Luke 11:22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him,

Spoken to
challengers

After Jesus is accused of casting out demons by Beelzebub.

KJV

Luke 11:22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

NIV

Luke 11:22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.

LISTENERS HEARD

When, however,  a stronger one than he, attacking, conquers him. He removes that armor of his, upon which he had relied and he hands over that stripped armor of his.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The English translators assumes that the one stronger here is the main actor. In the Greek, it is clear that man who is conquered is the one stripping off his armor and handing it over. If we do not assume that, the verse is hopelessly confused in its use of possessive pronouns. The one conquering is intentionally made vague by being referred to just as "a stronger on than he." The "he" is the armored strong person. From that point on all the adjectives refer to him, not the vague one conquering.

The word translated as "takes" means "removes" or "lifts off." The uncommon word translated as "divides" primarily means to "pass on" and "hand over." The word translated as "spoils" and "plunder," primarily means "stripped off armor."

MY TAKE

When we are conquered, we give up our defenses.

GREEK ORDER

ἐπὰν    δὲ            ἰσχυρότερος    αὐτοῦ   ἐπελθὼν νικήσῃ  αὐτόν, τὴν  πανοπλίαν αὐτοῦ αἴρει
When, however, a stronger one than he attacking conquers him.  that armor        of his, he removes

ἐφ᾽             ἐπεποίθει,     καὶ τὰ    σκῦλα              αὐτοῦ διαδίδωσιν.
upon which he had relied and that stripped armor of his he hands over

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
11
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word that should usually be translated as "when."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "shall" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This "come" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "take" should be something more like "remove."
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "from him all" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "armor" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "in."
  • WT --Wrong Tense - The English verb "trusted" is not the present tense, but Greek is in the pluperfect, a more completed action, "had trusted."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "divide."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "spoils" is not shown in the English translation.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
12
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word that should usually be translated as "when."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "someone" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "word" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This "attacks" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "from him all" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "of his" after"armor" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "in."
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "the man" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WT --Wrong Tense - The English verb "trusted" is not the present tense, but Greek is in the pluperfect, a more completed action, "had trusted."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "divide."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "plunder" is not shown in the English translation.
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. 

when - (CW) The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since." This is not the more common word for "when." Here, the condition is less certain to happen.

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

stronger - -"Stronger" is the comparative of the adjective the means "strong", "mighty," and "violent." So it means "a strong one" or "the violent one."

than -- This word "than"  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, here it is the "than" used in comparisons).

he -- The word translated as "he" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English.  The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his."

shall -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "shall" in the Greek source. The following verb is not the future tense nor in a form that requires a "might" or "should."

come  (WF) -"Come upon" is a Greek verb that means "come upon", "approach", and, in a hostile sense "come against", or "attack". The root word is the word usually translated as "come". The sense is obviously hostile, "come against" but there is no "him" here. The form is an adjective, "attacking". This is an uncommon word for Jesus, used only four other verses. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing." 

upon - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.

him -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.

and -- (IW) These is no "and" here. It is added because the previous verb was  changed from an adjective to an active verb in translation.

overcome --  The verb translated as "overcome" means "to conquer", "to prevail", "to be superior", "to succeed", "to vanquish," and "to overpower."

him, - The word translated as "him" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, singular, masculine as a direct object of a verb or preposition. 

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

taketh -- (WW) "Takes" is one of Christ's favorite "multiple meaning" words. It is a verb that means "to raise up," "elevate," "to bear," "to carry off," "to take and apply to any use," "lifted" in the sense of "removed," and "to cause to cease."  This word doesn't mean "take." 

from him all -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more. 

his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English.  The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his." - In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there." 

armour -The Greek word translated as "armor" means a complete suit of armor. This word is used by Jesus only once. 

where -- The word translated as "where" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things."

-in --  (CW) The word translated as "in" means "on," "over," "upon," "for,"  "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of." This is not the word usually translated as "in."

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

trusted, - (WT) The  uncommon verb translated as "trusted" means "persuade", "obey", "prevail upon", "talk over", "mislead," and "tempt (with food), "believed", "trusted", and "relied upon".  The subject is clearly the conquered man.  This is not the past tens but the pluperfect tense, "had trusted."

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

divideth - -(CW) The "divideth" is another uncommon verb that means "pass on", "hand over", "distribute", "to be handed down by tradition", and "spread about".  Again, using the most common meaning, the subject is the conquered many "passing on" or "handing over" his armor.  This is not the word usually translated as "divide."

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more. 

his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English.  The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his." - In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there." 

spoils. - -The Greek noun translated as "spoils" specifically means armor that has been removed and can also means "spoils" and "booty." However, here the context is more "stripped off armor."

EACH WORD of NIV

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. 

when - (CW) The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since." This is not the more common word for "when." Here, the condition is less certain to happen.

someone-- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.

stronger - -"Stronger" is the comparative of the adjective the means "strong", "mighty," and "violent." So it means "a strong one" or "the violent one."

missing "than he"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "than he" is the Greek word translated as third-person "his/him" in English.  When the word is compared it means "than he."

attacks (WF) -"Attacks" is a Greek verb that means "come upon", "approach", and, in a hostile sense "come against", or "attack".  The form is an adjective, "attacking". This is an uncommon word for Jesus, used only four other verses. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing." 

upon - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.

him -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.

and -- (IW) These is no "and" here. It is added because the previous verb was  changed from an adjective to an active verb in translation.

overpowers --  The verb translated as "overpowers " means "to conquer", "to prevail", "to be superior", "to succeed", "to vanquish," and "to overpower."

him, - The word translated as "him" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, singular, masculine as a direct object of a verb or preposition. 

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

takes away --"Takes away" is one of Christ's favorite "multiple meaning" words. It is a verb that means "to raise up," "elevate," "to bear," "to carry off," "to take and apply to any use," "lifted" in the sense of "removed," and "to cause to cease." 

from him all -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.

the   -- The word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.

armour -The Greek word translated as "armor" means a complete suit of armor. This word is used by Jesus only once. 

missing "of his"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "his" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English.  The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his."

in --  (CW) The word translated as "in" means "on," "over," "upon," "for,"  "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of." This is not the word usually translated as "in."

which -- The word translated as "which" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things."

the man -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.

trusted, - (WT) The  uncommon verb translated as "trusted" means "persuade", "obey", "prevail upon", "talk over", "mislead," and "tempt (with food), "believed", "trusted", and "relied upon".  The subject is clearly the conquered man.  This is not the past tens but the pluperfect tense, "had trusted."

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

divides  up - -(CW) The "divides up" is another uncommon verb that means "pass on", "hand over", "distribute", "to be handed down by tradition", and "spread about".  Again, using the most common meaning, the subject is the conquered many "passing on" or "handing over" his armor.  This is not the word usually translated as "divide."

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more. 

his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English.  The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his." - In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there." 

plunder. - -The Greek noun translated as "plunder" specifically means armor that has been removed and can also means "spoils" and "booty." However, here the context is more "stripped off armor."

 

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

ὅταν [70 verses](adv/conj) "When" is from hotan, which means "whenever (as a condition)," and "since (as a cause)." -

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 an indirect cause ("so") and a condition ("if"). In an  "if" (εἰ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then." In a series begun by men, it means "on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then." It can also be an explanation of cause ("so") and a condition ("if").  When used with a conditional starting a clause, the sense is "if/when...then." When used with a particle meaning "indeed" the sense is "on one hand...on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then."

ἰσχυρότερος [3 verses](adj sg masc nom comp) "Stronger man" is  ischyros, which means "strong", "mighty," and "powerful." It is from ischys, meaning strength. Here is seems as though it is used to refer to demons that control people.

αὐτοῦ [142 verses](adv/adj sg masc gen) "His/" is autou, which means is the singular adjective used as the genitive pronoun, which is used as a possessive form or the object of prepositions and sometimes verbs as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there." This form is often used as the object of a preposition, him." This form of an object of a preposition means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. The time sense of a genitive object is that the event occurred within a specified time. Though the form is masculine, it refers to masculine words, not people.  The masculine form is used to refer to people in general, not just men.

ἐπελθὼν  [4 verses](part sg aor act masc nom) "Shall come upon him" is from eperchomai, which means "come upon", "approach", "come suddenly upon", in a hostile sense "come against", "attack", "come forward to speak", "proceed against", "come upon", of time "come on", "go over" [a space], and "traverse". -

νικήσῃ [2 verses](verb 3rd sg aor subj act) "Overcome" is from nikao, which means "to conquer", "to prevail", "to be superior", "to succeed", "to vanquish," and "to overpower."

αὐτὸν [124 verses](pron/adj sg masc acc) "Him/It" is auton, is the masculine, accusative case of the third-person, singular adjective that is used as a pronoun. Masculine pronouns can refer to things as well as people, so it can be it."  The word also means "the same," and "of one's own accord." An accusative object of a preposition indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement. Events may show the amount of time.  However, masculine pronouns refer to masculine nouns, not just masculine people so this word can mean "it" as well as "he." As a preposition's object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement. Events may show the amount of time. -

τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem acc)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article.   -

πανοπλίαν [1 verse](noun sg fem acc ) "Armor" is panoplia, which means a "suit of armor". -

αὐτοῦ [142 verses](adv/adj sg masc gen) "His/" is autou, which means is the singular adjective used as the genitive pronoun, which is used as a possessive form or the object of prepositions and sometimes verbs as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there." This form is often used as the object of a preposition, him." This form of an object of a preposition means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. The time sense of a genitive object is that the event occurred within a specified time. Though the form is masculine, it refers to masculine words, not people.  The masculine form is used to refer to people in general, not just men.

αἴρει [56 verses] (verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "He taketh" is airo, which means "to lift up," "to raise," "to raise up," "to exalt," "to lift and take away," and "to remove." In some forms, it is the same as apaomai, which means to "pray to," or "pray for."

ἐπὶ [138 verses](prep) "-In" is from epi , which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," "for," and "against." With a noun in the possessive, genitive, it means "upon," "on" but not necessarily of Place, "by (of persons)," "deep (with numbers)," "in the presence of," "towards," "in the time of," and "over (referring to a person of authority)." With a noun indirect object, dative, it means of place: "upon," "on," or "over," of people: "against (in a hostile sense)," regarding a situation: "towards" or "in reference to," of an accumulation: "upon," "after," "addition to," and "besides," of position: "after," "behind," "in dependence upon," and "in the power of," of time: "by," and "after," and. in a causal sense: "of the occasion or cause," "for" a person, an end, or purpose," "on condition that," and "for" (a price).  With the objective noun, an accusative, it means of place: "upon or on to a height," "up to," "as far as," "a little way," "a little," "towards," "to," in hostile sense: "against," of extension: "over," "over (a space)," of time: "for," "during," "up to" or "till," in a causal sense: "of (the object)," for (this purpose)," "as regards," "according to," and "by (this cause)." With verbs of perceiving, observing, and judging, it means "in the case of."

[294 verses](pron sg fem dat) "Where-" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," " "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things."

ἐπεποίθει, [2 verses](verb 3rd sg plup ind act) "He trusted" is from  peitho, which means "persuade", "obey", "prevail upon", "talk over", "mislead," and "tempt (with food), "believed", "trusted", and "relied upon".  -

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." In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut acc)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article.   -

σκῦλα [1 verse](noun pl neut acc) "Spoils" is from skylon, which means "arms stripped off a slain enemy", "spoils", and "booty".  

αὐτοῦ [142 verses](adv/adj sg masc gen) "His/" is autou, which means is the singular adjective used as the genitive pronoun, which is used as a possessive form or the object of prepositions and sometimes verbs as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there." This form is often used as the object of a preposition, him." This form of an object of a preposition means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. The time sense of a genitive object is that the event occurred within a specified time. Though the form is masculine, it refers to masculine words, not people.  The masculine form is used to refer to people in general, not just men.

διαδίδωσιν. [2 verses](verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Divideth" is diadidomi, which means "pass on", "hand over", "distribute", "to be handed down by tradition", and "spread about".

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