John 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them;

Spoken to
Apostles

After the resurrection, Jesus appears to his apostles and breaths on them.

KJV

John 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

NIV

John 20:23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

LISTENERS HEARD

When you excuse for some those mistakes, they should be excused for them. When you over rule them, they are over ruled. 

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The English "translation" here is about doctrine, not what Jesus said. When the verb translated as "remit/forgive" is used with the genitive object like that here, it means "release from." (See this article.)   When the verb translated as "retain/not forgive" is used with the genitive object, it means "rule over" or "prevail over." The source of the problems here is the word translated as "sins," which means "mistakes." (See this article.)

MY TAKE

Letting go od people's mistakes is a way of conquering them.

GREEK ORDER

ἄν       τινων        ἀφῆτε           τὰς ἁμαρτίας   ἀφέωνται                       αὐτοῖς:
When from them you release those mistakes, they should be dropped for them.

ἄν       τινων         κρατῆτε       κεκράτηνται.
When over them you prevail , they are overcome.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
13
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "whose" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "soever" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "sins" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "sins" does not capture the word's general meaning.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "remit" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW -- Missing Word -- This verb is a subjunctive, which requires a "should" or "might" when outside of a when/if clause.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "remitted" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "and" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "whose" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "soever" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "sins" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "retain" should be something more like "prevail over."
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "retained" should be something more like "overpower."
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
14
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "if" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "forgive" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "sins" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "sins" does not capture the word's general meaning.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  The "their" is not a possessive pronoun but from the third-person, plural, verb form.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "sins" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW -- Missing Word -- This verb is a subjunctive, which requires a "should" or "might" when outside of a when/if clause.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "forgiven" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "if" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "anyone's" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "not" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "forgive" should be something more like "prevail over."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "not" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "forgiven" should be something more like "overpower."
EACH WORD of KJV

Whose -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "whose" 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." This is a genitive object of the verb, which changes the meaning of the verb. It sense is "from them."

soever - (CW) The Greek word meaning "soever" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is how we use the word "when." This is not the simple "soever." CW - Confusing Word -- The "if" does not capture the word's specific meaning.

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

sins  -- (CW) The word translated as "sins" means "missing the mark," "failure," "fault," and "error." Only in religious uses does it become "guilt" and "sin," having no sense of doing malicious evil in Greek. The best English translation is "mistake," "fault," or "failure" rather than what we commonly think of as the evils of "sin." See this article for more information and context.

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

remit, -- (CW) The word translated as "remit" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away." It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop. This same word is usually translated as "leave," "forgive," "suffer," and "let" in the New Testament. See this article for more.

they - This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

missing "should" or "might"-- (MW) A helping verb is necessary because the following verb is a verb of possibility, a subjunctive, something that "should" or "might" occur. The helping verb is not needed in a clause beginning with an "if" or a "when."

are -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

remitted -- (CW) The word translated as "remitted" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away." It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop. This same word is usually translated as "leave," "forgive," "suffer," and "let" in the New Testament. See this article for more.  Used with the genitive object here, the sense it "release them."

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. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with,"  "in,"   "of,"  "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.

them; -- The word translated as "them" or "to them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun.

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

Whose -- The Greek word translated as "whose" 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." This is a genitive object of the verb, which changes the meaning of the verb. It sense is "over them."

soever - (CW) The Greek word meaning "soever" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is how we use the word "when." This is not the simple "soever."

sins -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "sins" in the Greek source.  A pronoun can be assumed from a previous object, but not a word.

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

retain, - (WW) "Retain" is a verb that means "to be strong," "to prevail," "to get possession of," and "to lay hold of." In English, "overpower" is a good equivalent. When used with the genitive object here, the sense is "to rule over" or "the be above."

they - This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

are -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

retained. - (WW) "Retained" is a verb that means "to be strong," "to prevail," "to get possession of," and "to lay hold of." In English, "overpower" is a good equivalent. When used with the genitive object here, the sense is "to rule over" or "the be above."

EACH WORD of NIV

If - (CW) The Greek word meaning "soever" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is how we use the word "when." This is not the simple "soever." CW - Confusing Word -- The "if" does not capture the word's specific meaning.

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

forgive , -- (CW) The word translated as "forgive " primarily means "to let go" or "to send away." It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop. This same word is usually translated as "leave," "forgive," "suffer," and "let" in the New Testament. See this article for more.

anyone’s -- The Greek word translated as "whose" 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." This is a genitive object of the verb, which changes the meaning of the verb. It sense is "from them."

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

sins  -- (CW) The word translated as "sins" means "missing the mark," "failure," "fault," and "error." Only in religious uses does it become "guilt" and "sin," having no sense of doing malicious evil in Greek. The best English translation is "mistake," "fault," or "failure" rather than what we commonly think of as the evils of "sin." See this article for more information and context.

Their - (WF) This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb. It is not a possessive.

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

missing "should" or "might"-- (MW) A helping verb is necessary because the following verb is a verb of possibility, a subjunctive, something that "should" or "might" occur. The helping verb is not needed in a clause beginning with an "if" or a "when."

are -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

forgiven-- (CW) The word translated as "remitted" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away." It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop. This same word is usually translated as "leave," "forgive," "suffer," and "let" in the New Testament. See this article for more.  Used with the genitive object here, the sense it "release them."

If - (CW) The Greek word meaning "soever" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is how we use the word "when." This is not the simple "soever." CW - Confusing Word -- The "if" does not capture the word's specific meaning.

missing "anyone's"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "anyone's" 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." This is a genitive object of the verb, which changes the meaning of the verb. It sense is "over them."

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

do -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek

not -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "not" in the Greek source

forgive , - (WW) "Forgive" is a verb that means "to be strong," "to prevail," "to get possession of," and "to lay hold of." In English, "overpower" is a good equivalent. When used with the genitive object here, the sense is prevail over" or "rule over."

them, -- (WP) The word translated as "them" or "to them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun.  This pronoun is in the previous sentence.

they - This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

are -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

not -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "not" in the Greek source

forgiven. - (WW) "Forgiven" is a verb that means "to be strong," "to prevail," "to get possession of," and "to lay hold of." In English, "overpower" is a good equivalent.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

ἄν [162 verses](conj) "-Soever" is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (might), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event. This is how we use the word "when." -

τινων [252 verses]( pron pl gen) "Whose" 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?

ἀφῆτε [73 verses](verb 2nd pl aor subj act ) "Ye remit" is aphiemi, which means "to let fall," "to send away," "give up," "hand over," "to let loose," "to get rid of," "to leave alone," "to pass by," "to permit," and "to send forth from oneself." -- The word translated as "forgive" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away." It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop. This same word is usually translated as "leave," "forgive," "suffer," and "let" in the New Testament. See this article for more.

τὰς [821 verses](article pl fem acc)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  -

ἁμαρτίας [28 verses](noun pl fem acc )"Sins" is hamartia, which means "missing the mark," "failure," "fault," and "error." Only in religious uses does it become "guilt" and "sin."

ἀφέωνται[73 verses]( verb 3rd pl pres subj mp ) "They are remitted" is aphiemi, which means "to let fall," "to send away," "give up," "hand over," "to let loose," "to get rid of," "to leave alone," "to pass by," "to permit," and "to send forth from oneself."

αὐτοῖς, [55 verses](pron/adj pl masc dat) "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."

ἄν [162 verses](conj) "-Soever" is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (might), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event. This is how we use the word "when."

τινων [252 verses]( pron pl gen) "Whose") "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?

κρατῆτε [7 verses](verb 2nd pl aor ind act) "Ye retain" is from krateo, which means to be strong, powerful: "to rule," "to hold sway," "to be the lord and master," "to conquer," "to prevail over," "to get the upper hand," "to seize," "to control," and "to command."  When used with the genitive object here, the sense is "to rule over" or "the be above."

κεκράτηνται. [7 verses](verb 3rd pl perf ind mp) "They are retained" is from krateo, which means to be strong, powerful: "to rule," "to hold sway," "to be the lord and master," "to conquer," "to prevail over," "to get the upper hand," "to seize," "to control," and "to command." 

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