Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent,

Spoken to
audience

After saying that those the suffer tragedies are not worse "sinners" than others, that we are all the same, none owing more than another.

KJV

Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

NIV

Luke 13:5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

LISTENERS HEARD

Certainly not, I tell you! Instead, when you will not change your minds, you all in the same way will destroy yourselves . 

LOST IN TRANSLATION

In translated, this verse looks just like Luke 13:3, but there are two changes in the Greek that are hidden. The verb mistanslated as "repent" is a changed in tense from the present tense to the "at some time" Greek tense that can be translated as past, present, or future. However, the form here is also a future indicative form, pushing it more in that direction. So the context of this verse is changed to the future.

The one vocabulary word that is switched out was the setup for the punchline.  It is the word meaning "equally" that is translated as "likewise" but the change indicates a meaning of "in the same way."

The actual punchline is the last word, as usual. It doesn't say "will perish" as translated. It says "might destroy yourselves." It is a possibility and one they do to themselves.

MY TAKE

We can change from being stupid as long as we all do it together.

GREEK ORDER

οὐχί,               λέγω  ὑμῖνἀλλ᾽     ἐὰν       μὴ         μετανοήσητε
Certainly not, I tell  you!  Instead, when   don't      you change your minds,

πάντες ὡσαύτως              ἀπολεῖσθε
all        in the same way you will destroy yourselves.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5

I tell you, nay(CW)! But(CW) unless you repent(CW), you too(WW) will all perish(WV).

  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "nay" does not capture the specific meaning of the word, which is more extreme.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" is not the common word usually translated as "but" and works differently.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "repent" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "too" should be something more like "likewaise."
  • WT --Wrong Tense - The tense of this verb is not the future tense.
  • WV  --Wrong Voice - The verb in the middle voice requires the concept of "self" as its object.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5

I tell you, no(CW)! But(CW) unless you repent(CW), you too(WW) will all perish(WV).

  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "no" does not capture the specific meaning of the word, which is more extreme.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" is not the common word usually translated as "but" and works differently.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "repent" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "too" should be something more like "likewaise."
  • WT --Wrong Tense - The tense of this verb is not the future tense.
  • WV  --Wrong Voice - The verb in the middle voice requires the concept of "self" as its object.
EACH WORD of KJV

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the following verb.

tell -- The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak," but it also means "to teach," which seems to be the way Christ uses it more frequently. It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself." Christ usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching. The form of the verb could also be a possible action, "might tell" or "should tell."

you,  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc.

Nay: -- The word translated as "not" is a different form of the usual Greek negative of fact meaning "no truly," "assuredly not," "not however," "nevertheless," and "notwithstanding." This word can have a reversing effect, making a negative into a positive, with questions. Used in questions where an affirmative answer is expected. Used in answers where a "yes" must be supplied. Perhaps best translated as an "isn't it?" at the end of the sentence.  The fact that ancient Greek has no clear verb form for questions makes interpreting it difficult.

but, -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus almost always uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this," with a positive one, "instead this."

except - - "Except" is from a phrase that literally means "when not". In English, we say "unless" and "except" to capture this idea. The negative used is the one of subjective opinion, used with when/if clauses. It does not negate the verb. Here, however, it works better as "when not."

ye  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc.

repent, -- (CW) The word translated as "repent" has nothing to do with sin or, generally, with religion or asking for forgiveness. The Greek word translated as "repent" has a primary meaning of understanding something after the fact, with the sense of seeing it is too late. Its specific meaning is to "understand afterward," as seeing the truth after a mistake is made. From this idea, it comes to mean to change your mind, shifting your perspective.

ye  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc.

shall -- (WT) This "shall" indicates the future tense, but this tense of this verb is the present. 

all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way," "on every side," and "altogether."

likewise - The adverb translated as "likewise" means "in like manner," and "just so." It is literally "this the same." There is a more common way of saying "likewise," but Jesus seems to use this one to emphasize repeated actions so it is used here to describe a repeated line. This is the word Jesus changed in this verse from version in Luke 13:3.

perish. -- (WV) The word translated as "perish" means to "destroy" or "demolish" and means "perish" in the passive. However, it can also mean to "lose" things. Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from." It is often used in the middle voice to describe people losing or destroying themselves. This verb is not the active or passive voice, but the middle voice where the subject acts on themselves, "destroy yourselves."

EACH WORD of NIV

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the following verb.

tell -- The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak," but it also means "to teach," which seems to be the way Christ uses it more frequently. It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself." Christ usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching. The form of the verb could also be a possible action, "might tell" or "should tell."

you,  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc.

no: -- The word translated as "not" is a different form of the usual Greek negative of fact meaning "no truly," "assuredly not," "not however," "nevertheless," and "notwithstanding." This word can have a reversing effect, making a negative into a positive, with questions. Used in questions where an affirmative answer is expected. Used in answers where a "yes" must be supplied. Perhaps best translated as an "isn't it?" at the end of the sentence.  The fact that ancient Greek has no clear verb form for questions makes interpreting it difficult.

But , -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus almost always uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this," with a positive one, "instead this."

unless - - "Unless " is from a phrase that literally means "when not". In English, we say "unless" and "except" to capture this idea. The negative used is the one of subjective opinion, used with when/if clauses. It does not negate the verb. Here, however, it works better as "when not."

you-- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc.

repent, -- (CW) The word translated as "repent" has nothing to do with sin or, generally, with religion or asking for forgiveness. The Greek word translated as "repent" has a primary meaning of understanding something after the fact, with the sense of seeing it is too late. Its specific meaning is to "understand afterward," as seeing the truth after a mistake is made. From this idea, it comes to mean to change your mind, shifting your perspective.

you-- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc.

 too -- (WW)  The word translated as "likewise" is an adjective that means "like," "resembling," and "matching." This word doesn't mean "too." 

will -- (WT) This "will " indicates the future tense, but this tense of this verb is the present. 

all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way," "on every side," and "altogether."

perish. -- (WV) The word translated as "perish" means to "destroy" or "demolish" and means "perish" in the passive. However, it can also mean to "lose" things. Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from." It is often used in the middle voice to describe people losing or destroying themselves. This verb is not the active or passive voice, but the middle voice where the subject acts on themselves, "destroy yourselves."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

οὐχὶ [23 verses](adv) "Not" is ouchi, an adverb which means "no," "no truly," "assuredly not," "not however," "nevertheless," "notwithstanding," "yet," "still," "never yet," "for not," "indeed," "for surely not," "no,—certainly not," "for I don't suppose," and "for in no manner." Sometimes it is used to create negative questions where a positive answer is expected.

λέγω [264 verses](1st sg pres ind act) "I tell" is lego, which means "to recount," "to tell over," "to say," "to speak," "to teach," "to mean," "boast of," "tell of," "recite," nominate," and "command." When used with an object is has the sense of "call by name."  It has a secondary meaning "pick out," "choose for oneself," "pick up," "gather," "count," and "recount." A less common word that is spelled the same means "to lay," "to lay asleep" and "to lull asleep." This word is more about making a statement than participating in a discussion. Translating is as "stated" might distinguish it better. When two accusative objects are used, the sense is  "say of him this," or "call him this." The form Jesus uses to describe his own speaking can be either indicative, "I say/tell" or subjunctive, "I should/could say/tell."

ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of the pronoun of the second person in the indirect object form, "to you." As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed. With the "to be," it acts as a possessive, "yours."

ἀλλ᾽ [154 verses](conj) "But" is alla, which means "instead," "otherwise," "but," "still," "at least," "except," "yet," nevertheless," "rather," "moreover," and "nay." Followed by οὐ, the sense is "still," and "at least." Followed by γὰρ. the sense is "but really" and "certainly."  Following an εἰ μὴ, clause the sense is "if not" some word , related to time, "at least still," and without the reference time, "at least"

ἐὰν μή [30 verses](conj particle) "Except" is ean me, which literally means "when not," but it is special construction in Greek that is usually translated as "except" or "unless" in English. "When" 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. "Not" is (me) is the negative used in when/if-clauses.

μετανοήσητε  [9 verses] (verb 2nd pl fut/ind aor/subj act ) "Ye repent," is from  metanoeo, which literally means "to perceive afterward," "to perceive too late," "to change one's mind," "to change one's purpose," and "to repent."

πάντες [212 verses] (adj pl masc nom) "All" is pas, which means "all," "the whole," "every," "anyone," "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way," "on every side," "in every way," and "altogether."

ὡσαύτως. [5 verses](adv) "Likewise' is from hosautoswhich an adverb that means "in like manner," and "just so." It is literally "this the same." A form of "the same," αὐτός.

ἀπολεῖσθε  [43 verses] (verb 2nd pl fut ind mid) "Ye shall...perish" is apollymi, which means "to demolish," "to lay waste," "to lose" things, "to perish," "to die," "to cease to exist," and "to be undone." Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from."

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