Jesus describes the end of Jerusalem.
Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luke 21:26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
While men are fainting from fear and expectation of the ones attacking this civilization: because those powers of the skies will be shaken.
The first phrase is a special structure in Greek called the genitive absolute, which has the sense of "while". The verb is a participle that acts like an active verb. The verb translated as "hearts failing" and "fainting" and the nouns translated as "fear" and "that/what is coming into the world" are only used by Jesus only here.
Fear is always about the future changes.
ἀποψυχόντων ἀνθρώπων ἀπὸ φόβου καὶ προσδοκίας τῶν ἐπερχομένων τῇ οἰκουμένῃ,
While fainting men are from fear and expectation of the ones attacking this civilization:
“αἱ” γὰρ “δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν σαλευθήσονται.”
those because powers of the skies will be shaken.
Men's [hearts failing them(PP)] for(CW) fear, and(WW) for looking after those [things which are(IP)] coming(CW) on the earth(WW): for the powers of (MW) heaven(CW,WN) shall be shaken.
- PP -- Paraphrase - The phrase "fainting" exists in the source but "hearts failing them" doesn't.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "for".
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "for".
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "things which are" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not one of the common words usually translated as "coming".
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "earth" should be something more like "civilization".
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "heaven" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The word, "heaven," is a religious concept, but this word just means "sky".
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "will" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "fainting".
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "for".
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "things which are" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not one of the common words usually translated as "coming".
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "earth" should be something more like "civilization".
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "heaven" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The word, "heaven," is a religious concept, but this word just means "sky".
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
Men's -- The Greek word for "men's" means "man", "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men", "people" and "peoples".
hearts failing them -- (PP) "Hearts failing them" is a verb that means to "leave off breathing", "faint", "swoon", and, more literally, "breathe out life". The Greek words meaning "hearts failing them" here are not translated but instead their assumed meaning is paraphrased into different words.
for --(CW) The word translated as "for" means "from" in both location and when referring to a source. This is not the word usually translated as "for".
fear -- "Fear" is, strangely enough, a unique word for Jesus. It is a Greek word that means "running away in panic" and therefore "fear" and the objects that cause fear. It is the source of our word phobia.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). The "and" joins the following noun to the previous one.
looking -- "Looking" is a noun that means "looking for" and "expectation".
after - (WW) This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix that means "for". This word doesn't mean "after".
those -- The word translated as "those" is the Greek definite article, "the", which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") than the English "the". See this article for more.
things which are -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
coming -- (CW) It is a Greek verb which means "come upon", "approach" and, in a hostile sense "come against" and "attack". The root word is the word usually translated as "come". "Coming" is in the form of the subject of the sentence. The sense is obviously hostile. The form is an adjective uses as a noun, "those attacking". This is not one of the common words usually translated as "coming".
on -- This word "to" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with", "in", "of", "as", "by", "for", "at" or "on" depending on the context.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the", which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") than the English "the". See this article for more.
earth -- (WW) "Earth" is not the Greek word usually translated as "the earth" or "the world." This word means "the inhabited region". It was often used to denote the civilized world as separate from the lands of barbarians. "Civilization" comes the closest. This word doesn't mean "earth".
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".
the -- The word translated as "goods" 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.
powers -- "Powers" 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.
of -- This word "of" comes from the possessive form (genitive case) of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the", which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these" and "those"). See this article for more.
heaven -- (CW, WN) The word translated as "heaven" means simply the "sky", but it can also mean the "climate" or the "universe". It was used to indicate the realm of higher concepts such as ideals and values. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English. - However, the verb could also be in the form of possibility, "might."
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.
shaken. -- "Shaken" is another uncommon verb that means "to cause to rock", "to make vibrate", "to be shaken", "to waver", "to totter", "to move up and down", "to roll" and "to toss". The form is the future passive so "are going to be shaken".
People -- The Greek word for "men's" means "man", "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men", "people" and "peoples".
will -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
faint -- (WF) "Faint" is a verb that means to "leave off breathing", "faint", "swoon" and, more literally, "breathe out life". This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "fainting".
from The word translated as "from" means "from" in both location and when referring to a source.
terror -- "Terror" is, strangely enough, a unique word for Jesus. It is a Greek word that means "running away in panic" and therefore "fear" and the objects that cause fear. It is the source of our word phobia.
missing "and" -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). The "and" joins the following noun to the previous one.
apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
apprehensive -- "Apprehensive" is a noun that means "looking for" and "expectation".
after - (WW) This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix that means "for". This word doesn't mean "after".
those -- The word translated as "those" is the Greek definite article, "the", which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") than the English "the". See this article for more.
things which are -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
coming -- (CW) It is a Greek verb which means "come upon", "approach" and, in a hostile sense "come against" and "attack". The root word is the word usually translated as "come". "Coming" is in the form of the subject of the sentence. The sense is obviously hostile. The form is an adjective uses as a noun, "those attacking". This is not one of the common words usually translated as "coming".
on -- This word "to" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with", "in", "of", "as", "by", "for", "at" or "on" depending on the context.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the", which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") than the English "the". See this article for more.
earth -- (WW) "Earth" is not the Greek word usually translated as "the earth" or "the world". This word means "the inhabited region". It was often used to denote the civilized world as separate from the lands of barbarians. "Civilization" comes the closest. This word doesn't mean "earth".
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".
the -- The word translated as "goods" 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.
powers -- "Powers" 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.
of -- This word "of" comes from the possessive form (genitive case) of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the", which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these" and "those"). See this article for more.
heaven -- (CW, WN) The word translated as "heaven" means simply the "sky", but it can also mean the "climate" or the "universe". It was used to indicate the realm of higher concepts such as ideals and values. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English. - However, the verb could also be in the form of possibility, "might".
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.
shaken. -- "Shaken" is another uncommon verb that means "to cause to rock", "to make vibrate", "to be shaken", "to waver", "to totter", "to move up and down", "to roll" and "to toss". The form is the future passive so "are going to be shaken".
ἀποψυχόντων [1 verse]( part pl pres act masc gen ) "Hearts failing them" is apopsychō, which means to "leave off breathing", "faint", "swoon", and, more literally, "breathe out life".
ἀνθρώπων (noun pl masc gen) "Of man" is anthropos, which is "man" and, in plural, "mankind". It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate.
ἀπὸ (prep) "For" is apo, a preposition of separation which means "from" or "away from" from when referring to place or motion, "from" or "after" when referring to time, "from" as an origin or cause.
φόβου [1 verse]( noun sg masc gen ) "Fear" is phobos, which means "panic flight", "Panic", "fear" and the object that causes "fear". It is from the Greek verb meaning "to put to flight".
καὶ (conj/adv) "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".
προσδοκίας [1 verse]( noun sg fem gen ) "Looking after" is prosdokia, which means "looking for" and "expectation".
τῶν [821 verses](article pl masc gen) "Those" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones".
ἐπερχομένων [4 verses](part pl pres mp masc gen) "Those things which are coming upon" is from eperchomai, which means "come upon", "approach", "come suddenly upon", in a hostile sense "come against", "attack", "come forward to speak", "proceed against", "come upon", of time "come on", "go over" [a space] and "traverse".
τῇ [821 verses](article sg fem dat) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones".
οἰκουμένῃ, [2 verses](noun sg fem dat) "earth" is from oikoumenê, which means "the inhabited region". It was often used to denote the civilized world as separate from the lands of barbarians.
“αἱ” (article pl fem nom) "Unto them 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".
γὰρ (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".
“δυνάμεις (noun pl fem nom ) "Powers" is dynamis (dunamis), 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.
τῶν [821 verses](article pl masc gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones".
οὐρανῶν (noun pl masc gen) "Of heaven" is the Greek ouranos, which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky", "heaven as the seat of the gods", "the sky", "the universe" and "the climate".
σαλευθήσονται.” [4 verses]( verb 3rd pl fut ind pass ) "Shaken" is from saleuô, which means "to cause to rock", "to make vibrate", "to be shaken", "to waver", "to totter", "to move up and down", "to roll" and "to toss".