Luke 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels;

Spoken to
The Sadducees

After the Sadducees tell a story of a woman marrying seven brothers and asking whose wife she is in the resurrection which the Sadducess taught against. 

KJV

Luke 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

NIV

Luke 20:36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.

LISTENERS HEARD

For neither do they have the power to die still, for they are like messengers, and they are sons of divinity, sons existing.of this awakening.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

This word translated as "like angels"  is found nowhere else in ancient Greek, used only here to describe people awakened from death.  It "like messengers," where the Greek word for "messengers" later became the English word "angels." Jesus used it primarily to mean "messengers" but that word later came to mean "semi-divine" beings, which is clearly the meaning here. 

The word translated as as "of God" doesn't have its usual definite article, "the," before it. So the sense isn't "the Divinity" but simply divinity, "children of divinity." 

The word translated as "resurrection" meant "awakening" at the time. It didn't have a religious meaning as such, but Jesus defined is a awakening from the dead in the previous verse. 

MY TAKE

Go to sleep like men and wake up like angels.

GREEK ORDER

 

οὐδὲ    γὰρ ἀποθανεῖν ἔτι δύνανται,                         ἰσάγγελοι            γάρ εἰσιν,             
neither For  to die        still do they have the power.  like messengers,  for  they are

καὶ υἱοί   εἰσιν            θεοῦ         τῆς ἀναστάσεως υἱοὶ   ὄντες.
and sons they are of divinity, of this awakening.     sons existing.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
7

(MW) Neither can(CW, WV) they die(WF) any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the(IW) children of God, being the(IW) children of the resurrection(CW).

  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "because"  at the beginning of the sentence is not shown in the English translation. 
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence. The verb here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves. 
  • WV --Wrong Voice - The verb "can" is translated as active but it is passive either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves. This is not an active verb, but an infinitive. 
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "die" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to die."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "the" before "children" doesn't exist in the source.
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "the" before "children" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW --Confusing Word --  The word "resurrection" has a religious meaning that the Greek word didn't have.
and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "neither."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "because"  at the beginning of the sentence is not shown in the English translation. 
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence. The verb here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves. 
  • WV --Wrong Voice - The verb "can" is translated as active but it is passive either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves. This is not an active verb, but an infinitive. 
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "die" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to die."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "and"  after "angels" is not shown in the English translation. 
  •  IP - Inserted Phrase-- The " since they" doesn't exist in the source. 
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "being."
  • CW --Confusing Word --  The word "resurrection" has a religious meaning that the Greek word didn't have.
EACH WORD of KJV

Neither -- The Greek word for "neither" is an adverb that means "not at all" or "no even." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions.  The previous verse had a neither/nor construction and this seems to continue it, except for the next word, which is untranslated in the KJV.

missing "because"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why."  However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause." 

can -- (CW, WV) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. In English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. See this article. 

they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

die -- (WF) "Die" is a Greek verb that means "to die" and "to die off," but it's form is an infinitive "to die." This form goes with the verb "can," which really has the sense of "have the power to die." 

 any more -- "Any more" is an adverb that means "yet" and "still," "already,"  "longer," "no longer" (with a negative), "still" and "besides."  The sense is "no longer." This is one of those situations where a single Greek negative requires two negatives in English.

for -- The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why."  However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause."  This was the word untranslated in the previous verse.

they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

are -- The verb "are" 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.

 equal unto the angels  -- "Equal unto the angels" is an invented word, appearing only once in ancient Greek, here in the Gospels. It means "like an angel." It is created from isos, which means "equal" in size, strength, number, or rights and aggelos, which means "messenger" and "envoys." This phrase actually appears in previous clause, not in this one. We know this because the position of the "for" (see above) indicates the start of the clause.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as." Because of its position in the verse a "also" or "as" works better because the word doesn't join words, phrases, or clauses in any clear way.

are -- The verb "are" 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 form is the same as above, but the verb comes before the "and" so these verbs are not joined that conjunction. This word starts a new clause, "they are."

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

children -- The word translated as "children" means "son" and more generally "child" or "children." It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations. More about it in this article. It is not introduced by an article so "children" not "the children"

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.

God -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is not introduced by an article, which is how Jesus used it when referring to the one God. Instead, this has the sense of "divinity."

being -- The verb "being here is the common form of "to be" in Greek, but the form is that of an adjective modifying "children" below, so "existing" or "being" or "existent."

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

children -- The word translated as "children" means "son" and more generally "child" or "children." It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations. More about it in this article. It is not introduced by an article so "children" not "the children"

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. 

resurrection --. (CW) While the Greek word translated as "resurrection" is understood that way today, during Christ's time, it would have meant simply "a rising up" or "awakening." It was used to indicate someone standing up especially when awakening from sleep. The word "resurrection" has a religious meaning that the Greek word didn't have. 

EACH WORD of NIV

And-- (WW) The Greek word for "neither" is an adverb that means "not at all" or "no even." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions.  The previous verse had a neither/nor construction and this seems to continue it, except for the next word, which is untranslated in the KJV. This word doesn't mean "and."  

missing "because"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why."  However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause." 

they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

can -- (CW, WV) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. In English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. See this article. 

 no longer  -- " No longer" is an adverb that means "yet" and "still," "already,"  "longer," "no longer" (with a negative), "still" and "besides."  The sense is "no longer." This is one of those situations where a single Greek negative requires two negatives in English.

die -- (WF) "Die" is a Greek verb that means "to die" and "to die off," but it's form is an infinitive "to die." This form goes with the verb "can," which really has the sense of "have the power to die." 

 any more -- "Any more" is an adverb that means "yet" and "still," "already,"  "longer," "no longer" (with a negative), "still" and "besides."  The sense is "no longer." This is one of those situations where a single Greek negative requires two negatives in English.

for -- The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why."  However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause."  This was the word untranslated in the previous verse.

they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

are -- The verb "are" 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.

 like the angels  -- "Equal unto the angels" is an invented word, appearing only once in ancient Greek, here in the Gospels. It means "like an angel." It is created from isos, which means "equal" in size, strength, number, or rights and aggelos, which means "messenger" and "envoys." This phrase actually appears in previous clause, not in this one. We know this because the position of the "for" (see above) indicates the start of the clause.

missing "and "  -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as." Because of its position in the verse a "also" or "as" works better because the word doesn't join words, phrases, or clauses in any clear way.

They -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

are -- The verb "are" 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 form is the same as above, but the verb comes before the "and" so these verbs are not joined that conjunction. This word starts a new clause, "they are."

God -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is not introduced by an article, which is how Jesus used it when referring to the one God. Instead, this has the sense of "divinity."

's -- This word "'s"  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.

children -- The word translated as "children" means "son" and more generally "child" or "children." It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations. More about it in this article. It is not introduced by an article so "children" not "the children"

 since they ---- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.

are -- (WF) The verb "being here is the common form of "to be" in Greek, but the form is that of an adjective modifying "children" below, so "existing" or "being" or "existent." 

children -- The word translated as "children" means "son" and more generally "child" or "children." It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations. More about it in this article. It is not introduced by an article so "children" not "the children"

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. 

resurrection --. (CW) While the Greek word translated as "resurrection" is understood that way today, during Christ's time, it would have meant simply "a rising up" or "awakening." It was used to indicate someone standing up especially when awakening from sleep. The word "resurrection" has a religious meaning that the Greek word didn't have. 

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

οὐδὲ (partic) "Neither" is oude, which, as a conjunction, means "but not," "neither," and "nor." As an adverb, it means "not at all" and "not even."--

γὰρ (partic)  Untranslated is gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for," "since," and "as." In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what."

ἀποθανεῖν ( verb aor inf act ) "They die" is from apothnesko, which means "to die" and "to die off."

ἔτι (adv) "Any more" is eti, which means "yet" and "still" (with the Present), "already" (with the Past), "yet" and "longer" (with the Future), "no longer" (with a negative), and"still" and "besides" (of degree). -- 

δύνανται,(3rd pl pres ind mp ) "Can" is the verb, dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities," "to be able," and "to be strong enough."

ἰσάγγελοι [1 verse]( adj pl masc nom) "Equal unto angels" is isaggelos, which means "like an angel." It is an invented word from isos, which means "equal" in size, strength, number, or rights and aggelos, which means "messenger" and "envoys."  This word is found nowhere else in ancient Greek, used only to describe people awakened from death. It is just a coincidence that it resembles "is angels" in English. If you believe in coincidences.

γάρ (partic)  "For" is gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for," "since," and "as." In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what."

εἰσιν, ( verb 3rd pl pres ind act ) "They are" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen,"  and "is possible." (The future form is esomai. The 3rd person present indicative is "esti.")

καὶ (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."

υἱοί ( noun pl masc nom ) "The children" is huios, which means a "son," and more generally, a "child." It is used generally to refer to any male descendant. --

εἰσιν ( verb 3rd pl pres ind act ) "Is" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen,"  and "is possible." (The future form is esomai. The 3rd person present indicative is "esti.") -- The verb "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." 

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

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."  

ἀναστάσεως (noun sg fem gen) "Resurrection" is from anastasis, which means, "a standing up," "removal," "a rising up," "a setting up," and "rising from a seat." It is the noun form ofanistêmi, which means "to make stand up," "to raise," "to wake up," "to build up," "to restore," "to rouse to action," "to stir up," and "to make people rise."

υἱοὶ ( noun pl masc nom ) "The children" is huios, which means a "son," and more generally, a "child." It is used generally to refer to any male descendant. -- The word translated as "son" more generally means "child" or "children." It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations. Jesus also used it metaphorically to describe those who follow a way of thought or set of beliefs that descend from an individual. More about it in this article.

ὄντες. ( part pl pres act masc nom ) "Being" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen,"  and "is possible." 

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