John 6:36 But I said unto you,

Spoken to: 

audience

A crowd comes to Jesus in Capernaum after eating of the loaves. The crowd asks for a sign like manna in the desert. Jesus described himself as the bread of the Divine.

KJV: 

John 6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

NIV : 

John 6:36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Indeed, I tell you that not only have you watched [me] but also you do not trust.

MY TAKE: 

Watching and coming to Jesus is easier than trusting his words.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

The word used for seeing is not the common form "see" used (John 6:26) where Jesus said they not seek him because they saw "signs." That word also means to "know." This "see" word is more a form of observation, one completed in the past. While the people there had seen him and had come to him, did they trust him?  This is a  reference John 6:35, where Jesus says that he is "the bread of life" where Jesus says that those coming to him, as these people did,  might never hunger and that those believing in him, which these people don't, might not thirst at any time.

Notice that future verses speak to those who come to him, not saying anything about believing. However, what he asks them to trust in, eating his flesh and drinking his blood, becomes harder over the next several verses.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

1
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "seen" is not the common word usually translated as "seen."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "as" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "also" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "seen" is not the common word usually translated as "seen."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "still" doesn't exist in the source.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

But --  The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is 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 often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, not doing something, with a positive one, "instead do this."

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

said   - The word translated as "said" means "to say" and "to speak." It is one of the two most common words translated "speak," "say" and "tell," but it has more a sense of addressing and proclaiming. The tense isn't a part tense, but one where something happens at a point in time, past, present, and future.

unto -- This word "unto" 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 "you" here is from the plural, dative, second-person pronoun.

That -- The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

ye-- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.

also -- The Greek word translated as "also" 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."

have -- This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.

seen -- (CW) "See" is from a Greek verb, which means "to see with the eyes," "to look," and "to observe." It is a metaphor for mental seeing, that is, perceiving. However, it is one of the many words that Christ uses to mean "see," but it is not one of the most common ones. Jesus often uses this word often to mean "watch out" or "look out" as a warning.

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

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."

believe -- The Greek word translated as "believe" does not apply to religious belief as much as it does trusting in other people, especially their word. Christ usually uses it in contexts, as the one here, that apply to trusting words. The negation of "belief" with the objective, instead of subjective, negative, equates trust with a fact. This is the present tense.

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.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

But --  The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is 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 often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, not doing something, with a positive one, "instead do this."

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

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

said   - The word translated as "said" means "to say" and "to speak." It is one of the two most common words translated "speak," "say" and "tell," but it has more a sense of addressing and proclaiming. The tense isn't a part tense, but one where something happens at a point in time, past, present, and future.

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 "you" here is from the plural, dative, second-person pronoun.

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

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

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

have -- This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.

seen -- (CW) "See" is from a Greek verb, which means "to see with the eyes," "to look," and "to observe." It is a metaphor for mental seeing, that is, perceiving. However, it is one of the many words that Christ uses to mean "see," but it is not one of the most common ones. Jesus often uses this word often to mean "watch out" or "look out" as a warning.

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

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."

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

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

do -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek

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.

believe -- The Greek word translated as "believe" does not apply to religious belief as much as it does trusting in other people, especially their word. Christ usually uses it in contexts, as the one here, that apply to trusting words. The negation of "belief" with the objective, instead of subjective, negative, equates trust with a fact. This is the present tense.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

ἀλλ [154 verses](conj) "But" is alla, which means "otherwise," "but," "still," "at least," "except," "yet," nevertheless," "rather," "moreover," and "nay."

εἶπον [162 verses] (1st sg aor ind act) "I said" is eipon, which means "to speak," "to say," "to recite," "to address," "to mention," "to name," "to proclaim," "to plead," "to promise," and "to offer."

ὑμῖν. [299 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is hymin (humin), which is the 2nd person plural dative pronoun. Dative is the case which indicates to whom something is given.

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."

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."

ἑωράκατέ [20 verses](2nd pl perf ind act) "Ye...have seen" is from horao, which means "to see with the eyes," "to look," "to observe," "see," "aim," "have sight," "behold," "keep in sight," and as a metaphor of mental sight, "discern," and "perceive."

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

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."

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.

πιστεύετε [69 verses](2nd pl pres ind act) "Believe" is pisteuo, which means "to trust, put faith in, or rely on a person," "to believe in someone's words," "to comply," "to feel confident in a thing," and "to entrust in a thing."

Related Verses: 

Front Page Date: 

Mar 26 2022