John 8:35 And the servant abideth not

Spoken to
audience

Jesus tells his followers that what is truly real will make them free, and they respond that they not have been slaves to anyone. He tells them that this is the mistake that makes them slaves.

KJV

John 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

NIV

John 8:35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.

LISTENERS HEARD

The slave, however, doesn't remain in the household until this lifetime. The son remains until this lifetime.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

Today we wonder why the slave didn't remain in the household "for a lifetime," the meaning of the phrase mistranslated as "for ever." Most slaves in Judea were bond slaves, created by debt. According to Moses's law, they were free either during the Sabbatical years (every seventh year) and Jubilees (every seven Sabbaticals), so it wasn't lifetime slavery. The exact rules during Jesus's era are unclear, but giving someone their freedom was the equivalent of canceling their debt. This series of verses only make sense if we understand the connection between (John 8:34) mistakes and creating debt and (John 8:36) freedom and canceling debts. To understand the next verse, we must see the son as permanent and the slave as temporary.

MY TAKE

Slavery isn't a life sentence, but family is.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
6
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "however."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "for" should be something more like "up to."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "age" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "but" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "up to" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "age" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "now" should be something more like "however."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "a" should be something more like "the."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "for" should be something more like "up to."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "age" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "but" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "up to" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "age" is not shown in the English translation.
EACH WORD of KJV

And -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "and" 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.  It can also be an explanation of cause ("so").

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.

servant -- The noun translated as "servant" means "slave." It is translated as "servant" to update the Bible.

abideth-- The word translated as "abide" has more of a sense of to "stay" or "remain," not necessarily dwelling in a place, though the KJV often treats it that way.

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.

in -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "during" (time),  or "among"  with a dative object as the one here.  With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."

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.

house -- The Greek word translated as "house," refers to the building itself, all the people that dwell in it, including slaves and servants, all property owned by that family, and all the descendants of the continued line. We might say "estate" in English to capture this idea.

for -- (WW) The word translated as "for" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure.

missing "the"  -- (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," "those"). See this article for more. 

ever: -- (WW) "Ever" is from aiôn, which means "lifetime," "life," "a space of time," "an age," an epoch," and "the present world." See this article on words translated as "world" in Jesus's words.

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

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.

Son -- The word translated as "son" more generally means "child."

abideth-- The word translated as "abide" has more of a sense of to "stay" or "remain," not necessarily dwelling in a place, though the KJV often treats it that way.

missing "up to"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure.

missing "the"  -- (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," "those"). See this article for more. 

ever: -- (WW) "Ever" is from aiôn, which means "lifetime," "life," "a space of time," "an age," an epoch," and "the present world." See this article on words translated as "world" in Jesus's words.

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.  It can also be an explanation of cause ("so").

a -- (WW) The word translated as "a" 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.

slave -- The noun translated as "servant" means "slave." It is translated as "servant" to update the Bible.

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

no -- The Greek word translated as "no" 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.

permanent place -- (CW,WF)  The word translated as "permament place" is not a noun but a verb meaning to "stay" or "remain.  It does not mean "permanent."

in -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "during" (time),  or "among"  with a dative object as the one here.  With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."

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.

a slave in the , but a son belongs to it forever.

family-- (CW) The Greek word translated as "family," refers to the building itself, all the people that dwell in it, including slaves and servants, all property owned by that family, and all the descendants of the continued line. It is usually translated as "house," but "household works as well. I

for -- (WW) The word translated as "for" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure.

missing "the"  -- (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," "those"). See this article for more. 

ever: -- (WW) "Ever" is from aiôn, which means "lifetime," "life," "a space of time," "an age," an epoch," and "the present world." See this article on words translated as "world" in Jesus's words.

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

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.

Son -- The word translated as "son" more generally means "child."

abideth-- The word translated as "abide" has more of a sense of to "stay" or "remain," not necessarily dwelling in a place, though the KJV often treats it that way.

missing "up to"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure.

missing "the"  -- (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," "those"). See this article for more. 

ever: -- (WW) "Ever" is from aiôn, which means "lifetime," "life," "a space of time," "an age," an epoch," and "the present world." See this article on words translated as "world" in Jesus's words.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

 [821 verses](article sg masc nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

δὲ [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 cause ("so").

δοῦλος [56 verses](noun sg masc nom) "The servant" is doulos, which means a "slave," a "born bondsman," or "one made a slave."

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.

μένει [27 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "Abideth" is meno, which, as a verb, it means "stand fast" (in battle), "stay at home," "stay," "tarry," "remain as one was," "abide," and (transitive) "await."

ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with a dative object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during,"  and "with." With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during." 

τῇ  [821 verses](article sg fem dat)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

οἰκίᾳ [40 times](noun sg fem dat) "House" is oikia, which means "house," "building," and "household."

εἰς [325 verses](prep) "For" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)," "until (of time)," "as much as (of measure or limit)," "as far as (of measure or limit)," "towards (to express relation)," "in regard to (to express relation)," "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."

τὸν [821 verses](article sg mac acc)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  -

αἰῶνα:[41 verses](noun sg masc acc ) "Ever" is aion, which means "life," "lifetime," "age," or "generation."

[821 verses] (article sg masc nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

υἱὸς [157 verses](noun sg masc nom) "The Son" is from huios, which means a "son," and more generally, a "child."

μένει [27 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "Abideth" is meno, which, as a verb, it means "stand fast" (in battle), "stay at home," "stay," "tarry," "remain as one was," "abide," and (transitive) "await." -- The word translated as "abide" has more of a sense of to "stay" or "remain," not necessarily dwelling in a place, though the KJV often treats it that way.

εἰς [325 verses](prep) "For" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)," "until (of time)," "as much as (of measure or limit)," "as far as (of measure or limit)," "towards (to express relation)," "in regard to (to express relation)," "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."

τὸν [821 verses](article sg mac acc)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  -

αἰῶνα:[41 verses](noun sg masc acc ) "Ever" is aion, which means "life," "lifetime," "age," or "generation." --

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