Spoken to:
After the Last Supper, Jesus prays for the Apostles. The context is "the son" giving life.
KJV:
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
NIV :
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
LISTENERS HEARD:
But this is the ongoing life: when they might learn to know you, the only trustworthy Divinity and whom you sent out, Joshua Anointed.
MY TAKE:
Learning to know the real Divine takes longer than one lifetime.
GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page):
GREEK ORDER:
LOST IN TRANSLATION:
This verse is the punchline of his earlier talking about himself pompously in the third-person (John 17:2). The actual punchline is his refers to the name "Jesus Christ," which translated it means "Joshua Anointed." This is not only his only reference to his name with the titles but his only reference to his first name anywhere.
The humor continues in the central message of the verse. The word translated as "eternal" means literally, "lasting an age." "Perpetual" might also capture it. The real surprise here is the "that" that followed. Since it refers to time (an age), the sense is more "when." The "know" is in the form of a possibility, something that might happen. So Jesus is saying that "perpetual life" is the amount of time in which we might learn to know the Divine and the one he sent out, this Joshua Anointed fellow. The word translated as "true" means "trustworthy" when applied to people, but genuine when applied to This seems pretty light-hearted.
# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES:
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "however."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "life" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "eternal " does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "true" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "Jesus" means "Joshua." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "Christ" means "Anointed." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "hast" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
-
CW --Confusing Word -- The "send" is not the common word usually translated as "send."
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES:
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "for" should be something more like "however."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "eternal" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "eternal " does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- MW -- Missing Word -- This verb is a subjunctive, which requires a "should" or "might" when outside of a when/if clause.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "true" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "Jesus" means "Joshua." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "Christ" means "Anointed." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "hast" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
-
CW --Confusing Word -- The "send" is not the common word usually translated as "send."
EACH WORD of KJV :
And -- (WW) 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.
this -- "This" is translated from a Greek adjective that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Without a noun, it has the sense of "this one" or "that one." It is in the form of a subject.
is -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. -- When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."
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.
life -- The word translated as "life" means "living" but it also means "substance," "existence," and "property."Jesus uses it to mean the "existence" of physical life, spirit plus body. To learn more read this article on life eternal, For more on how Christ uses this word with other words about human existence (soul, heart, spirit, body, etc.), read this article.
eternal, -- (CW) "Eternal" is an adjective based on the word that means "age" or "eon." It has the sense of "perpetual" or "ageless." It doesn't really mean "eternal or "everlasting" as we used those words today. See this article.
that -- The word translated as "that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" "when," or "because." It is used as an introduction to a command, where it isn't translated. -- The word translated as "there" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," or "when."
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
might -- This helping verb "might" indicates that the verb indicates a possibility, the subjunctive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
know -- "Be known" is a verb that means "to know," "to recognize," "make known," "to know carnally," and "to learn." The idea of "realize" seems to capture most senses of this word better than "know," which is the meaning of "have seen."
thee -- The "thee/you" here is the singular, accusative (objective,) second-person pronoun. It is the object of either the action of the verb or a preposition. As an object of a preposition, it indicates movement or the result of movement.
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.
only -- "Only" is an adjective that means "alone," "solitary," "only," "single," "unique," "made in one piece," "without [someone]," "only [something]," "unique," "one above all others," and "on one condition only."
true - - (CW)"True" is an adjective that means "truthful" and "trustworthy" when applied to a person, "true" and "genuine" when applied to objects and as an adverb "really" and honestly." Since God is the person being addressed, not an object, this should be "trustworthy."
God, -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.
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 can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
Jesus -- (UW) "Jesus" is from the Greek version of "Joshua," which was his name. This is an untranslated Greek word.
Christ, -- (UW) The word translated as "Christ" means "anointed." Our word is basically the English form of the Greek word, not a translation. In the NT, it is understood to mean the Messiah, following the anointing of the kings of Israel. The Jews of Jesus's era thought they understood who the Messiah was and the source of his authority. He was a descendant of David, and his authority came from David as "the anointed" king of the Jews. This is an untranslated Greek word.
whom- The word translated as "whom" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.
thou -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
hast -- (WT) This helping verb "has" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
sent. -- (CW) The "sent" here is a word that means "to send off" and "dispatch." It is the source of our word "apostle." This is not the common word that Jesus uses to refer to God "sending" him, but the word Jesus uses to refer to his sending out the apostles.
EACH WORD of NIV :
Now -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "now" 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.
this -- "This" is translated from a Greek adjective that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Without a noun, it has the sense of "this one" or "that one." It is in the form of a subject.
is -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. -- When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."
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.
eternal, -- (CW) "Eternal" is an adjective based on the word that means "age" or "eon." It has the sense of "perpetual" or "ageless." It doesn't really mean "eternal or "everlasting" as we used those words today. See this article.
life -- The word translated as "life" means "living" but it also means "substance," "existence," and "property."Jesus uses it to mean the "existence" of physical life, spirit plus body. To learn more read this article on life eternal, For more on how Christ uses this word with other words about human existence (soul, heart, spirit, body, etc.), read this article.
that -- The word translated as "that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" "when," or "because." It is used as an introduction to a command, where it isn't translated. -- The word translated as "there" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," or "when."
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
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."
know -- "Be known" is a verb that means "to know," "to recognize," "make known," "to know carnally," and "to learn." The idea of "realize" seems to capture most senses of this word better than "know," which is the meaning of "have seen."
you-- The "thee/you" here is the singular, accusative (objective,) second-person pronoun. It is the object of either the action of the verb or a preposition. As an object of a preposition, it indicates movement or the result of movement.
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.
only -- "Only" is an adjective that means "alone," "solitary," "only," "single," "unique," "made in one piece," "without [someone]," "only [something]," "unique," "one above all others," and "on one condition only."
true - - (CW)"True" is an adjective that means "truthful" and "trustworthy" when applied to a person, "true" and "genuine" when applied to objects and as an adverb "really" and honestly." Since God is the person being addressed, not an object, this should be "trustworthy."
God, -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.
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 can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
Jesus -- (UW) "Jesus" is from the Greek version of "Joshua," which was his name. This is an untranslated Greek word.
Christ, -- (UW) The word translated as "Christ" means "anointed." Our word is basically the English form of the Greek word, not a translation. In the NT, it is understood to mean the Messiah, following the anointing of the kings of Israel. The Jews of Jesus's era thought they understood who the Messiah was and the source of his authority. He was a descendant of David, and his authority came from David as "the anointed" king of the Jews. This is an untranslated Greek word.
whom- The word translated as "whom" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.
you -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
have -- (WT) This helping verb "have " indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
sent. -- (CW) The "sent" here is a word that means "to send off" and "dispatch." It is the source of our word "apostle." This is not the common word that Jesus uses to refer to God "sending" him, but the word Jesus uses to refer to his sending out the apostles.
COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV :
αὕτη [83 verses](adj sg fem nom) "This" is houtos, which as an adjective means "this," "that," "the nearer."
δέ [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"). In an "if" (εἰ ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then." In a series begun by men, its means "on the other hand." In a series begun by men, its means "on the other hand."
ἐστίν.[614 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "Is" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen," and "is possible." With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." It can also mean "must" with a dative.
ἡ [821 verses](article sg fem nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). -
αἰώνιος [23 verses](adj sg fem nom) "Eternal" is aionios, which means "lasting for an age," "perpetual," and "eternal." From "aion" which is used in the bible to mean an "age."
ζωὴ [42 verses] (noun sg fem nom) "Life" is zoe, which means "living," "substance," "property," "existence," and, incidentally, "the scum on milk." It has the sense of how we say "make a living" to mean property. Homer used it more to mean the opposite of death.
ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place," "there," "where," "when," but when beginning a phrase "so that," "in order that," "when," and "because."
γινώσκωσι [62 verses] (verb 3rd pl pres subj act) "They might know," is ginosko which means "to learn to know," "to know by reflection or observation," and "to perceive."
σε: [48 verses](pron 2nd sg acc) "You" is from se the objective form of the second-person, singular pronoun. --
τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
μόνον [18 verses](adj pl masc acc) "Only" is monos, which means "alone," "solitary," "only," "single," "unique," "made in one piece," "without [someone]," "only [something]," "unique," "one above all others," and "on one condition only."
ἀληθινὸν [8 verses](adj sg masc acc) "True" is from alethinos, which is an adjective that means "truthful" and "trustworthy" when applied to a person, "true" and "genuine" when applied to objects and as an adverb "really" and "honestly."
θεὸν [144 verses](noun sg masc acc) "God" is theos, which means "God," "divine," and "Deity."
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."
ὃν [294 verses](pron sg masc acc) "That" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings. -
ἀπέστειλας [60 verses](verb 2nd sg aor ind act) "Thou hast sent"is apostello, which means "to send off," "to send away," or "to dispatch."
Ἰησοῦν- [1 verse](noun sg masc acc) "Jesus" is iesous, which is the Greek version of the Hebrew name, "Joshua."
Χριστόν. [15 verses](noun sg masc gen) "Christ" is christos, which means "to be rubbed with salve," "used as an ointment," and, of persons, "anointed."