Matthew 16:24 If any man will come after me,

Spoken to: 

Apostles

After Jesus corrects Peter, he calls his students to him.

KJV: 

Matthew 16:24 If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

NIV : 

Matthew 16:24 Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

If anyone wants to show up after me, he must reject himself and lift up that stake of his, and follow me.

MY TAKE: 

Following Jesus means pulling away from what holds you down.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

Εἴ  τις         θέλει   ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν,       ἀπαρνησάσθω  ἑαυτὸν
If   anyone wants  after   me,  to show up he must reject  himself

καὶ  ἀράτω  τὸν   σταυρὸν       αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι.
and  lift up  that  stake         of his,     and follow           me.

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

The English translation hides two important pieces of wordplay in the original Greek. 

The translation of this verse as "taking up a cross" was only possible after Christ's death. During his lifetime, people would have heard this as "lifting up a walking stick" or "pulling up a stake," as in a tent stake, which was also used as a walking stick. While people were killed by staking them up, no one at the time would have heard this verse as referring to a death stake or carrying one before Jesus's death. Tent stakes, house posts, and walking sticks were much more common.

The first relates to the previous verse where Jesus says, "Get behind me, adversary." The two verses seem disconnected in English translation, but in Greek, one logically follows the other. Both verses use the same Greek phrase (opiso mou) translated first as "behind me" and then as "after me." In the previous verse, "Get behind me" seems like a rebuke but in light of this verse, it is more of a request for support. It is exactly like English when we ask people to support us by "getting behind us." In this verse, Jesus completes the request. How do support Christ? By denying ourselves and following him.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

4
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The word translated as "will" is not the helper verb but means "want" or "desire.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "come" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to come."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "cross" is not a Greek word that means "cross." It is an upright post or stake.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

8
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "if" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "be" should be something more like "come."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "my" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "me."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "disciple" should be something more like "follow."
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "themselves" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "their" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "cross" is not a Greek word that means "cross." It is an upright post or stake.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

If  - The "if" here expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not. It also means "if ever" and "whenever."

any man  -- The Greek word translated as "any man" in the singular means "anyone," "someone,"  "something," and "anything." The same form applies either to men or women so "anyone" would be closer in English.

will - (CW)This "will" verb expresses consent and even delight in doing something. It means "to consent" and "to be resolved to a purpose." As a participle, it means "willingly" and "gladly." This "will" is not the same as the helper verb "will" in English that expresses a future tense.

come -- (WF) The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.

after -  -- The term translated as "back" means "back" in space but "after" in time. It is followed by a possessive which tells us whose back it is.  The logic regarding time is that, since the future is unseen, it should be regarded as behind us, whereas the past is known and therefore before our eyes. This seems quite strange to English speakers, but the use of this word in Greek is well-established to mean "future." Our English view coincides with the ancient Greek when discussing books. The "back" of the book in English means the "end" of the book, which is the future for the reader. This use of "back" is identical to the Greek.

me,-- "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun.

let -- This "let" is the helping verb used to translate the Greek form of the third-person command. In English all commands are in the second-person. This form is used as something like our word "must."

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

deny  - "Deny" is translated from a Greek word that means "to rejects" and "to deny utterly." It is in the form of a third party command ("let him" in English) where the subject is acting on himself. The form is either the middle voice or passive.

himself,  - "Himself" is the Greek reflexive pronoun in the singular, masculine form, "himself." It makes it clear this is a middle voice.

and  - 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 as it is here, is can be translated as "not only...but also." That construction could work here.

take up - "Take up" is from a verb that means "to lift up," "to raise up," "to take up," "to exalt," and "to remove." It is also in the form of a third party command, "let him."

his  - The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word 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. 

cross,  -(CW)  The word translated as "cross" means a stake or post, like those used to hold up a tent. It describes not the crossbar of a cross, but the stake on which the crossbar is hung. Among people traveling, it would mean pulling up the central stake of a tent to use it as a walking stick. See this article about this word.

and - 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 as it is here, is best translated as "not only...but also."

follow  - The term "follow" means "to follow," or "go with," in a physical sense, but it is also a metaphor meaning "to be guided by" or "to follow the meaning of." This verb takes the indirect form of an object when it is a person.

me.  - -- The "me" is in the indirect object form on the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me," though the form has other uses in Greek. 

EACH WORD of NIV : 

missing "if"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "if" here expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not. It also means "if ever" and "whenever."

Whoever - The Greek word translated as "any man" in the singular means "anyone," "someone,"  "something," and "anything." The same form applies either to men or women so "anyone" would be closer in English.

wants -  The Greek word translated as "wants"  express consent and even a delight in doing something so "wants" or "desires" is closer.

to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.

be -- (WW) The word translated as "be" primarily means "to start out" but Jesus usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.

my  (WF) "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun.

disciple-  -- (WW) The term translated as "disciple" means "back" in space but "after" in time. It is followed by a possessive which tells us whose back it is.  The logic regarding time is that, since the future is unseen, it should be regarded as behind us, whereas the past is known and therefore before our eyes. This seems quite strange to English speakers, but the use of this word in Greek is well-established to mean "future." Our English view coincides with the ancient Greek when discussing books. The "back" of the book in English means the "end" of the book, which is the future for the reader. This use of "back" is identical to the Greek.

must -- This "must" is the helping verb used to translate the Greek form of the third-person command. In English all commands are in the second-person. This form is used as something like our word "must."

deny  - "Deny" is translated from a Greek word that means "to rejects" and "to deny utterly." It is in the form of a third party command ("let him" in English) where the subject is acting on himself. The form is either the middle voice or passive.

themselves  - (WN) "Themselves " is the Greek reflexive pronoun in the singular, masculine form, "himself." It makes it clear this is a middle voice.

and  - 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 as it is here, is can be translated as "not only...but also." That construction could work here.

take up -  "Take up" is from a verb that means "to lift up," "to raise up," "to take up," "to exalt," and "to remove." It is also in the form of a third party command, "let him."

their - (WN) The word translated as "their " is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word 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. 

cross,  -(CW)  The word translated as "cross" means a stake or post, like those used to hold up a tent. It describes not the crossbar of a cross, but the stake on which the crossbar is hung. Among people traveling, it would mean pulling up the central stake of a tent to use it as a walking stick. See this article about this word.

and - 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 as it is here, is best translated as "not only...but also."

follow  - The term "follow" means "to follow," or "go with," in a physical sense, but it is also a metaphor meaning "to be guided by" or "to follow the meaning of." This verb takes the indirect form of an object when it is a person.

me.  - -- The "me" is in the indirect object form of the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me," though the form has other uses in Greek. 

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

Εἴ   [90 verses](conj) "If" is ei, which is the particle used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect questions, "whether." It also means "if ever," "in case," and "whenever." In citing a fact, it can mean "as sure as" or "since."  It is combined with various conjunctions to create derivative conditions. When appearing as εἰ δὲ (literally, "if however") the sense is "if this...then that." The construction εἰ δὲ μή . . means "otherwise." The construction  εἰ οὖν has the sense of "if so." However, it is also used to express a wish. After verbs of wonder, delight, indignation, disappointment, contentment, and similar emotions, it is use instead of  ὅτι, to express the object of the feeling in a hypothetical form, "that" with the indicative (not subjunctive). With the future tense, it is used for emphasis, a warning, or an intention. 

τις [252 verses](pron sg masc/fem nom) "What" is tis, which can mean "someone," "something," "any one," "everyone," "they [indefinite]," "many a one," "whoever," "anyone," "anything," "some sort," "some sort of," "each," "any," "the individual," "such," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who," "why," or "what." Plural, "who are" is τίνες ἐόντες.  It has specific meanings with certain prepositions, διὰ τί; for what reason? ἐκ τίνος; from what cause? ἐς τί; to what point?  to what end?

θέλει [64 verses] (verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Will" is from thelo, which as a verb means "to be willing (of consent rather than desire)," "to wish," "to ordain," "to decree," "to be resolved to a purpose" "to maintain," "to hold," "to delight in, and "will (too express a future event)." As an adverb, "willingly," and "gladly." and "to desire." As an adjective, it means "wished for" and "desired."

ὀπίσω [15 verses](prep) "After" is from opiso, which means "back," "behind," and "hereafter."

μου [239 verses](noun sg masc gen) "Me" is from mou, which mean "my," "of me," or "mine."

ἐλθεῖν,[198 verses](verb aor inf act) "Come" is from erchomai, which means "to start," "to set out," "to come," "to go," and any kind of motion. It means both "to go" on a journey and "to arrive" at a place.

ἀπαρνησάσθω [9 verses](verb 3rd sg aor imperat mp) "Let him deny" is from aparneomai, which means "to deny utterly," "to refuse," "to reject," and "to deny."

ἑαυτὸν [75 verses](adj sg masc acc) "Himself" is from heautou, is a reflexive pronoun that means "himself," "herself," "itself" "themselves," and "ourselves." It is an alternative to autos.

καὶ [1089 verses](conj) "And" is from 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."

ἀράτω [55 verses](verb 3rd sg aor imperat act) "Take up" is airo,, which means "to lift up," "to raise up," "to take up," "to exalt," and "to remove."

τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

σταυρὸν [5 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Cross" is stauros, which means "upright post or stake," "pointed stick," "posts or piles for a foundation," and "a stake for impaling." In Christ's time, it was used for describing the upright post that held the crossbar for crucifixion.

αὐτοῦ (adj sg masc gen) "His" is from autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord."

καὶ (conj) "And" is from 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."

ἀκολουθείτω [22 verses](verb 3rd sg pres imperat act ) "Follow" is from akoloutheo, which means "to follow," and "to go with." It also means "to be guided by" and means following a leader as a disciple.

μοί, [96 verses](pron 1st sg masc/fem dat) "Me" is moi (emoi) , which can be the object of some prepositions and as the object of a verb means "to me" "for me," and "by me."

Wordplay: 

The wordplay here is interesting because it could only be seen after Christ's death. The word translated as "cross" means "stake" as in the stakes holding up a tent or the posts in a foundation. It is also the upright post on which a cross is hung for crucifixion, but no one would have thought of that at the time. 

Related Verses: 

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings: 

Side note: Actually, in the Gospels, Jesus is not portrayed as carrying his cross to his crucifixion. In the synoptic Gospels, Simon of Cyrene carries it (Matthew 27:32Mar 15:21Luke 23:26). In John 19:17, the English translation seems to refer to Jesus carrying the cross, but the verse never refers specifically to Christ and the Greek is closer to "and bearing his cross, they (plural) went to the place of the skull..."

Front Page Date: 

Feb 16 2021