Luke 9:3 Take nothing for your journey, neither staves

Spoken to: 

Apostles

The sending of the Apostles.

KJV: 

Luke 9:3 Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

NIV : 

Luke 9:3 Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Pick up nothing for the road neither a staff nor a food pouch nor a bread loaf, nor cash, nor to carry[up to] two undershirts

MY TAKE: 

It is best to travel light.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

Μηδὲν  αἴρετε   εἰς τὴν ὁδόν, μήτε        ῥάβδον μήτε  πήραν        μήτε ἄρτον           μήτε ἀργύριον,
nothing Pick up for the road   neither a staff      nor a food pouch nor   a bread loaf, nor   cash,

μήτε [ἀνὰ]   δύο χιτῶνας       ἔχειν.
nor   [up to] two undershirts. to carry

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

The "two undershirts" that end this verse seem thrown in for humor. However, the verse has a lot of misrepesented words. 

"Take" is one of Christ's favorite "multiple meaning" words. It is not the verb normally translated as "take". It is a verb that means "to raise up", "elevate", "to bear", "to carry off", "to take and apply to any use," and "to cause to cease." In this context, the sense is more, "take up" or "pick up".

"Journey" is a Greek word that means "way", both in the sense of a road or path and a way of thinking, like our English word "way." It is interesting that a term joining a path with philosophy exists in many languages from the west to the east. It has an article so it is "the way" or "the road". 

The word for "neither/nor" is the Greek negative of opinion plus the Greek word for "but." This word is repeated several times in a series. This gives it the "neither...nor" meaning. 

"Staves" is translated from a Greek word meaning a "staff", any type of long pole, primarily those used for gathering food or managing a herd of animals. It also means a staff of authority. The staff became a symbol of a bishop's authority.

"Scrip" is translated from a Greek word specifically meaning a leather pouch to carry food or provisions for traveling. We might call this a knapsack or provisions bag or a "food pouch". 

A word appears in comes sources that des not appear in my source of the oldest manuscipts. It is a preposition that has the sense of "moving up." "Up to" seeems to work, but the verse words better in English without it.

The word translated as "have" means "to possess" or "to carry." It is frequently translated as "have" but it isn't used  It is an infinitive "to carry" and appears at the end of the verses. 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

10
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "take."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "your " doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "journey" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "journey" should be something more like "road."
  • OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "staves" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular in the source we use today but it was plural in the source that the KJV translators used.
  • WF --Wrong Form -  The "have" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to have."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "have" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "up to" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "coats" should be something more like "tunic."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "apiece" doesn't exist in the source.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

11
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "take."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "journey" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "journey" should be something more like "road."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "no."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "no."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "no."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "no."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "no."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "to have" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "up to" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "extra" should be something more like "tunic."

EACH WORD of KJV : 

Take -- (CW) "Take" is one of Christ's favorite "multiple meaning" words. It is a verb that means "to raise up," "elevate," "to bear," "to carry off," "to take and apply to any use," "lifted" in the sense of "removed," and "to cause to cease." Jesus uses this verb to refer to what will happen to "the son of man," which can apply either to his being raised from the dead or lifted up on the cross. The verb also came to mean "remove" in the same way we describe stealing as "shoplifting." This is not the word usually translated as "take."

nothing   - The Greek word translated as "nothing" here means "no one" and "nothing."

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

your -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.

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. 

journey, -- (WW) "Journey" is from a word meaning "the way" or "the road" but which is used symbolically to mean "a way of doing things" or "a philosophy of life." In Acts, followers of Jesus are described as those "belonging to the way."

neither -- The Greek word "neither" is an adverb that means, literally, "not however," "not at all" or "no even." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions or "rejecting...and rejecting.

staves, -- (OS) "Staves" is translated from a Greek word meaning any type of long pole, primarily those used for gathering food or managing a herd of animals. It also means a staff of authority. This word is not plural but singular. WN  --Wrong Number- The word "staves."

nor -- The Greek word "nor" is an adverb that means, literally, "not however," "not at all" or "no even." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions or "rejecting...and rejecting. 

scrip, - "Scrip" is translated from a Greek word specifically meaning a leather pouch to carry food or provisions for traveling. We might call this a knapsack.

neither -- The Greek word "neither" is an adverb that means, literally, "not however," "not at all" or "no even." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions or "rejecting...and rejecting. 

bread, -- The word translated as "bread" means "small loaf or cake of bread." It is more like a slice of bread today. It describes a thin 1/2 inch thick round or an oblong loaf of wheat bread, meant to be torn into pieces and not cut. It was closer to a flour tortilla or a piece of pan than a loaf of bread. "Bread" is one of Christ's most basic symbols, representing temporary physical nourishment as contrasted with permanent spiritual nourishment.

neither -- The Greek word "neither" is an adverb that means, literally, "not however," "not at all" or "no even." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions or "rejecting...and rejecting.

money; -- The word translated as "money" is very uncommon for Christ. It means "money" in the sense we use the term "cash," referring to the actual metal "silver."

neither -- The Greek word "neither" is an adverb that means, literally, "not however," "not at all" or "no even." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions or "rejecting...and rejecting. bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

have -- (WF, CW) The word translated as "have" means to "have," "possess," "bear," "keep close," "hold in," "to have due to one," or "keep" and many specific uses.

missing "up to"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "up to"  implies upward motion; of place, "from bottom to top" or "up along;" of time, "throughout;" "to have continually" in mind, " The sense here is "up to."  This word doesn't exist in the oldest manuscripts but it does exist in the source used by the KJV and NIV.

two -- The "two" is the numeral, "two," which, like numbers in English, plays a lot of roles. Often, it acts as an adjective, but without a noun to modify, so it takes on the role of a noun. The Greek word is "duo," which of course in English means "a pair of singers," or, more generally, any "pair." It uses joins the two people walking together as a pair or a couple.

coats -- (WW) "Coats" is the Greek word means an undergarment, not an over garment. Jesus is literally saying, "Don't take two pairs of underwear." There is a certain humor in this that seems intentional.

apiece.. This word is not in the Greek source.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

Take -- (CW) "Take" is one of Christ's favorite "multiple meaning" words. It is a verb that means "to raise up," "elevate," "to bear," "to carry off," "to take and apply to any use," "lifted" in the sense of "removed," and "to cause to cease." Jesus uses this verb to refer to what will happen to "the son of man," which can apply either to his being raised from the dead or lifted up on the cross. The verb also came to mean "remove" in the same way we describe stealing as "shoplifting." This is not the word usually translated as "take."

nothing   - The Greek word translated as "nothing" here means "no one" and "nothing."

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

the --  The "the" 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. 

journey, -- (WW) "Journey" is from a word meaning "the way" or "the road" but which is used symbolically to mean "a way of doing things" or "a philosophy of life." In Acts, followers of Jesus are described as those "belonging to the way."

no -- (CW) The Greek word "no " is an adverb that means, literally, "not however," "not at all" or "no even." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions or "rejecting...and rejecting. This is not the word usually translated as "no."

staff, -- "Staff" is translated from a Greek word meaning any type of long pole, primarily those used for gathering food or managing a herd of animals. It also means a staff of authority.

no -- (CW) The Greek word "no " is an adverb that means, literally, "not however," "not at all" or "no even." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions or "rejecting...and rejecting. This is not the word usually translated as "no."

bag, - "Scrip" is translated from a Greek word specifically meaning a leather pouch to carry food or provisions for traveling. We might call this a knapsack.

no -- (CW) The Greek word "no " is an adverb that means, literally, "not however," "not at all" or "no even." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions or "rejecting...and rejecting. This is not the word usually translated as "no."

bread, -- The word translated as "bread" means "small loaf or cake of bread." It is more like a slice of bread today. It describes a thin 1/2 inch thick round or an oblong loaf of wheat bread, meant to be torn into pieces and not cut. It was closer to a flour tortilla or a piece of pan than a loaf of bread. "Bread" is one of Christ's most basic symbols, representing temporary physical nourishment as contrasted with permanent spiritual nourishment.

no -- (CW) The Greek word "no " is an adverb that means, literally, "not however," "not at all" or "no even." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions or "rejecting...and rejecting. This is not the word usually translated as "no."

money; -- The word translated as "money" is very uncommon for Christ. It means "money" in the sense we use the term "cash," referring to the actual metal "silver."

no -- (CW) The Greek word "no " is an adverb that means, literally, "not however," "not at all" or "no even." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions or "rejecting...and rejecting. This is not the word usually translated as "no."

missing "to have"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "to have" means to "have," "possess," "bear," "keep close," "hold in," "to have due to one," or "keep" and many specific uses.

missing "up to"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "up to"  implies upward motion; of place, "from bottom to top" or "up along;" of time, "throughout;" "to have continually" in mind, " The sense here is "up to." This word doesn't exist in the oldest manuscripts but it does exist in the source used by the KJV and NIV.

extra -- (WW) The "extra" is the numeral, "two," which, like numbers in English, plays a lot of roles. Often, it acts as an adjective, but without a noun to modify, so it takes on the role of a noun. The Greek word is "duo," which of course in English means "a pair of singers," or, more generally, any "pair." It uses joins the two people walking together as a pair or a couple.

shirt-- Shirt" is the Greek word means an undergarment, not an over garment. Jesus is literally saying, "Don't take two pairs of underwear." There is a certain humor in this that seems intentional.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

Μηδὲν [7 verses](adj sg neut nom /acc) "Nothing" is from medeis, which means "nobody," "no one," "not even one," "naught," "good for naught," and "nothing."

αἴρετε [56 verses](verb 2nd pl pres imperat act) "Take" is airo, which means "to lift up," "to raise," "to raise up," "to exalt," "to lift and take away," and "to remove." In some forms, it is the same as apaomai, which means to "pray to," or "pray for."

εἰς [325 verses](prep) "For" 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)."

τὴν[821 verses](article sg fem acc)  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." 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.   -

ὁδόν, [27 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Journey" is hodos, which means literally "way" or "road" but it also means "travel" and "journey."  It is interesting that a term joining a path with philosophy exists in many languages from the west to the east.

μήτε [10 verses](partic) "Neither" is mete, which means "but not," "nor," and "not." The negative is the one used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." However, it is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests,  used with subjunctive verbs. For other verbs, the sense is rejecting something, not that it isn't done. At the beginning of a sentence, always introduces an additional negation, after some negative idea has already been expressed or implied. -- The Greek word "neither" is an adverb that means, literally, "not however," "not at all" or "no even." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions or "rejecting...and rejecting.

ῥάβδον:[2 verses] (noun sg fem acc) "Staves" is rhabdos, which means a "magic wand", "fishing-rod", "limed twig (for catching small birds)", "shaft of a hunting-spear", "staff of office", "shepherd's staff or crook", "measuring-rod", "line", "verse", "a critical mark," and "stroke forming a letter."

μήτε [10 verses](partic) "Nor" is mete, which means "but not," "nor," and "not." The negative is the one used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no."

πήραν [5 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Scrip" is from pera, which means a "leather pouch to carry food," "a bag for traveling," or "a wallet."-

μήτε [10 verses](partic) "Neither" is mete, which means "but not," "nor," and "not." The negative is the one used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no."

ἄρτον [32 verses](noun sg masc acc)"Bread" is artos, which means specifically a "cake of whole wheat bread," and generally "loaf," and "bread."

μήτε [10 verses](partic) "Neither" is mete, which means "but not," "nor," and "not." The negative is the one used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no."

ἀργύριον,  [5 verses] (noun sg neut acc) "Money"is from argyrion, which means "small coin," "piece of money," "money," "cash," and "silver."

μήτε [10 verses](partic) "Neither" is mete, which means "but not," "nor," and "not." The negative is the one used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no."

[ἀνὰ] [6 verses](prep) "Apiece"  is ana, which is a preposition that with the genitive, means "on board" a ship. With accusative, implies upward motion; of place, "from bottom to top" or "up along;" of time, "throughout;" "to have continually" in mind, " as an adverb, "thereupon," "throughout," "all over," "up," and "arising. -- "By" is from an uncommon preposition that means on board (a ship),"  "upon," of Place: "up," "from bottom to top," "up along," of Time, "throughout," and, metaphorically, "continually in," "in," and "among." The sense here is "up to." 

δύο. [36 verses](numeral) "Two" is duo, which means the number "two," "a couple," and "a pair." -- The Greek word for "two" means "two" or a "couple."

χιτῶνας [4 verses](noun pl masc acc) "Coats" is chiton, which means "the garment worn next to the skin", "tunic [a men's]", "a coating", "a covering", "a membrane [anatomical]", "the upper part of a show", "vesture," and "coat of mail."

ἔχειν is [181 verses](verb pres inf act) "Have" is echo, which means "to have," "to hold," "to possess," "to keep," "to have charge of," "to have due to one," "to maintain," "to hold fast," "to hold in," "to bear," "to carry," "to keep close," "to keep safe," and "to have means to do." In aorist, it can mean "acquire," or "get." The main sense when it has an object is "to have" or "to hold." With a gen. object,  "to keep back" or "withhold" a thing.  The main sense when not having an object is "to hold" and "to keep." When its object is an infinitive verb, it means "it could," not "in must" as in English.  This verb isn't used to form past tenses as the helper verb does in English. Nor does it have the sense of "must" when used with infinitives.

Related Verses: 

parallel comparison: 

The order of these instructions are different than the Matthew version (Matthew 10:9Matthew 10:10) but contain many of the same elements.  The word translated as "money" is very uncommon for Christ. It means "money" in the sense we use the term "cash," referring to the actual metal "silver." It is not the same as the more common word use for silver in Matthew 10:9

Possible Symbolic Meaning: 

There is a fair amount of symbolism here. A staff is a symbol for power. Bread is on of Jesus's favorite symbols.

Front Page Date: 

Mar 2 2024