Mark 9:39 Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name...

Spoken to: 

Apostles

John tells Jesus that a man was casting out demons in Jesus's name, but they forbid him because he wasn't a follower.

KJV: 

Mark 9:39 Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

NIV : 

Mark 9:39 Do not stop him. For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Don't stop him. Because none exists who might perform a powerul deed with this name of mine and still have the power to suddenly bad mouth me.

MY TAKE: 

Using power comes with restrictions built in.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

Μὴ      κωλύετε αὐτόν, οὐδεὶς γὰρ         ἔστιν  ὃς   ποιήσει           δύναμιν ἐπὶ   τῷ    ὀνόματί μου
Don't stop         him.    none  Because exists who might make power    with this name    of mine

καὶ δυνήσεται                    ταχὺ            κακολογῆσαί με:
and also have the power suddenly to bad mouth  me.

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

The words "miracle" and "can" are the noun and verb forms of the same word. The noun form is often translated as "might work" but "power" or "ability" comes closer.

The verb is usually translated as "can," in the Bible, but "has the power" or "has the ability" is more accurate.

The word "in" referring to "my name" actually means "upon," but in English, but it has many shades of meaning. Perhaps "with" in the sense of an instrument but, like "in," there are other prepositions that can be used.

The Greek verb translated as "speak evil" or "say anything bad" means "reasoning in an evil way." To me, this seems a lot like we used "bad mouthing someone."

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

9
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "man."
  • CW - Confusing Word - This "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "miracle" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "name" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "lightly" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "speak evil" does not capture how this verb takes a person as an direct object.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "speak evil" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to abuse."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "exists" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW -- Missing Word -- This verb is a subjunctive, which requires a "should" or "might" when outside of a when/if clause.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "miracle" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "name" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "In the next moment"" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "say anything bad" does not capture how this verb takes a person as an direct object.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "say anything bad" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to abuse."

EACH WORD of KJV : 

Forbid -- "Forbid" is a Greek verb that means "to hinder" and "to prevent." It is in the form of an imperative, which is either a command or a request.

him -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as pronouns in English, but it has a few shades of meaning our pronouns do not have. The word technically means "the same," and when used as a pronoun can mean "the true self" as opposed to appearances.

not: -- The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. The sense is that "you don't want" to do something, not that it isn't done or don't think something that might be true. If it wasn't done or wasn't true, the objective negative of fact would be used.  It is used with commands and requests.

for --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why."

there -- (IW) This can be added when no other subject appears before it, but in this case the real subject, no one, comes before the 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.

no -- "No man" is from a compound word that means "no one", "not one", "nothing", "naught", "good for naught," and "no matter." This word begine the clause.

man -- (CW) This "man" is from the masculine, singular form of the previous word but that can refer to anyone.  It is not the word "man."

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. Because it refers to a person, "who" is more appropriate here in English.

shall -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.

do -- "Do" is a verb that means "to make", "to produce", "to create", "to bring into existence", "to bring about", "to cause", "to render", "to consider", "to prepare", "to make ready," and "to do." The sense here is "produce."

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.

miracle -- (CW) "Miracle" is from a noun that means "power", "might", "outward power", "influence", and so on. This is the noun form of the verb translated as "can" below. It does not mean "miracles."

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

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

my "My" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek in the possessive form, so "my" or "of me". It follows the noun so "of mine" is closer to the Greek.

name, The Greek word translated as "name" is much more complicated than it might at first appear. It can simply mean a "name" as in English, this can be many things. It doesn't mean the thing itself, but what people call it. For example, it can mean a "false name," or "a pretense" as we say "this is a marriage in name only." It can also mean representing another person's authority, as we say, "he is acting in the name of the boss."

that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source.

can -- (CW) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. See this article.

lightly  -  (CW)  "Lightly is an adjective form it means "swift", "fleet", "quick", "hasty", "rapid", "sudden," and "short." As an adverb,  it means "swiftly", "hastily," and (rarely) "perhaps". In English, we would say "suddenly" in this context.

speak -- (CW, WF) "Speak evil" is a word that means "revile" and "abuse." It is a compound of the word that means "bad" and "evil" and the word that means "idea", "computation", "reckoning," and "value." As a verb, it works like our "bad mouth". This is not an active verb, but an infinitive.  Because its object is a person a word like "abuse" words better.

evil - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.

of -- This is added because the previous English verb doesn't take n direct object as the one spoken about,

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

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

not : -- The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. The sense is that "you don't want" to do something, not that it isn't done or don't think something that might be true. If it wasn't done or wasn't true, the objective negative of fact would be used.  It is used with commands and requests.f

stop -- "Stop" is a Greek verb that means "to hinder" and "to prevent." It is in the form of an imperative, which is either a command or a request.

him -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as pronouns in English, but it has a few shades of meaning our pronouns do not have. The word technically means "the same," and when used as a pronoun can mean "the true self" as opposed to appearances.

For --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause".

no  one-- "No one" is from a compound word that means "no one", "not one", "nothing", "naught", "good for naught," and "no matter." This word begine the clause.

missing "exists"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  is common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. And without connecting characteristics, simply "exists."

who-- The word translated as "who" 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. Because it refers to a person, "who" is more appropriate here in English.

missing "should" or "might"-- (MW) A helping verb is necessary because the following verb is a verb of possibility, a subjunctive, something that "should" or "might" occur. The helping verb is not needed in a clause beginning with an "if" or a "when."

does -- "Does" is a verb that means "to make", "to produce", "to create", "to bring into existence", "to bring about", "to cause", "to render", "to consider", "to prepare", "to make ready," and "to do." The sense here is "produce." This is an active verb not a helping verb like the "do" that starts this verse.

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.

miracle -- (CW) "Miracle" is from a noun that means "power", "might", "outward power", "influence", and so on. This is the noun form of the verb translated as "can" below. It does not mean "miracles."

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

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

my "My" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek in the possessive form, so "my" or "of me". It follows the noun so "of mine" is closer to the Greek.

name, The Greek word translated as "name" is much more complicated than it might at first appear. It can simply mean a "name" as in English, this can be many things. It doesn't mean the thing itself, but what people call it. For example, it can mean a "false name," or "a pretense" as we say "this is a marriage in name only." It can also mean representing another person's authority, as we say, "he is acting in the name of the boss."

can -- (CW) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. See this article. 

in the next moment -- (CW) "In the next moment" is an adjective it means "swift", "fleet", "quick", "hasty", "rapid", "sudden," and "short." As an adverb,  it means "swiftly", "hastily," and (rarely) "perhaps". In English, we would say "suddenly" in this context.  While this phrase captures some of its meaning, it implies a lot of words that are not used.

say -- (CW, WF) "Speak evil" is a word that means "revile" and "abuse." It is a compound of the word that means "bad" and "evil" and the word that means "idea", "computation", "reckoning," and "value." As a verb, it works like our "bad mouth". This is not an active verb, but an infinitive.  Because its object is a person a word like "abuse" words better.

anything bad ,- This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.

about -- This is added because the previous English verb doesn't take n direct object as the one spoken about,

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

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

Μὴ [447 verses](partic) "Not" is from me , which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." As οὐ (ou) negates fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective.

κωλύετε(7 verses](verb 2nd pl pres imperat act) "Forbid" is from kolyo, which means "to hinder", "withhold," and "to prevent."

αὐτὸν [124 verses](pron/(adj sg masc acc) "Him" is auton, is the masculine, accusative case of the third-person, singular adjective that is used as a pronoun. The word also means "the same," and "of one's own accord."

οὐδεὶς [69 verses](adj sg masc nom) "No man" is oudeis which means "no one", "not one", "nothing", "naught", "good for naught," and "no matter." -- The Greek word translated as "nothing" also means "no one" and other negatives nouns. However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative.

γὰρ [205 verses](partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for", "since," and "as." In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what."

ἔστιν [614 verses](verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Is" is 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.")

ὃς [294 verses](pron sg masc nom) (pro ) "Which" is hos, which means "this", "that", "he", "she", "which", "what", "who", "whosoever", "where", "for which reason," and many similar meanings.

ποιήσει (verb 3rd sg aor subj) "Shall do" is poieo, which means "to make", "to produce", "to create", "to bring into existence", "to bring about", "to cause", "to render", "to consider", "to prepare", "to make ready," and "to do."

δύναμιν [21 verses](noun sg fem acc ) "Miracle" is dynamis, which means "power," "might," "influence," "capacity," "elementary force," "force of a word," and "value of money." Elemental forces are forces such as heat and cold. is dnyamis, which means "power", "might", "influence", "authority", "capacity", "elementary force", "force of a word," and "value of money." Elemental forces are forces such as heat and cold. -- "Mighty works" is a word that describes abilities and capacities, what actions a person can do or has done so "power", "might", "influence", "authority," and "force." It does not carry the sense of authority over others, either people or laws. The verb form of this word is translated as "can" in the NT.

ἐπὶ [138 verses](prep) "On" is from epi which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," and "against." With a noun in the possessive, genitive, it means "upon," "on" but not necessarily of Place, "by (of persons)," "deep (with numbers)," "in the presence of," "towards," "in the time of," and "over (referring to a person of authority)." With a noun indirect object, dative, it means of place: "upon," "on," or "over," of people: "against (in a hostile sense)," regarding a situation: "towards" or "in reference to," of an accumulation: "upon," "after," "addition to," and "besides," of position: "after," "behind," "in dependence upon," and "in the power of," of time: "by," and "after," and in a causal sense: "of the occasion or cause," "with," "for" a person, an end, or purpose," "on condition that," and "for" (a price).  With the objective noun, an accusative, it means of place: "upon or on to a height," "up to," "as far as," "a little way," "a little," "towards," "to," in hostile sense: "against," of extension: "over," "over (a space)," of time: "for," "during," "up to" or "till," in a causal sense: "of (the object)," for (this purpose)," "as regards," "according to," and "by (this cause)." With verbs of perceiving, observing, and judging, it means "in the case of."

τῷ  [821 verses](article sg neut dat) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

ὀνόματί [47 verses](noun sg neut dat) "Name" is onoma, which means "name." It means both the reputation of "fame," and "a name and nothing else," as opposed to a real person. Acting in someone's name means to act on their behalf, as their representative. 

μου  [239 verses](noun sg masc gen) "My" is mou, which means "me", and "mine". --  

καὶ [1089 verses](conj) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." 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." -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." When used in writing, it creates complex sentences, but when spoken, it makes a good pausing point so that an important or humorous word can follow.

δυνήσεται [61 verses] (verb 3rd sg aor subj mid) "Can" is the verb, dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities," "to be able," and "to be strong enough." form it means "swift", "fleet", "quick", "hasty", "rapid", "sudden," and "short." As an adverb (tachu, tachy), it means "swiftly", "hastily," and (rarely) "perhaps."

ταχὺ  [3 verses](adj sg neut nom/acc) "Lightly" s tachy means "swift", "fleet", "quick", "hasty", "rapid", "sudden," and "short." It appears is an adjective, but  Jesus always uses this form as an adverb meaning "swiftly" and "hastily." i-

κακολογῆσαί  [3 verses](verb aor inf act) "Speak evil" is from kakologeo, which means "revile" and "abuse." It is a compound of the word that means "bad" and "evil" kakos and the word logos, which means "idea", "computation", "reckoning," and "value."

με: [49 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which means "I", "me", and "my".

Related Verses: 

Possible Symbolic Meaning: 

The point that Christ makes is that the use of certain powers also limits how that power can be used. This may be an important note in discussing the rules of the spiritual world. This verse also suggests interesting ideas concerning the connection between words and power. Using Jesus's name gives people power. This power comes from belief in the concept of spiritual power, which makes everything possible (Mark 9:25). However, no one can believe and not believe at the same time. So the power of faith demands consistency. As Christ says, we cannot quickly change the way we think.

Front Page Date: 

Jun 13 2023