Luke 8:46 Somebody hath touched me:

Spoken to: 

group

This statement is made when Jesus feels the power go out of him when the woman touches his clothing, seeking a cure for bleeding.

KJV: 

Luke 8:46 Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

NIV : 

Luke 8:46 Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Someone grabbed onto me because I myself know power exiting from me. 

MY TAKE: 

Most of us cannot tell when we are losing power.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

Ἥψατό   μού        τις,            ἐγὼ       γὰρ        ἔγνων    δύναμιν ἐξεληλυθυῖαν ἀπ᾽  ἐμοῦ.
grabbed  onto me  Someone   myself because   I know power    exiting          from me. 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

The "touched" is in the middle voice, indicating that the person doing the action is also its object. This word is usually translated as "grasp" in this form because it shows more of intention, that is someone going it for themselves, that "touch." Because the subject is the object, the "me" is in a form that usually is translated with a preposition before it, usually a "to" for the English indirect object, but the translator can choose other prepositions: "with,"  "in,"   "of,"  "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.

The Greek word translated as "hath touched" means to "fasten to", "to adhere to", "to cling to", "to have intercourse with a woman", "to touch" and "to assail." It is an uncommon word for Jesus to use though it is common in the Gospels describing his actions. 

The pronoun "I" is used here. Since, as the subject of the sentence, it is part of the verb, its explicit use accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.

"Perceive" and Know" is from a verb that means "to learn to know". This is something Jesus learned to feel.

 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

8
  • 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).
  • MW -- Missing Word  -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The "that" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "perceive."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not one of the common words usually translated as "virtue."
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The "is" indicates the present tense but the tense is past perfect.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This gone" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing. " 
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the word's specific meaning.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

4
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "because" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW -- Missing Word  -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The "that" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This gone" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing. " 

EACH WORD of KJV : 

Somebody -- The Greek word translated as "somebody" in the singular means "anyone," "someone,"  "something," and "anything." The same forms are used both for the masculine or feminine so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone," "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."

hath -- (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.

touched -- The word used for "touch" means to "fasten to," "to adhere to," "to cling to," "to have intercourse with a woman," "to touch" and "to assail." It has the sense of "adhere to" and "grasp" in the middle voice rather than simply touch. When it is in the middle voice it has a genitive object.  The sense of "ascend" has an idea of ascending to a higher state of knowledge.

me: -- "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my," "me," and "mine."

for --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause." 

I -- The pronoun "I" is used here.  When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, this pronoun accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.

missing "myself" -- (MW)  The subject pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."

perceive -- (CW) "Perceive" is a verb that means  "to learn to know,""to know," "to recognize," "make known," "to know carnally," and "to learn." The idea of "learn" seems to translate this word better so it isn't confused with the verb meaning "have seen" which is also used to mean "know." This verb is more versatile because it can be used in more tenses. This is not the word usually translated as "perceive."

that -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.

virtue -- (CW) "Virtue" is a word that describes abilities and capacities, what actions a person can do or has done so "power," "might," "influence," and "force." It does not carry a sense of authority over others, either people or laws. The verb form of this word is translated as "can" in the NT. Much more about the meaning of this word in this article about "power" and "authority." This is not one of the common words usually translated as "virtue."

is -- (WT) This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb. This verb is in the past, perfect tense so "has" is correct. 

gone -- (WF)  The word translated as "ye go thence" means literally "to go or come out," but it has a secondary meaning of "making something come true." In some verses, its sense is "started out" from the primary meaning of its root. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing. " 

out - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.

of --- (CW) The word translated as "of" 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." It is not the word form  usually translated as "of." Referring to time, it means "from," and "after." 

me. - "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my," "me," and "mine." As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.-

EACH WORD of NIV : 

Somebody -- The Greek word translated as "somebody" in the singular means "anyone," "someone,"  "something," and "anything." The same forms are used both for the masculine or feminine so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone," "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."

touched -- The word used for "touch" means to "fasten to," "to adhere to," "to cling to," "to have intercourse with a woman," "to touch" and "to assail." It has the sense of "adhere to" and "grasp" in the middle voice rather than simply touch. When it is in the middle voice it has a genitive object.  The sense of "ascend" has an idea of ascending to a higher state of knowledge.

me: -- "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my," "me," and "mine."

missing "because"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "because" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause." 

I -- The pronoun "I" is used here.  When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, this pronoun accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.

missing "myself" -- (MW)  The subject pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."

perceive -- (CW) "Perceive" is a verb that means  "to learn to know,""to know," "to recognize," "make known," "to know carnally," and "to learn." The idea of "learn" seems to translate this word better so it isn't confused with the verb meaning "have seen" which is also used to mean "know." This verb is more versatile because it can be used in more tenses. This is not the word usually translated as "perceive."

that -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle. IW - Inserted Word -- The "that" doesn't exist in the source.

power -- "Virtue" is a word that describes abilities and capacities, what actions a person can do or has done so "power," "might," "influence," and "force." It does not carry a sense of authority over others, either people or laws. The verb form of this word is translated as "can" in the NT. Much more about the meaning of this word in this article about "power" and "authority."

has-- (WT) This helping verb indicates the past, perfect tense.

gone -- (WF)  The word translated as "ye go thence" means literally "to go or come out," but it has a secondary meaning of "making something come true." In some verses, its sense is "started out" from the primary meaning of its root. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing. "  

out - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.

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." It is not the word form  usually translated as "of." Referring to time, it means "from," and "after." 

me. - "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my," "me," and "mine." As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.-

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

Ἥψατό  [4 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind mid) "Hath touched" is from haptomai, which means to "fasten to," "to adhere to," "to cling to," "to have intercourse with a woman," "to touch" and "to assail."

μου [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "My" is from mou (emou), which means "me," and "mine." As a genitive object means movement away from something or a position away from something else.  As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.

τις, [252 verses] (irreg sg masc/fem nom) "Somebody" is tis, which can mean "someone," "something," "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." Plural, "who are" is τίνες ἐόντες.  It has specific meanings with certain prepositions, διὰ τί; for what reason? ἐκ τίνος; from what cause? ἐς τί; to what point?  to what end?

ἐγὼ [162 verses](pron 1st sg masc nom) "I" is ego, which is the first-person singular pronoun meaning "I." It also means "I at least," "for my part," "indeed," and for myself.

γὰρ [205 verses](partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for," "since," and "as." In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what."

ἔγνων [62 verses](verb 1st sg aor ind act) "Perceive," is ginosko which means "to learn to know," "to know by reflection or observation," and "to perceive."

δύναμιν [21 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Virtue" is dynamis, which means "power," "might," "influence," "capacity," "elementary force," "force of a word," and "value of money." Elemental forces are forces such as heat and cold.

ἐξεληλυθυῖαν [54 verses](part sg perf act fem acc) "Is gone" is exerchomai, which means "to come or go out of " "to march forth," "go out on," "to stand forth," "to exceed all bounds," "to come to an end," "to go out of office," and [of dreams or prophecies] "to come true."

ἀπὸ [190 verses]​(prep) "Of" 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. Referring to time, it means "from," and "after."  Usually takes the genitive object. -

ἐμοῦ.  [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "My" is from mou (emou), which means "me," and "mine." As a genitive object means movement away from something or a position away from something else.  

Related Verses: 

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings: 

This may mean that Jesus stored power rather than having it simply pass through him. The idea that the power is "gone" out of him seems to indicate that it was limited in some way and had to be replenished.

Front Page Date: 

Feb 25 2024