Jesus describes the apostles being captured, imprisoned, and brought before kings and governors.
Luke 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luke 21:18 But not a hair of your head will perish.
And a hair out of that head of yours? Never is it going to destroy itself.
The hair and the head are singular, but the "your" is plural. It is as if his audience share a single head.
"Perish" is the final word here, but "perish" would be a translation for the passive form of the verb that means "to destroy". The verb here is the middle voice so its sense is "destroy itself." This phrasing means that other people might destroy those hairs.
Our hair does destroy itself if we grow old.
But(WW) there shall not(CW) an hair of(CW) your (MW) head perish(CW) (WV).
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "but" should be something more like "and".
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "head" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- "Perish" is a better translation of the passive form, but this is not passive.
- WV -- Wrong Voice --This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for himself" or a "himself" as an object.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "but" should be something more like "and".
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "head" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- "Perish" is a better translation of the passive form, but this is not passive.
- WV -- Wrong Voice --This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for himself" or a "himself" as an object.
But -- (WW) This word doesn't mean "but". It is the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also". It is never has the sense of "but", which can be two other Greek words.
there -- 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.
not -- (CW) The "not" here is both of the Greek negatives used together. Greek has two negatives, one objective, one subjective. The use of both together is more extreme, like saying, "never" or literally, "you cannot really think". When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
an -- 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.
hair == "Hair" is the Greek word for both the hair of humans and animals.
of - (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "out of" or "from". The word also means "beyond", "on", "in", "since" or "by", based upon its context, but it indicates separation "from" something rather than being a part "of" it like "of" does. It is also used to describe the author or means "by" which something is done, especially with passive verbs.
your -- The word translated as "your" is plural addressing a group of Jesus's listeners. It appears after "head". The form has more meanings in Greek than the simple possessive. Because it is plural, the sense is "a part of all of you" since each person has their own hair on their own heads.
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.
head -- The term translated as "head", means "head" and "top" but also the completion of a thing (as we say, "bringing it to a head"). It is also a metaphor for life. "Losing your head" in Greek doesn't mean an emotional outburst, but being killed.
perish -- (CW) The word translated as "perish" means to destroy or demolish. The form is not passive but the middle form where the subject acts on itself or for itself. "Perish" is a better translation of the passive form, but this is not passive.
missing "itself" -- (MV) The middle voice of the verb indicates that the subject does something to, for, or by themselves.
But -- (WW) This word doesn't mean "but". It is the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also". It is never has the sense of "but", which can be two other Greek words.
not -- . -- (CW) The "not" here is both of the Greek negatives used together. Greek has two negatives, one objective, one subjective. The use of both together is more extreme, like saying, "never" or literally, "you cannot really think". When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
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.
hair -- "Hair" is the Greek word for both the hair of humans and animals.
of - (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "out of" or "from". The word also means "beyond", "on", "in", "since" or "by", based upon its context, but it indicates separation "from" something rather than being a part "of" it like "of" does. It is also used to describe the author or means "by" which something is done, especially with passive verbs.
your -- The word translated as "your" is plural addressing a group of Jesus's listeners. It appears after "head". The form has more meanings in Greek than the simple possessive. Because it is plural, the sense is "a part of all of you" since each person has their own hair on their own heads.
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.
head -- The term translated as "head", it means "head" and "top" but also the completion of a thing (as we say, "bringing it to a head"). It is also a metaphor for life. "Losing your head" in Greek doesn't mean an emotional outburst, but being killed.
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.
perish -- (CW) The word translated as "perish" means to destroy or demolish. The form is not passive but the middle form where the subject acts on itself or for itself. "Perish" is a better translation of the passive form, but this is not passive.
missing "itself" -- (MV) The middle voice of the verb indicates that the subject does something to, for, or by themselves.
καὶ (conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and" or "but". 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".
θρὶξ ( noun sg fem nom ) "An hair" is thrix, which means "human hair", "a single hair", "a horses mane", "sheep's wool", "pig bristles", "a hair's breadth".
ἐκ (prep) "Of" is ek, which means 1) [of motion] "out of", "from", "by", "away from"; 2) [of place] "beyond", "outside of"; 3) [of succession] "after", "from"; 4) [of rest] "on", "in"; 5) [of time] "since", "from", "at", "in"; 5) [of materials] "out of", "made from".
τῆς [821 verses](article sg fem 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 ones".
κεφαλῆς ( noun sg fem gen ) "Head" is kephalê (kephale), which means "head of a man or beast", "an extremity", "the top", "the capital (top) of a pillar", "the coping of a wall", "the source of a rivalry" and, metaphorically, the "crowning" or "completion" of a thing.
ὑμῶν (pron 2nd pl gen) "Your" is humon, the plural possessive form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you".
οὐ μὴ (partic) "Never" is ou me, the two forms of Greek negative used together. Ou is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. Mê (me) is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no". As οὐ (ou) negates fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective.
ἀπόληται. ( verb 3rd sg fut ind mid ) "There shall...perish" is apollymi, which means "to demolish", "to lay waste", "to lose", "to perish", "to die", "to cease to exist" and "to be undone".