Luke 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk

Spoken to: 

audience

When someone asks him if there are few who will be saved. Jesus tells the a parable of the master shutting the door on them.

KJV: 

Luke 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

NIV : 

Luke 13:26 Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

LISTENERS HEARD: 

At that time, you will be the first to say, "We ate facing you, and we drank, and you in these streets of ours, taught.  

MY TAKE: 

Just because someone sees our face doesn't mean they see us.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

This  is first a protest of not "having been seen" because they ate "facing" him.

Then, this verse is sets up like a "reveal" but that is lost in translation. Until the very last word in the Greek, we do not know the identify of the "master of the house" described to in the previous verse (Luke 13:25) that starts this parable. This verse reveals that identity in its last word. The master is a teacher. However, he is not a favored teacher who would have taught in the meeting houses.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

3

Then shall ye begin to say, We have(WT) eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast(WT) taught in our  (MWthe) streets.

  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "hast" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word  "these/those/the"  before "streets" is not shown in the English translation.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

4

Then you will (MWbe first) say(WF), ‘We ate and drank with(CW) you, and you taught in our  (MWthe) streets.'

  • MW - Missing Word -- The word  "to be the first"  before "say" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to say."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "with."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word  "these/those/the"  before "streets" is not shown in the English translation.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

Then -- The Greek word for "then" means "at this time" or "then." With the subjective negative, the sense is "not when."

shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

begin --  "Ye begin" is from a verb that means "to be first," "to begin," and "to make a beginning," "to rule," "to govern," and "to command."    Jesus often uses it to say "you will be the first" in a negative sense of claiming a surperior position. The two meanings, "to start" and "to command" create different meanings when paired with the following verbs.  The form is someone acting on themselves, so "be the first for yourself" or "start yourself." 

to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.

say, -- The word translated as "I tell" is the most common word that means "to say," "to tell," and "to speak,"  but when used with an objective noun or pronoun, the sense is "say of" or "speak of."    It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself."

We -- This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb.

have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.

eaten -- The word translated as "eated" is one of the two common words used to mean "eat. "It means "to eat," "to eat up," and "to devour." It also means to "fret" as we say "to eat up."

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."

drunk -- The word "drunk" is the Greek for meaning to "drink." It also has a double meaning. "To drink" also means "to celebrate."

in -- The Greek term translated as "in...presence" is not used outside of Luke except once in John. It appears here for the first time in Jesus's words here. It means "in front of".

thy   -- The word translated as "your" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form.  This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."

presence, - This finishes the idea of the preposition.

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."

thou -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.

hast -- (WT) This helping verb "hast" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.

taught -- The Greek verb translated as "taught " means "to teach", "to instruct", and "to give a sign of." It is the root for the common word for "teacher" or "master."

in   -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "on," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time),  or "among"  with an indirect-object form object.  About time, it means "during the time," "in the time," "within," and "in." With the direct object form, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."

our -- The "our" is the plural possessive first-person pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of ours."

missing "these/those/the" -- (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.

"streets.  -- The Greek word translated as "street" is a noun from the adjective that means "broad". The sense is "broadways" in English.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

Then -- The Greek word for "then" means "at this time" or "then." With the subjective negative, the sense is "not when."

you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

will -- This helping verb "shall" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

missing "be the first"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  is an adjective that means "to be first," "to begin," and "to make a beginning," "to rule," "to govern," and "to command."    Jesus often uses it to say "you will be the first" in a negative sense of claiming a surperior position. The two meanings, "to start" and "to command" create different meanings when paired with the following verbs.  The form is someone acting on themselves, so "be the first for yourself" or "start yourself."

say, -- (WF) The word translated as "I tell" is the most common word that means "to say," "to tell," and "to speak,"  but when used with an objective noun or pronoun, the sense is "say of" or "speak of."    It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself." This is not an active verb but an infinitive. 

We -- This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb.

ate -- The word translated as "eated" is one of the two common words used to mean "eat. "It means "to eat," "to eat up," and "to devour." It also means to "fret" as we say "to eat up."

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."

drank -- The word "drunk" is the Greek for meaning to "drink." It also has a double meaning. "To drink" also means "to celebrate."

with -- (CW) The Greek term translated as "with" is not used outside of Luke except once in John. It appears here for the first time in Jesus's words here. It means "in front of". This is not the word usually translated as "with."

you -- The word translated as "you" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form.  This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."

presence, - This finishes the idea of the preposition.

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."

you --- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.

taught -- The Greek verb translated as "taught " means "to teach", "to instruct", and "to give a sign of." It is the root for the common word for "teacher" or "master."

in   -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "on," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time),  or "among"  with an indirect-object form object.  About time, it means "during the time," "in the time," "within," and "in." With the direct object form, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."

our -- The "our" is the plural possessive first-person pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of ours."

missing "these/those/the" -- (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.

."streets.  -- The Greek word translated as "street" is a noun from the adjective that means "broad". The sense is "broadways" in English.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

τότε [53 verses](adv) "Then" is tote, which means "at that time," "when," and "then."

ἄρξεσθε [14 verses] (verb 2nd pl fut ind mid) "Shall ye begin" is from archomai, which is a form of archô, which means "to be first," "to begin," "to make a beginning," "to rule," "to govern," and "to command."

λέγειν  [264 verses](verb pres inf act ) "To say" is lego, which means "to recount," "to tell over," "to say," "to speak," "to teach," "to mean," "boast of," "tell of," "recite," nominate," and "command." When used with an object is has the sense of "call by name."  It has a secondary meaning "pick out," "choose for oneself," "pick up," "gather," "count," and "recount." A less common word that is spelled the same means "to lay," "to lay asleep" and "to lull asleep." This word is more about making a statement than participating in a discussion. Translating is as "stated" might distinguish it better. When two accusative objects are used, the sense is  "say of him this," or "call him this." The form Jesus uses to describe his own speaking can be either indicative, "I say/tell" or subjunctive, "I should/could say/tell."

Ἐφάγομεν  [20 verses] (verb 1st pl aor ind act) "We have eaten" is phago which is a form of the word, phagein, which means to eat," "to eat up," and "to devour."

ἐνώπιόν  [8 verses] (prep) "In" is from enopionwhich means " facing" and "to the front". 

σου [144 verses](pron 2nd sg gen) "Thy" is sou is the genitive form of the second-person, singular pronoun that means "of you" and "your." As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.

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."

ἐπίομεν,[36 verses] (verb 1st pl aor ind act) "We drank" is  pino, which means "to drink," "to celebrate," and "soak up."

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."

ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with its usual indirect (dative) object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during,"  and "with." With a direct (accusative) object, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during."

ταῖς [821 verses](article pl fem dat)  Untranslated 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."  -- 

πλατείαις (noun pl fem dat) "Streets" [4 verses](noun pl fem dat) "Streets" is plateia, which is an adjective that means "wide", "broad", "over a wide area", "broad shouldered [of a man]", "far advanced [of seasons]", "strong [oath]", "widespread", "flat of the hand", "frequent," and "street." --

ἡμῶν [17 verses](pro 1st pl gen) "Our" is hemon, which is the plural possessive (genitive) form of the first-personal pronoun. A genitive object of a preposition means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. The time sense of a genitive object is that the event occurred within a specified time.

ἐδίδαξας:[12 verses] (verb 2nd sg aor ind act) "Thou hast taught" is didasko, which means "to teach", "to instruct", "to indicate", "to explain," and "to give sign of." The passive form means "to be taught" or "to learn" and takes a genitive object. -- The Greek verb translated as "shall teach" means "to teach", "to instruct", and "to give a sign of." It is the root for the common word for "teacher" or "master."

Related Verses: 

Front Page Date: 

Aug 22 2024