On his way to crucifixion, meeting women mourning for him.
Luke 23:31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
Luke 23:31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Because, if they make these things with a soft stick, what might happen with the dry one?
The translators missed the point of this verse as did there commentaries on it, which refer to it as "obscure" and "not clear," but only because they cannot imagine it being simple joke, a play on words.
Jesus refers to the whips that he was beaten with as "soft" wood, in the sense of pliable. The word that primarily means "wood" also means "wet" and "torture weapon" but going these messes up the wordplay. The word he choose is one he just uses here, for its many meanings. The whips were soft in a sense and wet after they are used. The handles were wood
He then asks the question, what might they do with a dry one. The dry stick is the cross.
Jesus has a dry sense of humor.
For if they do these things in a green(WW) tree(WW), what shall(WV) be(CW) done(WW) in the dry?
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "green" should be something more like "soft."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "tree" should be something more like "wood."
- CW - Confusing Word - This "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.
- WV --Wrong Voice - The verb is not passive but in the middle voice, which requires the concept of "yourselves" as its object.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "tree" should be something more like "done."
For if people do these things when(WW) the(IW) tree(WW) is(IW) green(WW), what will(WW) happen when it is dry?”
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "when" should be something more like "on."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "tree" should be something more like "wood."
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "is" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "green" should be something more like "soft."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "will" should be something more like "might.""
For-- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause. Jesus seems to use it most commonly as an answer to a question. We can tell this because it usually is followed by a change of context, as we see here. This has nothing to do with the previous verse of asking the mountains to fall.
if -- The "if" here expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not. It also means "if ever" and "whenever." There are two "if" words in Greek and the type of "if/then" statement it is depends on this word and the form of the verb.
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
do -- The Greek word translated as "they do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action. It is not as broad a word as the English "do", which covers all actions, productive or not. The form is one of possibility, which makes this the most common form of "if" statement. This verb comes at the end of the clause in Greek, which is standard for an "if" clause.
these -- The "these things" is a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage. As an adverb it can mean "therefore" and "that is why." It is not typically used as an adjective. The form, plural neutral, adds the "things". From the context, this most likely refers to the marks made by a staff that someone used to beat him..
things -- This "things" is from the plural, neuter form of the previous adjective.
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," "by:, or "among" and more. It takes two forms of object, the one following this "in" has the broadest range of meaning. However, the next occurrence of this word is followed by another form of the word that is less common and has fewer meanings. Here, the most likely meaning is "with" in the sense of "by".
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.
green -- (WW) "Green" is from a Greek adjective that means "wet," "moist," "fluid," "soft"., "pliant", "subtle," "smoothly flowing", "moist with wine," "melting," etc. In English, we would say "fluid". It doesn't refer to the color. The meaning of "flexible" refers to the next word, while the meaning "wet" is the basis of the word play. This word doesn't mean "green."
tree-- (WW) The Greek word translated as "tree" means "wood," "firewood", a "piece of wood", "cudgel", and various wooden instruments of punishment. It also means the "wood" of a tree or of a table. When referring to a person, it means "blockhead". In all its other uses by Jesus, this word is translated as "staves", referring to the clubs those arresting him carry. However, here it seems to refer to the marks made by the beating or whipping he is given. The implements with which he was beaten had wooded handles. However, as a play on words, it could also refer to the blockhead that beat him. This word doesn't mean "tree."
what -- The word translated as "what" means primarily "anything" or "anyone," but Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who", "what", or even "why". Here it is clearly a question, "what"-
shall -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form. -
be -- (WV) This helping verb "be" seems to indicate that the verb is passive but it isn't. It is a verb form that indicates the subject is acting on itself.
done -- (WW) From the translation of "shall be done" you would think that this was the same word translated as "do" earlier in the verse. You might also think it was in the future tense. Neither is true. The word translated as "shall be done" means "to become," that is, to enter into a new state. In Greek, especially as used by Jesus, it is the opposite of "being," which is existence in the current state. When referring to events, it means "happen". The form is not the future tense, but the form of possibility, "might happen". This word doesn't mean "done."
in-- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," "by:, or "among" and more. Earlied in the sentence it was used with one form of object, but here it is used with another word form. This clearly indicates that its meaning is different. Here, the most likely meaning is "with" in the sense of "by" but with this word form the meaning is limited to "into", "on", and "for." Here, the meaning is obviously "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.
dry-- "The dry" is from an adjective that Jesus only uses in one other place to mean "dry land" but the word itself means "dry." Here, it is a play on the earlier "fluid". Since it has no noun, the sense is "the dry one", referring to a wooden torture implement. It this case, that is obviously the "cross" or, more accurately, the stake, on which Jesus was hung.
For-- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause. Jesus seems to use it most commonly as an answer to a question. We can tell this because it usually is followed by a change of context, as we see here. This has nothing to do with the previous verse of asking the mountains to fall.
if -- The "if" here expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not. It also means "if ever" and "whenever." There are two "if" words in Greek and the type of "if/then" statement it is depends on this word and the form of the verb.
people -- (WW) This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb. This word doesn't mean "and." WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but."
do -- The Greek word translated as "they do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action. It is not as broad a word as the English "do", which covers all actions, productive or not. The form is one of possibility, which makes this the most common form of "if" statement. This verb comes at the end of the clause in Greek, which is standard for an "if" clause.
these -- The "these things" is a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage. As an adverb it can mean "therefore" and "that is why." It is not typically used as an adjective. The form, plural neutral, adds the "things". From the context, this most likely refers to the marks made by a staff that someone used to beat him.. This word doesn't mean "and."
things -- This "things" is from the plural, neuter form of the previous adjective.
when -- (WW) The word translated as "when" also means "within", "with," "by:, or "among" and more. It takes two forms of object, the one following this "in" has the broadest range of meaning. However, the next occurrence of this word is followed by another form of the word that is less common and has fewer meanings. Here, the most likely meaning is "with" in the sense of "by". This word doesn't mean "when."
the -- (IW) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source. A singular noun without a definite article should have an indefinite article, "a" not the definite article, "the."
tree-- (WW) The Greek word translated as "tree" means "wood," "firewood", a "piece of wood", "cudgel", and various wooden instruments of punishment. It also means the "wood" of a tree or of a table. When referring to a person, it means "blockhead". In all its other uses by Jesus, this word is translated as "staves", referring to the clubs those arresting him carry. However, here it seems to refer to the marks made by the beating or whipping he is given. The implements with which he was beaten had wooded handles. However, as a play on words, it could also refer to the blockhead that beat him. This word doesn't mean "tree."
is -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
green -- (WW) "Green" is from a Greek adjective that means "wet," "moist," "fluid," "soft"., "pliant", "subtle," "smoothly flowing", "moist with wine," "melting," etc. In English, we would say "fluid". It doesn't refer to the color. The meaning of "flexible" refers to the next word, while the meaning "wet" is the basis of the word play. This word doesn't mean "green."
what -- The word translated as "what" means primarily "anything" or "anyone," but Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who", "what", or even "why". Here it is clearly a question, "what"-
will -- (WW) This helping verb "will " does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.
be -- (WV) This helping verb "be" seems to indicate that the verb is passive but it isn't. It is a verb form that indicates the subject is acting on itself.
happen -- From the translation of "happen " you would think that this was the same word translated as "do" earlier in the verse. You might also think it was in the future tense. Neither is true. The word translated as "shall be done" means "to become," that is, to enter into a new state. In Greek, especially as used by Jesus, it is the opposite of "being," which is existence in the current state. When referring to events, it means "happen". The form is not the future tense, but the form of possibility, "might happen". This word doesn't mean "happen ."
in-- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," "by:, or "among" and more. Earlied in the sentence it was used with one form of object, but here it is used with another word form. This clearly indicates that its meaning is different. Here, the most likely meaning is "with" in the sense of "by" but with this word form the meaning is limited to "into", "on", and "for." Here, the meaning is obviously "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.
dry-- "The dry" is from an adjective that Jesus only uses in one other place to mean "dry land" but the word itself means "dry." Here, it is a play on the earlier "fluid". Since it has no noun, the sense is "the dry one", referring to a wooden torture implement. It this case, that is obviously the "cross" or, more accurately, the stake, on which Jesus was hung.
ὅτι (adv/conj) "For" 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." --
εἰ (conj) "If" is ei, which is the particle used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect questions, "whether." It also means "if ever", "in case," and "whenever." It is combined with various conjunctions to create derivative conditions. --
ἐν (prep) "In" is en, which means (with dative) "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power," and "with". With the accusative, it means "into", "on", and "for." --
ὑγρῷ [1 verse]( adj sg neut dat ) "Green" is hygros, which means "wet," "moist," "fluid," "soft"., "pliant", "subtle," "smoothly flowing", "moist with wine," "melting," etc.
ξύλῳ [ν [4 verses]](noun pl neut dat) "Staves" is from xylon, which means "firewood", "timber", in the singular, a "piece of wood", "log", "beam", "post"; "cudgel", "club", various wooden instruments of punishment" "wooden collar", "stocks", "gallows", "impaling stakes", "bench", "table", of live wood, "tree", and of persons, "blockhead".
ταῦτα ( adj pl neut acc/nom) "These things" is tauta, which is a referring pronoun meaning "these", "this", "that," and "here." It can mean the nearer or the further depending on usage. As an adverb it can mean "therefore" and "that is why." --
ποιοῦσιν, ( verb 3rd pl pres ind act ) "They do" is poieo, which means "to make", "to produce", "to create", "to bring into existence", "to bring about", "to cause", "to perform", "to render", "to consider", "to prepare", "to make ready," and "to do."
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".
τῷ [821 verses](article sg fem acc) "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."
ξηρῷ [2 verses]] (adj sg fem acc) "The dry" is from xeros, which means "dry," of bodily condition "withered", "lean", "fasting," hence, generally, "austere", "aridity," as a noun, "dry land," and "room for dry heat."
τί ( irreg sg neut nom ) "What" is tis which can mean "someone", "any one", "everyone", "they [indefinite]", "many a one", "whoever", "anyone", "anything", "some sort", "some sort of", "each", "any", "the individual", "such," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who", "why," or "what." --
γένηται; ( verb 3rd sg aor subj mid ) "Shall be done" is ginomai, which means "to become", "to come into being", "to happen", of things "to be produced," of events "take place", "come to pass", "to be engaged in", math "to be multiplied into", "become one of", "turn into".and "to be." It means changing into a new state of being. It is the complementary opposite of the verb "to be" (eimi)which indicates existence in the same state. --
The contrast between a fluid wooden torture weapon and a dry one.
Also, the contrast between a pliant blockhead and a withered one.
"Oh, your poor wounds," one woman cried, seeing the marks from his whipping.
Another woman cried, "Wasn't whipping you enough? Why do they have to nail you to a stake?"
The Nazarene answered the question in his normal lighthearted manner.
"Because, if they make these with a fluid wooden torture weapon," he said, indicating his wounds, "what might happen on the dry one?