Luke 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

Spoken to
Apostles

Jesus describes the apostles being captured, imprisoned, and brought before kings and governors.

KJV

Luke 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

NIV

Luke 21:13 And so you will bear testimony to me.

LISTENERS HEARD

It will turn out well for you as a proof.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The Greek verb translated as "turn to" and "bear" means "result from", and "turn out well". The sense could be "it will result from you as testimony" or "it will turn out well for you as testimony." Given the negative feeling of the last two verses, it seems that Jesus would offer something more positive like the second version.  The second, more positive sense, seems more likely given the next verses as well. 

MY TAKE

We all pray that our work will turn out well for everyone. 

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page)
GREEK ORDER

 

ἀποβήσεται                ὑμῖν      εἰς  μαρτύριον.
It will turn out well for you      as  a proof.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
1

And(OS) it shall turn to you for a testimony.

  • OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "and" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.

 

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
1

And(IW) so(IW) you(WW) will bear (MW) testimony to me.

  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "so" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "you" should be something more like "it."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "for"  after "bear" is not shown in the English translation. "for" is also used in an uncommon way
EACH WORD of KJV

And -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as this in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used. 

it -- This is from the third-person, singular 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.

turn -- "Turn" is a verb that literatlly means to " step off from". It is a word used uniquely here. The meaning  depends on what the subject is since it could refer to either the various calamities in preceding verses or the final one of being taken to kings and governors.  It is used most commonly to mean "disembark", and "go away". However, of events it means "result from", "turn out". When no adjective is used, the sense is positive, "turn out well". The form of this verb can be either the future tense or something that possibly happens. You may notice that verbs that have this dual form, most do not, seem to have been used throughout this section of prophecy.  Jesus's desire to use the fight form often determines his use of uncommon verbs.

to -- 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. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with,"  "in,"   "of,"  "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.

you -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural.  This form is used for nine different purposes. The dative case has several uses in ancient Greek 1) the indirect object of an action ("Matthew gave his Gospel...to all.") 2) the instrumental dative ("Matthew wrote...with a pen.") 3) the location (in time or place) dative (...in Judea.") 4) to declare a purpose (]..as a testimony"), 5) a benefit ( "...for our benefit"); 6) possession ("...of his own") 7) an agent ("...by himself") and 8) a comparison ("...as the longest") 9) area of affect ("in the sphere of men"). The question is which of these roles does this form play here? Several are possible.

for -- The word translated as "for" is also used in an uncommon way.The most common use of this preposition is to mean "into (of place)." The most likely meanings are "in regard to" (to express relation) and "for" (of purpose or object).

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

testimony -- The only simple word here is the final one, "testimony" which is the Greek word for "testimony" or "proof." 

EACH WORD of NIV

And so you will bear testimony to me.

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

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

you -- (WW) This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb. This word doesn't mean "you."  

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.

bear -- "Turn" is a verb that literatlly means to " step off from". It is a word used uniquely here. The meaning  depends on what the subject is since it could refer to either the various calamities in preceding verses or the final one of being taken to kings and governors.  It is used most commonly to mean "disembark", and "go away". However, of events it means "result from", "turn out". When no adjective is used, the sense is positive, "turn out well". The form of this verb can be either the future tense or something that possibly happens. You may notice that verbs that have this dual form, most do not, seem to have been used throughout this section of prophecy.  Jesus's desire to use the fight form often determines his use of uncommon verbs.

missing "for"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "into (of place)." The most likely meanings are "in regard to" (to express relation) and "for" (of purpose or object).

testimony -- The only simple word here is the final one, "testimony" which is the Greek word for "testimony" or "proof." 

to -- 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. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with,"  "in,"   "of,"  "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.

you -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural.  This form is used for nine different purposes. The dative case has several uses in ancient Greek 1) the indirect object of an action ("Matthew gave his Gospel...to all.") 2) the instrumental dative ("Matthew wrote...with a pen.") 3) the location (in time or place) dative (...in Judea.") 4) to declare a purpose (]..as a testimony"), 5) a benefit ( "...for our benefit"); 6) possession ("...of his own") 7) an agent ("...by himself") and 8) a comparison ("...as the longest") 9) area of affect ("in the sphere of men"). The question is which of these roles does this form play here? Several are possible.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

ἀποβήσεται [1 verse]( verb 3rd sg fut ind mid) "Shall turn" is apobaino, which means to " step off from", "disembark", "go away", of events "result from", "turn out well"," of people "prove to be so", and of space "extending".

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

εἰς (prep) "For" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)", "until (of time)", "as much as (of measure or limit)", "as far as (of measure or limit)", "towards (to express relation)", "in regard to (to express relation)", "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."

μαρτύριον. ( noun sg neut acc ) "Testimony" is martyrion, which means "testimony," and "proof."

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