Mary anoints Jesus's feet with oil. Judas complains that the money could be spent on the poor.
John 12:8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
John 12:8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
Because these beggars at all times, you have among yourselves. Me, however, not at all timed, mes, have you.
In the previous verse, Jesus addressed a single person, Judas. In this verse, he addresses tje group. The "you" changed from singular in the previous verse to plural in this verse. The word translated as "the poor" doesn't mean "poor" in the sense of simply lacking worldly goods. It means "beggars." It is the noun form of the verb meaning "to beg." It implies having no way to support yourself other than by asking others for support.
The NIV mistranslates verb "have" as the future tense, "will have," but the tense of the verb "to have" is in the present. The adverb "always" or "at all times" includes the past, present, and future, which requires the present tense.
Jesus also makes this idea personal by using a special pronoun in the phrase "with/among you." The "you" is not the common pronoun, but the reflexive, "among yourselves." This implies that some of those listening are also beggars, living off the donations of others.
We all start life as beggars, crying for what we need.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "you" is not the common word usually translated as "you."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "you" is not the common word usually translated as "you."
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
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 "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
poor -- "Poor" is an adjective that means "a beggar" and "beggarly," and it a metaphor for being lacking in something.
always -- The word translated as "always" means "at all times" but what makes it interesting is that Christ seldom uses this word but it occurs twice in this verse. Most people uses the terms "always" whenever they discuss something that it done frequently. Christ never makes this mistake. He also uses the word for "never" (in the sense of "at not time") just as rarely.
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
have -- The word translated as "have" means to "have," "possess," "bear," "keep close," "hold in," "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 the helper verb does in English. Nor does it has the sense of "must" when used with infinitives.
with -- "With" is the Greek word that usually means "with" or a related concept such as "among" or "by the means of." It also refers to "after" or "behind" when referring to a place, time, or pursuit.
you --(CW) "You" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself," "herself," and so on. " Here, it is masculine plural, "themselves," by this is also used for the second-person, "yourselves."
but -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. It can also be an explanation of cause ("so").
me "-- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
have -- The word translated as "have" means to "have," "possess," "bear," "keep close," "hold in," "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 the helper verb does in English. Nor does it has the sense of "must" when used with infinitives.
not -- The Greek word translated as "not" 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 it precedes other words, here "aways," its force is limited to those words.
always.-- The word translated as "always" means "at all times" but what makes it interesting is that Christ seldom uses this word but it occurs twice in this verse. Most people uses the terms "always" whenever they discuss something that it done frequently. Christ never makes this mistake. He also uses the word for "never" (in the sense of "at not time") just as rarely.
missing "for" -- (MW) The untranslated wordas "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."
You -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
will -- (WT) This helping verb "will" indicates the future tense, but the verb is not the future.
always -- The word translated as "always" means "at all times" but what makes it interesting is that Christ seldom uses this word but it occurs twice in this verse. Most people uses the terms "always" whenever they discuss something that it done frequently. Christ never makes this mistake. He also uses the word for "never" (in the sense of "at not time") just as rarely.
have -- The word translated as "have" means to "have," "possess," "bear," "keep close," "hold in," "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 the helper verb does in English. Nor does it has the sense of "must" when used with infinitives.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
poor -- "Poor" is an adjective that means "a beggar" and "beggarly," and it a metaphor for being lacking in something.
among -- "Among" is the Greek word that usually means "with" or a related concept such as "among" or "by the means of." It also refers to "after" or "behind" when referring to a place, time, or pursuit.
you --(CW) "You" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself," "herself," and so on. " Here, it is masculine plural, "themselves," by this is also used for the second-person, "yourselves."
but -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. It can also be an explanation of cause ("so").
but you will not always have me.”
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
will -- (WT) This helping verb "will" indicates the future tense, but the verb is not the future.
not -- The Greek word translated as "not" 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 it precedes other words, here "aways," its force is limited to those words.
always -- The word translated as "always" means "at all times" but what makes it interesting is that Christ seldom uses this word but it occurs twice in this verse. Most people uses the terms "always" whenever they discuss something that it done frequently. Christ never makes this mistake. He also uses the word for "never" (in the sense of "at not time") just as rarely.
have -- The word translated as "have" means to "have," "possess," "bear," "keep close," "hold in," "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 the helper verb does in English. Nor does it has the sense of "must" when used with infinitives.
me "-- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.
τοὺς [821 verses](article pl masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
πτωχοὺς [17 verses](adj pl masc nom)"Poor" is ptochos, which means "beggar," "beggar-woman," and "beggarly."
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."
πάντοτε [8 verses](adverb) "Always" is from pantote, which means "always," "at all time," and literally breaks down to "all then." "All" is from pas- that means "all," "the whole," "every," "anyone," "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way," "on every side," "in every way," and "altogether." "Then" is from -tote, which means "at that time" and "then."
ἔχετε [181 verses](2nd pl pres/imperf ind act) "Ye have" is echo, which means "to have," "to hold," "to possess," "to keep," "to have charge of," "to have due to one," "to maintain," "to hold fast," "to hold in," "to bear," "to carry," "to keep close," "to keep safe," and "to have means to do." In aorist, it can mean "acquire," or "get." The main sense when it has an object is "to have" or "to hold." It can also mean "to without" or "keep back" a thing.
μεθ᾽[103 verses](prep) "With" is meta, which means "with," "in the midst of," "among," "between," "in common," "along with," "by the aid of," "in one's dealings with," "into the middle of," "coming into," "in pursuit of," "after," "behind," "according to," "after," "behind," and "next afterward." With genitive, it means generally, "with," "together with," "in the midst of," "among," "between." "in common," "along with," "by the aid of," and "in conjunction with." With dative, "between," "among," "in company with," with a number "complete," and "over and above." With accusative, generally, "among" and "between" as with dative, of motion, "into the middle of," "coming into or among," "in pursuit or quest of," of place, "after," "behind," of time, "after," "next to," of worth/rank, "next after," of ideas, "after," "according to."
ἑαυτῶν, [75 verses](adj pl masc gen) "You" is heautou, is a reflexive pronoun that means "himself," "herself," "itself" "themselves," and "ourselves." It is not the common pronoun meaning simply "he," "she," "them," etc.
ἐμὲ [49 verses](pron 1st sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which is the objective first-person, objective, singular pronoun that means "me.
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 cause ("so"). With the Greek word for "if" the sense is "if...than."
οὐ [269 verses](partic) "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.
πάντοτε [8 verses](adverb) "Always" is from pantote, which means "always," "at all time," and literally breaks down to "all then." "All" is from pas- that means "all," "the whole," "every," "anyone," "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way," "on every side," "in every way," and "altogether." "Then" is from -tote, which means "at that time" and "then."
ἔχετε [181 verses](2nd pl pres ind act) "Ye have" is echo, which means "to have," "to hold," "to possess," "to keep," "to have charge of," "to have due to one," "to maintain," "to hold fast," "to hold in," "to bear," "to carry," "to keep close," "to keep safe," and "to have means to do." In aorist, it can mean "acquire," or "get." The main sense when it has an object is "to have" or "to hold." It can also mean "to without" or "keep back" a thing.
ἑαυτῶν, "You" is from heautou, is a reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself", "itself" "themselves," and "ourselves." It is an alternative to autos.
ἐμὲ "Me" is from eme, which means "I", "me", and "my".
δὲ "But" is from de (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 cause ("so").
οὐ "Not" is from οὐ ou which is 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.
πάντοτε "Always" is from pantote (pantote), which means "always," literally breaking down into "all when."
ἔχετε. (2nd pl pres ind act) "Ye 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."