John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me

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 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

NIV

John 6:37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

LISTENERS HEARD

All that he gives to me, the Father, to me might/will return. And the one coming to me never will I toss out, outside.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

Reading the English translation, we would expect the two verbs translated as "comes" to be the same in both parts of this verse. However, two different Greek verbs are used. The first "come" means "return." The one who the Father has given to Jesus will always return to him. The second "come" means "showing up." More damage is done to this verse in the NIV than in the KJV. The second "comes" is the same as the word used in John 6:35.

This idea of being "cast out outside" is an idea similar to what Jesus describes as being put into a trial or being cast into Gehenna.

MY TAKE

Jesus never throws anyone away if they come to him.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
7
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "cometh" is not the common word usually translated as "come."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "him" is not the common word usually translated as "him " but "the one."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "cometh" is not an active verb but a participle, "coming."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "in" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "no wise" is not the common words usually translated as "no wise" but "never."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "outside" is not shown in the English translation.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
7
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "those" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "come" is not the common word usually translated as "come."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "whoever" is not the common words usually translated as "whoever" but "the one."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "comes" is not an active verb but a participle, "coming."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "in" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "drive" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "outside" is not shown in the English translation.
EACH WORD of KJV

All -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. It is a singular and either a masculine, or neuter object. However only masculine matches the second clause.

that  -- The word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. It is a singular and a masculine object.

the - The word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." 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. 

giveth -- The verb translated as "gives" means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe." It is almost always translated as some form of "give."

me -- The "me" is in the indirect object form on the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me," though the form has other uses in Greek. 

shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

come  -- (CW) The word translated as "come" is a complicated one because it indicates a "coming" that has been completed, that is, "to arrive" or, even, "to be present." As a metaphor, it means "to be a follower." This is not the word translated as "come" below." Jesus seems to use this word more often to mean "return." It is not the word usually translated as "come," which is used below,

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." With verbs of seeing it specifically means "towards."

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")

him -- (CW) The word translated as "him" 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. 

that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.

 

cometh -- (WF) The word translated as "cometh" 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. This is not an active verb but a verbal adjective/noun.

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." With verbs of seeing it specifically means "towards."

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

I  - -- This is from the first-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.

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

no wise -- (CW) The "no  wise" here is both of the Greek negatives used together. Greek has two negatives, one objective, one subjective. The use of both together is more extreme, like saying, "never" or literally, "you cannot really think." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

cast -- "Cast out" is a verb that means "throw out." Depending on the context, it can mean "toss out," "turn out," or "take out." It is usually translated as "cast out" in the NT.

out. -- This is from the prefix of the previous verb that means "out of."

missing "outside"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is a second "out" means "out of a place" and "outside."

EACH WORD of NIV

All -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. It is a singular and either a masculine, or neuter object. However only masculine matches the second clause.

those -- (WN)  The word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. It is a singular and a masculine object. It is not plural.

the - The word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." 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. 

gives-- The verb translated as "gives" means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe." It is almost always translated as some form of "give."

me -- The "me" is in the indirect object form on the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me," though the form has other uses in Greek.

will -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

come  -- (CW) The word translated as "come" is a complicated one because it indicates a "coming" that has been completed, that is, "to arrive" or, even, "to be present." As a metaphor, it means "to be a follower." This is not the word translated as "come" below." Jesus seems to use this word more often to mean "return." It is not the word usually translated as "come," which is used below,

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." With verbs of seeing it specifically means "towards."

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")

whoever-- (CW) The word translated as "whoever" 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.

comes -- (WF) The word translated as "comes" 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. This is not an active verb but a verbal adjective/noun.

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." With verbs of seeing it specifically means "towards."

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

I  - -- This is from the first-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.

never -- (CW) The "no  wise" here is both of the Greek negatives used together. Greek has two negatives, one objective, one subjective. The use of both together is more extreme, like saying, "never" or literally, "you cannot really think." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

drive -- (CW) "Drive" is a verb that means "throw out." Depending on the context, it can mean "toss out," "turn out," or "take out." It is usually translated as "cast out" in the NT.

away. -- This is from the prefix of the previous verb that means "out of."

missing "outside"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is a second "out" means "out of a place" and "outside."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

Πᾶν [212 verses] (adj sg neut acc or adj sg masc acc) "All"is pas, which 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."

[821 verses](pron sg neut acc or article sg masc nom) "That"" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("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. 

δίδωσίν [147 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "Giveth" is didomi, which means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe."

μοί, [96 verses](pron 1st sg masc/fem dat) "Me" is moi (emoi) , which means "I," "me," and "my." -- The "me" is in the indirect object form on the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me," though the form has other uses in Greek.

 [821 verses](article sg masc nom)  "The" 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."

πρὸς  [92 verses](prep)  "To" is from pros, which means "from (place)," "on the side of," "toward," "before," "in the presence of," "in the eyes of," "before (supplication)," "proceeding from (for effects)," "dependent on," "derivable from," "agreeable,""becoming," "like," "at the point of," "in addition to," "against," and "before."

ἐμὲ [49 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which means "I," "me," and "my."

ἥξει [11 verses][10 verses](3rd sg fut ind act or 3rd sg aor subj act ) "Shall come" is heko, which means "to have come," "to be present," "to have reached a point," "to have come back," and "to return."

καὶ [1089 verses](prep) "And" is from 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."

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

ἐρχόμενον [198 verses](part sg pres mp masc acc) "cometh" 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.

πρός [92 verses](prep)  "To" is from pros, which means "from (place)," "on the side of," "toward," "before," "in the presence of," "in the eyes of," "before (supplication)," "proceeding from (for effects)," "dependent on," "derivable from," "agreeable,""becoming," "like," "at the point of," "in addition to," "against," and "before."

με [49 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which means "I," "me," and "my."

οὐ μὴ [39 verses](partic)"No wise" is ou me, the two forms of Greek negative used together. Ou is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. Mê (me) is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." As οὐ (ou) negates fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective.

ἐκβάλω [33 verses](1st sg fut ind act) "I will...cast" is ekballo and means "throw out," "cast out of a place,"and "expose." Ek means "out of," "from," and "away from." Ballo is "to throw" or "to scatter."

ἔξω, [21 verses](adv) "Out" is exo, which means "out of a place," "outside," "external things," and "beyond a time."

Wordplay

The verb with the prefix meaning "out" comes before the adverb meaning "out."

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