Luke 5:37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles;

Spoken to: 

The Pharisees

The Pharisees ask why Jesus's students to not fast. He says they are like groom's men at a wedding.

KJV: 

Luke 5:37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

NIV : 

Luke 5:37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

And no one pours a new wine into old skins otherwise, certainly, that wine, the new, will break the bottles and itself  will be poured out and the skins will destroy themselves. 

MY TAKE: 

New ideas burst worn-out minds.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

καὶ οὐδεὶς   βάλλει   οἶνον νέον εἰς   ἀσκοὺς παλαιούς: εἰ δὲ μή    γε,            ῥήξει            οἶνος
And no one pours   a wine new  into skins    old            otherwise certainly  it will break, the wine,

νέος    τοὺς ἀσκούς, καὶ αὐτὸς     ἐκχυθήσεται         καὶ  οἱ    ἀσκοὶ ἀπολοῦνται:
the new, the bottles     and it itself  will be poured out and the skins will destroy themselves. 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

In Luke 5:37 ("no one pours new wine into old wineskins"), the word translated as "puts/pours" in another play on the lighthearted Greek word meaning "toss," that Jesus just used in wordplay in Luke 5:36.  But it has another double meaning here. It means "pour" for liquids. The "skin" also means human skin. In the punchline, the wine skins "destroy themselves." Wineskins can't.  Humans do.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

8

And no man putteth(WW) new wine into old bottles(WW); else (MW) the new wine will burst the bottles(WW), and  (MW) be spilled, and the bottles(WW) shall perish(WW,WV).

  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "puts" should be something more like "pour."
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "bottles" should be something more like "skins."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "certainly" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "bottles" should be something more like "skins."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "it itself" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "perish" should be something more like "destroy."
  • WV -- Wrong Voice --This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for themselves" or a "themselves" as an object. 

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

6

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise,  (MW) the new wine will burst the skins; [the wine(IP-2) will [run out(CW, WV)] and the wineskins will be ruined(WV).

  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "certainly" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "the wine" doesn't exist in the source. This is counted as 2 translation issues, not 1.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "it itself" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "runs out" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
  • WV --Wrong Voice - The verb "runs out" here is translated as active but it is passive.
  • WV --Wrong Voice -- This verb "be ruined: is not passive but in a middle voice, which requires a "by/for himself" or a "themselves" as an object.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

And - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

no man -- The Greek adjective translated as "no man" also means "no one," "nothing," and other negative pronouns. It is used by Jesus more like a negative pronoun than an adjective.  However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative.

puts -- (WW) The word translated as "puts" has a number of meanings revolving around "throw" as we do in English with both "throw" and "toss." However, it also specifically means "pour" when applied to liquids. It is not the word that means "place."  Jesus often uses this word in the same way we use "dump" in English. It is a word that he frequently uses in a light-hearted way. In dice, it means "to throw" the dice, but with the sense of being lucky. See this article about a related word.

new -- "New" is the adjective that means "young," "youthful," "suited to a youth," "new," "fresh," 

wine -- The word translated as "wine" means "wine" or any fermented juice. Wine, however, is Christ's metaphor for mental thought, the drink affecting the mind.

into -- The word translated as "into" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject,"up to" limits in time and measure, and "for" a purpose or object.

old -- The word translated as "old" means old in years both in a good sense and a bad one. In a good sense, it means "venerable" and in a bad sense, "obsolete."

bottles: -- (WW) The term translated as "bottles" means "skins, and describes the leather containers, wine skins, used for wine used in Christ's time. The problem with updating the terms to bottles is that the analogy not longer works. The word also means "human skin" and is a clear metaphor for the container of philosophy: human beings.

else -- The "else" here comes from three Greek words that literally mean "if however not." This is usually translated as "otherwise" or, in the KJV, as "else."

missing "certainly"  -- (MW) The untranslated words a particle that emphasizes the "otherwise. Having the sense of "indeed" or "certainly" here. 

the -- The word translated as "the" 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. 

new - -- "New" is the adjective that means "young," "youthful," "suited to a youth," "new," "fresh,"

wine -- The word translated as "wine" means "wine" or any fermented juice. Wine, however, is Christ's metaphor for mental thought, the drink affecting the mind.

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.

burst -- The word translated as "break" means to "burst" or "break through".

the -- The word translated as "the" 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. 

bottles,-- (WW) The term translated as "bottles" means "skins, and describes the leather containers, wine skins, used for wine used in Christ's time. The problem with updating the terms to bottles is that the analogy not longer works. The word also means "human skin" and is a clear metaphor for the container of philosophy: human beings.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

missing "it itself"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. . However, masculine pronouns refer to masculine nouns, not just masculine people so this word can mean "it" as well as "he."

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.

spilled, -- The Greek word translated as "spilled" means "to pour out," and "spill," but it is a metaphor for "to be forgotten" and to be "overcome with emotion."

the  -- The word translated as "the" 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. 

bottles: -- (WW) The term translated as "bottles" means "skins, and describes the leather containers, wine skins, used for wine used in Christ's time. The problem with updating the terms to bottles is that the analogy not longer works. The word also means "human skin" and is a clear metaphor for the container of philosophy: human beings.

shall -- 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.

perish. -- (WW) The word translated as "perish" means to destroy or demolish and can be "perish" in the passive. However, it can also mean to "lose" things. Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from." It is often used in the middle voice to describe people losing or destroying themselves. "Perish" is the opposite of "destroy."

missing "by/for themselves" -- (WV)  The middle voice of the verb indicates that the subject does something to, for, or by themselves.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

And - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

no one-- The Greek adjective translated as "no one" also means "no one," "nothing," and other negative pronouns. It is used by Jesus more like a negative pronoun than an adjective.  However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative.

pours -- The word translated as "pours" has a number of meanings revolving around "throw" as we do in English with both "throw" and "toss." However, it also specifically means "pour" when applied to liquids. It is not the word that means "place."  Jesus often uses this word in the same way we use "dump" in English. It is a word that he frequently uses in a light-hearted way. In dice, it means "to throw" the dice, but with the sense of being lucky. See this article about a related word.

new -- "New" is the adjective that means "young," "youthful," "suited to a youth," "new," "fresh," 

wine -- The word translated as "wine" means "wine" or any fermented juice. Wine, however, is Christ's metaphor for mental thought, the drink affecting the mind.

into -- The word translated as "into" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject,"up to" limits in time and measure, and "for" a purpose or object.

old -- The word translated as "old" means old in years both in a good sense and a bad one. In a good sense, it means "venerable" and in a bad sense, "obsolete."

wineskins: --  The term translated as "ineskins" means "skins, and describes the leather containers, wine skins, used for wine used in Christ's time. The problem with updating the terms to bottles is that the analogy not longer works. The word also means "human skin" and is a clear metaphor for the container of philosophy: human beings.

Otherwise-- The "otherwise" here comes from three Greek words that literally mean "if however not." This is usually translated as "otherwise" or, in the KJV, as "else."

missing "certainly"  -- (MW) The untranslated words a particle that emphasizes the "otherwise. Having the sense of "indeed" or "certainly" here. 

the -- The word translated as "the" 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.

new -- "New" is the adjective that means "young," "youthful," "suited to a youth," "new," "fresh,"

wine -- The word translated as "wine" means "wine" or any fermented juice. Wine, however, is Christ's metaphor for mental thought, the drink affecting the mind.

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.

burst -- The word translated as "break" means to "burst" or "break through".

the -- The word translated as "the" 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. 

skins,-- The term translated as "skins" means "skins, and describes the leather containers, wine skins, used for wine used in Christ's time. The problem with updating the terms to bottles is that the analogy not longer works. The word also means "human skin" and is a clear metaphor for the container of philosophy: human beings.

 the wine  - -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.

missing "it itself"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. . However, masculine pronouns refer to masculine nouns, not just masculine people so this word can mean "it" as well as "he."

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.

run out -- (CW, WV) The Greek word translated as "run out" means "to pour out," and "spill," but it is a metaphor for "to be forgotten" and to be "overcome with emotion." It is passive, not active. The verb here is translated as active but it is passive.

and -- The "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."the wineskins will be ruined.

the  -- The word translated as "the" 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. 

wineskins: -- The term translated as "bottles" means "skins, and describes the leather containers, wine skins, used for wine used in Christ's time. The problem with updating the terms to bottles is that the analogy not longer works. The word also means "human skin" and is a clear metaphor for the container of philosophy: human beings.

shall -- 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.

be -- (WV) This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English. The middle voice of the verb indicates that the subject does something to, for, or by themselves.

ruined. --   The word translated as "ruined" means to destroy or demolish and can be "perish" in the passive. However, it can also mean to "lose" things. Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from." It is often used in the middle voice to describe people losing or destroying themselves. "Perish" is the opposite of "destroy."

missing "themselves" -- (MW)

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

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."

οὐδεὶς [69 verses](adj sg masc nom) "No man" is oudeis which means "no one," "not one," "nothing," "naught," "good for naught," and "no matter."

βάλλει [54 verses] (verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Putteth" is ballo, which means "to throw," "to let fall," "to cast," "to put," "to pour," "to place money on deposit," "push forward or in front [of animals]," "to shed," "to place," "to pay,"to throw [of dice,]" "to be lucky," "to fall," "to lay as foundation," "to begin to form," "to dash oneself with water," and "to bathe."

οἶνον [5 verses] (noun sg neut acc ) "Wine"is from oinos, which means "wine" and "fermented juice of any kind." -- The word translated as "wine" means "wine" or any fermented juice. Wine, however, is Christ's metaphor for mental thought, the drink affecting the mind.

νέον [8 verses](adj sg neut acc)"New" is neos, which means "young," "youthful," "suited to a youth," "new," "fresh,." and as an adverb of time, "lately," "just now," "anew," and "afresh,"

εἰς [325 verses](prep) "Into" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)," "until (of time)," "in" (a position),  "as much as (of measure or limit)," "as far as (of measure or limit)," "towards (to express relation)," "in regard to (to express relation)," "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."

ἀσκοὺς [4 verses](noun pl masc acc)  "Bottles" is askos, which means "skin," "hide," "skin made into a bag," "wineskin," "belly," "paunch," and "human skin."

παλαιούς: [8 verses](adj pl masc acc) "Old" is palaios, which means "old in years," "ancient," (in a good sense) "venerable," "held in esteem," (in a bad way) "antiquated," "obsolete," and "in an old way."

εἰ [90 verses](conj) "Else" is ei (in εἰ δὲ μήγε), 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." In citing a fact, it can mean "as sure as" or "since."  It is combined with various conjunctions to create derivative conditions. When appearing as εἰ δὲ (literally, "if however") the sense is "if this...then that." The construction εἰ δὲ μή . . means "otherwise."

δὲ [446 verses](conj) "Else" is de (in εἰ δὲ μήγε), 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").

μήγε [7 verses](particle) "Else" is mege, (in εἰ δὲ μήγε), _which is a contraction of me ge. The me is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." The ge is an emphatic particle meaning "at least" and "indeed." It emphasizes the word to which it is associated.

ῥήξει [4 verses] (verb 3rd sg fut ind act) "Will burst" is rhegnumi, which means to "break asunder", "rend", "shatter", "break through," and, in the passive, to "break", "break asunder", "burst," "break forth". -- The word translated as "break" means to "burst" or "break through".

 [821 verses](article sg masc nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article.  

οἶνος [5 verses] (noun sg neut nom) "Wine" is from oinos, which means "wine" and "fermented juice of any kind."

  [821 verses](article sg masc nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article

νέος [8 verses](adj sg neut nom)"New" is neos, which means "young," "youthful," "suited to a youth," "new," "fresh,." and as an adverb of time, "lately," "just now," "anew," and "afresh,"

τοὺς [821 verses](article pl masc acc)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article

ἀσκούς, [4 verses](noun pl masc acc)  "Bottles" is askos, which means "skin," "hide," "skin made into a bag," "wineskin," "belly," "paunch," and "human skin." -- The term translated as "bottles" means "skins, and describes the leather containers, wine skins, used for wine used in Christ's time. The problem with updating the terms to bottles is that the analogy not longer works. The word also means "human skin" and is a clear metaphor for the container of philosophy: human beings.

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."

αὐτος [20 verses](adj sg masc nom) Untranslated is autos, which means is the singular adjective used as the subject pronoun in the masculine.  It also means "it" because masculine pronouns refer to things or ideas as much as to people.

ἐκχυθήσεται  [8 verses](verb 3rd sg fut ind pass) "Be spilled" is ekcheo, which means to "pour out," "pour away," " spill," "squander," "waste," "spread out," "throw down," and, as a metaphor, "to be cast away," "forgotten," "give oneself up to any emotion," and "to be overjoyed."

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." -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

οἱ [821 verses](article pl masc nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."  However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article

ἀσκοὶ [4 verses](noun pl masc nom) "Bottles" is askos, which means "skin," "hide," "skin made into a bag," "wineskin," "belly," "paunch," and "human skin." -- The term translated as "bottles" means "skins, and describes the leather containers, wine skins, used for wine used in Christ's time. The problem with updating the terms to bottles is that the analogy not longer works. The word also means "human skin" and is a clear metaphor for the container of philosophy: human beings.

ἀπολοῦνται [43 verses](verb 3rd pl fut ind mid) "Shall perish" is apollymi, which means "to demolish," "to lay waste," "to lose" things, "to perish," "to die," "to cease to exist," and "to be undone." Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from."

Wordplay: 

Christ uses "wine" as a metaphor for mental activity. Here, the "new wine" implies new ideas. 

Wine is also a connection to the bridegroom in the verse before last. 

The word used for "wine skins," but it also means "human skin," representing people who follow a philosophy.
The word translated as "be spilled" also means "to be overcome by emotion" as emotions pours out of people.
The word translated as "new" when applied to wine skins (but not the wine) means "of a new kind", referring to the new followers.

Related Verses: 

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings: 

In comparing it to parallel verses in Mark 2:22 and Matthew 9:17 , this verse is shorter, coming closer to the Mark version than the Matthew. Like the previous verse, there is a lot of symbolism here comparing two systems of thought. Here, Christ is referring as in the previous verse (Luke 5:35)  to the relationship between the old teaching of Judaism (specifically, the topic of fasting) as an old skin that cannot contain the new wine, which represents ideas. 

Front Page Date: 

Dec 5 2023