Jesus says this to his followers telling them about he time of his return.
Luke 17:35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Luke 17:35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.
Two women will be milling upon the same thing, the one will be admitted/received, but the other will be let loose/set free.
The "women" here is added because the form of the verbal adjective describing them is female. The two verbs translated as "taken" and "left" have multiple meanings so that we cannot easily say which is positive and which is negative. The "taken" could mean "taken" as in the negative sense of "taken prisoner" or the positive sense of "invited." The "left" could mean "sent away" or "set free."
The Greek word translated as "shall be taken" is very uncommon in the Gospels, but very common in Greek though the spelling here is non-standard. One of the reasons it is so common in is that it has a wide variety of different uses. It is from a verb that means to "to receive from", "to take upon oneself", "to get control of", "to find", and "to undertake". The root word is very common in the Gospels and its meaning is both to "take" and to "receive" as we use the word "get" in English. The literal meaning is something to "to get with" or "to get from". It also has a number of special meaning such as "to invite" and "to take a prisoner." It doesn't quite mean "taken" except in the sense of taking prisoners. The ending is a future passive ending so "shall be admitted" comes closest.
The word translated as "shall be left" primarily means "to let go" "to pass by", or "to send away." This word is common both in Greek and in the Gospels. This word translated in a wide variety of ways, however, in the Gospels, "leave", "forgive", "suffer," (in the sense of "put up with") and "let" (in the sense of "to leave alone") in the New Testament.
Are they invited as a guest or taken prisoner?
Two women shall be grinding together(CW); the one shall be taken, and(WW) the other left.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not one of the common words usually translated as "together."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but."
Two women will be grinding grain(IW) together(CW); (MW) one will be taken and(WW) the other left.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "grain" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not one of the common words usually translated as "together."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" after "together" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but."
Two -- The "two" is the numeral, "two," which, like numbers in English, plays a lot of roles. Often, it acts as an adjective, but without a noun to modify, so it takes on the role of a noun. The Greek word is "duo," which of course means "a pair of singers" or "couple" like a married couple.
women - There is no "women" here in the Greek, but the female form of the following participle makes it clear that these are women.
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.
be -- The verb "be" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
grinding - The Greek verb translated as "grinding" is from a verb that means "to grind" and "to mill." It is in the form of an adjective, "grinding," in the feminine word form (hence "woman") and in the present tense, not the future.
together; -- (CW) This is from three Greek words that mean "upon the same thing," which is a way of saying together. The word "upon" means "on," "over," "upon," "for," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of." The"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 word meaning "same thing" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. Here it is neuter in the form of a subject or object of a verb or preposition. This is not one of the common words usually translated as "together."
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.
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.
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.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
taken,-- "Taken " is a Greek verb that means "to receive from," "to take upon oneself," "to take to oneself," and "to associate oneself." It also means "invite" which works well with all the verses in which Jesus uses it. It is a compound verb, with a prefix meaning "beside" and to common verb primarily meaning "get," but usually translated as in the KJV as "receive."
and -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "and" 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. This word doesn't mean "and."
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.
other -- The word translated as "another" means "one of two," "other," "another," or "different." It is an adjective used as a noun.
left. -- " The word translated as "left" primarily means "to let go," "to leave," "let loose," or "to send away." It can also mean "remit" a debt or "excuse" a fault. It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop. See this article for more.
Two -- The "two" is the numeral, "two," which, like numbers in English, plays a lot of roles. Often, it acts as an adjective, but without a noun to modify, so it takes on the role of a noun. The Greek word is "duo," which of course means "a pair of singers" or "couple" like a married couple.
women - There is no "women" here in the Greek, but the female form of the following participle makes it clear that these are women.
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.
be -- The verb "be" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
grinding - The Greek verb translated as "grinding" is from a verb that means "to grind" and "to mill." It is in the form of an adjective, "grinding," in the feminine word form (hence "woman") and in the present tense, not the future.
grain -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
together; -- (CW) This is from three Greek words that mean "upon the same thing," which is a way of saying together. The word "upon" means "on," "over," "upon," "for," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of." The"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 word meaning "same thing" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. Here it is neuter in the form of a subject or object of a verb or preposition. This is not one of the common words usually translated as "together."
missing "the " -- (MW) The untranslated word "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.
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.
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.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
taken,-- "Taken " is a Greek verb that means "to receive from," "to take upon oneself," "to take to oneself," and "to associate oneself." It also means "invite" which works well with all the verses in which Jesus uses it. It is a compound verb, with a prefix meaning "beside" and to common verb primarily meaning "get," but usually translated as in the KJV as "receive."
and -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "and" 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. This word doesn't mean "and."
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.
other -- The word translated as "another" means "one of two," "other," "another," or "different." It is an adjective used as a noun.
left. -- " The word translated as "left" primarily means "to let go," "to leave," "let loose," or "to send away." It can also mean "remit" a debt or "excuse" a fault. It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop. See this article for more.
ἔσονται [614 verses] ( verb 3rd pl fut ind mid) "Will be" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen," and "is possible." With the possessive (genitive) object, it means "is descended from," "is the type of," "belongs to," "is made of," "is a duty of," "is at the mercy of," or " is dependent on." With an indirect (dative) object, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed. "It is to him" becomes "it is his" or "he has it." With the preposition,"into" (εἰς), the sense is "consist of." When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."
δύο. [36 verses](numeral) "Two" is duo, which means the number "two," "a couple," and "a pair." -- The Greek word for "two" means "two" or a "couple."
ἀλήθουσαι [2 verses] (part pl pres act fem nom) "Grind" is from aletho, which is a form of aleo, which means "to grind," "to bruise," and "to mill."
ἐπὶ [138 verses](prep) Untranslated is 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,"after," "according to," and "by (this cause)." With verbs of perceiving, observing, and judging, it means "in the case of."
τὸ [821 verses](article sg neut nom/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." -
αὐτό [24 verses](pron/adj sg neut nom/acc) "Together" is auto, which means "it," the neuter pronoun as a subject or object. It also means "itself," and "the same." When used as a noun, it is preceded by a definite article, and it means "the same." An accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement. Event may show the amount of time.
ἡ [821 verses](article sg fem nom) "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."
μία [85 verses](adj sg fem nom) "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.
παραλημφθήσεται [8 verses]( verb 3rd sg fut ind pass) ) "Shall be taken" is from paralambano, which means "to receive from," "to take upon oneself," "to take to oneself," and "to associate oneself." -- "Taketh with" is a Greek verb that means "to receive from," "to take upon oneself," "to take to oneself," and "to associate oneself." It also means "invite" which works well with all the verses in which Jesus uses it. It is a compound verb, with a prefix meaning "beside" and to common verb primarily meaning "get," but usually translated as in the KJV as "receive."
ἡ [821 verses](article sg fem nom) "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." -- 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.
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"). In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then."
ἑτέρα [21 verses](adj sg fem nom) "Other" is heteros, which means "one or the other of two," "the second," "the secondary," "the minor," "other things [of like kind]," "another," "different," "other than," "different from," "other than should be," and "in another or a different way." As an adverb, it means "in one or the other way," "differently," "otherwise than should be," "badly," and "wrongly."
ἀφεθήσεται. [73 verses]( verb 3rd sg fut ind pass ) "left" is aphiemi, which means "to let fall," "to send away," "give up," "hand over," "to let loose," "set free," "to get rid of," "to leave alone," "to pass by," "to permit," and "to send forth from oneself." The dative is the person it is left to. The accusative object is what is left, given away, etc. It can also mean to "remit" a debt or "excuse" a fault. With an accusative person as an object and an infinite, it means "to permit one." A genitive object is a thing "let go of."
The verb "there shall be" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. When the verb "to be" appears early in the sentence before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are" or "they are".
The Greek word for "two" means "two" or a "couple."
The Greek verb translated as "two women shall be grinding" is from a verb that means "to grind" and "to mill." It is in the form of an adjective, "grinding", in the feminine word form (hence "woman") and in the present tense, not the future.
The phrase translated as "together" means "on the same". The word for "on" means "on", "over", "upon", "against", "before", "after", "during", "by" or "on." The word for "the" is the Greek article. The word for "same" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. The word means "the same" when used as an adjective.
The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
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. It appears here with the article, so "the one".
The Greek translated as "shall be taken" is very uncommon in the Gospels, but very common in Greek though the spelling in non-standard. One of the reasons it is so common in Greek is that it has a wide variety of different uses. It is from a verb that means to "to receive from", "to take upon oneself", "to get control of", "to find", and "to undertake". The root word is very common in the Gospels and its meaning is both to "take" and to "receive" as we use the word "get" in English. The literal meaning is something to "to get with" or "to get from". It also has a number of special meaning such as "to invite" and "to take a prisoner." It doesn't quite mean "taken" except in the sense of taking prisoners. The ending is a future passive ending so "shall be admitted comes closest, but this assumes the same word with a more standard spelling is used in the similar verses in Matthew (Matthew 24:40, Matthew 24:41).
The Greek word translated as "and" means "but", "however", and "on the other hand". Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. In the previous verse, the Greek conjunction "and" as used here.
The word translated as "the other " means "one of two", "other," or "different." It is an adjective used as a noun with an article before it, "the other". The article is separated from the adjective by the "however"
The word translated as "shall be left" primarily means "to let go" "to pass by", or "to send away." This word is common both in Greek and in the Gospels. This word translated in a wide variety of ways, however, in the Gospels, "leave", "forgive", "suffer," (in the sense of "put up with") and "let" (in the sense of "to leave alone") in the New Testament. This word figures largely in modern Christianity because it is translated as "forgive" in phrases such as "forgive sins". Here the form is passive, but in the similar verses in Matthew, it is the form where someone acts on themselves.
. The forms of the verbs are also interesting in terms of who does what do whom and do not completely agree with versions in Matthew (Matthew 24:40, Matthew 24:41), which are in the present tense.