John 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me,

Spoken to: 

challengers

Jesus tells his audience that, despite being Abraham's seed, they still need to do what the father has told them to do and what Abraham did.

KJV: 

John 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

NIV : 

John 8:40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Now, however, you seek to destroy me, a man, [but] the truth I have passed on to you, that I have heard from the Divine. This Abraham did not do.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

There is a grammatical issue in this verse. The verb translated as "told" (actually meaning "to pass on") is the first-person form, "I have passed on the truth to you." But the clause is introduced by a demonstrative pronoun, translated as "that" and "who." This pronoun matches the form of the following subject, "I," not its antecedent, "a man." The "a man" is the object of "to kill" not the subject of the next sentence. In English, we have to use the "that" or "who" with a third-person verb. It is best to think of this connective "that" as a conjunction, "but," to preserve the sense of the following phrases.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

5
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "told" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "told" is not a third-person from but a first-person one, "I have told."

  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" 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 "of" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

6
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "as it is" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "a way" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "told" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "told" is not a third-person from but a first-person one, "I have told."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "such things" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

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

now -- The Greek word translated as "now" means "now," "at the present moment,""presently," and "as it is."

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

seek -- The Greek verb translated as "seek" has a variety of meanings around the idea of "searching" and "desiring." It has a sense of seeking with a specific aim. 

to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.

kill -- "To kill" is translated from a Greek word that means "destroy" more than just "kill" because the base word means "slay." The Greek source has the sense of "kill off," that is, destroy in a more thorough way. When we talk about "destroying" someone, we use it to mean destroying their reputation, the strength of their spirit and ideas as well as physically killing them. This is more the sense here.

me, -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

man  -- The Greek word for "man" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples." 

that -- The word translated as "who" 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.

missin

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

told -- (CW, WF) The Greek word translated as "told" is not the ordinary "to tell" or "to say" in Greek. This word means both "idle chatter," "gossip," and "the proclamations of an oracle." Jesus uses it to capture the idea of "pass on" or "relay" information because that captures both someone gossiping and an oracle does. The word is somewhat self-effacing. This is a first-person form, not a third-person one, so "I have passed on."

you -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. 

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. 

truth,   -- The literal meaning of the Greek word for "truth" is "not hidden," and it means what is real as opposed to how things seem. Applied to people, it means "truthfulness" and "sincerity." The opposite of a lie or appearance.

which -- The word translated as "which" 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.

I -- This is from the first-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.

heard -- "Heard" is from a Greek verb that means "to hear" and "to listen." It has the same sense as the English not only of listening but of understanding.  It is the most common verb that Christ uses meaning "to hear." It also means "to listen" and "to understand," but amusingly, it also means "to be silent."

of -- (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "of" has many meanings, many of which depend on the case of its object. With the genitive, the sense is motion, "from the side of," "from beside," and generally "from."

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.

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.

this -- The word translated as "this" means "from here" "from there" or "this/that thing/person here/there."

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

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.

Abraham. -- This is from the Greek spelling of "Abraham."

EACH WORD of NIV : 

As it is -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "as it is" 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").

now -- The Greek word translated as "now" means "now," "at the present moment,""presently," and "as it is."

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

are -- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb.

looking for -- The Greek verb translated as "seek" has a variety of meanings around the idea of "searching" and "desiring." It has a sense of seeking with a specific aim. 

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

to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.

kill -- "To kill" is translated from a Greek word that means "destroy" more than just "kill" because the base word means "slay." The Greek source has the sense of "kill off," that is, destroy in a more thorough way. When we talk about "destroying" someone, we use it to mean destroying their reputation, the strength of their spirit and ideas as well as physically killing them. This is more the sense here.

me, -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

man  -- The Greek word for "man" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples."

who -- The word translated as "who" 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.

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

told -- (CW, WF) The Greek word translated as "told" is not the ordinary "to tell" or "to say" in Greek. This word means both "idle chatter," "gossip," and "the proclamations of an oracle." Jesus uses it to capture the idea of "pass on" or "relay" information because that captures both someone gossiping and an oracle does. The word is somewhat self-effacing. This is a first-person form, not a third-person one, so "I have passed on."

you -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. 

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. 

truth,   -- The literal meaning of the Greek word for "truth" is "not hidden," and it means what is real as opposed to how things seem. Applied to people, it means "truthfulness" and "sincerity." The opposite of a lie or appearance.

that -- The word translated as "that " 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.

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

heard -- "Heard" is from a Greek verb that means "to hear" and "to listen." It has the same sense as the English not only of listening but of understanding.  It is the most common verb that Christ uses meaning "to hear." It also means "to listen" and "to understand," but amusingly, it also means "to be silent."

from --  The Greek preposition translated as "from" has many meanings, many of which depend on the case of its object. With the genitive, the sense is motion, "from the side of," "from beside," and generally "from."

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.

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.

Abraham. -- This is from the Greek spelling of "Abraham."

did -- This helping verb is added to make this a negative sentence.

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.

do -- The Greek word translated as "did" 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.

such things -- (WN) The word translated as "such things" means "from here" "from there" or "this/that thing/person here/there." It is not plural but singular.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

νῦν [31 verses](adv) "Now" is nyn (nun), which means "now," "at the present moment," "at the present time," "just now," "presently," and "as it is."

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").

ζητεῖτέ [36 verses](2nd pl pres ind act) "You seek" is zeteo, which means "inquire for," "search for," "seek after," "desire," and "feel the want of."

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

ἀποκτεῖναι, [31 verses] (aor inf act) "To kill" is apokteino, which means "to kill," and "to slay." It combines the word for "to slay" (-kteino) with the proposition, apo, indicating separation, meaning "from" or "away from." but it is a stronger form than the normal verb -kteino. It is more like our "destroy." It is in the form of a present participle, "destroying" acting as a noun ("those destroying").

ἄνθρωπον  [209 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Of man" is anthropos, which is "man," and, in plural, "mankind." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate.

ὃς [294 verses](pron sg neut nom) "That" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.

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

ἀλήθειαν [19 verses] (noun sg fem acc) "Truth" is aletheia, which means literally "the state of not being hidden," "truth," and "reality." It was also applied to "real events" and "the realization of a dream." Applied to people, it means "truthfulness" and "sincerity." The opposite of a lie or appearance.

ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you." 

λελάληκα [49 verses](1st sg perf ind act) "Hath told" is laleo, which means "to talk," "to speak" "to prattle," "to chat," and [for oracles] "to proclaim." It also means "chatter" as the opposite of articulate speech. However, Jesus seems to use in in the sense of "relaying" information gained from another. 

ἣν [294 verses](pron sg fem acc) "Which" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.

ἤκουσα [95 verses] (1st sg aor ind act) "I have heard"is akouo,  which means "hear of," "hear tell of," "what one actually hears," "know by hearsay," "listen to," "give ear to," "hear and understand," and "understand." The accusative object is the person/thing heard about, while the genitive is the person/thing heard from.  However, two genitives can be used with the sense of "hear of a thing from a person." -

παρὰ  [45 verses](prep) "With" is para, has many meanings, which depend on the case of its object and the sense of the verb.With the genitive, the sense is always motion, "from the side of," "from beside," "issuing from", and generally "from."

τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  -

θεοῦ [144 verses](noun sg masc gen) "God" is theos, which means "God," "divine," and "Deity."

τοῦτο [93 verses](adj sg neut acc) "This" is touto, which means "from here," "from there," "this [thing] there," or "that [person] here."

Ἀβραὰμ [18 verses](Hebrew name) "Abraham" is Abraam, which is the Greek form of "Abraham."

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.

ἐποίησεν[168 verses] (3rd sg aor ind act) "Did" 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."

Related Verses: 

Front Page Date: 

Jun 3 2022