John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you

Spoken to
Apostles

After the Last Supper, after Jesus says the assistant will accuse the world of making mistakes of justice and judgment.

KJV

John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now.

NIV

John 16:12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.

 

LISTENERS HEARD

Still, I have more things to tell you, other things you do not have the power to bear just now.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The word "can" is based on the Greek word for "power." While the word "can" is a "helper" verb in English, this word refers directly to power (it is the source of our words "dynamic," "dynamo," and "dynamite") and Jesus uses it specifically to discuss that nature of power, that is, our capabilities and those we lack. The KJV translated a word meaning "other things" as but, which the NIV ignores the word entirely. The "other" could also mean "different," "unreal," and even "bad" things. It is a very suggestive word, fitting with something we cannot bear.

 

MY TAKE

We do not have the power to understand everything right now.

GREEK ORDER

Still, more things I have to you to say, other things, other things you don't have the power to bear right now.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "yet" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" is not the common word usually translated as "but."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "bear" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to infinitive."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "now" is not the common word usually translated as "now."
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
8
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "still" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "more" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "other things" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "more than" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "not" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "now" is not the common word usually translated as "now."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "bear" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to infinitive."
EACH WORD of KJV

I -- This is from the first-person, singular 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.

yet . -- (CW) Yet" is an adverb that means "yet" (with future) and "still" (w/present), "already",  "longer", "no longer" (with a negative), "still" and "besides".

many -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size.

things  - There is no word, "things," in the Greek source, but this word comes from the neuter, plural form of the previous adjective.

to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.

say  -- The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say," "to tell," and "to speak,"  but when used with an objective noun or pronoun, the sense is "say of" or "speak of."  When two accusative objects are used, the sense is  "say of him this," or "call him this." The form Jesus uses to describe his own speaking can be either indicative, "I say/tell" or subjunctive, "I should/could say/tell."  It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself."

unto -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.

you,  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc.

but --  (CW)  The word translated as "but" means "another," "one besides," "of another sort," "different," "other than what is true," "as well," "besides," with numerals: "yet," "still," "further."  In this form it is "other things."  (see "them" below). It could also be the conjunction 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 usually uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this," with a positive one, "instead this." However, the "other things" translation works better here because the first clause is not negative.

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

can- -- (CW) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. --

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 a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. 

bear - (WF) "Which have born" is from a verb that means to "lift up" "raise," "endure," and "bear." Jesus only uses it six times, always in the sense of taking up a heavy responsibility.This is not an active verb, but an infinite.

them -- This English objective pronoun is added and not in the Greek source.   In Greek, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence. However, The word translated as "but" means "another," "one besides," "of another sort," "different," "other than what is true," "as well," "besides," with numerals: "yet," "still," "further."  Here the sense could be "other things."

now. -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "now" means "just" or "exactly and "now" in the sense of "just now" when applied to time. It is not the common adverb usually translated as "now" but one that means "just now" or "as yet" implying a change in the future. In English, we say "right now."

EACH WORD of NIV

missing "still"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  The word means "yet" (with future) and "still" (w/present), "already",  "longer", "no longer" (with a negative), "still" and "besides".

I -- This is from the first-person, singular 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.

much -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size.

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

to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.

say  -- The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say," "to tell," and "to speak,"  but when used with an objective noun or pronoun, the sense is "say of" or "speak of."  When two accusative objects are used, the sense is  "say of him this," or "call him this." The form Jesus uses to describe his own speaking can be either indicative, "I say/tell" or subjunctive, "I should/could say/tell."  It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself."

to -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.

you,  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc.

missing "other things"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  means "another," "one besides," "of another sort," "different," "other than what is true," "as well," "besides," with numerals: "yet," "still," "further."  In this form it is "other things." 

more than -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "more then" in the Greek source..

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

can- -- (CW) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. --

missing "not"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "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 a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. 

now. -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "now" means "just" or "exactly and "now" in the sense of "just now" when applied to time. It is not the common adverb usually translated as "now" but one that means "just now" or "as yet" implying a change in the future. In English, we say "right now."

bear - (WF) "Which have born" is from a verb that means to "lift up" "raise," "endure," and "bear." Jesus only uses it six times, always in the sense of taking up a heavy responsibility.This is not an active verb, but an infinite.

 

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

Ἔτι [18 verses](adv) "Yet" is eti, which means "yet" and "still" (with the Present), "already" (with the Past), "yet" and "longer" (with the Future), "no longer" (with a negative), and"still" and "besides" (of degree)

πολλὰ [61 verses](adj pl neut acc) "Many things" is polys, which means "many (in number)," "great (in size or power or worth)," and "large (of space)." As an adverb, it means "far," "very much," "a great way," and "long."

ἔχω [181 verses](1st sg pres ind act) "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. 

ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."

λέγειν, [264 verses] (pres inf act) "To say" is lego, which means "to recount," "to tell over," "to say," "to speak," "to teach," "to mean," "boast of," "tell of," "recite," nominate," and "command." When used with an object is has the sense of "call by name."  It has a secondary meaning "pick out," "choose for oneself," "pick up," "gather," "count," and "recount." A less common word that is spelled the same means "to lay," "to lay asleep" and "to lull asleep." Since this is the most common such word Jesus uses, perhaps translating it consistently as "say" works best. 

ἀλλ᾽ [34 verses](adj pl neut acc) "But" is allos, which means "another," "one besides," "of another sort," "different," "other than what is true," "as well," "besides," with numerals: "yet," "still," "further," "of other sort," "other than what is," "untrue," "unreal," "other than right," "wrong," "bad," "unworthy," [with an article] "the rest," "all besides," and [in series] "one...another." OR [154 verses](conj) "But" is alla, which means "instead," "otherwise," "but," "still," "at least," "except," "yet," nevertheless," "rather," "moreover," and "nay."

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.

δύνασθε [61 verses](2nd pl pres ind mp) "Can" is the verb, dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities," "to be able," and "to be strong enough."

βαστάζειν [6 verses] (pres inf act) "Bear" is bastazo, which means "to lift up," "to raise," "to bear," "to carry," "to endure," and "to carry off, "produce," "yield," of land." 

ἄρτι [13 verses](adv) "Now" is arti, which means "just," "exactly," and "just now."

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings

Most interestingly, in these closing chapters of John, he uses this word specifically only to discuss the lack of power. Let is look at each occurence of this word either the verb or noun form of this word in this "Last Supper" monologue

John 13:33 John 13:36 In the beginning of this section, Christ has said that the apostles are lacking in the "power" to follow him.

John 14:17 Then Christ says that the world lacks the power to connect with "the spirit of truth."

John 15:4 John 15:5 Then Christ says that, without a connection to Christ, we do not have the power to be productive.

In this verse, he tells the apostles that they do not have the power to hold or carry everything that he wants to teach them.

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