A continuation of the discussion about why they should be vigilant.
Luke 12:56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
Luke 12:56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
You actors! the roles of the earth and the sky you have seen to evaluate. The season here, however? How have you e not seen to evaluate?
This verse starts with a play on words, "you actors, the roles of the earth and sky you have seen to evaluate." Actor know how to evaluate roles they have seen played out. The word translated as "face/appearance" also means "dramatic part" when referring to actors. The word translated as "can" and "know" means "have seen." What we have seen is what we know. In this context, the sense is both "have seen fit to evaluate" and "know how to evaluate."
Ye hypocrites(UW), ye can(WW) discern(WW,WF) the face of the sky and of the earth; but how [is it that(IP2)] ye do not discern(WW,WF) this(CW) (MWthe) time?
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "hypocrites" means "actor." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "can" should be something more like "know."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "discern" should be something more like "evaluate."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to check."
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "is it that" doesn't exist in the source. This is counted as 2 translation issues, not 1.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek missing word "know" after "not" is in the source we use today.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "discern" should be something more like "check."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to check."
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "this" should be either "here" or "there" in most situations.is toutou, which is a demonstrative pronoun that means "this", "here", "the nearer," and "the familiar."
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "hypocrites" means "actor." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "how" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "interpret" should be something more like "evaluate."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "but" after "earth" is not shown in the English translation.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "is it that" doesn't exist in the source. This is counted as 2 translation issues, not 1.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "how" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "interpret" should be something more like "evaluate."
- ICW --Confusing Word -- The "this" should be either "here" or "there" in most situations.
- W - Inserted Word-- The "present" doesn't exist in the source.
Ye - This is from the vocative form of the noun that means it names the person being talked to.
hypocrites, -- (UW) The Greek for "the hypocrites" is a great example of a word that has taken its English meaning from how it is used in the Bible rather than the original Greek. The primary meaning during Christ's era was "an actor." See this article on the word and its wordplay. Interestingly enough, it also means "interpreter," which is another separation between what is said and reality. Its literal meaning is "beneath separation," which describes the separation between fact and fiction, real action versus pretended action.
ye-- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
can-- (WW) The word translated as "can" 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. This word doesn't mean "can."
discern -- (WW, WF) The Greek verb translated as "discern" means "to assay", "to test", "to evaluate," "approve for political office", and "pass as fit for office". This is the core of the double meaning here, the play between "test" and "approve for office", the first applied to the weather, the second to Jesus himself. This is the first time this word is used by Jesus and it is only used twice. This word doesn't mean "discern." This is not an active verb but an infinitive.
the -- The word translated as "the" 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," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
face -- The Greek word translated as "face" means "face" "façade", "one's look", "dramatic part", and"character", but it also has many other more general meanings. When referring to actors, it specifically means the "dramatic part" and "character."
of -- This word "of" comes from the possessive form (genitive case) of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
the -- The word translated as "the" 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," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
sky .- The word translated as "sky" means simply the "sky," but it can also mean the "climate," or the "universe." It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article.
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."
of -- This word "of" comes from the possessive form (genitive case) of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
the -- The word translated as "the" 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," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
earth; -- The word translated as "earth" means "ground," "land," "country," and "dirt." Translated as "earth," it refers to the physical planet, not society, which Jesus describes as the world. See this article for more on these words.
but -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "yet," "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.
how -- "How" is the adverb that means "how," "by any means," and "I suppose." This is a common interrogatory pronoun used by Jesus.
is it that -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English.
not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
missing "know" -- (OS) The untranslated word "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.
discern -- (WW, WF) The Greek verb translated as "discern" means "to assay", "to test", "approve for political office", and "pass as fit for office". This is the core of the double meaning here, the play between "test" and "approve for office", the first applied to the weather, the second to Jesus himself. This is the first time this word is used by Jesus and it is only used twice. This word doesn't mean "discern."This is not an active verb but an infinitive.
this -- (CW) The word translated as "this" means "from here" "from there" or "this/that thing/person here/there." As a pronoun by itself, it means "this here" but it can be shortened to just "this." The Bible usually translates it as the adjective "this" when it appears after words modifying them, which is confusing because the definite article, with which it is often used before the word, also can mean "this." It works better as "here," which is how Jesus usually uses it, but it can also mean "there." It often comes after the noun, emphasizing it, "this thing here."
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. MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "word" is not shown in the English translation.
time? -- "The time" is a noun that means "due measure," "season," "opportunity," "time," and "profit."
You -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
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.
how -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
interpret -- (WW) The Greek verb translated as "interpret " means "to assay", "to evaluate," "to test", "approve for political office", and "pass as fit for office". This is the core of the double meaning here, the play between "test" and "approve for office", the first applied to the weather, the second to Jesus himself. This is the first time this word is used by Jesus and it is only used twice. This word doesn't mean "interpret."
the -- The word translated as "the" 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," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
appearance -- The Greek word translated as "face" "façade", "one's look", "dramatic part", and"character", but it also has many other more general meanings. When referring to actors, it specifically means the "dramatic part" and "character." When referring to actors, it specifically means the "dramatic part" and "character."
of -- This word "of" comes from the possessive form (genitive case) of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
the -- The word translated as "the" 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," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
sky .- The word translated as "sky" means simply the "sky," but it can also mean the "climate," or the "universe." It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article.
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."
of -- This word "of" comes from the possessive form (genitive case) of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
the -- The word translated as "the" 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," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
earth; -- The word translated as "earth" means "ground," "land," "country," and "dirt." Translated as "earth," it refers to the physical planet, not society, which Jesus describes as the world. See this article for more on these words.
missing "but " -- (MW) The untranslated word "but" means "but," "yet," "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.
How -- "How" is the adverb that means "how," "by any means," and "I suppose." This is a common interrogatory pronoun used by Jesus.
is it that -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English.
n't -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
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.
how -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
interpret -- (WW) The Greek verb translated as "interpret " means "to assay", "to evaluate," "to test", "approve for political office", and "pass as fit for office". This is the core of the double meaning here, the play between "test" and "approve for office", the first applied to the weather, the second to Jesus himself. This is the first time this word is used by Jesus and it is only used twice. This word doesn't mean "interpret." This is not an active verb but an infinitive.
this -- (CW) The word translated as "this" means "from here" "from there" or "this/that thing/person here/there." As a pronoun by itself, it means "this here" but it can be shortened to just "this." The Bible usually translates it as the adjective "this" when it appears after words modifying them, which is confusing because the definite article, with which it is often used before the word, also can mean "this." It works better as "here," which is how Jesus usually uses it, but it can also mean "there." It often comes after the noun, emphasizing it, "this thing here."
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. MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "word" is not shown in the English translation.
present -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
time -- "" is a noun that means "due measure," "season," "opportunity," "time," and "profit."
ὑποκριταὶ [18 verses](noun pl masc voc) "Hypocrites" is hypokrites, which means "an interpreter," "an actor," "a stage player," and "a dissembler."
τὸ [821 verses](article sg neut nom/acc) "The" 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."
πρόσωπον [8 verses] (noun sg neut nom/acc) "Face" is prosopon, which means "face", "countenance." "in front", "facing", "front", "façade", "one's look", "dramatic part", "character", "in person", "in bodily presence", "legal personality", "person," and "feature [of the city, of a person]."
τῆς [821 verses](article sg fem gen) "The" 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."
γῆς [59 verses](noun sg fem gen) "Earth" is ge, which means "the element of earth," "land (country)," "arable land," "the ground," and "the world" as the opposite of the sky. Like our English word "earth," it means both dirt and the planet.
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."
τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen) "The" 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."
οὐρανοῦ [111 verses] (noun sg masc gen) "Heaven" is the Greek ouranos, which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky," "heaven as the seat of the gods," "the sky," "the universe," and "the climate." It was not the religious concept of heaven.
οἴδατε [38 verses (verb 2nd pl perf ind act ) "You can" 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. 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."
δοκιμάζειν, [2 verses]](verb pres inf act) "Discern" is from dokimazo , which means "to assay", "to test", "to prove for onesself", "put a person to the test", "approve", "sanction", "approve for political office", and "pass as fit for office".
τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc nom) 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." --
καιρὸν [21 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Time" is kairos, which means "due measure," "proportion," "fitness," "exact time," "season," "opportunity," "time," "critical times," "advantage," and "profit."
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is de which means "but," "yet," "however," 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."
τοῦτον [154 verses] (adj sg masc acc) "This" is toutos, (touto, toutou)which means "from here," "from there," "this [thing] there," or "that [person] here." In the neuter plural form, it is often used as the object of the verb to means "these things."
πῶς [36 verses](pron indecl form) "How" is pos, which means "how," "how in the world," "how then," "in any way," "at all," "by any mean," "in a certain way,"and "I suppose."
οὐκ [269 verses](adv) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The negative, οὐ, denies, is absolute, and objective.
οἴδατε [38 verses (verb 2nd pl perf ind act ) "You can" 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. 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."
δοκιμάζειν, [2 verses]](verb pres inf act) "Discern" is from dokimazo , which means "to assay", "to evaluate," "to test", "to prove for onesself", "put a person to the test", "approve", "sanction", "approve for political office", and "pass as fit for office". -- The Greek verb translated as "discern" means "to assay", "to test", "approve for political office", and "pass as fit for office". This is the core of the double meaning here, the play between "test" and "approve for office", the first applied to the weather, the second to Jesus himself. This is the first time this word is used by Jesus and it is only used twice.
The word translated as "discern" means "to test" when applied to the weather and "specifically "to test for office" when applied to Jesus. It is coupled with a word translated as "time" that means "season" when applied to time and "fitness" when applied to a person.
A different word for "discern" is used in Matthew 16:3. The word for "time" follows this verb, completing the wordplay, but in English translation the "face" phrase that comes before separates the two words.