Luke 12:25 And which of you with taking thought can add

Spoken to: 

group

After a series of verses about "self."

KJV: 

Luke 12:25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

NIV : 

Luke 12:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Who, however, by your worrying, has power by yourselves to add to that age of his an arm length?

MY TAKE: 

We can only go so far and worrying doesn't help.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

τίς      δὲ            ἐξ   ὑμῶν μεριμνῶν δύναται                             ἐπὶ τὴν  ἡλικίαν αὐτο προσθεῖναι πῆχυν;
Who, however, by    your worrying, has power by yourselves to  that age         of his to add        an arm length?

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

This verse is a non-sequitur, which may indicate intentional humor, especially since the word that doesn't fit is at the end,"an arm length," of a perfectly reasonable question. To me, however, it seems like Jesus in that word is answering another question about "stature" or "growing up."

The "of you" should probably be "by your" modifying the following "taking thought/worrying." That Greek verb means "to care for", "be anxious about," and "to meditate upon." We don't have a word in English that combines caring for something, being anxious, and meditation. When you care for something, you also worry and think deeply about it. It has most of the sense of the way we use "worry" in English. It is a present participle so "worrying."

The Greek verb translated as "can" indicates having the power and ability to accomplish something by yourself. this fits this verse into this series of verses about "self."  In English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. It doesn't work that way in ancient Greek. The verb here is translated as active, but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves. Its sense is "has the power by yourselves." It takes an infinitive, "to add."

The word translated as "stature/life" is primarily concerned with age and time. It is changed to "stature/life" to eliminate the non-sequitur. The word translated as "cubit/hour" means "forearm length," which is the measure of length used in a cubit,  1 1/2 ft., 18 inches. Biblical translators don't like the confusion between the two measure of time and length, but I am find with it. 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

10

And(WW) which of(CW) you with(IW) taking thought can(CW,WV) add(WF) to(WW) his (MW) stature(WW) one(OS) cubit

  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "with" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence.
  • WV --Wrong Voice - The verb "can" is translated as active but it is passive either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "add" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to infinitive."
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "to" should be something more like "on."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "stature" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "stature" should be something more like "age."
  • OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "one" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

12

(MW) Who of(CW) you by(IW) worrying can(CW, WV) add(WF) a single(IW) hour(WW) to(WW) your(WW) (MW) life(WW)

  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "but" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "by" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence.
  • WV --Wrong Voice - The verb "can" is translated as active but it is passive either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "add" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to infinitive."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "single" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "hour" should be something more like "18 inches."
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "to" should be something more like "on."
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "your" should be something more like "his."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "life" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "life" should be something more like "age."

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. This word doesn't mean "and."

which -- 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," "which," or even "why."

of -- (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "out of" or "from." The word also means "beyond," "on," "in," "since," or "by" based upon its context, but it indicates separation "from" something rather than being a part "of "it like "of" does. It is also used to describe the author or means "by" which something is done, especially with passive verbs. 

you -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the possessive (genitive) case. This pronoun follows the noun so the possessive "of yours."

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

taking thought -- "Taking thought" is a Greek verb that means "to care for", "be anxious about," and "to meditate upon." It has most of the sense of the way we use "worry" in English. It is plural and in the form of a command.

can -- (CW, WV) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. See this article. The verb here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.

add -- The Greek word translated as "add" means "to apply", "to deliver," "to impose upon," and many other meanings. It has the general sense of "increase."  The "add" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to infinitive."

to -- (WW) The word translated as "to" means "on," "over," "upon," "for,"  "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of." This word doesn't mean "to." 

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."

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.

stature -- (WW) The word translated as "stature" is primarily concerned with age and time. It refers to height only in the sense that people grow up. It doesn't mean "stature" any more than "grown-up" refers to height.

one -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as this in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.

cubit? -- The word translated as "cubit" means "forearm," which is the measure of length used in a cubit, which is 1 1/2 ft., 18 inches.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

missing "but"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "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. This word doesn't mean "and."

Who -- 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," "which," or even "why."

of -- (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "out of" or "from." The word also means "beyond," "on," "in," "since," or "by" based upon its context, but it indicates separation "from" something rather than being a part "of "it like "of" does. It is also used to describe the author or means "by" which something is done, especially with passive verbs. 

you -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the possessive (genitive) case. This pronoun follows the noun so the possessive "of yours."

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

worrying - "Taking thought" is a Greek verb that means "to care for", "be anxious about," and "to meditate upon." It has most of the sense of the way we use "worry" in English. It is plural and in the form of a command.

can -- (CW, WV) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. See this article. The verb here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.

add -- The Greek word translated as "add" means "to apply", "to deliver," "to impose upon," and many other meanings. It has the general sense of "increase."  The "add" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to infinitive."

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.

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

hour -- (WW)  The word translated as "hour" means "forearm," which is the measure of length used in a cubit, which is 1 1/2 ft., 18 inches.This word doesn't mean "hour." 

to -- (WW) The word translated as "to" means "on," "over," "upon," "for,"  "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of." This word doesn't mean "to." 

your -- (WW) The word translated as "your" 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." This word doesn't mean "your." 

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.

life -- (WW) The word translated as "life" is primarily concerned with age and time.  It means "time of life," bu only in the sense of our age generally. This word doesn't mean "life." 

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

τίς [252 verses](pron sg masc/fem dat) "Which" 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." Plural, "who are" is τίνες ἐόντες.  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?

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."

ἐξ [121 verses] (prep) "From" is ek , which means 1) [of motion] "out of," "from," "by," "away from;" 2) [of place] "beyond," "outside of," "beyond;" 3) [of succession] "after," "from;" 4) [of rest] "on," "in," 5) [of time] "since," "from," "at," "in;" 7) [of materials] "out of," "made from;" 7) cause, instrument, or means "by." It is also used to describe the author or means "by" which something is done, especially with passive verbs.-- The Greek preposition translated as "from" means "out of" or "from." The word has a number of different meanings based upon its context, but it indicates separation "from" something rather than being a part "of "it like "of" does. It is also used to describe the author or means "by" which something is done, especially with passive verbs.

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. As an object of a preposition, the genitive indicates movement away or a position away from something.

μεριμνῶν [6 verses]  (part sg pres act neut nom) "With taking thought" is merimanao which means to "care for", "be anxious about", "meditate upon", "to be cumbered with many cares,"and "to be treated with anxious care [passive]." There is an alternate spelling of this word listed separately, merimnao.

δύναται [61 verses](3rd sg pres ind mp) "Can" is the verb, dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities," "to be able," and "to be strong enough."

ἐπὶ [138 verses](prep) "On" 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."

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."  -- 

ἡλικίαν [2 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Stature" is helikia, which means "time of life", "age," "the prime of life", "manhood" or "maidenhood", "youthful passion", "those of the same age", "comrades", "time", "generation," and "stature [height as a sign of age]."

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.

προσθεῖναι [7 verses] (aor inf act) "Add" is prostithemi, which is formed from two root words that mean "to put towards" and means to "put to", "to hold close", "to apply medicine [to a wound]", "to hand over", "to give something more", "to impose upon", "to attribute to", "to add", "to agree", "to associate with", "to bring upon oneself," and "to apply to oneself."

πῆχυν [2 verses] (noun sg masc acc )"Cubit" is from pechys, "which means "forearm", "arm", "the centerpiece joining the two horns of the bow", "horns of the lyre", "crosspiece or bridge of a horn", "balance beam," and "distance from the point of the elbow to that of the middle finger," which was a little of 20 inches.

Wordplay: 

 A play of size against age. 

Related Verses: 

parallel comparison: 

This is the near parallel of Matthew 6:27

Front Page Date: 

Jul 3 2024