In answering his challengers, Jesus gives the credit for his words to his father.
John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
John 8:29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
Also, the one sending me exists with me. He did not leave me alone because those things satisfactory to him? I do always.
The first phrase emphasizes the "I exist" idea of the previous verse saying, "The one sending me exists with me." That connection is lost if we translated the previous verse with disconnected forms of "to be," "am" and "is." While the Greek "to be" is irregular, the connections is clearer among its different forms that the English "is," "am," "are," etc.
Jesus continued to be humble here. The word translated as "pleasing" is not high praise. The sense is more "acceptable" and "satisfactory." When applied to amounts, the sense is "sufficient." Like getting a grade of "satisfactory" in school, it is passing but not exceptional. It is a plural adjective with an article so the sense is "the things satisfactory to him." Jesus only uses this word here.
If God gives me a "satisfactory" grade, I'll take it.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "he" is not the common word usually translated as "he."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "the father" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "hath" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- MW -- Missing Word -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "please" is not an active verb but a adjective, "pleasing."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "who" doesn't exist in the source.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "has" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- MW -- Missing Word -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "what" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "pleases" is not an active verb but an adjective, "pleasing."
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."
he -- (CW) The word translated as "he" 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.
sent -- "Sent" is from a Greek verb that means "send," "send forth," "send away," "conduct," and "escort." This is the second most common word Jesus uses that is translated as "send out," but this one doesn't have the prefix that has the sense of "out."
me -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.
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."
with -- "With" is the Greek word that usually means "with" or a related concept such as "among" or "by the means of." It also refers to "after" or "behind" when referring to a place, time, or pursuit.
me: -- "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun.As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means movement away from something or a position away from something else.
the Father -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "the father" in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.
hath -- (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 her
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.
left -- The word translated as "forgive" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away." This same word is usually translated as "leave," "forgive," "suffer," and "let" in the New Testament. See this article for more. It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop.
me -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.
alone; -- "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."
for -- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."
I -- The pronoun "I" is used here. Since, as the subject of the sentence, it is part of the verb, its explicit use accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.
missing "myself" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
do -- The Greek word translated as "to do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action. It is not as broad a word as the English "do," which covers all actions, productive or not.
always -- The word translated as "always" means "at all times" but what makes it interesting is that Christ seldom uses this word but it occurs twice in this verse. Most people uses the terms "always" whenever they discuss something that it done frequently. Christ never makes this mistake. He also uses the word for "never" (in the sense of "at not time") just as rarely.
those -- The word translated as "these things" 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.
things - There is no word, "things," in the Greek source, but this word comes from the neuter, plural form of the previous article.
that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source. It was added because the next adjective is translated as a verb.
please - (WF) "Please" is from an adjective that Jesus only uses here, which means "acceptable," "pleasing," "sufficient" of amount," and "satisfactory." It is not high praised. This is an adjective, not a verb.
him. -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. It is in the form of an indirect object, "to him."
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."
The one -- The word translated as "the one" 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.
who -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "who" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.
sent -- "Sent" is from a Greek verb that means "send," "send forth," "send away," "conduct," and "escort." This is the second most common word Jesus uses that is translated as "send out," but this one doesn't have the prefix that has the sense of "out."
me -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.
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."
with -- "With" is the Greek word that usually means "with" or a related concept such as "among" or "by the means of." It also refers to "after" or "behind" when referring to a place, time, or pursuit.
me: -- "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun.As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means movement away from something or a position away from something else.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
has -- (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 her
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.
left -- The word translated as "forgive" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away." This same word is usually translated as "leave," "forgive," "suffer," and "let" in the New Testament. See this article for more. It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop.
me -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.
alone; -- "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."
for -- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."
I -- The pronoun "I" is used here. Since, as the subject of the sentence, it is part of the verb, its explicit use accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.
missing "myself" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
always -- The word translated as "always" means "at all times" but what makes it interesting is that Christ seldom uses this word but it occurs twice in this verse. Most people uses the terms "always" whenever they discuss something that it done frequently. Christ never makes this mistake. He also uses the word for "never" (in the sense of "at not time") just as rarely.
do -- The Greek word translated as "to do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action. It is not as broad a word as the English "do," which covers all actions, productive or not.
what -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "what" in the Greek source. It was added because the next adjective is translated as a verb.
pleases - (WF) "Please" is from an adjective that Jesus only uses here, which means "acceptable," and "pleasing." This is an adjective, not a verb.
him. -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. It is in the form of an indirect object, "to him."
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."
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "He" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
πέμψας [39 verses](part sg aor act masc nom) "That sent" is pempo, which means "send," "send forth," "send away," "conduct," and "escort."
με [49 verses](pron 1st sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which is the objective first-person, objective, singular pronoun that means "me."
μετ᾽ [103 verses](prep) "With" is meta, which means "with," "in the midst of," "among," "between," "in common," "along with," "by the aid of," "in one's dealings with," "into the middle of," "coming into," "in pursuit of," "after," "behind," "according to," "after," "behind," and "next afterward." With genitive, it means generally, "with," "together with," "in the midst of," "among," "between." "in common," "along with," "by the aid of," and "in conjunction with." With dative, "between," "among," "in company with," with a number "complete," and "over and above." With accusative, generally, "among" and "between" as with dative, of motion, "into the middle of," "coming into or among," "in pursuit or quest of," of place, "after," "behind," of time, "after," "next to," of worth/rank, "next after," of ideas, "after," "according to."
ἐμοῦ [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.
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.
οὐκ [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.
ἀφῆκέν [73 verses](3rd sg aor ind act) "Hath...left" is aphiemi, which means "to let fall," "to send away," "give up," "hand over," "to let loose," "to get rid of," "to leave alone," "to pass by," "to permit," and "to send forth from oneself."
με [49 verses](pron 1st sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which is the objective first-person, objective, singular pronoun that means "me."
μόνον, [18 verses](adj sg masc acc) "Alone" 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."
ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "For" 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."
ἐγὼ [162 verses](pron 1st sg masc nom) "I" is ego, which is the first-person singular pronoun meaning "I." It also means "I at least," "for my part," "indeed," and for myself.
τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut nom/acc) "That" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἀρεστὰ [1 verse](adj pl neut nom/acc) "Please" is arestos, which means "acceptable," "pleasing," "sufficient" of quantity, and "satisfactory."
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." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord."
ποιῶ [168 verses] (1st sg pres ind act) "Do"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."
πάντοτε [8 verses](adverb) "Always" is from pantote, which means "always," "at all time," and literally breaks down to "all then." "All" is from pas- that 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." "Then" is from -tote, which means "at that time" and "then."