Luke 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took

Spoken to: 

audience

After the parable of the mustard seed, Jesus starts a parable of the leaven.

KJV: 

Luke 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was fermented.

NIV : 

Luke 13:21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Similar is yeast that a women, acquiring, hid into  three measures of flour until the whole was aeriated.

MY TAKE: 

The realm of the skies raises us up.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

ὁμοία    ἐστὶν ζύμῃ, ἣν  λαβοῦσα    γυνὴ        ἔκρυψεν εἰς    ἀλεύρου σάτα       τρία   ἕως οὗ   ἐζυμώθη       ὅλον.
Similar is       yeast that acquiring a women, , hid         into of flour,  measures three until the was aeriated whole.

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

Jesus explains the concept of the skies as being aeriated, infused with bubbles of the breath, the spirit. The gas given off by yeast is symbolic of spirit, which is why Jesus used it here and in Luke 12:1 to describe the "spirit" of the Pharisees. The verb form of the word "was leavened" means "to ferment," "to foam,"or "to aeriate  The point here is literally the "hiding" of spirit within material things. Bread is, of course, symbolic of the sustenance of life. When we have enough of the spirit from the realm or the skies, it makes us rise. To lock that spirit, we must be baked, giving a whole new positive meaning to being tossed in the fire.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

2

It is like leaven, which a woman took(WF) and(IW) hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "getting."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

9

It is like yeast that a woman took(WF) and(IW) mixed(CW) into about(IW) [sixty pounds](PP2) of flour until [it worked all through the dough](PP3).

  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "getting."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "mixed" doesn't precisely mean "hid."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "about" doesn't exist in the source.
  • PP - Inserted Phrase-- These "sixty pounds"  are a paraphrase of what is in the source. This is counted as 2 translation issues, not 1.

  • PP - Inserted Phrase-- These "it worked all through the dough."  are a paraphrase of what is in the source. This is counted as 3 translation issues, not 1.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

It -- This is from the singular form of the following verb.

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. -- When the verb "to be" appears early in the sentence before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are." 

like -- The word translated as "like" is an adjective that means "like", "alike," and "matching." 

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

leaven,  - "Leaven" means "yeast," the culture that spreads through flour to create the "bubbles" that make bread rise.  Leaven produces gas, that is, a type of breath. The Greek word, "breath," also means "spirit." Breath produces words. Words capture ideas. It is Jesus's symbol for ideas that propagate themselves. Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to leaven as well and the ideas of the Pharisees." is sometimes translated as "yeast." It is from the Greek zyme, which means any kind of bread or beer "yeast." It is from a root word meaning "to mix." This was a time when yeast didn't come in little packets but was maintained as a live culture, in this case, in the raw bread dough itself.  - "Leaven" means "yeast," the culture that spreads through flour to create the "bubbles" that make bread rise.  Leaven produces gas, that is, a type of breath. The Greek word, "breath," also means "spirit." Breath produces words. Words capture ideas. It is Jesus's symbol for ideas that propagate themselves. Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to leaven as well and the ideas of the Pharisees.

which, -- The word translated as "which" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

woman  -- The word translated as "woman" is  the Greek word that means "woman (as opposed to man)," "wife," "spouse," "mortal woman (as opposed to a goddess)," and "female mate (among animals)." It is closer to our "female."

took, -- (WF) The word translated as "took" primarily means "take." The form is not an active verb but an adjective, "taking," modifying "woman." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "getting."

and -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.

hid - "Hid" is from a Greek verb meaning "to hide in" or "to conceal in." It is the Greek form of our word "encrypt."

in -- The word translated as "in" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, and "up to" limits in time and measure.

three - "Three" is the Greek word that means the number three.

measures - "Measure" is very misleading here because we might think "a cup" of flour" but the Hebrew unit of measure is very large, a peck and a half, which works out to 24 cups of flour. Since there are three measures, the total is 72 cups of flour, which is like a small barrel full of flour.

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

meal, - "Meal" is the Greek word that means "wheat-meal," "barley-meal," or, generally, "meal," as in "coarse flour,"

till -- The word translated as "until" means "until" but it also means "till," "while," "as long as," "as far as," "up to the point," "in order that."

the -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.

whole -- The word translated as "whole" means something that is "complete" or "the whole" of something, and can mean "the whole universe" as well as being "safe and sound" in being kept "whole." It is used as an adverb, which can mean "wholly," "really," "entirely," or "generally speaking."

was -- This helping verb "was" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

leavened. - The word translated as "was leavened' means "to leaven" or "to ferment." However, it also means "to foam or bubble up."

EACH WORD of NIV : 

It -- This is from the singular form of the following verb.

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. -- When the verb "to be" appears early in the sentence before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are." 

like -- The word translated as "like" is an adjective that means "like", "alike," and "matching."

yeast,  - "Yeast" means "yeast," the culture that spreads through flour to create the "bubbles" that make bread rise.  Leaven produces gas, that is, a type of breath. The Greek word, "breath," also means "spirit." Breath produces words. Words capture ideas. It is Jesus's symbol for ideas that propagate themselves. Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to leaven as well and the ideas of the Pharisees." is sometimes translated as "yeast." It is from the Greek zyme, which means any kind of bread or beer "yeast." It is from a root word meaning "to mix." This was a time when yeast didn't come in little packets but was maintained as a live culture, in this case, in the raw bread dough itself.  - "Leaven" means "yeast," the culture that spreads through flour to create the "bubbles" that make bread rise.  Leaven produces gas, that is, a type of breath. The Greek word, "breath," also means "spirit." Breath produces words. Words capture ideas. It is Jesus's symbol for ideas that propagate themselves. Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to leaven as well and the ideas of the Pharisees.

which, -- The word translated as "which" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

woman  -- The word translated as "woman" is  the Greek word that means "woman (as opposed to man)," "wife," "spouse," "mortal woman (as opposed to a goddess)," and "female mate (among animals)." It is closer to our "female."

took, -- (WF) The word translated as "took" primarily means "take." The form is not an active verb but an adjective, "taking," modifying "woman." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "getting."

and -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.

mixed - (CW) "Mixed " is from a Greek verb meaning "to hide in" or "to conceal in." This word doesn't precisely mean "mixed ." 

into -- The word translated as "into " means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, and "up to" limits in time and measure.

about -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.

three - "Three" is the Greek word that means the number three.

sixty pounds -- (PP) These words are a paraphrase of "three measures" in the Greek source.

measures - "Measure" is very misleading here because we might think "a cup" of flour" but the Hebrew unit of measure is very large, a peck and a half, which works out to 24 cups of flour. Since there are three measures, the total is 72 cups of flour, which is like a small barrel full of flour.

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

flour , - "Flour" is the Greek word that means "wheat-meal," "barley-meal," or, generally, "meal," as in "coarse flour,"

until -- The word translated as "until" means "until" but it also means "till," "while," "as long as," "as far as," "up to the point," "in order that."

it worked all through the dough. -- (PP) These words are a paraphrase of "whole was leavened" in the Greek source.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

ὁμοία [29 verses](verb 1st sg fut ind act) "Like" is from homoios, which means "like", "resembling", "the same", "equal in force, "a match for one", "suiting", "of the same rank", "alike", "in like manner," and "equally."

ἐστὶν [614 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "Is" is from eimi, which means "to be", "to exist", "to be the case," and "is possible." (The future form is esomai. The 3rd person present indicative is "esti.")

ζύμῃ  [6 verses][6 verses](noun sg fem dat)"Leaven" is sometimes translated as "yeast." It is from the Greek zyme, which means any kind of bread or beer "yeast." It is from a root word meaning "to mix." This was a time when yeast didn't come in little packets but was maintained as a live culture, in this case, in the raw bread dough itself.

ἣν [294 verses] (pron sg fem acc) "Which" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," " "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things."-- The word translated as "who" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things."

λαβοῦσα [54 verse][54 verse](part sg aor act masc nom) "Took" is from lambano means to "take", "take hold of", "grasp", "seize", "catch", "overtake", "find out", "detect", "take as", "take [food or drugs]", "understand", "take in hand", "undertake", "take in", "hold", "get", "receive [things]", "receive hospitably", "receive in marriage", "receive as produce", "profit", "admit", "initiate", "take hold of", "lay hold on", "seize and keep hold of", "obtain possession of", "lay hands upon", "find fault with", "censure, ""to apprehend with the senses", "to take hold of," and "to seize." It is also specifically used to mean "seized with emotion."is from lambano means to "take", "take hold of", "grasp", "seize", "catch", "overtake", "find out", "detect", "take as", "take [food or drugs]", "understand", "take in hand", "undertake", "take in", "hold", "get", "receive [things]", "receive hospitably", "receive in marriage", "receive as produce", "profit", "admit", "initiate", "take hold of", "lay hold on", "seize and keep hold of", "obtain possession of", "lay hands upon", "find fault with", "censure, ""to apprehend with the senses", "to take hold of," and "to seize." It is also specifically used to mean "seized with emotion."

γυνὴ [28 verses](noun sg fem nom) "Woman" is gyne, which means "woman (as opposed to man)," "wife," "spouse," "mortal woman (as opposed to a goddess)," and "female mate (among animals)."

ἐνέκρυψεν [2 verses] (verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "Hid" is enkruptô which literally means "to hide in ""to bank (a fire)," or "to conceal in."

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)."

ἀλεύρου [2 verses](noun sg neut gen) "Of meal" is aleuron, which means "wheat-meal," "barley-meal," or, generally, "meal," as in "coarse flour," - "Meal" is the Greek word that means "wheat-meal," "barley-meal," or, generally, "meal," as in "coarse flour,"

σάτα [2 verses](noun pl neut acc) "Measures" is saton, which is a Hebrew dry measure of approximately three gallons or "a peck" and a half. 

τρία   [5 verses] (numeral pl fem nom) "Three" is from treis, which means the number three.

ἕως [63 verses](conj) "While" is heos which means "until," "till," "while," "as long as," "up to the point," and "in order that" "as far as," and "up to the point that." Takes a genitive object when referring to time "until something." With the particle of possibility and the subjunctive form of the verb, the sense is until some unknown time.

οὗ [294 verses](pron sg neut nom) "That" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," " "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things."-- The word translated as "who" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these thin

ἐζυμώθη (verb 3rd sg aor ind pass)  "was leavened" is from zymoo, which means "to leaven" or "to cause to foam." In the passive, it means "to be leavened" or "to ferment."

ὅλον. [23 verses](adj sg neut nom) "Whole" is holos, which means "the whole," "entire," "complete," "complete in all its parts" and "the universe." As an adverb, (neut) it means "wholly," "altogether," "entirely," "on the whole," "speaking generally," "utter," "actually," and "really."

Related Verses: 

Front Page Date: 

Aug 19 2024