Luke 5:35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away

Spoken to: 

The Pharisees

The Pharisees ask why Jesus's students to not fast.

KJV: 

Luke 5:35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

NIV : 

Luke 5:35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Days will come, however, also when the bridegroom might be carried off from them. Then they will abstain in that way in those days. 

MY TAKE: 

In the days to come we might all be taken away.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

ἐλεύσονται δὲ           ἡμέραι, καὶ ὅταν   ἀπαρθῇ                     ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν     νυμφίος
will come, however, Days also    when  might be carried off  from them the bridegrood.

τότε  νηστεύσουσιν     ἐν ἐκείναις             ταῖς ἡμέραις.
Then they will abstain in in that way       those days. 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

The word translated as "will be taken" is not in the future tense. It is in the form of something the "might" or "should" happen.

There is an untranslated word in the clause about fasting that means "in that way."

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

4

But the(IW) days will come, when the bridegroom shall(CW-subj) be taken away from them, and(WP) then shall they fast (MW-in that way") in those days.

  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word - This "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.
  • WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "and" doesn't appear here but earlier in the verse.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "there"  is not shown in the English translation.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

4

But (MW-also) the(IW) time will come when the bridegroom will(CW-subj) be taken from them; in those days they will fast (MW-in that way") .

  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "also" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "will" should be something more like "might."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "in that way"  is not shown in the English translation.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

But -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.  It can also be an explanation of cause ("so"). When used with a conditional starting a clause, the sense is "if/when...then."

the-- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.  While sometimes a "the" should be added in English before plural words, this phrase makes a better translation without it. 

days - -- The Greek word translated as "days" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime."

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

come, -- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.

when -- The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since."

the  -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article; without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

bridegroom - The word translated as "bridegroom" is a male form of the adjective meaning "bridal," hence, "groom" or "son-in-law."

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 -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

taken -- The term translated as "shall be taken" means "to lift off", "to carry off," and "to lead away." It is in the passive form, but is not the future tense. It is in a form indicating something that might happen.

away from - --- ( The word translated as "away from" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from." \

them, -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural in the genitive form. It is used as a possessive or the object of a verb or preposition.  As a preposition's object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. This pronoun follows the noun so "of theirs."

and -- (WP)  The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").  This word doesn't appear here, but after "days" above.

then -- The Greek word for "then" means "at this time" or "then." With the subjective negative, the sense is "not when."

shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. A "might" or "should" could work here or nothing at all in an "if/when" clause which implies a possibility.  Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

fast - The term translated as "fast" specifically means a religious fast. It also means "to abstain from" when it has a genitive object.

in   -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time),  or "among"  with a dative object as the one here.  With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."

missing "in that way"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." In the form here, it is an adverb, "in that case," "in that way," "at that place," and "in that manner."

those  -- -- The word translated as "those" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

days. -- The Greek word translated as "days" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime." The word was plural in the KJV source but not today's.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

But -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.  It can also be an explanation of cause ("so"). When used with a conditional starting a clause, the sense is "if/when...then."

missing "also"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "also" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

the-- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.  While sometimes a "the" should be added in English before plural words, this phrase makes a better translation without it.  Especially if the following word is translated more accurately.

time - -- (WN) The Greek word translated as "days" means "day," "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime." However, because this word is plural, it works better as "days."

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

come, -- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.

when -- The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since."

the  -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article; without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

bridegroom - The word translated as "bridegroom" is a male form of the adjective meaning "bridal," hence, "groom" or "son-in-law."

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 -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

taken -- The term translated as "shall be taken" means "to lift off", "to carry off," and "to lead away." It is in the passive form, but is not the future tense. It is in a form indicating something that might happen.

from - --- ( The word translated as "from" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from."

them, -- The word translated as "their" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural in the genitive form. It is used as a possessive or the object of a verb or preposition.  As a preposition's object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. This pronoun follows the noun so "of theirs."

in   -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time),  or "among"  with a dative object as the one here.  With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."

missing "in that way"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." In the form here, it is an adverb, "in that case," "in that way," "at that place," and "in that manner."

those  -- -- The word translated as "those" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

days. -- The Greek word translated as "days" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime." The word was plural in the KJV source but not today's.

they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

will --  This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense but the form could also indicate a possibility at some time. A "might" or "should" could work here or nothing at all in an "if/when" clause which implies a possibility.  Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

fast - The term translated as "fast" specifically means a religious fast. It also means "to abstain from" when it has a genitive object.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

ἐλεύσονται [198 verses](3rd pl fut ind mid) "Will come" is  erchomai, which means "to start," "to set out," "to come," "to go," and any kind of motion. It means both "to go" on a journey and "to arrive" at a place.

δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of indirect cause ("so"). In an  "if" (εἰ ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then." In a series begun by men, its means "on the other hand." In a series begun by men, its means "on the other hand."

ἡμέραι [96 verses](noun pl fem nom ) "Days" is hemera, which, as a noun, means "day" "a state or time of life," "a time (poetic)," "day break" and "day time." It is also and also has a second meaning, of "quiet," "tame (animals)," "cultivated (crops)," and "civilized (people)."

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." 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."

ὅταν [70 verses](adv/conj) "When" is from hotan, which means "whenever (as a condition)," and "since (as a cause)."

ἀπαρθῇ [3 verses](3rd sg aor subj pass) "Shall be taken" is apairo, which means "to lead off", "to lift off", "to carry off", "to remove", "to get rid of," and "to lead away."

ἀπ᾽ [190 verses]​(prep) "Away From" is apo, a preposition of separation which means "from" or "away from" from when referring to place or motion, "from" or "after" when referring to time, "from" as an origin or cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done.  Usually takes the genitive object.

αὐτῶν [86 verses](pron/adj pl masc/fem/neut gen) "Their" is autos, is the genitive case of the third-person, plural adjective that is used as a pronoun. The word also means "the same,""one's true self," and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord."

[821 verses](article sg masc nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

νυμφίος; [9 verses](noun sg masc nom) "Bridegroom" is nymphios, which means "bridal," "bridegroom" and "son-in-law."

τότε [53 verses](adv) "Then" is tote, which means "at that time," "when," and "then."

νηστεύσουσιν. [10 verses](3rd pl fut ind act or 3rd pl aor subj act) "Fast" is nesteuo, which means "fast" and "to abstain from." 

ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with a dative object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during,"  and "with." With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during."

ἐκείναις [107 verses](adv, adj pl fem dat) Untranslated is ekeinos, which refers to that which has gone immediately before and  means "the person there," "that person," "that thing," "the sooner," and "the nearer." However, when οὗτος and ἐκεῖνος refer to two things ἐκεῖνος, belongs to the more remote, "the latter" in time, "further" in place, or thought, οὗτος to "the nearer" and "sooner. With certain preposition, it has a specific meaning:ἐξ ἐκείνου from that time, κατ᾽ ἐκεῖνα in that place, there, μετ᾽ ἐκεῖνα afterwards. In the dative, feminine, it is an adverb, "in that case," "in that way," "at that place," and "in that manner."

ταῖς [821 verses](article pl fem dat)  "Those" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

ἡμέραις..  [96 verses](noun pl fem dat) "Day"  is hemera, which, as a noun, means "day" "a state or time of life," "a time (poetic)," "day break" and "day time." It is also and also has a second meaning, of "quiet," "tame (animals)," "cultivated (crops)," and "civilized (people)."

Related Verses: 

parallel comparison: 

This verse echoes Matthew 9:15  and Mark 2:20.

Front Page Date: 

Dec 3 2023