God" is theos, which means "God," "divine," and "Deity."

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."

φυλάσσοντες [6 verses](part pl pres act masc nom) "Keep" is from phylasso, which means "to keep watch," "to guard," "to defend," "to keep watch and ward," "to wait in ambush for," and "to observe" [at an appointed time]. It is a metaphor for "preserve," "maintain," and "cherish." It does not means "observe" in the sense of "honor" or "abide by." 

Front Page Date: 

May 19 2024