John 8:50 And I seek not mine own glory

Spoken to
challengers

Jesus tells his challengers they don't trust him because he tells the truth and they say he is crazy. He then tells them that he is not crazy and honors his father.

KJV

John 8:50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

NIV

John 8:50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.
 

LISTENERS HEARD

I myself, however, do not seek for this recognition of mine. He is the one seeking and judging.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

It is interesting that the conjunction "however," is eliminated in both the KJV and NIV translations though it shows us as "but" in some other translations. Again, Jesus emphasized himself by saying "I myself"  but it is not clear hear who the one "seeking and judging" is in this verse. 

MY TAKE

We are better when we don't go around looking to develop our own reputation.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
8
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "however."
  • 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 "own" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "glory" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "glory" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "seek" is not an active verb but a participle, "seeking."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "judge" is not an active verb but a participle, "judging."
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
10
  • MW -- Missing Word  -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
  • MW -- Missing Word  -- The conjunction "however" is missing in the translation.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "own" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "glory" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "myself" is not the common word usually translated as "myself."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "but" doesn't exist in the source.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "who" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "seek" is not an active verb but a participle, "seeking."
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "he is the" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "judge" is not an noun but a participle, "judging."
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").

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."

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. 

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.

mine -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine." 

own -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "own" in the Greek source. There are possessive pronouns that have that sense, but Jesus doesn't use one here.

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. 

glory: -- (CW) The Greek noun translated as "glory" means "expectation," "notion," "opinion," "repute," and "popular repute." Translations as "glory" or "splendor" are found primarily in translating the Bible. The English words "acclaim" and "recognition" come closest to capturing the way Jesus uses the word. The verb form has the sense of "recognize."

there -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

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.

one-- The word translated as "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. 

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.

seeketh -- (WF) The Greek verb translated as "seeketh" has a variety of meanings around the idea of "searching" and "desiring." It has a sense of seeking with a specific aim. This is a participle, not an active verb, "seeking."

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."

judgeth. -- (WF) The term used here for "judge" means "judge," "criticize," "decide," "discriminate," and "separate," depending on the context. No English word corresponds to it precisely. It is often helpful to think of its primary meaning are the action of "to separate." This is a participle, not an active verb, "judging."

EACH WORD of NIV

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."

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

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

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.

seeking -- 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.

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. 

glory: -- (CW) The Greek noun translated as "glory" means "expectation," "notion," "opinion," "repute," and "popular repute." Translations as "glory" or "splendor" are found primarily in translating the Bible. The English words "acclaim" and "recognition" come closest to capturing the way Jesus uses the word. The verb form has the sense of "recognize."

for -- This word "of"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession. However, it can also mean "belonging to," "part of," "which is," "than" (in comparisons), or  "for," "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs.

myself; -- (CW)  "Myself" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine."  It is not the reflexive pronoun meaning "myself."

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

there -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

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.

one-- The word translated as "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 "that" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.

seeks -- (WF) The Greek verb translated as "seeks" has a variety of meanings around the idea of "searching" and "desiring." It has a sense of seeking with a specific aim. This is a participle, not an active verb, "seeking."

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

judge. -- (WF) The verb used here for "judge" means "judge," "criticize," "decide," "discriminate," and "separate," depending on the context. No English word corresponds to it precisely. It is often helpful to think of its primary meaning are the action of "to separate." This is a participle, not a noun, "judging."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

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.

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").

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.

ζητῶ [36 verses] (1st sg pres ind act) "Seek" is zeteo, which means "inquire for," "search for," "seek after," "desire," and "feel the want of."

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

δόξαν [26 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Glory" is doxa, which means "expectation," "notion," "opinion," "repute," and "popular repute." Translations as "glory" or "splendor" are applied to external appearances but are found primarily in translating the Bible. The words "recognition," "honor." and "reputation" come closest to capturing the way Jesus uses the word, especially if we consider how he uses the verb form.

μου [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.

ἔστιν .[614 verses] (3rd sg pres ind act) "There is" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen,"  and "is possible."

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

ζητῶν [36 verses](part sg pres act masc nom) "That seeketh" is zeteo, which means "inquire for," "search for," "seek after," "desire," and "feel the want of." -- The Greek verb translated as "sought" has a variety of meanings around the idea of "searching" and "desiring." It has a sense of seeking with a specific aim.

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."

κρίνων. [21 verses] (part sg pres act masc nom) "Judgeth" is krino, which primarily means "to separate," "to put asunder," and "to distinguish." It has a lot of other secondary meanings, including "to pick out," "to choose," "to decide" disputes or accounts, "to win" a battle, "to judge" especially in the sense of "estimate," "to expound," or "to interpret" in a particular way.

Front Page Date