Mark 10:39 You shall indeed drink of the cup...

Spoken to: 

Apostles

James and John ask to sit at Jesus's right and left hands when he is recognized.

KJV: 

Mark 10:39 Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

NIV : 

Mark 10:39 You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,

LISTENERS HEARD: 

The cup that I myself drink , you shall drink for yourself, and the dunking that I myself am dunked, you will be dunked.

MY TAKE: 

What Jesus did, we copy in the future.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

Τὸ  ποτήριον      ἐγὼ πίνω               πίεσθε
The cup         that I      myself drink you shall drink for yourself,

καὶ τὸ   βάπτισμα     ἐγὼ         βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθήσεσθε,
and the dunking   that I myself am dunked, you will be dunked.

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

Jesus uses the pronoun "I" in this verse twice for emphasis. The verb carries this information already so using the pronoun as a subject emphasizes it, like saying "I myself." The two active verbs, "drink" and "baptize" are both the present tense, something happening now. Jesus is not speaking of some specific time in the future.

The sequence of both parts of this verse are the same: object ("the cup/the dunking"), subordinate clause ('that") subject verb (I myself drink/I myself am baptized), main clause future verb ("you shall drink/shall be dunked"). The result is the the two verb follow one another "I drink" "you shall drink."

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

11
  • OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "indeed" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
  • WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for yourselves" or a "yourselves" as an object. 
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "of" doesn't exist in the source.
  • 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 word "of" doesn't exist in the source.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "with" doesn't exist in the source.
  • UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "baptism" means "dunk." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
  • MW -- Missing Word  -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
  • UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "baptized" means "dunk." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "withal" doesn't exist in the source.
  • UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "baptized" means "dunk." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

11
  • WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for yourselves" or a "yourselves" as an object. 
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" 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 word "of" doesn't exist in the source.
  • UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "baptized" means "dunk." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "with" doesn't exist in the source.
  • UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "baptism" means "dunk." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" 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."
  • UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "baptized" means "dunk." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "with" doesn't exist in the source.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

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

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

indeed -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "also" in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.

drink  - "Drink" is the verb that means to "drink". It also has a double meaning. "To drink" also means "to celebrate."

missing "by/for yourselves"-- (WV) A phrase is necessary because the form of the previous verb is a middle voice, which means that the subject is to  act on "yourselves," "for yourselves" or "by yourselves."

of -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "of" in the Greek source

the --The word translated as "the"  is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

cup -- The word for "the cup" means "a drinking-cup", "a wine-cup", "a jar," and "a receptacle" for offerings in the temple. The cup is used by Jesus as a symbol for sharing burdens.  It can mean the contents not just the cup itself like we use "cup" in a recipe, "add a cup" doesn't mean adding the cup itself. 

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.

I  -- 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.

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

drink  - "Drink" is the verb that means to "drink". It also has a double meaning. "To drink" also means "to celebrate."

of? -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "of" in the Greek source

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

with -- (IW) There is no Greek word meaning "with" here. It is added to make the English flow more smoothly.

the --The word translated as "the"  is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

baptism -- (UW) The Greek word translated as "baptism" is used as a noun only in the New Testament. It is from a verb, used later in this verse, that means "to dip", "to drench", "to plunge", or "to get into deep water".  "Immersion" might be a comparable idea in English. 

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.

I -- 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.

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

am -- This is from the passive, present form of the following verb.

baptized -- - (UW) The Greek verb translated as "baptized" means "to dip", "to plunge", "to be drenched", "to be drowned," and "getting in deep water." It is a future passive form, "you will be immersed". 

withal -- (IW) There is no Greek word meaning "withal" here. It is added to make the English flow more smoothly.

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

ye -- This is from the second-person plural form of the next verb.

be -- This is from the passive form of the verb.

baptized: -- -- (UW) The Greek verb translated as "baptized" means "to dip", "to plunge", "to be drenched", "to be drowned," and "getting in deep water." It is a future passive form, "you will be dunked". 

EACH WORD of NIV : 

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

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.

drink  - "Drink" is the verb that means to "drink". It also has a double meaning. "To drink" also means "to celebrate."

missing "by/for yourselves"-- (WV) A phrase is necessary because the form of the previous verb is a middle voice, which means that the subject is to  act on "yourselves," "for yourselves" or "by yourselves."

the --The word translated as "the"  is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

cup -- The word for "the cup" means "a drinking-cup", "a wine-cup", "a jar," and "a receptacle" for offerings in the temple. The cup is used by Jesus as a symbol for sharing burdens.  It can mean the contents not just the cup itself like we use "cup" in a recipe, "add a cup" doesn't mean adding the cup itself. 

missing "that"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "that" is a demonstrative pronoun, but it often acts as a pronoun, especially a connective pronoun introducing a dependent clause.

I  -- 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.

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

drink  - "Drink" is the verb that means to "drink". It also has a double meaning. "To drink" also means "to celebrate."

of? -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "of" in the Greek source

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

be -- This is from the passive form of the verb.

baptized: -- -- (UW) The Greek verb translated as "baptized" means "to dip", "to plunge", "to be drenched", "to be drowned," and "getting in deep water." It is a future passive form, "you will be dunked".

with -- (IW) There is no Greek word meaning "with" here. It is added to make the English flow more smoothly.

the --The word translated as "the"  is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

baptism -- (UW) The Greek word translated as "baptism" is used as a noun only in the New Testament. It is from a verb, used later in this verse, that means "to dip", "to drench", "to plunge", or "to get into deep water".  "Immersion" might be a comparable idea in English. 

missing "that"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "that" is a demonstrative pronoun, but it often acts as a pronoun, especially a connective pronoun introducing a dependent clause.

I -- 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.

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

am -- This is from the passive, present form of the following verb.

baptized -- - (UW) The Greek verb translated as "baptized" means "to dip", "to plunge", "to be drenched", "to be drowned," and "getting in deep water." It is a future passive form, "you will be immersed". 

with -- (IW) There is no Greek word meaning "with" here. It is added to make the English flow more smoothly.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

Τὸ  [821 verses] (article sg neut acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

ποτήριον [14 verses](noun sg neut acc) "Cup" is poterion, which means "a drinking-cup", "a wine-cup", "a jar," and "a receptacle" for offerings in the temple. -

 [294 verses](pron sg neut acc ) "That" is hos, which means "this", "that", "he", "she", "which", "what", "who", "whosoever", "where", "for which reason," and many similar meanings. 

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. --

πίνω , [36 verses] verb 1st sg pres ind act () "I drink" is pino, which means "to drink", "to celebrate," and "soak up." -- The word "drink" is the Greek for meaning to "drink". It also has a double meaning. "To drink" also means "to celebrate."

πίεσθε , [36 verses] (verb 2nd pl fut ind mid) "You shall drink" is pino, which means "to drink", "to celebrate," and "soak up." -- The word "drink" is the Greek for meaning to "drink". It also has a double meaning. "To drink" also means "to celebrate."

καὶ [1089 verses](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." 

τὸ [821 verses](article sg neut acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). --

βάπτισμα [6 verses](noun sg neut acc/nom) "The baptism" is from baptisma which is used as a noun only in the New Testament. It is from a verb, used later in the verse, that means "to dip", "to drench", "to plunge", or "to get into deep water". 

  [294 verses](pron sg neut acc ) "That" is hos, which means "this", "that", "he", "she", "which", "what", "who", "whosoever", "where", "for which reason," and many similar meanings.

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.

βαπτίζομαι [8 verses]  (verb 1st sg pres ind mp) "I am baptized" is from baptizo) which means "to dip", "to plunge", "to be drenched", "to be drowned," and "getting in deep water."

βαπτισθήσεσθε, [8 verses] (verb 2nd pl fut ind pass) "You shall be baptized" is from baptizo) which means "to dip", "to plunge", "to be drenched", "to be drowned," and "getting in deep water."

Related Verses: 

Possible Symbolic Meaning: 

While the previous verse was a question having the power (or the will) to pursue Jesus's specific path, this verse is about the inevitability about certain aspects of that path. The cup is the symbol of suffering and  death that arises directly from the pleasures of life (see previous verse for more on this). Baptism is the symbol of rebirth.Why does Christ repeat this verse twice, first as a question and second as a statement? To parallel the questions that we have about our fate in dying followed by the certainty of rebirth. That certainty is emphasized here with the use of the first word in the sentence, "indeed."

Front Page Date: 

Jul 19 2023