Jesus's challengers ask him if he is greater than Abraham and the prophets because he offers life. He says that he has seen the Father and observes his logic.
John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”
Abraham, that father of yours, jumped for joy because he might see this day, this one of mine. And he sees and enjoys it [at some point in time.]
In English, the connection between the previous verse and this one is lost because the verb translated as "know" in the previous verse is translated as "see" in this one. Jesus uses the same word to describe Abraham's seeing him as he used to describe his own seeing of the Father. The first "see" is in the form of something that "might" happen. This is ignored in translation. All the tenses in this verse the "at some point in time" that can be the past, present, or future. In the previous verse, the tense was the past perfect, "have seen." This interesting use of tenses is ignored by Jesus's opponents and the translators.
The humor here starts with the uncommon Greek word translated as "rejoiced" in the first part of this verse. It is an exaggerated word, meaning literally, "much leaping" as we say, "jump for joy." It is followed by the word
meaning "because" which is untranslated in most English translations, "because he might see this day." It is not the Greek word usually translated as "rejoice," which coincidentally (?) is the word at the end of the verse translated as "was glad," which acts as the punchline here. The tense, at some point in time, is consistent with Jesus statement that Abraham is not dead (Matthew 22:32).
Abraham was alive in some sense for Jesus.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "father" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "because" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "to see" is not an infinitive, but an active verb, "he saw."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "might" or "should" needed for the form of the verb is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "mine" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "day" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "father" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "because" is not shown in the English translation.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "at the thought of" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "seeing" is not an infinitive, but an active verb, "he saw."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "might" or "should" needed for the form of the verb is not shown in the English translation.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "seeing" is not an infinitive, but an active verb, "he might see."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "mine" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "day" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
Your -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the genitive case. This pronoun follows the noun so the possessive "of yours."
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.
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.
Abraham -- This is from the Greek spelling of "Abraham."
rejoiced -- The verb translated as "rejoiced", which literally means "much leaping" and generally, to "celebrate." Jesus uses it only three times. This word doesn't appear in non-biblically influenced Greek. It appears first in the Greek OT where it translated many different Hebrew words that means "rejoin," "be glad," "shout," "exalt," and so on. This word is a version of a more common Greek word that means "glorify," and "exalt," which would work here, but the Judean use of this word seems broader.
missing "because" -- (MW) The untranslated word "because" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," "when," or as a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" or "because."
to -- (WF) This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English. However, the next word is not an infinitive.
see -- (MW) The verb translated as "see" means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive." In th KJV, it is almost translated as many times as "know" as it is "see." This word is in the form of possibility, "he might see" or "he should see." It needs the helping verb "might" or "should."
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.
my -- "My" is the first-person adjective, not the common pronoun, used in Greek to create a possessive or as the object of a preposition. Unlike the genitive pronoun used as a possessive, its case matches its noun. Perhaps "mine own" captures its best.
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.
day: -- The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime."
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 -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
saw -- The verb translated as "saw" means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive." In th KJV, it is almost translated as many times as "know" as it is "see."
it, -- This English objective pronoun is added and not in the Greek source. In Greek, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence.
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."
was -- This helping verb "was" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
glad. -- The Greek verb translated as "glad" means "rejoice," "take pleasure in," and "welcome."
Your -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the genitive case. This pronoun follows the noun so the possessive "of yours."
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.
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.
Abraham -- This is from the Greek spelling of "Abraham."
rejoiced -- The verb translated as "rejoiced", which literally means "much leaping" and generally, to "celebrate." Jesus uses it only three times. This word doesn't appear in non-biblically influenced Greek. It appears first in the Greek OT where it translated many different Hebrew words that means "rejoin," "be glad," "shout," "exalt," and so on. This word is a version of a more common Greek word that means "glorify," and "exalt," which would work here, but the Judean use of this word seems broader.
missing "because" -- (MW) The untranslated word "because" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," "when," or as a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" or "because."
at the thought of -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "at the thought of " in the Greek source.
seeing -- (MW, WF) The verb translated as "see" means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive." In th KJV, it is almost translated as many times as "know" as it is "see." This word is in the form of possibility, "he might see" or "he should see." It needs the helping verb "might" or "should." The form is not a participle, but an active verb.
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.
my -- "My" is the first-person adjective, not the common pronoun, used in Greek to create a possessive or as the object of a preposition. Unlike the genitive pronoun used as a possessive, its case matches its noun. Perhaps "mine own" captures its best.
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.
day: -- The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime."
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."
my day; he saw it and was glad.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
saw -- The verb translated as "saw" means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive." In th KJV, it is almost translated as many times as "know" as it is "see."
it, -- This English objective pronoun is added and not in the Greek source. In Greek, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence.
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."
was -- This helping verb "was" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
glad. -- The Greek verb translated as "glad" means "rejoice," "take pleasure in," and "welcome."
Ἀβραὰμ [18 verses](Hebrew name) "Abraham" is Abraam, which is the Greek form of "Abraham."
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) Untranslated 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."
ὑμῶν [168 verses](pron 2nd pl gen) "Your/you" is humon, the plural possessive form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you." It is either a possessive pronoun or the object of a preposition.
ἠγαλλιάσατο [3 verses](3rd sg aor ind) "Rejoiced is agalliao means "rejoice exceedingly" and is a later form of agallomai, which means to "glorify," and "exalt," especially the idea of "paying honor" to God. -
ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) Untranslated is hina, which means "in that place," "there," "where," "when," but when beginning a phrase "that," "in order that," "when," and "because."
ἴδῃ [166 verses](verb 3rd sg aor subj act) "To see" is eido which means "to see," "to examine," "to perceive," "to behold," "to know how to do," "to see with the mind's eye," and "to know."
τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). -
ἡμέραν [96 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Day" is hemera, which, as a noun, means "day" "a state or time of life," "a time (poetic)," "day break" and "day time." It is also and also has a second meaning, of "quiet," "tame (animals)," "cultivated (crops)," and "civilized (people)."
τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). - 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.
ἐμήν, [28 verses](adj sg fem acc) "My" is emos, which means "mine," "of me," "my," "relating to me," and "against me." The form can also be the object of a preposition, "me."
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."
εἶδεν [166 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "Saw" is eido which means "to see," "to examine," "to perceive," "to behold," "to know how to do," "to see with the mind's eye," and "to know."
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." -- 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."
ἐχάρη. [14 verses] (3rd sg aor ind pass) "Was glad" is chairo which means "rejoice," "take pleasure in," and "welcome."