Jesus describes the end of Jerusalem.
Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luke 21:25 There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.
And there will be omens in sun and moon, and stars; and upon the earth, a deadlock of peoples at an impasse, echoes of a sea and of rolling swells.
The first part about the omens in the sky is easy, and we tend to skip over the second part, the punchline, which is a difficult analogy about what is happening on earth during these omens. The biblical translations largely ignore the common meaning of the Greek words and their roles in the sentence.
Four of the words in this last line are only used by Jesus here. This indicates that he choose them specifically for their precise meaning. A literal translation of first part of this punchline is "a deadlock of peoples in an impasse." The words for "deadlock" and "impasse" are only used here, but they make sense. The word translated as "deadlock" here primarily means "holding together". When we add "impasse" at the end, the sense is that we are describing a deadlock among different people, holding them where they are. This is much closer to the translation of these words in the Bible verses as "distress/anguish" and "perplexity".
The last phase seems like it is an analogy for this deadlock, "echoes of a sea and of rolling swells." The "echoes" is from the Greek word that means "echo", which is the source word for our word "echo". It is used uniquely here. The "rolling swells" word is also used only here. It is a metaphor for restlessness, which is a common description of the sea in English. Jesus seems to be describing the deadlock among peoples as an echo of a restless sea.
Trouble times toss us around like swells on a restless sea.
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the(IW) stars; and upon the earth distress(CW) of nations(CW), with perplexity; the(IW) sea and the(IW) waves roaring;
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "the" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- A different Greek word was translated as "distress" two verses ago.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This word is translated as both "nations" and "Gentiles" in the previous verse.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "the" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "the" doesn't exist in the source.
(MW) There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations(CW, WF) will be in(IW) anguish(CW) and(WW) perplexity [at the(IP)] roaring and tossing of the(IW) sea.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" at the beginning of the sentence is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This word is translated as both "nations" and Gentiles in the previous verse.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not a subject but a possessive.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "in" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "anguish" doesn't precisely mean "anguish".
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "with".
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "at the" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "the" doesn't exist in the source.
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). This word is repeated in this verse four times.
there -- This is from the third-person, plural 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.
be -- The verb "be" here is the future 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 in the plural, "there shall be."
signs -- Sign" is Greek word that means a "mark", "sign" or "proof". The word in Greek is used specifically to means a sign from the gods and in that sense, it means "omen", "portent" and "constellations".
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with" or "among".
the -- The translation shows an article "the" before "sun", but there are not articles in the Greek because the sun is unique. In Greek, the article identifies a specific instance, is more like "this". However, it English, this works differently.
sun -- "Sun" is from the noun that means the "sun", "life", "day", "sunshine" and so on.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). This word is repeated in this verse four times.
the -- The translation shows an article "the" before "moon", but there are not articles in the Greek because the moon is unique. In Greek, the article identifies a specific instance, is more like "this". However, it English, this works differently.
moon, -- "Moon" is from the noun that means "moon", "full moon", "month" and is the name of the goddess of the moon.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). This word is repeated in this verse four times.
the -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
stars -- "Stars" is our first unique word. Another word for "stars" is used elsewhere in the Gospels such as Mark 13:25. This word means "the stars" and in the sense of the entire field of stars in the sky as opposed to the plural of the word for single stars. It is the word from which we get astronomy in English.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). This word is repeated in this verse four times.
upon -- The word translated as "upon" means "on", "over", "upon", "against", "before", "after", "during", "by" or "on."
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.
earth -- The word translated as "earth" means "ground" and "dirt". Translated as "earth", it refers to the physical planet, not society, which Christ describes as the world. See this article for more on these words.
distress -- (CW) "Distress" is another unique word, but it means "holding together", "maintenance", "self maintenance", "contraction", "conflict" in battle, "continuity", "meeting place" and it is a metaphor for "distress" and "affliction". Though the noun is only used here, the verb form is used by Jesus to mean "hold together" elsewhere in Gospels. A different Greek word was translated as "distress" two verses ago.
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.
nations -- (CW) The word translated as "nations", means "a group of people living together", "a nation", "a tribe" or a cast of people. Later it came to mean "barbarous nations" similar to our idea of ethnic people. It is in the same form as the "them" above, so "to them" or "for them". This word is translated as both "nations" and Gentiles in the previous verse.
with -- The word translated as "with" primarily means "in" but it also means "within", "with" or "among."
perplexity -- "Perplexity" is another unique word that means literally, "impasse", of places "difficulty of passing", of things "difficulty", "straits", "impossibility", of persons "difficulty of dealing with or getting at", "being at a loss", "embarrassment", "perplexity", "distress", "discomfort" in illness, "lack" of a person or thing, "question for discussion", "difficulty" and "puzzle". The literal meaning of the word is "no passing".
the -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
sea -- The "sea" is from the Greek word for "sea" and "sea water." Water is Christ's symbol for the temporary, physical reality.
the -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
waves -- "Waves" is another unique word for Jesus and one that creates a play on words.The meaning of the word that means "tossing motion" of earthquakes or "rolling swell" of the sea and metaphorically, "distemper", "restlessness" and "perplexity". However, a different word spelled the same way means "silly" and "imbecile".
roaring -- The word translated as "roaring" appears here in the Greek. It modifies "impasse" not the sea or "waves". It is not a verb. It is the noun that means "echo".
missing "and" -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). This word is repeated in this verse four times.
There -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
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 future 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 in the plural, "there shall be".
signs -- Sign" is Greek word that means a "mark", "sign" or "proof". The word in Greek is used specifically to means a sign from the gods and it that sense, it means "omen", "portent" and "constellations".
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with" or "among".
the -- The translation shows an article "the" before "sun", but there are not articles in the Greek because the sun is unique. In Greek, the article identifies a specific instance, is more like "this". However, it English, this works differently.
sun -- "Sun" is from the noun that means the "sun", "life", "day", "sunshine" and so on.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). This word is repeated in this verse four times.
the -- The translation shows an article "the" before "moon", but there are not articles in the Greek because the moon is unique. In Greek, the article identifies a specific instance, is more like "this". However, it English, this works differently.
moon -- "Moon" is from the noun that means "moon", "full moon", "month" and is the name of the goddess of the moon.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). This word is repeated in this verse four times.
stars -- "Stars" is our first unique word. Another word for "stars" is used elsewhere in the Gospels such as Mark 13:25. This is word means "the stars" and in the sense of the entire field of stars in the sky as opposed to the plural of the word for single stars. It is the word from which we get astronomy in English.
missing "and " -- (MW) The untranslated word MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" after "stars" is not shown in the English translation. "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). This word is repeated in this verse four times.
On -- The word translated as "upon" means "on", "over", "upon", "against", "before", "after", "during", "by" or "on".
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.
earth -- The word translated as "earth" means "ground" and "dirt". Translated as "earth", it refers to the physical planet, not society, which Christ describes as the world. See this article for more on these words.
nations -- (CW,WF) The word translated as "nations", means is "a group of people living together", "a nation", "a tribe" or a cast of people. Later it came to mean "barbarous nations" similar to our idea of ethnic people. It is in the same form as the "them" above, so "to them" or "for them". This word is translated as both "nations" and Gentiles in the previous verse. This is not a subject but a possessive modifying "anguish".
will be -- There is no verb here but the word translated as "distress" is a subject without a verb so the previous verb can be assumed.
in -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
anguish -- (CW) "Anguish" is another unique word, but it means "holding together", "maintenance", "self maintenance", "contraction", "conflict" in battle, "continuity", "meeting place" and it is a metaphor for "distress" and "affliction". Though the noun is only used here, the verb form is used by Jesus to mean "hold together" elsewhere in Gospels. This word doesn't precisely mean "anguish".
and -- (WW) The word translated as "and" primarily means "in" but it also means "within", "with" or "among". This word doesn't mean "and".
perplexity -- "Perplexity" is another unique word that means literally, "impasse", of places "difficulty of passing", of things "difficulty", "straits", "impossibility", of persons "difficulty of dealing with or getting at", "being at a loss", "embarrassment", "perplexity", "distress", "discomfort" in illness, "lack" of a person or thing, "question for discussion", "difficulty" and "puzzle". The literal meaning of the word is "no passing".
at the -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
roaring -- The word translated as "roaring" appears here in the Greek. It modifies "impasse" not the sea or "waves". It is not a verb. It is the noun that means "echo".
and -- The word translated as "and" primarily means "in" but it also means "within", "with" or "among". This word doesn't mean "and".
tossing -- "Tossing" is another unique word for Jesus and one that creates a play on words.The meaning of the word that means "tossing motion" of earthquakes or "rolling swell" of the sea, and metaphorically, "distemper", "restlessness" and "perplexity". However, a different word spelled the same way means "silly" and "imbecile".
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 -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
sea -- The "sea" is from the Greek word for "sea" and "sea water". Water is Christ's symbol for the temporary, physical reality.
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".
ἔσονται ( verb 3rd pl fut ind mid ) "There shall be" 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".)
σημεῖα (noun pl neut nom) "Sign" is from semeion, which means "mark" (by which things are known), "a proof" (in reasoning), "sign" (of the future), "sign from the gods", "signal" (to do things), and "standard" (flag).
ἐν (prep) "In" is en, which means "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power" and "with".
ἡλίῳ (noun sg masc dat) "Sun" is from helios, which means the "sun", "life", "day", "sunshine", "the sun's heat", "brightness" and the sun-god.
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".
σελήνῃ [3 verses](noun sg fem dat) "Moon" is selene, which means "moon", "full moon", "month" and is the name of the goddess of the moon.
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".
ἄστροις, [1 verse]( noun pl neut dat ) "Stars" is astron, which means "the stars" and, metaphorically, something "brilliant", "admirable".
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".
ἐπὶ (prep) "Against" is epi, which means "on", "over", "upon", "at", "by", "before", "across", "after" in position, "during" and "against".
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".
γῆς ( noun sg fem gen ) "The earth" is ge, which means "the element of earth", "land" (country), "arable land", "the ground" and "the world" as the opposite of the sky. Like our English word "earth", it means both dirt and the planet.
συνοχὴ [1 verse]( noun sg fem nom ) "Distress" is synochē, which means "holding together", "maintenance", "self maintenance", "contraction", "conflict" in battle, "continuity", "meeting place" and it is a metaphor for "distress" and "affliction".
ἐθνῶν ( noun pl neut gen ) "Nations" is ethnos, which means "a number of people living together", "company", "body of men", "tribe", "a people", "nation" and (later) "foreign, barbarous nations".
ἐν (prep) "With" is en, which means "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power" and "with".
ἀπορίᾳ [1 verse](noun sg fem dat) "Perplexity" is aporia, which means literally, "impasse", of places "difficulty of passing", of things "difficulty", "straits", "impossibility", of persons "difficulty of dealing with or getting at", "being at a loss", "embarrassment", "perplexity", "distress", "discomfort" in illness, "lack" of a person or thing, "question for discussion", "difficulty" and "puzzle".
ἠχοῦς [1 verse]( noun sg fem gen or noun pl fem nom) "Roaring" is echeo, which means "echo" and, generally, "ringing sound".
"θαλάσσης ( noun sg fem gen ) "Sea" is from thalassa (thalassa), which means "sea", "channel", "well of saltwater" or "sea water".
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".
σάλου, [1 verse]( noun sg masc gen ) "Waves" is salos, which means "tossing motion" of earthquakes, "rolling swell" of the sea, and metaphorically, "distemper", "restlessness" and "perplexity". It is also salos, (adj sg masc gen) which means "silly" and "imbecile".