Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation,

Spoken to: 

Apostles

A long section about "the end of the world" or, more precisely, "the culmination of an era."

KJV: 

Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

NIV : 

Matthew 24:7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Because it will be stirred up: people against people, and realm against realm, and there will be famines and shocks down into places.

MY TAKE: 

Battles and wars do not culminate any era.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

This verse is so different in the Greek from the English translation (in all Bibles) that it appears something is odd here. It starts with a verb, which is translated in a way that it is not usually translated. That verb is singular but seems to have multiple subjects in the KJV translation. A number of words are translated here differently than they are usually translated in the NT, especially the keyword "against." Given all this, it isn't surprising the KJV might be pretty far from the Greek. Remember, the context here is the question about the end of the age, which Christ amends to address the purpose or fulfillment of the age.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

3
  • WV - Wrong Voice-  The "rise" is not an active verb but a passive one "be stirred up."
  • OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "and pestilences" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "in" doesn't exist in the source.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

3
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "because" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WV - Wrong Voice-  The "rise" is not an active verb but a passive one "be stirred up."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "in" doesn't exist in the source.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

For  - The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation. In a short question, it is "why?" or "how?"

nation  - -- The word translated as "nation" means "a group of people living together," a nation, a tribe, or a cast of people. Later it came to mean "barbarous nations" similar to our idea of ethnic people.

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.

rise  - (WV) The word for "rise" means "awaken" or "stir up" and it is the same word Christ uses to describe God raising the dead and false prophets arising. At the beginning of a sentence, a verb acts commonly as a question or as an "it is" type statement. It is a future, passive, singular verb, so "it is going to be awakened" or "it is going to be stirred up." The "it" referred to seems to be "end" in the previous verse, but this "end" means "end" in the sense of "purpose" or "goal."

against - The word translated as "unto" means "on," "over," "upon," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of."

nation, -- The word translated as "nation" means "a group of people living together," a nation, a tribe, or a cast of people. Later it came to mean "barbarous nations" similar to our idea of ethnic people.

and  - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but, in a series, is often can be 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.

kingdom  - The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Jesus does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" is often more appropriate. Both of its uses are plural.

against  - - The word translated as "unto" means "on," "over," "upon," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of."

kingdom:  - The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Jesus does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" is often more appropriate. Both of its uses are plural.

and  - - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but, in a series, is often best translated as "not only...but also."

there  - -- This is from the third-person, plural 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  - When the verb "to be" appears early in the sentence before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are." The verb here is the common form of "to be" in Greek in the third person plural. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition.

famines, - Famines" is the Greek word for "hunger," and "famine" in the plural.

and pestilences, -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "and pestilences" in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.

and - - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but, in a series, is often best translated as "not only...but also."

earthquakes,  - The word for "earthquakes" means "shaking," "earthquake," "shocks," and "agitation." If Christ is explaining the problems related to war, which seems like the context, agitation works better that a natural disaster like earthquakes.

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

divers  - The word translated as "diverse" means "down from," "against," "separately," "individually," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."

places.  - The word translated as "place" means "region," "position," but it means " is also a metaphor for "opening," "occasion," and "opportunity."

EACH WORD of NIV : 

missing "because"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "because" introduces a reason or explanation. In a short question, it is "why?" or "how?"

Nation - -- The word translated as "nation" means "a group of people living together," a nation, a tribe, or a cast of people. Later it came to mean "barbarous nations" similar to our idea of ethnic people.

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.

rise  - (WV) The word for "rise" means "awaken" or "stir up" and it is the same word Christ uses to describe God raising the dead and false prophets arising. At the beginning of a sentence, a verb acts commonly as a question or as an "it is" type statement. It is a future, passive, singular verb, so "it is going to be awakened" or "it is going to be stirred up." The "it" referred to seems to be "end" in the previous verse, but this "end" means "end" in the sense of "purpose" or "goal."

against - The word translated as "unto" means "on," "over," "upon," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of."

nation, -- The word translated as "nation" means "a group of people living together," a nation, a tribe, or a cast of people. Later it came to mean "barbarous nations" similar to our idea of ethnic people.

and  - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but, in a series, is often can be 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.

kingdom  - The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Jesus does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" is often more appropriate. Both of its uses are plural.

against  - - The word translated as "unto" means "on," "over," "upon," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of."

kingdom:  - The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Jesus does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" is often more appropriate. Both of its uses are plural.

and  - - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but, in a series, is often best translated as "not only...but also."

there  - -- This is from the third-person, plural 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  - When the verb "to be" appears early in the sentence before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are." The verb here is the common form of "to be" in Greek in the third person plural. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition.

famines, - Famines" is the Greek word for "hunger," and "famine" in the plural.

and - - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but, in a series, is often best translated as "not only...but also."

earthquakes,  - The word for "earthquakes" means "shaking," "earthquake," "shocks," and "agitation." If Christ is explaining the problems related to war, which seems like the context, agitation works better that a natural disaster like earthquakes.

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

various - The word translated as "various " means "down from," "against," "separately," "individually," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."

places.  - The word translated as "place" means "region," "position," but it means " is also a metaphor for "opening," "occasion," and "opportunity."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

ἐγερθήσεται [41 verses](verb 3rd sg fut ind pass) "Shall arise" is egeiro, which means "to awaken," "to stir up," and "to rouse."

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."

ἔθνος[22 verses](noun sg neut nom/acc) "Nation" is ethnos, which means "a number of people living together," "company," "body of men," "tribe," "a people," "nation," and (later) "foreign, barbarous nations."

ἐπὶ [138 verses](prep)  "Against" is from epi. which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," and "against."

ἔθνος [22 verses](noun sg neut nom/acc) "Nation" is from ethnos, which means "a number of people living together," "company," "body of men," "tribe," "a people," "nation," and (later) "foreign, barbarous nations." -- The word translated as "Gentiles" means "a group of people living together," a nation, a tribe, or a cast of people. Later it came to mean "barbarous nations" similar to our idea of ethnic people. It is in the same form as the "them" above, so "to them" or "for them."

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "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."

βασιλεία [98 verses](noun sg fem nom) "Kingdom" is basileia, which means "kingdom," "dominion," "hereditary monarchy," "kingly office," (passive) "being ruled by a king," and "reign." --

ἐπὶ [138 verses](prep)  "Against" is from epi. which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," and "against."

βασιλείαν,” (noun sg fem acc) "Kingdom" is from basileia, which means "kingdom," "dominion," "hereditary monarchy," "kingly office," (passive) "being ruled by a king," and "reign." --

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "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."

ἔσονται 614 verses](verb 3rd pl fut ind) "There shall be" is from 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.")

λιμοὶ [6 verse](noun pl masc/fem nom) "Famines" is limos, which means "hunger," "famine," and "a hungry wrench."

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "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."

σεισμοὶ [3 verses](noun pl masc nom) "Earthquakes" is seismos, which means "shaking," "earthquake," "shock," "agitation," "commotion," "blackmail," and "extortion."

κατὰ [60 verses](prep) "In diverse" is from kata, which means "downwards," "down from," "down into," "against," "down toward," "opposite," "separately," "individually," "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."

τόπους: [16 verses](noun pl masc acc) "Places" is topos, which means "place," "region," "position," "part [of the body]," "district," "room," and "topic." It is also a metaphor for "opening," "occasion," and "opportunity."

Related Verses: 

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings: 

"Why?" he asked rhetorically, referring to his statement about the goal not being reached.

"It is going be awakened," he explained. "Tribe..."

He held one hand in front of him and put his other hand over it.

"Upon tribe," he said. Then raising the first hand above the second, and the putting the second over it again."Nations upon nations."

The apostles got the picture of something building up.

"And," Christ admitting more sadly. "There are going to be famines and shocks involving areas."

Front Page Date: 

Sep 4 2021