Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested;

Spoken to: 

Apostles

After explaining the parable of the seeds.

KJV: 

Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

NIV : 

Mark 4:22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Because it does not exist hiding except what might be revealed. Nor does it become itself hidden rather so that it might show up as shining.

MY TAKE: 

The more hidden somethis is, the more interesting it becomes.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

οὐ   γὰρ        ἔστιν κρυπτὸν ἐὰν μὴ   ἵνα    φανερωθῇ
not Because it is   hiding    except    that    it is revealed.

οὐδὲ ἐγένετο            ἀπόκρυφον ἀλλ᾽    ἵνα     ἔλθῃ                     εἰς φανερόν.
Nor does it become secret          instead that    it might show up as  shining.

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

A couple of untranslated words here in the KJV, while several phrases are added to the NIV. Other words strangely are translated. There are also a couple of uncommon words.

The English translations are meant to reflect other similar verses, particularly Matthew 10:26, but those verses used words such as "nothing" which doesn't appear here. This verse makes is sound more like things are hidden just so that they can be revealed and that the hidden is even more visible when revealed because it was hidden, this is an interesting idea, but not the same as the one expressed in Matthew.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

9
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "hothing" does not capture the word's specific meaning/
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  The "hid" is not an active verb but a participle, "hiding."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "when" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word - This "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" does not capture the word's specific meaning and it is different from the previous "not."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "was" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "kept" should be something more like "become."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" is not the common word usually translated as "but."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "into" is not shown in the English translation

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

14
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "whatever" should be something more like "not."
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  The "hid" is not an active verb but a participle, "hiding."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "when" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase"meant to be" doesn't exist in the source.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "whatever" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "is" should be something more like "becomes."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "rather" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase"meant to be" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "brought out" should be something more like "show up."
  • CW - Confusing Word - This "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" does not capture the word's specific meaning and it is different from the previous "not."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "was" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "kept" should be something more like "become."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

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." 

there  - There is not Greek word "there" here, but the following verb can have that sense when it starts a sentence.

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. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.  The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." With an indirect object, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed. -- When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."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." 

nothing  - (CW) The Greek word translated as "nothing" is not the usual word meaning "nothing," which is used twice in this verse. It is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

hid, -- (WF) "Hid" is from a verb meaning "hid." It is in the form of a participle acting as an adjective modifying the earlier word "nothing." Unlike the earlier "covered," this is in the present tense, "hiding.""

missing "when"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "when" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is how we use the word "when." This is not the simple "if."

which -- The word translated as "which" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause  "that," "when," "in order that" "when," or "because." It is used as an introduction to a command, where it isn't translated. 

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.

not -- (CW) The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. If not used with a verb of subjective action--thinking, feeling, seeing, etc.--its sense is that "not wanting" or "thinking" something, not that it isn't done or thought.   With the verb "to be," the sense is "doesn't seem." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. This is the negative used with commands or requests. Used with an imperative to express a will or wish. Used in negative "when" and "if" clauses, different from the previous "not."

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.

manifested; - --The verb translated as "made manifest" means "make clear" and "make famous."

neither -- The Greek word for "neither" is an adverb that means "not at all" or "not even" and, literally, "not, however." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions.

was (CW) This word seems to indicate the upcoming verb is the past tense and passive in voice. Neither is correct.

any thing  - There is no Greek word meaning "any thing" here. This word comes from the singular form of the following verb, which is better translated as "it."

kept -- (WW) The word translated as "kept" means "to become," that is, to enter into a new state. In Greek, primarily as used by Jesus, it is the opposite of "being," which is existence in the current state. When applied to events, this word means "to happen," "to occur," or "take place." For things, it can be "to be produced." When the participle takes a predicate, the sense is "coming into" something.

secret, -- "Secret" is an adjective that means "hidden", "concealed", "underhand", "unknown",  "obscure", "recondite", and "hard to understand". 

but -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this," with a positive one, "instead this."

that -- The word translated as "that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause  "that," "when," "in order that" "when," or "because." It is used as an introduction to a command, where it isn't translated. Often is better to translate it as "so that" instead of "because" to avoid confusion with another conjunction. -- The word translated as "there" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," or "when."

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

should -- This helping verb "should" indicates that the verb indicates a possibility, the subjunctive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

come -- 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.

missing "into"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  into" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject,"up to" limits in time and measure, and "for" a purpose or object.

abroad. -- "Abroad" is from an adjective that means "visible", "manifest", "shining", "illustrious", "conspicuous," and "open."

EACH WORD of NIV : 

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." 

whatever - (WW) The Greek word translated as "whatever" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

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. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.  The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." With an indirect object, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed. -- When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."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."

hidden , -- (WF) "Hid" is from a verb meaning "hidden ." It is in the form of a participle acting as an adjective modifying the earlier word "nothing." Unlike the earlier "covered," this is in the present tense, "hiding."

For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.

missing "when"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "when" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is how we use the word "when." This is not the simple "if."

missing "that"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause  "that," "when," "in order that" "when," or "because." It is used as an introduction to a command, where it isn't translated.

 is -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

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

disclosed; - --The verb translated as "disclosed" means "make clear" and "make famous."

and -- The Greek word for "and"  is an adverb that means "not at all" or "not even" and, literally, "not, however." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions.

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

is -- (WW) The word translated as "is" means "to become," that is, to enter into a new state. In Greek, primarily as used by Jesus, it is the opposite of "being," which is existence in the current state. When applied to events, this word means "to happen," "to occur," or "take place." For things, it can be "to be produced." When the participle takes a predicate, the sense is "coming into" something.

concealed , -- "Concealed " is an adjective that means "hidden", "concealed", "underhand", "unknown",  "obscure", "recondite", and "hard to understand".

missing "rather"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this," with a positive one, "instead this."

that -- The word translated as "that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause  "that," "when," "in order that" "when," or "because." It is used as an introduction to a command, where it isn't translated. Often is better to translate it as "so that" instead of "because" to avoid confusion with another conjunction. -- The word translated as "there" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," or "when."

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

is -- This helping verb "should" indicates that the verb indicates a possibility, the subjunctive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

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

brought out -- (WW) The word translated as "brought out" 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.

into - The word " into" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject,"up to" limits in time and measure, and "for" a purpose or object.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.  t", "shining", "illustrious", "conspicuous," and "open."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

οὐ [269 verses](adv) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences.  The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.

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."

ἐστίν.[614 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "Is" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen,"  and "is possible." With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." With the dative, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed.

κρυπτὸν [9 verses](part sg pres act neut nom ) "Hid" is from krypto, which means "to hide," "to cover," "to conceal." "to keep secret," "cover in the earth," "bury," "conceal," "argue so that the opponent is unwarily led to an adverse conclusion," "lie hidden," in passive, "conceal oneself from," "hide oneself," and "lie hidden,"

ἐὰν μὴ [14 verses](conj particle) "Which" is ei me, which is the conjunction that means "if not," "but," and "except." εἰ is the particle use with the imperative usually to express conditions "if" or indirect questions, "whether." (me) is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." - Two Greek words are translated as "except." Literally, they mean "if not" but this phrase is used to mean "except," "instead," and "but."

ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) "Which" is hina, which means "in that place," "there," "where," "when,"  but when beginning a phrase "so that," "in order that," "when," and "because."

φανερωθῇ, [4 verses] (verb 3rd sg aor subj pass) "Shall...be manifest" is phaneroo, which means "make manifest", "reveal", "make clear", "make known," and "make famous."

οὐδὲ [51 verses](partic) "Neither" is oude, which, as a conjunction, means "but not," "neither," and "nor." As an adverb that means "not at all" or "not even" and, literally, "not, however."

ἐγένετο [117 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind mid) "Was ...kept" is ginomai, which means "to become," "to come into being," "to happen," of things "to be produced," of events "happen," (passive) "take place," "come to pass," "to be engaged in," math "to be multiplied into," "become one of," "turn into." It means changing into a new state of being. When the participle takes a predicate, the sense is "coming into" something. It is the complementary opposite of the verb "to be" (eimi) which indicates existence in the same state.

ἀπόκρυφον [2 verses](adj sg neut nom) "Secret" is apokryphos, which means "hidden", "concealed", "underhand", "unknown",  "obscure", "recondite", and "hard to understand".

ἀλλ᾽[154 verses](conj) "But" is alla, which means "instead," "otherwise," "but," "still," "at least," "except," "yet," nevertheless," "rather," "moreover," and "nay."

ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place," "there," "where," "when,"  but when beginning a phrase "so that," "in order that," "when," and "because."

ἔλθῃ v[198 verses](verb 3rd sg aor subj act) "Come" is  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. -- 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." is  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.

εἰς [325 verses](prep) Untranslated 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)."

φανερὸν [2 verses](adj sg masc acc) "Abroad" is from phaneros which means "visible", "manifest", "shining", "illustrious", "conspicuous," and "open."

Wordplay: 

"Hid" and "secret" have the same root, with the later as a more extreme form of the first.

Related Verses: 

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings: 

Jesus appears to be explaining in more detail here why he uses parables. He makes ideas hard to understand so that they can become clear over time. If he said his ideas openly, they would could become corrupted over time because the meaning of the words would change. There is a sense here that the truth must be put in a flawed, physical form in order to preserve and maintain it and allow people to discover it over time. It is like a gift that we must unwrap. Parables, in a sense, reflect Christ's idea of the spiritual hidden inside the physical giving rise to the intellectual and emotional.

Front Page Date: 

Mar 25 2023