The other apostles express displeasure because James and John asked for good places at the table.
Mark 10:42 You know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
Mark 10:42 You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
NLT Mark 10:42 You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.
You have seen that those imagining to rule over the foreigners: they lord over them and those great of theirs have power over them.
This verse has a wealth of wordplay, a lot more concise than the translation, and a lot more humorous. The phrase translation as "they which are accounted to rule" is much closer to "those imagining to rule," which expresses their authority as something of a delusion.
The two words translated as "exercise lordship" and "exercise authority" are only used by Jesusin this verse and the similar one in Matthew 20:25. Both begin with the word that means "down," carrying the idea being above and looking down on others. In English, we say that someone "rules over" others, but in Greek, these two words carry the idea of "ruling down" and "using power down" on others. Again, the choice of these particular words is a bit too perfect to be a simple translation. There are many words that mean rule in Greek that don't begin with the idea of "down," but because these do, they fit wonderfully with the following verses about real leaders being beneath others rather than over them. These two words seldom appear in ancient Greek, mostly used after Jesus. The first of them was used by a Greek historian living in Sicily a generation before Jesus. And both were used in the writing of a later Roman emperor, Julian, known as Julian the apostate because he wrote philisophy against Christianity.
Most elites snobes are defined by the fact they look down on others.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common pronoun usually translated as "they."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "which" doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "are accounted" is not a passive verb but an active one.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "accounted" means "expecting," seeming," and "imagining"
- WF - Wrong Form - The "accounted" is not an active verb in a past tense but a participle, in the present tense "accounting" except the word doesn't mean "accounting."
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "over" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "who" doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "rulers" is not a ruler but a verb, "to rule."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "it" doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "officials" means "the ones."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "imagining" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "rulers" is not a ruler but a verb, "to rule."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "in" is from a word form that should be translated as "of."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "world" means "gentiles" and "ethnics."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "it" doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "people" doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "officials" means "the ones."
- MW - Missing Word -- The pronoun "their" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The verb "flaunt" doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The verb translated as "authority" means "have authority."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The phrase "under them" doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified. It is a repeat of the previous phrase.,
You -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the following verb.
know -- The verb translated as "know" means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive."
that -- The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause.
they -- (CW) The word translated as "they" 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. This is not the pronoun usually translated as "they."
which -- (IW) This seems to indicate a subordinate clause, but there is no such clause in the Greek. There is only a verb in the form of an adjective.
are -- (WF) This verb seems to indicate a passive verb, but the verb is not passive. It is active in the form of an adjective.
accounted -- (WW, WF) The word translated as "accounted" means "expect," "reputed," or "imagine." When Jesus uses it, "imagine" seems to work the most often in English. The form is an adjective, "imagining." The particle introduced by an article has the sense of "the ones imagining."
to -- This is from the infinitive form of the following verb.
rule -- "To rule" is a verb means "to be first," "to begin," "to make a beginning," "to rule," "to govern," and "to command." The meaning of this verb depends on its context. With the form of the following object, the sense is "are leaders" with the "of" coming from the form of the following word.
over -- This word "over" comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession. However, English doesn't use "of" after the verb "rule." We say "rule over."
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.
Gentiles -- The word translated as "gentiles" generally refers to everyone who is not a Jew. We might say "foreigner." The word is the source of our word "ethnic."
exercise lordship -- "Excise lordship" is a verb that Jesus only uses here. It means "to gain or exercise complete dominion." Its root is the Greek word translated as "lord" or "master." This carries the sense of ownership and control. It literally means "lord down."
over -- - ."Over" completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix, which means "down" but the Greeks used "down" like we use "over" when describing authority.
them; -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
their -- The word translated as "their" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. It follows the noun so the sense is more "of them."
great -- The word translated as "great" means "big," "high" "great," and "impressive."
ones -- The "ones" 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.
exercise authority -- This is another rare word for Jesus and in ancient Greek. It means "to have power," "to exercise authority," and "to be the master of a body." It appears only here and in the parallel in Matthew.
upon -- This is again from the prefix of the following verb, meaning "down" and from form of the following pronoun, which is translated as "over" above.
them. -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
You -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the following verb.
know -- The verb translated as "know" means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive."
that -- The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause.
those-- The word translated as "those" 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.
who-- (IW) This seems to indicate a subordinate clause, but there is no such clause in the Greek. There is ony a verb in the form of an adjective.
are -- (WF) This verb seems to indicate a passive verb, but the verb is not passive. It is active in the form of a adjective.
regarded -- (WF) The word translated as "accounted" means "expect," "reputed," or "imagine." When Jesus uses it, "imagine" seems to work the most often in English. The form is an adjective, "imagining." The particle introduced by an article has the sense of "the ones imagining."
as -- (IW) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "as" in the Greek source.
rulers -- (WF) "Rulers" is not a noun but a verb means "to be first," "to begin," "to make a beginning," "to rule," "to govern," and "to command."
of -- -- This word "over" comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession. However, English doesn't use "of" after the verb "rule." We say "rule over."
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.
Gentiles -- The word translated as "gentiles" generally refers to everyone who is not a Jew. We might say "foreigner." The word is the source of our word "ethnic."
lord -- Lord" is a verb that Jesus only uses here. It means "to gain or exercise complete dominion." Its root is the Greek word translated as "lord" or "master." This carries the sense of ownership and control. It literally means "lord down."
it -- (IW) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "it" in the Greek source.
over -- This is from the prefix that means "down"of the previous verb and from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession, but it can also mean "belonging to," "part of," "which is," "than" (in comparisons), or "for," "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs.
them; -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
their -- The word translated as "their" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. It follows the noun so the sense is more "of them."
high -- The word translated as "high" means "big," "high" "great," and "impressive."
officials -- (WW) -- The "officials" 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.
exercise authority --- This is another rare word for Jesus and in ancient Greek. It means "to have power," "to exercise authority," and "to be the master of a body." It appears only here and in the parallel in Matthew.
over-- This is again from the prefix of the following verb, meaning "down" and from form of the following pronoun, which is translated as "over" above.
them. -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
NLT
You -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the following verb.
know -- The verb translated as "know" means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive."
that -- The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause.
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.
missing "imagine" -- (MW) The untranslated word means "expect," "reputed," or "imagine." When Jesus uses it, "imagine" seems to work the most often in English. The form is an adjective, "imagining." The particle introduced by an article has the sense of "the ones imagining."
rulers -- (WF) "Rules" is not a noun but a verb means "to be first," "to begin," "to make a beginning," "to rule," "to govern," and "to command."
in -- (WW) This word "in" comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession. However, English doesn't use "of" after the verb "rule." We say "rule over."
this - The word translated as "this" 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.
world -- (WW) The word translated as "world" is usually translated as "gentiles" and generally refers to everyone who is not a Jew. We might say "foreigner." The word is the source of our word "ethnic."
lord -- Lord" is a verb that Jesus only uses here. It means "to gain or exercise complete dominion." Its root is the Greek word translated as "lord" or "master." This carries the sense of ownership and control. It literally means "lord down."
it -- (IW) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "it" in the Greek source.
over -- This is from the prefix that means "down"of the previous verb and from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession, but it can also mean "belonging to," "part of," "which is," "than" (in comparisons), or "for," "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs.
their -- The word translated as "their" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
people, -- (IW) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "people" in the Greek source.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
untranslated -- (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.
officials -- (WW) The word translated as "officials" means "big," "high" "great," and "impressive."
flaunt -- -- (IW) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "flaunt" in the Greek source.
their -- The word translated as "their" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. It follows the noun so the sense is more "of them."
authority -- (WF) This is not a noun but a verb. It is another rare word for Jesus and in ancient Greek. It means "to have power," "to exercise authority," and "to be the master of a body." It appears only here and in the parallel in Matthew.
over-- This is again from the prefix of the following verb, meaning "down" and from form of the following pronoun, which is translated as "over" above.
those. -- The word translated as "those" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
under them. -- (IP) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "under them" in the Greek source unless we translated the previous words twice, two different ways.
Οἴδατε [38 verses] ( verb 2nd pl perf ind act ) "Know" is oida which has the sense of "to know." This listing is not a root word, but the past perfect tense of eido, which means "to see," "to examine," "to perceive," "to behold," "to know how to do," "to see with the mind's eye," and "to know." That which "has been seen" is that which is "known." This is a somewhat legalistic idea because the truth can only be established by eyewitnesses.
ὅτι [332 verses]( (adv/conj) "That" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."
οἱ (article pl masc nom) "They which" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
δοκοῦντες [17 verses] ( part pl pres act masc nom ) "Are accounted for" is dokeo, which means "expect," "suppose," "imagine," "have an opinion," "seem," "seem good," and "to be reputed."
ἄρχειν[14 verses]( verb pres inf act ) "To rule" is from archo, which means "to be first," "to begin," "to make a beginning," "to rule," "to govern," and "to command."
τῶν [821 verses](article pl neut gen ) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἐθνῶν [4 verses] ( noun pl neut gen ) "Gentiles" is ethnikos, which means "national," "provincial," "foriegn," and "gentile." It was used in the same way we would describe someone as an "ethnic" or "foreigner." Foreigners, the Greeks and Romans, were the rulers of the nation in Christ's time.
κατακυριεύουσιν [2 verse]( verb 3rd pl pres ind act ) "Excise lordship" is katakyrieuo, which means "to gain or exercise complete dominion." This carries the sense of ownership and control.
αὐτῶν [86 verses](pron/adj pl masc/fem/neut gen) "Them" is auton, is the genitive case of the third-person, plural adjective that is used as a pronoun. The word also means "the same," "one's true self," and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is 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."
οἱ [821 verses](article pl masc nom) "Ones" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
μεγάλοι [47 verses](adjective pl masc nom) "Great" is megas, which means "big," "full-grown," "vast," "high," "great," "mighty," "strong (of the elements),""loud" (of sounds), "over-great (with a bad sense), "impressive" (of style), and "long" ( of days).
αὐτῶν [86 verses](pron/adj pl masc/fem/neut gen) "Their" is auton, is the genitive case of the third-person, plural adjective that is used as a pronoun. The word also means "the same," "one's true self," and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord."
κατεξουσιάζουσιν [2 verses]( verb 3rd pl pres ind act ) "Exercise authority" is katexousiazo, which means "to have power," "to exercise power," and "to be the master of a body."
αὐτῶν [86 verses](pron/adj pl masc/fem/neut gen) "Them" is auton, is the genitive case of the third-person, plural adjective that is used as a pronoun. The word also means "the same," "one's true self," and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord."
Here, Jesus makes up to words which are very like the way we say things in our day, "lord over" and "decide against."