Mark 9:50 Salt [is] good: but if the salt have lost his saltiness...

Spoken to: 

Apostles

Jesus has just said that everyone will be "salted" by fire.

KJV: 

Mark 9:50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

NIV : 

Mark 9:50 Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Beautiful this salt. When, however, this salt becomes unsalted, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves and be peaceful with one another.

MY TAKE: 

Having salt in ourselves means beng at peace with on another.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

Καλὸν      τὸ   ἅλας: ἐὰν     δὲ            τὸ    ἅλας ἄναλον γ ένηται,
Beautiful this salt.   When, however, this salt    unsalted becomes ,

ἐν    τίνι     αὐτὸ ἀρτύσετε;         ἔχετε       ἐν ἑαυτοῖς  ἅλα, καὶ εἰρηνεύετε    ἐν    ἀλλήλοις.
with what  it?    will you season Have in yourselves   salt   and be peaceful with one another.

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

While parts of this verse looks like Matthew 5:13 in English translation, the Greek is more like Luke 14:34. Much biblical translation works to make verses seem more similar than they are. Jesus clearly said many of these things over and over in his teaching, changing them subtlety over time.  Jesus started using salt and saltiness as a symbol in the Sermon on the Mount, which was early in his career, before he started using the "child of the man" phrase.  All three versions of this verse all express similar ideas but in different words.

Two words in this vers, "unsalted" and "be peaceful" are used by Jesus nowhere else. The line that is confused the most in translation is the one that says "When, however, this salt becomes unsalted." There is nothing in that line that means "lost." Nor was there in the Matthew and Luke versions, which used a word that means "to play the fool" and "to be insipid." However, this verse and Luke share to word translated as "will e seasoned."

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

8
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "salt" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "if" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "have peace" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  The "lost" is not an active verb but  part of an adjective.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "his" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "where" should be something more like "what."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "have peace" does not capture the word's specific meaning.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

11
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "salt" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "if" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "salt" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "it" should be something more like "salt."
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "loses" should be something more like "becomes."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "have peace" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "its" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "with" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "how" should be something more like "what."
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "can" should be something more like "will."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "again" doesn't exist in the source.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," 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," and "those"). See this article for more. 

Salt -- "Salt" means "salt", "salt-rock", "brine," and is a metaphor for "sales" and "wit." Salt was used as money to pay wages. Our word "salary" comes from the Roman word for salt. Salt was also the most common preservative for food.The word has an article so "the salt". 

is -- There is no verb "is" here in the Greek source but it is implied by the noun in the form of a subject having no verb associated with it.

good:  - The word translated as "good" means "good", "beautiful", "noble," or "of good quality."  See this article on the real Greek meaning of the terms translated as "good" and "evil."  The word translated as "well" means, as an adverb, "well", "rightly",  "happily",  "thoroughly", "altogether", and "deservedly".  

but -- The Greek word translated as "but" 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. 

if -- - (CW) "If" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is how we use the word "when." It can be used after a demonstrative pronoun to mean "that possibly," "whosoever," or "whatsoever." This is not the simple "if."

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. 

salt -- The Greek word for "salt" means salt, but the metaphorical meaning of salt is "wit" (and "sales", which doesn't seem relevant).  We use the term "old salt" in English to means someone who is experienced, originally as sea, but also generally. The Greek term has the same sense. The word has an article so "the salt". 

have -- (WW, WT) This "have" is a verb that means "becomes." It seems to be a helping verb creating the past perfect tense of the following verb, but this is the main verb and the tense is something that happens at some point in time not a past tense. It is in the form of possibility because it is in a "when" clause.

lost  -- (WF) The adjective translated as "lost his saltiness " that means "unsalted", "without salt," and "not salted." This word is a particle, not an a. WF -- Wrong Form -  The "left" is not an active verb but a participle, "leaving."

his ---- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "his" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle. IW - Inserted Word -- The word "his" doesn't exist in the source.

saltness,  -- "Saltiness" completes the idea of an adjective that Jesus only uses here. It means "unsalted", "without salt," and "not salted." It is completed

where-  -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "wherewith" in the singular means "anyone", "someone," and "anything." In the plural, it means "some", "they," and "those." When referring to a person it is a general reference as we would use the phrase "so and so".  It is also used in questions to mean "what," "why," and "who." This word does not mean "where."

-with  -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time),  or "among"  with a dative object as the one here.  With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."

will -- This is from the future tense of the following verb.

ye -- This is from the plural, second-person form of the verb.

season -- "Season" is another uncommon verb means "arrange", "prepare", "make ready", "dress savoury (meat)", "season", "administer (property)," and "bequeath."

it? -- The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.

Have  -- The word translated as "have" means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do",  "to have due to one", or "keep" and many specific uses. This verb isn't used to form past tenses as it is in English. 

salt -- "Salt" means "salt", "salt-rock", "brine," and is a metaphor for "sales" and "wit." Salt was used as money to pay wages. Our word "salary" comes from the Roman word for salt. Salt was also the most common preservative for food.The word has an article so "the salt". 

in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," or "among."

yourselves, -- "Yourselves" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself," and so on. It is plural, and masculine.

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

have peace -- (CW) "Have peace" is a verb that means to "bring to peace", "reconcile", "keep peace", "live peaceably".  The prefix is "peace" and to root is "being.

one -- This is from the adjective that follows the prepositon below that means "one another."

with -- The word translated as "with" also means "within", "with," or "among."

another. "One another" is an adjective that means "one another", "to one another", "mutually," and "reciprocally."

EACH WORD of NIV : 

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," 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," and "those"). See this article for more. 

Salt -- "Salt" means "salt", "salt-rock", "brine," and is a metaphor for "sales" and "wit." Salt was used as money to pay wages. Our word "salary" comes from the Roman word for salt. Salt was also the most common preservative for food.The word has an article so "the salt". 

is -- There is no verb "is" here in the Greek source but it is implied by the noun in the form of a subject having no verb associated with it.

good:  - The word translated as "good" means "good", "beautiful", "noble," or "of good quality."  See this article on the real Greek meaning of the terms translated as "good" and "evil."  The word translated as "well" means, as an adverb, "well", "rightly",  "happily",  "thoroughly", "altogether", and "deservedly".  

but -- The Greek word translated as "but" 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. 

if -- - (CW) "If" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is how we use the word "when." It can be used after a demonstrative pronoun to mean "that possibly," "whosoever," or "whatsoever." This is not the simple "if."

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," 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," and "those"). See this article for more. 

it -- (WW) The Greek word for "salt" means salt, but the metaphorical meaning of salt is "wit" (and "sales", which doesn't seem relevant).  We use the term "old salt" in English to means someone who is experienced, originally as sea, but also generally. The Greek term has the same sense. The word has an article so "the salt".

loses -- (WW) This is a verb that means "becomes." It seems to be a helping verb creating the past perfect tense of the following verb, but this is the main verb and the tense is something that happens at some point in time not a past tense. It is in the form of possibility because it is in a "when" clause.

its ---- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "its " in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.

saltness,  --  "Saltiness" completes the idea of an adjective that Jesus only uses here. It means "unsalted", "without salt," and "not salted." It is completed

missing "with"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time),  or "among"  with a dative object as the one here.  With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."

how -  -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "wherewith" in the singular means "anyone", "someone," and "anything." In the plural, it means "some", "they," and "those." When referring to a person it is a general reference as we would use the phrase "so and so".  It is also used in questions to mean "what," "why," and "who." This word does not mean "where."

can -- (WW) This is from the future tense of the following verb.

you  -- This is from the plural, second-person form of the verb.

make -- " Make...salty " is another uncommon verb means "arrange", "prepare", "make ready", "dress savoury (meat)", "season", "administer (property)," and "bequeath."

it? -- The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.

salty -- This finished the idea of the verb. 

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

Have  -- The word translated as "have" means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do",  "to have due to one", or "keep" and many specific uses. This verb isn't used to form past tenses as it is in English. 

salt -- "Salt" means "salt", "salt-rock", "brine," and is a metaphor for "sales" and "wit." Salt was used as money to pay wages. Our word "salary" comes from the Roman word for salt. Salt was also the most common preservative for food.The word has an article so "the salt".

among -- The word translated as "among" also means "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during,"  and "with."

yourselves, -- "Yourselves" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself," and so on. It is plural, and masculine.

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

be at peace --  "Be at peace" is a verb that means to "bring to peace", "reconcile", "keep peace", "live peaceably".  The prefix is "peace" and to root is "being.

with -- The word translated as "with" also means "within", "with," or "among."

each other. -- "Each other" is an adjective that means "one another", "to one another", "mutually," and "reciprocally."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

Καλὸν [48 verses](adj sg neut nom) "Good" is kalos, which means "beautiful", "good", "of fine quality", "noble," and "honorable." It is most often translated as "good" juxtaposed with "evil" in the New Testament, but the two ideas are closer to "wonderful" and "worthless", "noble" and "base." -- The word translated as "good means "good", "beautiful", "noble," or "of good quality."  See this article on the real Greek meaning of the terms translated as "good" and "evil."  The word translated as "well" means, as an adverb, "well", "rightly",  "happily",  "thoroughly", "altogether", and "deservedly".  

τὸ  [821 verses](article sg neut nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the")."-

ἅλας: [3 verses](noun sg neut nom) The salt" is from halas, which means "salt," "salt-rock," "brine," and is a metaphor for "sales" and "wit."

ὰν [163 verses](conj) "If" is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (possibly), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event. This is how we use the word "when."

δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of indirect cause ("so")

τὸ  [821 verses](article sg neut nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the")."-

ἅλας: [3 verses](noun sg neut nom) The salt" is from halas, which means "salt," "salt-rock," "brine," and is a metaphor for "sales" and "wit."

ἄναλον [1 verse](adj sg neut acc) "Lost his saltiness" is from analos, which means "unsalted", "without salt," and "not salted."

γένηται, [117 verses](verb 3rd sg aor subj mid) "Has lost" 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. -- The word translated as "be" means "to become," that is, to enter into a new state. In Greek, especially 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.

ἐν [413 verses](prep) "-with" (the second half of "wherewith",is en, which means, with a dative object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during,"  and "with." With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during."

τίνι [252 verses](pron sg dat ) "Where-" is tis which can mean "someone", "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."

αὐτό   [24 verses](pron/adj sg neut nom/acc) "It" is auto, which means "it," the neuter pronoun as a subject or object. It also means "itself," and "the same."

ἀρτύσετε; [2 verses](verb 2nd pl fut ind act) "Will ye season " is from artyo, which means "arrange", "prepare", "make ready", "dress savoury (meat)", "season", "administer (property)," and "bequeath."

 ἔχετε (verb 2nd pl pres ind act or verb 2nd pl pres imperat act) "Have" is from echô (echo), which means "to have", "to hold", "to possess", "to keep", "to have charge of", "to maintain", "to hold fast", "to bear", "to keep close", "to keep safe," and "to have means to do."

ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with a dative object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during,"  and "with." With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during."

ἑαυτοῖς  [75 verses](adj pl masc dat) "Yourselves" is heautou, is a reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself", "itself" "themselves," and "ourselves." It is an alternative to autos. -- "Himself" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself," and so on.

ἅλα,  [3 verses](noun sg neut nom) The salt" is from halas, which means "salt," "salt-rock," "brine," and is a metaphor for "sales" and "wit."

καὶ [1089 verses](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."

εἰρηνεύετε  [1 verse](verb 2nd pl pres ind act or verb 2nd pl pres imperat act)  "Have peace" is eirēneuō,  which means to "bring to peace", "reconcile", "keep peace", "live peaceably". 

ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with a dative object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during,"  and "with." With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during."

ἀλλήλοις. [14 verses](adj pl masc dat) "One with another" is from allelon, which means "one another", "to one another", "mutually," and "reciprocally."

Related Verses: 

Possible Symbolic Meaning: 

What remains is the sense of salt as a preservative and something of value as explained in that earlier post. Translated around that symbolic meaning, this verse becomes: Preservatives are wonderful, but if the preservative loses its ability to preserve, what can fix it? Preserve the preservative within yourselves and live peacefully with each other.

Putting this idea into the context of the chapter, which explores the interaction of the temporal and the spiritual world, this becomes: The world's preservatives are wonderful, but in this world, no preservative keeps forever, and how can you fix that? Preserve the spirit within yourselves and live peacefully with each other.

This verse highlights the reversal that takes place between the temporal and spiritual world.  In this temporary world, not even a preservative can be preserved. This is in stark contrast with the eternal ( see Mar 9:48) where the most temporary of life forms (worms) and natural conditions (fire) go on forever.

Front Page Date: 

Jun 24 2023