After a woman pours oil on Jesus's head in the house of Simon the leper.
Mark 14:9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
Mark 14:9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
Amen, however, I tell you, anywhere when this good news is declared in the whole world, what also she did herself will be repeated for a memorial of her.
The "verily" phrase that starts this verse is used frequently by Jesus as a personal signature. Its vocabulary and meaning are discussed in detail in this article. There is an "however" on this phrase that is left out of all translations. Perhaps because it sounds like he is contracting his last statement. That word often seems to indicate that he is answering a question that was not recorded.
All the translations also mistranslate the "in the world" as "throughout the world." The word translated as "preached" means "proclaimed," not the idea of preaching.
While Greek is usually more concise than English, the Greek Jesus uses here is more complicated. This seems intentional. He uses unnecessary words to emphasize certain ideas such as "she herself." This is all lost in translation, which seeks to simplify the Greek or explain it rather than translate it.
The word translated as "memorial,""memory," and "remembered" is only used in this verse and its parallels. It is al used only one other place in the Gospels.
The people we remember do not talk must about being remembered.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "but" exists the source we use today but not in the KJV Greek source
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "shall" does not mean the future tense.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The word "preached" has a religious meaning not in the original Greek.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "throughout" should be something more like "in."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "this" doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "hath" seems to indicate an action completed in the past, but the tense is something happening at a point in time past, present, or future.
- MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "herself" after "she" for emphasis.
- MW -- Missing Word -- The word meaning "but" or "however" is not translated.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The word "preached" has a religious meaning not in the original Greek.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "throughout" should be something more like "in."
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "has" seems to indicate an action completed in the past, but the tense is something happening at a point in time past, present, or future.
- MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "herself" after "she" for emphasis.
- MW -- Missing Word -- The word meaning "however" or "however" is not translated.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "truth" is not a noun but an adverb or exclamation, "truly."
- CW --Confusing Word -- The word "preached" has a religious meaning not in the original Greek.
- MW -- Missing Word -- The word meaning "complete" is not translated.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "women" means "her." It is not a noun but the female pronoun.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "deed" means "perform." It is not a noun but a verb.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "remembered" means "memorial." It is not a verb but a noun.
Verily -- The word translated is as "verily" is an exclamation that means "truly." "honestly," or "of a truth." It is an untranslated Aramaic word that is echoed by a similar Greek word, and a good piece of evidence that Christ taught in Greek, not Aramaic.
missing "however" -- (OS) There is the Greek word usually translated as "but" in the source we use today but it does not exist in the source that the KJV translators used.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the following verb.
say -- The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak." When used with an object is has the sense of "call by name." . 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." Christ usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching.
unto -- This word "unto" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English, but the translator must decide which preposition to use: a "to" as an indirect object, a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, "at" or "on" a time, and an "in" for the area of effect.
you, -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you", "for you", etc.
Where- -- "Where--" is from two Greek words, one that means "wherever" and "anywhere." The other is a Greek word meaning "if might" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".
-soever -- This "soever": is a Greek word meaning "if might" that indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".
this -- The word translated as "this" 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.
gospel -- "Gospel" is translated from a Greek word meaning "good news," and "good tidings." Originally, this term described a reward, like a tip, given to a messenger who brought good news. See this article for more on this word,
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 it is assumed in an
"if/when/whoever/except" clause as this one is. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the following verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
preached -- (CW) The word translated as "preach" means "to act as a herald," "to proclaim," and "to declare." It does not have the relationship to discussing the Divine that our word "preach" does nor does it mean giving a moral lecture. It means spreading the news.
throughout -- (WW) The word translated as "throughout" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object.
the -- The word translated as "the" 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.
whole -- The word translated as "whole" means something that is "complete","entire," or "the whole" of something.
world, -- Jesus uses the word translated as "the world" to mean "the world order," and "civilization," specifically its "rulers," or its organization. More about this word in this article about related words.
this -- (IW) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "this" in the source we use today nor was there one in the source that the KJV translators used. It was added for clarity.
also -- "Also" is one word that is usually translated as the conjunction "and" but which also works like "also."
what -- The word translated as "what" 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.
she -- The word translated as "she" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. The forme is the singular subject of the sentence, and it is feminine. Since Greek active verbs include the singular form of the subject, when the subject is clear, this pronoun can be repetitive, emphasizing the subject. This is how we say "she herself" and "it itself" to emphasize the subject. This is also the adverbial form meaning "there."
hath -- (WT) This helping verb "hath" indicates that the following verb is the tense indicating an action competed in the past. This is not the tense of the verbs here.
done -- The Greek word translated as "hath done" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "rendering" as service. The tense is not the past perfect, as translated, but a form that indicates something happening at a specific point in time, past, present, or future.
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the following 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 following verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
spoken of -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "spoken of" is not the ordinary "to say," "to talk," "to tell," or "to speak" in Greek. This word means "idle chatter," "gossip," and "the proclamations of an oracle." Jesus uses it to capture the idea of "passing on." "conveying," or "relaying" information. When there isn't an object, "transmit" captures the idea of being a conduit rather than a source of information. This tense is the future. The form is passive.
missing "herself/itself" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "she herself."
for -- -- The word translated as "for" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object.
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.
memorial -- The word translated as "a memorial" is from a rare word for Christ meaning "memorial", "memorandum", "reminder", and "mark."
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession, but it can also mean "belonging to," "part of", "which is", "than" (in comparisons), or "for", "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs.
her. -- "Her" is from the pronoun usually translated as "her."
Truly -- The word translated is as "truly" is an exclamation that means "truly." "honestly," or "of a truth." It is an untranslated Aramaic word that is echoed by a similar Greek word, and a good piece of evidence that Christ taught in Greek, not Aramaic.
missing "however"-- (MW) The missing word means "but", "however", and "on the other hand". Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the following verb.
tell -- The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak." When used with an object is has the sense of "call by name." . 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." Christ usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching.
you, -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you", "for you", etc.
where -- "Where--" is from two Greek words, one that means "wherever" and "anywhere." The other is a Greek word meaning "if might" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".
-ever -- This "ever": is a Greek word meaning "if might" that indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".
the -- The word translated as "the" 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.
gospel -- "Gospel" is translated from a Greek word meaning "good news," and "good tidings." Originally, this term described a reward, like a tip, given to a messenger who brought good news. See this article for more on this word,
is -- This helping verb "is" indicates that the following verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
preached -- (CW) The word translated as "preach" means "to act as a herald," "to proclaim," and "to declare." It does not have the relationship to discussing the Divine that our word "preach" does nor does it mean giving a moral lecture. It means spreading the n
throughout -- (WW) The word translated as "throughout" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object.
the -- The word translated as "the" 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.
whole -- The word translated as "whole" means something that is "complete","entire," or "the whole" of something.
world, -- Jesus uses the word translated as "the world" to mean "the world order," and "civilization," specifically its "rulers," or its organization. More about this word in this article about related words.
what The word translated as "what" 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.
she -- The word translated as "she" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. Since the information in the pronoun is part of the verb, there is an emphasis on the word like "she herself."
has -- (WT) This helping verb "has" indicates that the following verb is the tense indicating an action competed in the past. This is not the tense of the verbs here.
done -- The Greek word translated as "hath done" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "rendering" as service. The tense is not the past perfect, as translated, but a form that indicates something happening at a specific point in time, past, present, or future.
missing "herself/itself" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "she herself."
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the following verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
also -- "Also" is one word that is usually translated as the conjunction "and" but which also works like "also."
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the following verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
told -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "told" is not the ordinary "to say," "to talk," "to tell," or "to speak" in Greek. This word means "idle chatter," "gossip," and "the proclamations of an oracle." Jesus uses it to capture the idea of "passing on." "conveying," or "relaying" information. When there isn't an object, "transmit" captures the idea of being a conduit rather than a source of information. This tense is the future. The form is passive.
in -- The word translated as "in" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, and "up to" limits in time and measure.
memory [2 verses](noun sg neut nom/acc) "Memory" is from mnemosynon, which means "remembrance", "memorial", "memorandum", "reminder", "mark", "scar."
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession, but it can also mean "belonging to," "part of", "which is", "than" (in comparisons), or "for", "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs.
her. -- "Her" is from the pronoun usually translated as "her."
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the following verb.
missing "however"-- (MW) The missing word means "but", "however", and "on the other hand". Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
tell -- The word translated as "tell" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak." When used with an object is has the sense of "call by name." . 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." Christ usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching.
you, -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you", "for you", etc.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.
truth, -- (WF) The word translated is as "the truth" is an exclamation that means "truly." "honestly," or "of a truth." It is not a noun. It is an untranslated Aramaic word that is echoed by a similar Greek word, and a good piece of evidence that Christ taught in Greek, not Aramaic.
where- -- "Where--" is from two Greek words, one that means "wherever" and "anywhere." The other is a Greek word meaning "if might" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".
-ever This "--ever": is a Greek word meaning "if might" that indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".
the -- The word translated as "the" 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.
Good News -- "Gospel" is translated from a Greek word meaning "good news," and "good tidings." Originally, this term described a reward, like a tip, given to a messenger who brought good news. See this article for more on this word,\
is - This helping verb "be" indicates that the following verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
preached -- (CW) The word translated as "preach" means "to act as a herald," "to proclaim," and "to declare." It does not have the relationship to discussing the Divine that our word "preach" does nor does it mean giving a moral lecture. It means spreading the news.
throughout -- (WW) The word translated as "throughout" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object.
missing "complete"-- (MW) The untranslated word means something that is "complete","entire," or "the whole" of something.
the -- The word translated as "the" 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.
world, -- Jesus uses the word translated as "the world" to mean "the world order," and "civilization," specifically its "rulers," or its organization. More about this word in this article about related words.
this -- The word translated as "this" 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.
woman’s -- (WW) The word translated as "woman" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. The correct word is "her." This is the last word in the verse.
deed -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "deed" is a verb not a noun that has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "rendering" as service. The tense is not the past perfect, as translated, but a form that indicates something happening at a specific point in time, past, present, or future.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the following 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 following verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
remembered -- (WW) The word translated as "remembered" is not a verb but a noun that is a rare word for Christ meaning "memorial", "memorandum", "reminder", and "mark."
and -- "And" is one word that is usually translated as the conjunction "and" but which also works like "also." This word doesn't appear here because there are not two verbs to separate. It appears earlier in the verse.
discussed. -- "Discussed " is the Greek word that means both "idle chatter", "gossip," and "the proclamations of an oracle." Christ uses it to capture the idea of "passing on information," because that captures both someone gossiping and an oracle does. This tense is the future. The form is passive.
ἀμὴν [88 verses](exclaim) "Verily" is amen, which is the Hebrew, meaning "truly," "of a truth," and "so be it." It has no history in Greek of this meaning before the NT. However, this is also the infinitive form of the Greek verb amao, which means "to reap" or "to cut."
λέγω [264 verses](1st sg pres ind act/subj) "I 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." 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."
ὑμῖν, [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."
ὅπου [32 verses](adv) "Wheresoever" is from hopou (with ean below), which means "somewhere", "anywhere", "wherever," and "where."
ἐὰν [163 verses] (partic) Untranslated is ean (with hopos above), which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if)and an (might)) which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event.
κηρυχθῇ [11 verses](verb 3rd sg aor subj pass) "Shall be preach" is from kerysso, which means "to be a herald", "to summon by a herald", "proclaim", "call upon", "announce", "declare," and "command publicly." Only in the NT is it translated as "preach" or "teach publicly."
τὸ [821 verses](article sg neut nom/acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
εὐαγγέλιον [8 verses](noun sg neut nom/acc) "Gospel" is euaggelion a "reward of good tidings," a "thank offering for good tidings, " "good news," and "good tidings." Originally, this term described a reward, like a tip, given to a messenger who brought good news.
εἰς [614 verses](prep) "In" 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)." --
ὅλον [23 verses](adj sg masc acc) "Whole" is from holos, which means "the whole", "entire", "complete", "complete in all its parts", "wholly", "altogether", "on the whole", "speaking generally", "utter," "actually", "really, "the universe," and "safe and sound."
τὸν [821 verses]((article sg masc acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
κόσμον, [63 verses](noun sg masc acc) "The world" is from kosmos, which mean "order", "good order", "ruler", "world order", "universe," and "the world of men." It is a form of the is verb kosmeô, which means "to order", "to arrange", "to rule", "to adorn" (especially women), and "to equip." It especially means controlling and arranging an army.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj.adv) "Also" is from 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."
ὃ [821 verses]((pron sg neut nom/acc) "That" is from hos, which means "this", "that", "he", "she", "which", "what", "who", "whosoever", "where", "for which reason," and many similar meanings.
ἐποίησεν [168 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "Hath done" is from 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."
αὐτὴ [42 verses]( adj sg fem nom ) "She/It" is aute, which means is the singular adjective used as the subject pronoun in the feminine. It also means "it" because feminine pronouns refer to things or ideas as much as to people. This is also the adverbial form meaning "there."
λαληθήσεται [49 verses](verb 3rd sg fut ind pass) "Shall be spoken" is from laleo, which means "to talk," "to speak" "to prattle", "to chat," and [for oracles] "to proclaim." It also means "chatter" as the opposite of articulate speech.
εἰς [614 verses](prep) "Of for" is from 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)."
μνημόσυνον [2 verses](noun sg neut nom/acc) "A memorial" is from mnemosynon, which means "remembrance", "memorial", "memorandum", "reminder", "mark", "scar."