Luke 22:21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me

KJV: 

Luke 22:21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Except, look the hand of the one giving me over!  With me upon this table.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

This statement reads as though it is a response of a statement followed by the answer to a question, neither of which were recorded. A verb is added in the KJV to make it sound more like a single sentence.

 The word translated as "but" is a less common preposition used like a conjunction that means "except", "save", "besides," and "in addition to." Since this "except" doesn't seem to follow from Jesus's previous statement, we can imagine a statement made such as "We all love you, Lord" to which Jesus is responding. As an alternative, Jesus could be excepting someone from the "you all" for whom his blood is shed, but it doesn't seem likely that he would except that person's "hand". which is the sense here.

"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 "tah-dah" in a magic show, or "voila" in French. "Look!" or "See!" comes closest in English. Jesus uses it both ways.

 The Greek word translated as "the hand" means "the hand and forearm". It can mean both the idea of a helping hand and being in someone's control. 

The word translated as "of him that" is the Greek definite article, 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", "those"). See this article for more. In this case, it preceded a verbal adjective, making it act like a noun.

"Betrayeth" is a compound word which literally means "to give over." It is often translated in the KJV as "betray" but it has no real sense of that.  The sense is more like we would talk about "turning somone in" or "turning them over" to the authorities.

"Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek.

There is no "is" here. This is where a question such as "Where is the hand turning you over?" being asked fo that the rest flows naturally.

"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" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek in the possessive form, so "my" or "of me".

The word translated as "on" means "on", "over", "upon", "against", "before", "after", "during", "by" or "on."

"The table" is an uncommon noun for Jesus to use. It means "table", "dining-table", "eating-table", "money changer's table", and "grinding stone". 

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

πλὴν  (prep) "But" is from plen, which is a preposition meaning "except", "save", "besides," and "in addition to." Often used with the negative as a conjunction, "except not." --

ἰδοὺ  (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." --

χεὶρ ( noun sg fem nom ) "The hand" is cheir (cheir) which means "the hand and arm," and "with the help of agency of another." Like "hand" in English, it has a lot of meanings including "an act or deed", "a body of people," and the measurement "handful." --

τοῦ  ( article sg masc gen ) "Of him that" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --

παραδιδόντος ( part sg pres act masc gen ) "Betrayeth" is paradidomi, which means "to give over to another", "to transmit", "to hand down", "to grant", "to teach," and "to bestow." --

με (noun sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which means "I", "me", and "my".

μετ᾽ (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." --

ἐμοῦ (noun sg masc gen) "Me" is emou, which means "me", and "mine". --  

ἐπὶ (prep) "On" is epi, which means "on", "over",  "upon", "at", "by", "before", "across," "after" in position, "during", and "against." --

τῆς τραπέζης:  [uncommon](noun sg fem gen a) "Table" is trapeza which means "table", "dining-table", "eating-table", "money changer's table", and "grinding stone".   

Related Verses: 

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings: 

"But we don't want to see your blood shed," said one of the apostles.

"Our hands and the hands of all your followers will defend you," said another.

"Except for the hand of the one turning me in," said the Master.

"Where would such a  dirty hand be found?"

"With me," said the Master. "Upon this table."

Front Page Date: 

Feb 4 2019