John 18:21 Why askest thou me?

Spoken to
challengers

Jesus is bound and taken to Caiaphas and questioned about his followers and teaching.

KJV

John 18:21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

NIV

John 18:21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

LISTENERS HEARD

Why interrogate me? Interrogate those hearing what I relayed to them. See? These here have seen what I say, I myself.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

This is taken as an impudent answer because the guard strikes Jesus after the says it. The reason why is lost in translation.

The word translated as "ask" is used extremely commonly in the narrative parts of the NT, but Jesus the word rarely. Jesus usually uses another Greek word for this common idea.  Here, this word is used twice.  With the high priest here and with Pilot. The sense is to question someone or interrogate them.

The "they" before know is actually a pronoun that means "these here." So it seems like Jesus is pointing to those among the hierarchy who have heard him speak.  The "know" here means, literally, "have seen." There are two verbs translated  "know" in Greek. One means "learning to know" while this one is what people know by witnessing it. However, it is a funny word when used this way because it means, literally, "have seen what I say." This is accentuated by the "See" that begins the last sentence, translated as "behold" and, strangely, as "surely." However, it is the same words as "know" only a different form. It is used like we used "See?" to ask someone if they understand.

The punchline here is "I myself" at the end.
 

MY TAKE

We must try to see what those hearing Jesus saw in his words.

GREEK ORDER

τί       με        ἐρωτᾷς;
Why  me      interrogate

ἐρώτησον      τοὺς   ἀκηκοότας  τί       ἐλάλησα   αὐτοῖς:
Interrogate   those  hearing       what  I relayed  to them.

ἴδε      οὗτοι           οἴδασιν            εἶπον   ἐγώ.
See?  These here  have seen  what I say,   I myself.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
10
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "ask" is not the common word usually translated as "ask."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "ask" is not the common word usually translated as "ask."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "them" is not the common word usually translated as "them."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "which" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  The "heard" is not an active verb but a participle, "hearing."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "me" doesn't exist in the source.
  • 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 "said" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "they" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW -- Missing Word  -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
9
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "ask" is not the common word usually translated as "ask."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "who" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  The "heard" is not an active verb but a participle, "hearing."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "me" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "I relayed" is not shown in the English translation
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "to them" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "surely" should be something more like "see."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "they" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW -- Missing Word  -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
EACH WORD of KJV

Why - The Greek word translated as "any" in the singular means "anyone," "someone,"  "something," and "anything." The same forms are used both for the masculine or feminine so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone," "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."

askest   -- (CW) The word translated as "ask" means "consult," inquire of," and "ask." It is used extremely commonly in the narrative parts of the NT, but Jesus the word rarely. Jesus usually uses another Greek word for this common idea.  Here, this word is used twice with Caiaphas and Pilot, when he is being "interrogated.," which is the best translation for how Jesus uses it. This is not the word usually translated as "ask."

thou -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.

me? "-- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

ask --  (CW) The word translated as "ask" means "consult," inquire of," and "ask." It is used extremely commonly in the narrative parts of the NT, but Jesus the word rarely. Jesus usually uses another Greek word for this common idea.  Here, this word is used twice. With Caiaphas and Pilot. This is not the word usually translated as "ask."

them -- (CW) The word translated as "them" 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.  This is not the word usually translated as "them."

which -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "which" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.

heard -- (WF)  "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 also means "to listen" and "to understand," but amusingly, it also means "to be silent." The accusative object is the person/thing heard about, while the genitive is the person/thing heard from. The form of the word is not an active verb but a participle, a verb in the form of an adjective, "hearing."

me, -- -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "me" in the Greek source.  .  In Greek, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence, but the object here is the following "what."

what - The Greek word translated as "any" in the singular means "anyone," "someone,"  "something," and "anything." The same forms are used both for the masculine or feminine so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone," "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."

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.

said -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "speak" is not the ordinary "to say," "to talk," "to tell," or "to speak" in Greek. This word means "idle chatter," "gossip," and "the proclamations of an oracle." Jesus uses it to capture the idea of "passing on." "conveying,"  or "relaying" information.  When there isn't an object, "transmit" captures the idea of being a conduit rather than a source of information.

unto  -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.

them: -- The word translated as "them" or "to them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural as an indirect object of the verb or the object of a preposition.

behold,  -- The verb translated as "behold" 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." Here, however, it is a command like we say "SEE/" when explaining something to someone. This is a play on the word translateed as "know" below, which means "have seen."

they -- (CW)  "These" is translated from a Greek adjective that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Without a noun, it has the sense of "this one here" or "these here." It is in the form of a subject.

know -- The word translated as "know" means primarily "to see" and is used to mean "know' as we use the word "see" to mean "know" in English. It is the past perfect tense so "have seen" but it is translated as the present tense of "know."  What someone "has seen" is what they "know" in the present. Since the past perfect of "see" forms the present tense of "know" the pluperfect tense used here, which indicates an action completed before some other action in the past, is used as the simple past tense, "knew." 

what -- The word translated as "what" 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 -- The pronoun "I" is used here.  When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, this pronoun accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.

missing "myself" -- (MW)  The subject pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."

said. - The word translated as "speak" means "to say" and "to speak." It is one of the two most common words translated "speak," "say" and "tell," but it has more a sense of addressing and proclaiming.

EACH WORD of NIV

Why - The Greek word translated as "any" in the singular means "anyone," "someone,"  "something," and "anything." The same forms are used both for the masculine or feminine so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone," "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."

question -- The word translated as "ask" means "consult," inquire of," and "ask." It is used extremely commonly in the narrative parts of the NT, but Jesus the word rarely. Jesus usually uses another Greek word for this common idea.  Here, this word is used twice.  With Caiaphas and Pilot.

me? "-- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

ask -- (CW) The word translated as "ask" means "consult," inquire of," and "ask." It is used extremely commonly in the narrative parts of the NT, but Jesus the word rarely. Jesus usually uses another Greek word for this common idea.  Here, this word is used twice. With Caiaphas and Pilot. This is not the word usually translated as "ask."  It is the word translated as "question" above.

those --The word translated as "those " 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.  This is not the word usually translated as "them."

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.

heard -- (WF)  "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 also means "to listen" and "to understand," but amusingly, it also means "to be silent." The accusative object is the person/thing heard about, while the genitive is the person/thing heard from. The form of the word is not an active verb but a participle, a verb in the form of an adjective, "hearing."

me, -- -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "me" in the Greek source.  .  In Greek, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence, but the object here is the following "what."

what - The Greek word translated as "any" in the singular means "anyone," "someone,"  "something," and "anything." The same forms are used both for the masculine or feminine so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone," "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."

missing "I relayed"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "relayed" is not the ordinary "to say," "to talk," "to tell," or "to speak" in Greek. This word means "idle chatter," "gossip," and "the proclamations of an oracle." Jesus uses it to capture the idea of "passing on." "conveying,"  or "relaying" information.  When there isn't an object, "transmit" captures the idea of being a conduit rather than a source of information.

missing "to them"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "to them" or "to them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural as an indirect object of the verb or the object of a preposition.

Surely,  -- (WW) The verb translated as "surely" 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." Here, however, it is a command like we say "See!" when explaining something to someone. This is a play on the word translateed as "know" below, which means "have seen."

they -- (CW)  "These" is translated from a Greek adjective that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Without a noun, it has the sense of "this one here" or "these here." It is in the form of a subject.

know -- The word translated as "know" means primarily "to see" and is used to mean "know' as we use the word "see" to mean "know" in English. It is the past perfect tense so "have seen" but it is translated as the present tense of "know."  What someone "has seen" is what they "know" in the present. Since the past perfect of "see" forms the present tense of "know" the pluperfect tense used here, which indicates an action completed before some other action in the past, is used as the simple past tense, "knew." 

what -- The word translated as "what" 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 -- The pronoun "I" is used here.  When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, this pronoun accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.

missing "myself" -- (MW)  The subject pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."

said. - The word translated as "speak" means "to say" and "to speak." It is one of the two most common words translated "speak," "say" and "tell," but it has more a sense of addressing and proclaiming.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

τί [252 verses](irreg sg neut nom) "Why" is tis, which can mean "someone," "something," "any one," "everyone," "they [indefinite]," "many a one," "whoever," "anyone," "anything," "some sort," "some sort of," "each," "any," "the individual," "such," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who," "why," or "what." It has specific meanings with certain prepositions, διὰ τί; for what reason? ἐκ τίνος; from what cause? ἐς τί; to what point?  to what end? -

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

ἐρωτᾷς; [2 verses]( verb 2nd sg pres ind act )  "Asketh" is eperotao, which means "consult", "inquire of", and "ask".

ἐρώτησον  [2 verses](verb 2nd sg aor imperat act )  "Asketh" is eperotao, which means "consult", "inquire of", and "ask".  

τοὺς [821 verses](article pl masc acc) "Them which" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

ἀκηκοότας [95 verses](part pl perf act masc acc ) "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." -

τί [252 verses](irreg sg neut nom/acc) "What" is tis, which can mean "someone," "something," "any one," "everyone," "they [indefinite]," "many a one," "whoever," "anyone," "anything," "some sort," "some sort of," "each," "any," "the individual," "such," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who," "why," or "what." It has specific meanings with certain prepositions, διὰ τί; for what reason? ἐκ τίνος; from what cause? ἐς τί; to what point?  to what end? -

ἐλάλησα [49 verses](verb 1st sg aor ind act ) "I have said" 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. 

αὐτοῖς, [55 verses](pron/adj pl masc dat) "To them" is the dative case of the third-person, plural adjective that is used as a pronoun. The word also means "the same,""one's true self," and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord."

ἴδε 166 verses](verb 2nd sg aor imperat act ) "Behold" 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."

οὗτοι [83 verses](adj pl masc nom ) "They" is houtos, which as an adjective means "this," "that," "the nearer."  --

οἴδασιν [38 verses](verb 3rd pl perf ind act) "Know" is oida which has the sense of "to know." This listing is not a root word, but the past perfect tense of 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." That which "has been seen" is that which is "known." This is a somewhat legalistic idea because the truth can only be established by eyewitnesses.

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

εἶπον [162 verses] (3rd sg aor subj act) "Speaketh" is eipon, which means "to speak," "to say," "to recite," "to address," "to mention," "to name," "to proclaim," "to plead," "to promise," and "to offer."  This is the second most common word Jesus uses for this idea. Perhaps translating it consistently as "tell" would work.

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.

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