Luke 17:22 The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days

Spoken to
Apostles

Jesus says this to his followers after answering the Pharisees who asked when the kingdom of God shall come. 

KJV

Luke 17:22 The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.

NIV

Luke 17:22 The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.

LISTENERS HEARD

Days will show up when you long to see one of the days of this child of the man, and you will not observe for yourselves.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The point of this verse is a change in the Greek verbs both translated as "see." The first is the common word translated as "see." The second means "observe" but its root is the Greek word for "eye" so the sense is more "see with your own eyes." The form is the middle voice indicating that the apostles will not do it for themselves. This could refer to the time after the resurrection or seeing him by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

MY TAKE

We can perceive things that we don't see with the eyes.

GREEK ORDER

 

Ἐλεύσονται   ἡμέραι ὅτε    ἐπιθυμήσετε μίαν    τῶν ἡμερῶν     τοῦ υἱοῦ   τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἰδεῖν 
will show up, days     when you long       one  of the days       of this child of the man           to see 

καὶ  οὐκ ὄψεσθε.
and not  you will observe for yourselves.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
4

The days will come, when ye shall desire(CW) to see one of the days of the Son of (MW) man, and ye shall not see(CW,WV) it.

  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "desire".
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "man" is not shown in the English translation. 
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "see" does not capture the word's specific meaning. 
  • WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for yourselves" or a "yourselves" as an object.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
8

The(IW) time(WN) is(WT) coming(WF) when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of (MW) Man, but(WW) you will not  see(CW,WV) it.

  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "the" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WN  --Wrong Number- The word "time" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The "is" indicates the present tense but the tense is the future.
  •  WF -- Wrong Form -  This is not a participle, but an active verb, "come". 
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "man" is not shown in the English translation. 
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "but" should be something more like "and".
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "see" does not capture the word's specific meaning. 
  • WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for yourselves" or a "yourselves" as an object.
EACH WORD of KJV

The -- There is no Greek article "the" here in the source, but the noun is plural and in English, a definite article "the/this/that/theses/those" is used before plural nouns in phrases like this.

days -- The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time", in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime".

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

come,-- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Jesus usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start", "come" or "go", but it is more like our phrase "being underway". Technically, it is in the middle voice meaning the subject acts on himself. In English, this is assumed in our words "come" and "go". Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.

 when - "When" is from an adverb/conjunction that means "when", "as when", "at the time when" and "sometimes".

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

shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

desire  -- (CW) "Desire" is a Greek verb that means "to set one's heart upon", "to desire", "to covet" and "too long for". The verb indicates heat and passion, but not sexual passion (see this article about the Greek root of this word meaning "chest")  Jesus uses this word five times, always in reference to hunger and thirst except for here. This is not the word usually translated as "desire".

to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.

see  -- The verb translated as "see" means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive". In the past perfect tense, it means "to know", and that sense of knowing gives this word a sense of seeing and understanding. 

one -- The Greek word translated as "one " means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same". As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

 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. 

days -- The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time", in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime".

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. 

Son -- The word translated as "son" is the Greek word for "son", "scion", "heir" or "descendant". Like most male words, it can be used in the plural as a generic term for both sexes when they are descendants of someone. It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations.  More about it in this article. 

  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.

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. 

man,  - The Greek word for "man" means "man", "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men", "people" and "peoples". 

 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".

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

shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into 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. 

 see -- (CW) "See" is a verb that means "to see", "to behold", "to look", "to aim at", "to look towards" and similar meanings. It is not one of the common words for simply saying"see". Christ usually uses this word to refer to seeing something symbolical as we might say, "envision". Jesus uses this verb in a specific way,  in the future tense and the middle voice. The middle voice means that the subject is acting for or by themselves so "will behold for yourself". However, it also has the same root as the Greek word "eye", so "will behold with your own eyes" comes the closest. It is a light-hearted way to make a promise about the future. 

missing "yourselves"-- (WV) A phrase is necessary because the form of the previous verb is a middle voice, which means that the subject is to  act on "yourself", "for yourself" or "by yourself". 

 it. -- 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.

EACH WORD of NIV

The -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. It is justified in the KJV version because "days" is plural. 

time -- (WN) The Greek word translated as "time" means "days" and refers specifically to the "daytime". This word is not singular but plural. 

is -- (WT) This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb. This verb is in the future tense so "has" is correct. 

coming ,-- (WF) The word translated as "coming" primarily means "to start out" but Jesus usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start", "come" or "go", but it is more like our phrase "being underway". Technically, it is in the middle voice meaning the subject acts on himself. In English, this is assumed in our words "come" and "go." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more. This is not a participle, but an active verb. WF -- Wrong Form -  This is not a participle, but an active verb. 

 when - "When" is from an adverb/conjunction that means "when", "as when", "at the time when" and "sometimes".

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

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

long -- "Long" is a Greek verb that means "to set one's heart upon", "to desire", "to covet" and "too long for". The verb indicates heat and passion, but not sexual passion (see this article about the Greek root of this word meaning "chest")  Jesus uses this word five times, always in reference to hunger and thirst except for here. This is not the word usually translated as "desire".

to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.

see  -- The verb translated as "see" means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive". In the past perfect tense, it means "to know". and that sense of knowing gives this word a sense of seeing and understanding. 

one -- The Greek word translated as "one", means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single", and "one and the same". As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

 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. 

days -- The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime".

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. 

Son -- The word translated as "son" is the Greek word for "son", "scion", "heir" or "descendant". Like most male words, it can be used in the plural as a generic term for both sexes when they are descendants of someone. It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations.  More about it in this article. 

  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.

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. 

Man,  - The Greek word for "man" means "man", "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men", "people" and "peoples".

but -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "but" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis, "even", "also" and "just". This word doesn't mean "but".  

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

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into 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. 

 see -- (CW) "See" is a verb that means "to see", "to behold", "to look", "to aim at", "to look towards" and similar meanings. It is not one of the common words for simply saying"see". Christ usually uses this word to refer to seeing something symbolical as we might say, "envision". Jesus uses this verb in a specific way,  in the future tense and the middle voice. The middle voice means that the subject is acting for or by themselves so "will behold for yourself." However, it also has the same root as the Greek word "eye", so "will behold with your own eyes" comes the closest. It is a light-hearted way to make a promise about the future. 

missing "yourselves"-- (WV) A phrase is necessary because the form of the previous verb is a middle voice, which means that the subject is to act on "yourself", "for yourself" or "by yourself". 

 it. -- 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.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

Ἐλεύσονται [198 verses]( verb 3rd pl fut ind mid ) "Shall come" is erchomai, which means "to start", "to set out", "to come", "to go" and any kind of motion. It means both "to go" on a journey and "to arrive" at a place. 

ἡμέραι  [96 verses]( noun pl fem nom )"Days" is hemera, which, as a noun, means "day", "a state or time of life", "a time" (poetic), "day break" and "day time". It also has a second meaning, of "quiet", "tame" (animals), "cultivated" (crops) and "civilized" (people). 

ὅτε [19 verses](adv/conj) "When" is hote, which means "when", "as when", "at the time when" and "sometimes". 

ἐπιθυμήσετε [5 verses](verb 2nd pl fut ind act) "Ye shall desire" is epithymeo, which means "to set one's heart upon", "to desire", "to covet" and "to long for". The root of this word is thymos, (θυμός), which is the seat of passion and heat. The prefix means "upon".

μίαν [85 verses](noun sg fem acc) "One" is heis, which means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same". This noun/adjective is irregular, having a number of forms depending on gender and case. It is always singular.

τῶν [821 verses](article pl 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 word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones".

ἡμερῶν [85 verses](noun pl fem gen)"Days" is hemera, which, as a noun, means "day", "a state or time of life", "a time" (poetic), "day break" and "day time". It also has a second meaning, of "quiet", "tame" (animals), "cultivated" (crops) and "civilized" (people). 

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 word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones".

 υἱοῦ [158 verses](noun sg masc gen) "Of the Son" is huios, which means a "son", and more generally to refer to any descendant, of any generation. It can refer to male sons or descendants of both sexes, but not purely female descendants. It can and often does refer to adults who are not "children". When it refers to "sons" specifically, it should be translated that way, but when it can be applied to both sexes, the less familiar "descendant" is better than "children," especially since this word can refer to adults. It is often a reference to the role of "heir", but Jesus uses another word that specifically means "heir". Jesus also used it metaphorically to describe those who follow a way of thought or set of beliefs that descend from an individual.

τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen)  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 word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the one". 

ἀνθρώπου [209 verses](noun sg masc gen) "Of man" is anthropos, which is "man", and, in plural, "mankind". It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate. Used as a form of address, it is a bit contemptuous, "sir".

ἰδεῖν [166 verses] ( verb aor inf act ) "To see" is 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".

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". 

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. 

ὄψεσθε.[13 verses] ( verb 2nd pl fut ind mid ) "Ye...shall see"  is optanomai, which means "to see", "to behold", "to look", "to aim at", "to look towards", "to have sight", "to take heed" (in transitive), "to behold", "to perceive", "to observe", "to look out for" and "to be seen" (passive). It is a metaphor for mental sight, "to perceive", "to discern", "to see visions", "to appear in visions" (passion) and "to interview".

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings

"When will we see? See the realm of the Divine?" one of his students asked after the Pharisees left.

"They shall show up," the Master explained. "Days when you might want, one of these days of this child of that man, to see and you will not look for yourselves."

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