To the two men he met after the resurrection after they told the story of Jesus's death saying they trusted that he would redeem Israel.
Luke 24:25 ... O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Luke 24:25 ... How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Oh [are you] thoughtless and slow in the heart of this trust on all things which these prophets spoke?
This verse has two words that Jesus uses nowhere else meaning "foolish" and "slow."
The phrase following these words means "in the heart of this trust on all things." The word "the trust" is an infinitive of "believe" or "trust" but used as a noun describing the verb's action.
This can be read as a question, but it can also be read as a statement. As a statement it says they are foolish and slow to trust all the the prophets has spoken, which may refer to their saying that they trusted that Jesus would redeem Israel.
We are always seeing things in what is written that are not intended.
O fools(WF) and slow of (MW) heart to (MW) believe(WF) (MW) all that the prophets(WT) have spoken:
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not a subject but an object.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "heart" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "to believe" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- This is not an infinitive verb but an infinite noun. "belief."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "on" after "believe" is not shown in the English translation.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
How(WW) foolish you are, and how(IW) slow (MP4) to believe(WF) (MW) all that the prophets have(WT) spoken!
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "how" should be something more like "O."
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "how" doesn't exist in the source.
- MP4 - Missing Phrase - The phrase "of that heart of the" exists in the source.
- WF -- This is not an infinitive verb but an infinite noun. "belief."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "on" after "believe" is not shown in the English translation.
O -- "O" is from o, which is an exclamation "O!" or "Oh!" often used as a mode of address.
There is no verb for this clause, but when words in the form of a subject appear without a verb, the verb "to be" is assumed. Here the form would be "you are" or "are you."
fools, -- (WF) Fools" is a unique word for Jesus that means "not thought on," "not within the province of thought," "not understanding," "silly," "senseless," "without mind", and literally means "without thought". The form is an adjective. It could be used as an address, but as a noun, it would usually be proceeded by an article, "you thoughtless". Since it is joined to another adjective by a conjunction that is not in the form of address, the form is more likely the subject of the sentence. This is not the word usually translated as "fools" in the Gospels. It also means "slow" in the sense of slow-witted. This is not a noun but an adjective.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
slow -- "Slow" is another unique adjective for "Jesus" that means "slow," "dull," "sluggish," and "tardy". It is in the form of the subject of the sentence.
of -- -- This word "of" 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.
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.
heart -- "Heart" is the Greek word that means "heart" both the physical organ and as the seat of emotions, which we discuss in a larger Greek context in this article here. However, this phrase can be read as defining the "heart" and both the "soul" and "the mind". This verb is not in the form of a possessive but the form of an indirect object, which here would define the location of the slowness.
missing "the on/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. When used with an infinitive, as it is here, makes the following infinitive act like a noun describing the action. Here, "the See this article for more.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
believe -- (WF) The Greek word translated as "to believe" does not apply to religious belief as much as it does trusting in other people, especially their word. Christ usually uses it in contexts, as the one here, that apply to trusting words. the form is an infinitive used as a verb describing the action.This is not an infinitive verb but an infinite noun describing the action, "belief."
missing "on" -- (MW) The untranslated word "on", "over", "upon", "against", "before", "after", "during", "by" or "on."
all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." The form is a neutral, plural, so "all things."
that -- The word translated as "that" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.
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.
prophets -- The Greek word translated as "the prophets" means "one who speaks for God", "interpreter" and was the highest level of priesthood in Egypt. Christ uses it to refer not only to divine spokespeople, but their books in the OT. It is the verb that means "to shine before." Our word "luminaries" captures the idea very well. It is the last word in this verse so it acts as the punchline, since the listeners might be expecting it as referring to trusting someone else.
have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
spoken --The Greek word translated as " have spoken:" is not the ordinary "to say" or "to speak" in Greek. It actually sets up the punchline. This word means both "idle chatter", "gossip," and "the proclamations of an oracle." Christ uses it to capture the idea of "pass on," because that captures both someone gossiping and an oracle does. If the listeners assume it refers to the women, it would be heard as "chatter", since it comes before the subject, "they have chattered", but when it is applied to prophets, a word that follows, it becomes "proclaims".
How -- (WW) "O" is from o, which is an exclamation "O!" or "Oh!" often used as a mode of address. This word doesn't mean "how."
foolish , -- Foolish " is a unique word for Jesus that means "not thought on," "not within the province of thought," "not understanding," "silly," "senseless," "without mind", and literally means "without thought". The form is an adjective. It could be used as an address, but as a noun, it would usually be proceeded by an article, "you thoughtless". Since it is joined to another adjective by a conjunction that is not in the form of address, the form is more likely the subject of the sentence. This is not the word usually translated as "fools" in the Gospels. which also means "slow" in the sense of slow-witted.
you are -- There is no verb for this clause, but when words in the form of a subject appear without a verb, the verb "to be" is assumed. Here the form would be "you are" or "are you."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
how -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
slow -- "Slow" is another unique adjective for "Jesus" that means "slow," "dull," "sluggish," and "tardy". It is in the form of the subject of the sentence.
missing "in that heart of the" -- -- (MP) The Greek words here aren't translated. This word "in" 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. 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. "Heart" is the Greek word that means "heart" both the physical organ and as the seat of emotions, which we discuss in a larger Greek context in this article here. However, this phrase can be read as defining the "heart" and both the "soul" and "the mind". This verb is not in the form of a possessive but the form of an indirect object, which here would define the location of the slowness. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more. When used with an infinitive, as it is here, makes the following infinitive act like a noun describing the action. Here, "the See this article for more.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
believe -- (WF) The Greek word translated as "to believe" does not apply to religious belief as much as it does trusting in other people, especially their word. Christ usually uses it in contexts, as the one here, that apply to trusting words. the form is an infinitive used as a verb describing the action.This is not an infinitive verb but an infinite noun describing the action, "belief."
missing "on" -- (MW) The untranslated word "on", "over", "upon", "against", "before", "after", "during", "by" or "on."
all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." The form is a neutral, plural, so "all things."
that -- The word translated as "that" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.
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.
prophets -- The Greek word translated as "the prophets" means "one who speaks for God", "interpreter" and was the highest level of priesthood in Egypt. Christ uses it to refer not only to divine spokespeople, but their books in the OT. It is the verb that means "to shine before." Our word "luminaries" captures the idea very well. It is the last word in this verse so it acts as the punchline, since the listeners might be expecting it as referring to trusting someone else.
have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
spoken --The Greek word translated as " have spoken:" is not the ordinary "to say" or "to speak" in Greek. It actually sets up the punchline. This word means both "idle chatter", "gossip," and "the proclamations of an oracle." Christ uses it to capture the idea of "pass on," because that captures both someone gossiping and an oracle does. If the listeners assume it refers to the women, it would be heard as "chatter", since it comes before the subject, "they have chattered", but when it is applied to prophets, a word that follows, it becomes "proclaims".
Ὦ (exclam) "O" is from o, which is an exclamation "O!" or "Oh!" often used as a mode of address.
ἀνόητοι [1 verse] ( adj pl masc nom/voc ) "Fools" is anoetos, which means "not thought on," "not within the province of thought," "not understanding," "silly," "senseless," "without mind", and literally means "without thought". The form is an adjective, used as a noun, so "the unthinking".
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."
βραδεῖς [1 verse]( adj pl masc nom ) "Slow" is bradys, which mean s\"slow," "dull," "sluggish," and "tardy".
τῇ [821 verses](article sg fem dat ) 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 a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --
καρδίᾳ ( noun sg fem dat ) "Of heart" is kardia, which means "heart (the physical organ)", "the seat of emotions (especially passion, rage, and anger)", "inclination", "desire," "purpose", "mind", "the pith (in wood), and "the deep (of the sea)." --
τοῦ (article sg masc gen) "Untranslated" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
πιστεύειν ( verb pres inf ) "to believe" is pisteuo, which means "to trust, put faith in, or rely on a person", "to believe in someone's words", "to comply", "to feel confident in a thing," and "to entrust in a thing." --
ἐπὶ (prep) Untranslated is epi, which means "on", "over", "upon", "at", "by", "before", "across," "after" in position, "during", and "against." --
πᾶσιν (adj pl neut dat ) "All" is pas, which means "all", "the whole", "every", "anyone", "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way", "on every side", "in every way," and "altogether."
οἷς ( pron pl neut dat ) "That" is hos, which means "this", "that", "he", "she", "which", "what", "who", "whosoever", "where", "for which reason," and many similar meanings. --
ἐλάλησαν ( verb 3rd pl aor ind act ) "Have spoken" is laleo, which means "to talk," "to speak" "to prattle", "to chat," and [for oracles] "to proclaim." It also means "chatter" as the opposite of articulate speech. --
οἱ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "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."
προφῆται: (noun, pl masc nom) "The prophets" is prophetes, which means "one who speaks for a god and interprets his will", "interpreter", "keepers of the oracle", "the highest level of priesthood in Egypt", "interpreter," and "herald." It is a verb that means "to shine forth" It is a form of the verb, prophao. which means "to shine forth," or "to shine before." --