Luke 8:50 Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

Spoken to: 

an individual

The father who was bringing Jesus to his sick taught is told that she is dead.

KJV: 

Luke 8:50 Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

NIV : 

Luke 8:50 Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Don't be afraid. Only trust and she will be kept alive. 

MY TAKE: 

Jesus's words bring more life.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

Μὴ    φοβοῦ,     μόνον πίστευσον, καὶ σωθήσεται.
Don't be afraid. Only   trust           and she will be kept alive. 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

The Greek word translated as "believe" does not apply to religious belief as much as it does trusting in other people, especially their word. Christ usually uses it in contexts, as the one here, that apply to trusting words. The negation of "belief" with the objective, instead of subjective, negative, equates trust with a fact.

The punchline is the word translated as "be made whole" and "healed." The word has nothing to do with health. It is the Greek word that means "to keep alive." Jesus uses it to mean "rescue" in most cases, but here, the ense is very much "kept alive."

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# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

3
  • WV --Wrong Voice - The verb here is translated as active but it is passive.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This word doesn't have the religious connotations of "believe."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "made" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

2
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This word doesn't have the religious connotations of "believe."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "made" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

Fear  -- (WV)  "Fear" is translated from a Greek word that means "to terrify" and "to put to flight," but in the passive, it means to be put to flight and be frightened. When applied to people, it means to "be in awe of" or "dread." It is not a command, as you would think from the KJV. This word is not an active verb, but a passive one.

not:  -  The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. Used with verbs in the mood of possibility to express a prohibition.

believe -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "believe" does not apply to religious belief as much but trusting or relying upon other people, especially their words. Jesus usually uses it in contexts, such as the one here, that apply to trusting words. See this article.  This word doesn't have the religious connotations of "believe."

only,  -- "Only" is an adjective that means "alone," "solitary," "only," "single," "unique," "made in one piece," "without [someone]," "only [something]," "unique," "one above all others," and "on one condition only."

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."

she -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

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

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

made -- (CW)  "Made... whole" is the Greek word that means "to keep alive" when applied to people or "to keep safe" when applied to things. Christ uses it to mean "rescue" in most cases. This is not the specific meaning of the word in this situation.

whole.- This completes the meaning of the verb.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

Do -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek

n’t -  The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. Used with verbs in the mood of possibility to express a prohibition.

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

afraid; -- "Fear" is translated from a Greek word that means "to terrify" and "to put to flight," but in the passive, it means to be put to flight and be frightened. When applied to people, it means to "be in awe of" or "dread." It is not a command, as you would think from the KJV. This word is not an active verb, but a passive one.

just -- "Only" is an adjective that means "alone," "solitary," "only," "single," "unique," "made in one piece," "without [someone]," "only [something]," "unique," "one above all others," and "on one condition only."

believe -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "believe" does not apply to religious belief as much but trusting or relying upon other people, especially their words. Jesus usually uses it in contexts, such as the one here, that apply to trusting words. See this article.  This word doesn't have the religious connotations of "believe."

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."

she -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

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

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

healed. -- (CW)  "Healed" is the Greek word that means "to keep alive" when applied to people or "to keep safe" when applied to things. Christ uses it to mean "rescue" in most cases. This is not the specific meaning of the word in this situation.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

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 in imperative and subjunctive clauses because both express opinions. This negative applies to will and thought. 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. It is used with verbs of subjective action thinking, feeling, seeing, etc. 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."

φοβοῦ,[19 verses] (verb 2nd sg pres imperat mp) "Be afraid" is phobeo, which means to "put to flight." "terrify," "alarm," "frighten," and in the passive, "be put to flight," "be seized with fear," be frightened," "stand in awe of" (of persons)," "dread (of persons)," and "fear or fear about something."

μόνον [18 verses](adj sg neut acc) "Only" is monos, which means "alone," "solitary," "only," "single," "unique," "made in one piece," "without [someone]," "only [something]," "unique," "one above all others," and "on one condition only."

πίστευσον, [69 verses](verb 2nd sg aor imperat act) "Believe" is pisteuo, which means "to trust, put faith in, or rely on a person," "to believe in someone's words," "to comply," "to feel confident in a thing," and "to entrust in a thing."

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."

σωθήσεται. [25 verse] (verb 3rd sg fut ind pass) "She shall be made whole" is sozo (soizo), which means "save from death," "keep alive," "keep safe," "preserve," "maintain," "keep in mind," "carry off safely," and "rescue." made

Related Verses: 

Front Page Date: 

Feb 27 2024