John 14:23 If a man love me

Spoken to: 

Apostles

At the Last Supper, Jesus gives his final message to the apostles. After Jesus says that he will explain himself to the one keeping his commands, Judas asks why he will explain himself to them and not the world.

KJV: 

John 14:23 If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

NIV : 

John 14:23 Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

When anyone loves me, he will take care of this logic of mine. And my father will care for him, and we will show up before him. And we will make for ourselves one-piece/a stopping place beside him.

MY TAKE: 

Seeing Jesus means requires taking care of a certain logic.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

We should remember that this verse is said in response to a question about why Jesus will explain himself to the apostles and not the world. In reading the translations of this verse, we would think what is being said here was something like what was being said in John 14:17 about the spirit "dwelling" in Jesus's followers. However, this is an artifact of the English translation. The word translated as "abode/home" means "alone," or "solitary," as an adjective, but "tarrying" or "stopping place" as a noun. There is no "our" before it. The prepositions mistranslated as  "unto/to" in "coming unto/to" and as "with" in "with him/them" both refer to external positions, not internal ones. These are not the prepositions used when Jesus spoke about his Father being "in" him and he "in" the Father. The "come" has more the sense of "show up" are revealing of themselves.

The sense is that the word translated as "abode/home" seems to have more the sense of either "one-piece" or "stopping place." The first has the sense of unity, which is emphasized later in this Gospel. The "stopping place" seems more temporary, depending on taking care of a certain way of thinking. So Jesus seems to be saying that he can only explain is ideas to those who embrace his thinking.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

9
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "if" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "a" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "man" should be something more like "anyone."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "word" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "words" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "words" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "father" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "our" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "abode" should be something more like "solitary."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "with" should be something more like "side-by-side."

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

14
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "when" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "who" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "might" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "obey" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "teaching" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "teaching" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "father" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "them" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word second "them" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "our" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "home" should be something more like "solitary."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "with" should be something more like "side-by-side."
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word second "them" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

If -- (CW) The Greek word meaning "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."

a -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "a" in the Greek source. There is no noun here.

man -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "man" in the singular means "anyone," "someone,"  "something," and "anything." The same forms are used both for the masculine or feminine so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone," "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."

love -- The word translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," and "to be contented with." Jesus however, applies it to relationships where we have a duty to care for others: family, God, etc. Another word, also translated as "love," is used to for relationships of affectionate friendship that are more voluntary. To distinguish this word, translating it as "cares for" seems to work best. See this article on love for more information.

me, -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

he -- This is from the third-person, singular 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.

keep - The word translated as "keep" means "to watch over," "to guard," "to take care of," "to give heed to," "to keep," "to test by observation or trial," and "to observe." Jesus uses this word seventeen times, almost always with the idea of "keeping" in one commandment or another. "Keep" works best because it combines the idea of "guarding" and "observing," but the idea of "take care of" works even better with the "love" verb that means "cares for."

my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine."

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.

words: -- (CW, WN) "Word" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation," or "reasoning," but it has many, many specific meanings from "deliberation" to "narrative."  It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. However, when applied to people, it means "repute" or "reputation." More about this word in this article. In English, we would say "idea" to describe it but it also means the communication of various types, so "message" often works better.

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."

my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine."

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.

Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

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.

love -- The word translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," and "to be contented with." Jesus however, applies it to relationships where we have a duty to care for others: family, God, etc. Another word, also translated as "love," is used to for relationships of affectionate friendship that are more voluntary. To distinguish this word, translating it as "cares for" seems to work best. See this article on love for more information.

him, -- The word translated as "him" 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."

we -- This is from the first-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.

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.

unto -- The word translated as "unto" means "towards," "by reason of (for)," "before" both in time and place, "in the presence of," "against," and several other types of "before."

him, -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.  An accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement. Events may show the amount of time

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."

make  -- The Greek word translated as "to do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. When it means It describes a productive action.  In English, "do" is also frequently a helper verb. This Greek word is not used as broadly.

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

abode --  (WW) The Greek word translated as "abode" is usually an adjective that means "alone", "solitary", "made in one piece." However, as a noun, it means "abiding", "tarrying", "permanence", and "stopping place." It is only translated as mansions, rooms, or apartments here in John. The closest other Greek references to this idea of rooms is from the military use as billets or quarters, that is, a longer-term stopping place where soldiers stay separately. This is opposed to staying in a military camp, where everyone stays together.

with -- (WW) The Greek preposition translated as "from" has many meanings, many of which depend on the case of its object. With the dative, the sense is static, "by the side of," "near," and "before."

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

EACH WORD of NIV : 

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."

Anyone --The Greek word translated as "anyone" in the singular means "anyone," "someone,"  "something," and "anything." The same forms are used both for the masculine or feminine so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone," "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."

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

missing "should" or "might"-- (MW) A helping verb is necessary because the following verb is a verb of possibility, a subjunctive, something that "should" or "might" occur. The helping verb is not needed in a clause beginning with an "if" or a "when" but that conjunction was eliminated.

loves -- The word translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," and "to be contented with." Jesus however, applies it to relationships where we have a duty to care for others: family, God, etc. Another word, also translated as "love," is used to for relationships of affectionate friendship that are more voluntary. To distinguish this word, translating it as "cares for" seems to work best. See this article on love for more information.

me, -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

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.

obey - (CW) The word translated as "obey" means "to watch over," "to guard," "to take care of," "to give heed to," "to keep," "to test by observation or trial," and "to observe." Jesus uses this word seventeen times, almost always with the idea of "keeping" in one commandment or another. "Keep" works best because it combines the idea of "guarding" and "observing," but the idea of "take care of" works even better with the "love" verb that means "cares for."  This word doesn't really mean "obey."

my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine."

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.

teaching: -- (CW) "Teaching" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation," or "reasoning," but it has many, many specific meanings from "deliberation" to "narrative."  It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it commonly as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. However, when applied to people, it means "repute" or "reputation." More about this word in this article. In English, we would say "idea" to describe it but it also means the communication of various types, so "message" often works better.

missing "and"  -- (MW) The untranslated word"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."

My -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine."

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.

Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

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.

love -- The word translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," and "to be contented with." Jesus however, applies it to relationships where we have a duty to care for others: family, God, etc. Another word, also translated as "love," is used to for relationships of affectionate friendship that are more voluntary. To distinguish this word, translating it as "cares for" seems to work best. See this article on love for more information.

them, -- (WN) The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun is singular, not plural.

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."

we -- This is from the first-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.

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.

to -- The word translated as "to" means "towards," "by reason of (for)," "before" both in time and place, "in the presence of," "against," and several other types of "before."

them , -- (WN) The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.  An accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement. Events may show the amount of time

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."

make  -- The Greek word translated as "to do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. When it means It describes a productive action.  In English, "do" is also frequently a helper verb. This Greek word is not used as broadly.

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

home --  (WW) The Greek word translated as "abode" is usually an adjective that means "alone", "solitary", "made in one piece." However, as a noun, it means "abiding", "tarrying", "permanence", and "stopping place." It is only translated as mansions, rooms, or apartments here in John. The closest other Greek references to this idea of rooms is from the military use as billets or quarters, that is, a longer-term stopping place where soldiers stay separately. This is opposed to staying in a military camp, where everyone stays together.

with -- (WW) The Greek preposition translated as "from" has many meanings, many of which depend on the case of its object. With the dative, the sense is static, "by the side of," "near," and "before."

them. -- (WN) The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. 

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

Ἐάν  [162 verses](conj) "If" is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (might), 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."

τις [252 verses](pron sg masc/fem nom) "Man" is tis, which can mean "someone," "something," "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." It has specific meanings with certain prepositions, \διὰ τί; for what reason? ἐκ τίνος; from what cause? ἐς τί; to what point?  to what end?

ἀγαπᾷ [32 verses](verb 3rd sg pres subj act) "Love" is agapao, which means "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," "to caress," "to prize," "to desire," "to be pleased with," and "to be contended with."  This love is more associated with affection in relationships where we are obligated. Jesus uses another word. Jesus uses another word, phileô, which means "to love," "to like," "to be fond of doing," and "to show affection" to express "love" in the sense of like and dislike.He never uses the word eros, which describes romantic, sexual love.

με [49 verses](pron 1st sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which is the objective first-person, objective, singular pronoun that means  "me."

τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

λόγον [80 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Word" is logos, which means "word," "computation," "relation," "explanation," "law," "rule of conduct," "continuous statement," "tradition," "discussion," "reckoning," "reputation" (when applied to people), and "value."

μου [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "Me" is from mou (emou), which means "me," and "mine." As a genitive object means movement away from something or a position away from something else.

τηρήσει, [17 verses](verb 3rd sg fut ind act) "Keep" is tereo, which means "to watch over," "to guard," "to take care of," "to give heed to," "to keep," "to test by observation or trial," and "to observe." 

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."

[821 verses](article sg masc nom)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  -

πατὴρ [191 verses](noun sg masc nom) "The Father" is pater, which means "father," "grandfather," "author," "parent," and "forefathers."

μου [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "Me" is from mou (emou), which means "me," and "mine." As a genitive object means movement away from something or a position away from something else.

ἀγαπήσει [32 verses](verb 3rd sg fut ind act) "Will love" is agapao, which means "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," "to caress," "to prize," "to desire," "to be pleased with," and "to be contended with."  This love is more associated with affection in relationships where we are obligated. Jesus uses another word. Jesus uses another word, phileô, which means "to love," "to like," "to be fond of doing," and "to show affection" to express "love" in the sense of like and dislike.He never uses the word eros, which describes romantic, sexual love.

αὐτόν, [720 verses](adj sg masc acc) "Him" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." In the plural, "they," "them," and "their." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it  means "just here" or "exactly there."

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." -- 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."

πρὸς [92 verses](prep)  "Unto" is from pros, which means "from (place)," "on the side of," "toward," "before," "in the presence of," "in the eyes of," "before (supplication, a judge, a witness)," "near" a time, "for" the moment, "proceeding from (for effects)," "dependent on," "derivable from," "agreeable," "in comparison with," "becoming," "like," "at the point of," "in addition to," "against," and "before."  It also means "dependent upon."

αὐτὸν [720 verses](adj sg masc acc) "Him" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." In the plural, "they," "them," and "their." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it  means "just here" or "exactly there."

ἐλευσόμεθα [198 verses](verb 1st pl fut ind mid) "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.

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."

μονὴν [2 verses](noun pl fem nom or  adj sg fem acc) "abode" is from mone, which means (as an adjective) and (as a noun) "abiding", "tarrying", "permanence", "stopping place", "quarters", "billets." 

παρ᾽ [45 verses](prep) "With" is para, has many meanings, which depend on the case of its object and the sense of the verb. With the dative, the sense is always static, "by the side of," "near," "in the presence of," and "before."

αὐτῷ [720 verses](adj sg masc dat) "Him" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." In the plural, "they," "them," and "their." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it  means "just here" or "exactly there."

ποιησόμεθα. [168 verses](verb 1st pl fut ind mid) "Make" is poieo, which means "to make," "to produce," "to create," "to bring into existence," "to bring about," "to cause," "to perform," "to render," "to consider," "to prepare," "to make ready," and "to do." The accusative object is what is made. Double accusative is to do something to someone. When it has a genitive object, it means "made from." When it doesn't have an object, the verb is translated as  "perform" or simply "do." When used with an accusative infinitive, it means to "cause" or "bring about." A dative object means "made with." 

Wordplay: 

The idea of "love" as "care for" plays against the idea of "keep" as "take care of." When anyone cares for me, he will take care of my words.

Related Verses: 

Front Page Date: 

Oct 10 2022