Luke 18:29...There is no man that hath left house, or parents,

Spoken to
Apostles

After Peter points out that Jesus's apostles have left everything for him. 

KJV

Luke 18:29 Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,

NIV

Luke 18:29 Truly I tell you, no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God

LISTENERS HEARD

Truly, I tell you that no one exists who left a home or a wife or brothers or parents or offspring on account of the realm of the Divine...

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The "verily/truly" phrase is used frequently by Jesus as a personal signature. Its vocabulary and meaning are discussed in detail in this article. The word translated is as "verily" is an exclamation that means "truly" or "of a truth". It is an untranslated Aramaic word that is echoed by a similar Greek word, and a good piece of evidence that Christ taught in Greek, not Aramaic.

There is a "that" after the verily phrases that is ignored in both English translations. 

The "no one" is the subject of the verb "to be" after the "verily phrase". In this case, it should be translated as "no one exists who left...". The "left" is the simple past, not an action completed in the past, the past perfect as translated. The action, the apostles leaving their families is still going on. 

The house is the feminine form of the word which fit better as "home".

MY TAKE

We all leave home to grown up. 

GREEK ORDER

 

Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι  οὐδεὶς  ἔστιν  ὃς   ἀφῆκεν οἰκίαν γυναῖκα ἀδελφοὺς γονεῖς τέκνα εἵνεκεν τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ,
Truly, I tell  you  that no one exists who left      a home or a wife or brothers or parents or offspring on account of the realm of the Divine...

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
4

Verily I say unto you, (MW) There is no man(CW) that hath(WT) left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of (MW) God's sake,

  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" after "you" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "man".
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is the simple past.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation. 
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
6
“Truly I tell you (MW) (MW) no one who has(WT) left home or wife or brothers or(IW) sisters(IW) or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of (MW) God
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" after "you" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "exists" after "you" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "has" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is the simple past.
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "or" doesn't exist in the source.
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "sisters" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation. 
EACH WORD of KJV

Verily  -- The word translated as "verily" is the Hebrew word that means "truly" or "certainly", but it sounds like the Greek word with the same meaning. In Greek, the word also means "to reap."

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

say -- 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.

unto -- This word "to" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.

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

missing "that"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what", "because", "since", "seeing that", "that" and "wherefore". Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because" in statements that seem like an answer to a question because of the change of context. It means "because" when answering a "why" question and "that" when explaining a "what" question. 

There -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

is -- The verb "there is" 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.  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". However, here it follows the subject, "no one" or "no man". The sense is "no one exists".

no man -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "no man" also means "no one", "nothing" and other negative nouns depending on the form. The form here is masculine, singular. This "man" is from the masculine, singular form of the previous word but that can refer to anyone.  It is not the word "man".

that  - The word translated as "that" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this", "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that"), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause. In English, when referring to a person, "who" works best.

hath -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is in the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here. 

left -- The word translated as "hath left" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away". This same word is usually translated as "leave", "forgive", "suffer," and "let" in the New Testament.

house, -- The Greek word translated as "house", is any dwelling place but not exclusively a separate house. It means the household or clan that lives in the building as well.

or  -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi!" or the adverb meaning "in truth".

parents -- "Parents" is a word that means "progenitor" and can refer to parents or ancestors. In the Greek, "parents" comes after "brethren" and "wife".

or  -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi!" or the adverb meaning "in truth".

brethren -- The word translated as "brethren" means a biological brother, any kinsmen, and more broadly and friend or associate.  In the Greek, it comes after "wife".

or  -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi!" or the adverb meaning "in truth".

wife -- The word translated as "wife" is  the Greek word that means "woman" (as opposed to a man), "wife", "spouse", "mortal woman" (as opposed to a goddess), and "female mate" (among animals). It is closer to our "female". The verb "let go" used here is not the same as the one that means "divorce", which is a word that means "let loose".

or  -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi!" or the adverb meaning "in truth".

children -- The word translated as "children" means "child" but in the most general sense of "offspring". Christ does not use it to refer specifically to children under seven, which is another term. See this article more about these words for "child".

for -- The word translated as "for...sake" means "on account of", "because", and "in consequence of".

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. 

 kingdom - The word translated as "the kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Christ does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" or "realm" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will.

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. 

God's -- The word translated as "of God's" means "God" and "deity". It is introduced with an article, so "the God". Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.

sake, -- The word translated as "for...sake" means "on account of", "because", and "in consequence of".

EACH WORD of NIV

Truly --  The word translated as "Truly" is the Hebrew word that means "truly" or "certainly", but it sounds like the Greek word with the same meaning. In Greek, the word also means "to reap".  

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

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

missing "that"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what", "because", "since", "seeing that", "that" and "wherefore". Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because" in statements that seem like an answer to a question because of the change of context. It means "because" when answering a "why" question and "that" when explaining a "what" question. 

missing "exists"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "is" 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.  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". However, here it follows the subject, "no one" or "no man". The sense is "no one exists".

 no one -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "no one" also means "no one", "nothing" and other negative nouns depending on the form. The form here is masculine, singular. This "man" is from the masculine, singular form of the previous word but that can refer to anyone. 

who - The word translated as "that" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this", "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause. In English, when referring to a person, "who" works best.

has  -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here. 

left -- The word translated as "has left" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away". This same word is usually translated as "leave", "forgive", "suffer" and "let" in the New Testament.

home , -- The Greek word translated as "home", is any dwelling place but not exclusively a separate house. It means the household or clan that lives in the building as well.

or  -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi!" or the adverb meaning "in truth".

wife -- The word translated as "wife" is the Greek word that means "woman" (as opposed to a man), "wife", "spouse", "mortal woman" (as opposed to a goddess) and "female mate" (among animals). It is closer to our "female". The verb "let go" used here is not the same as the one that means "divorce, which is a word that means "let loose".

or  -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi!" or the adverb meaning "in truth".

brothers -- The word translated as "brothers" means a biological brother, any kinsmen, and more broadly and friend or associate.  In the Greek, it comes after "wife".

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

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

or  -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi!" or the adverb meaning "in truth".

parents -- "Parents" is a word that means "progenitor" and can refer to parents or ancestors. In the Greek, "parents" comes after "brethren" and "wife".

or  -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi!" or the adverb meaning "in truth."

children -- The word translated as "children " means "child" but in the most general sense of "offspring". Christ does not use it to refer specifically to children under seven, which is another term. See this article more about these words for "child".

for the -- The word translated as "for the...sake" means "on account of", "because" and "in consequence of".

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. 

 kingdom - The word translated as "the kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Christ does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" or "realm" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will.

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. 

God's -- The word translated as "of God's" means "God" and "deity". It is introduced with an article, so "the God". Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.

sake, -- The word translated as "for...sake" means "on account of", "because" and "in consequence of".

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

Ἀμὴν (exclam) "Verily" is amen, which is the Hebrew, meaning "truly", "of a truth" and "so be it". It has no history in Greek of this meaning before the NT. However, this is also the infinitive form of the Greek verb amao, which means "to reap" or "to cut".

λέγω (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". 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".

ὑμῖν (pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you".

ὅτι (adv/conj) "That" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that", "seeing that" and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what", "because", "since" and "wherefore".

οὐδεὶς (adj sg masc nom) "No man" is oudeis which means "no one", "not one", "nothing", "naught", "good for naught" and "no matter".

ἔστιν (verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "There is" is eimi, which means "to be", "to exist", "to be the case", of circumstance and events "to happen", and "is possible".

ὃς (pro sg masc nom) "This" is hos, which means "this", "that", "he", "she", "which", "what", "who", "whosoever", "where", "for which reason" and many similar meanings.

ἀφῆκεν (verb 3rd sg imperf ind) "Hath left" is from aphiemi, which means "to let fall", "to send away", "give up", "hand over", "to let loose", "to get rid of", "to leave alone", "to pass by", "to permit" and "to send forth from oneself".

οἰκίαν (noun sg fem acc) "House" is from oikia, which means "house", "building" and "household".

(conj) "Or" is e which is a particle meaning "either", "or" or "than".

γυναῖκα ( noun sg fem acc ) "Wife" is gyne, which means "woman" (as opposed to man), "wife", "spouse", "mortal woman" (as opposed to a goddess), and "female mate" (among animals).

(conj) "Or" is e which is a particle meaning "either", "or" or "than".

ἀδελφοὺς (noun pl masc acc) "Brothers" is from adelphos (adelphos),which means "son of the same mother", "kinsman", "colleague", "associate" and "brother".

(conj)"Or" is e which is a particle meaning "either", "or" or "than".

γονεῖς ( noun pl masc acc ) "Parents" is goneus, which mean "progenitor" and can refer to parents or ancestors.

"Or" is e which is a particle meaning "either", "or" or "than".

τέκνα (noun pl neut acc) "Children" is from teknon, which means "that which is born", "child" and "the young".

ἕνεκεν (prep) "For...sake" is from heneka, which means "on account of", "as far as regards", "in consequence of" and "because".

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

βασιλείας (noun sg fem gen) "The kingdom" is basileia, which means "kingdom", "dominion", "hereditary monarchy", "kingly office", (passive) "being ruled by a king" and "reign".

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

θεοῦ, (noun sg masc gen) "God" is theos, which means "God", "divine" and "Deity".

parallel comparison

Again, we see a lot of differences in this three different versions of this verse. Here, the list of what is left is shorter and the ending more unique than versions in Matthew 19:29 and Mark 10:29.

Front Page Date