Mark 10:8 And they twain shall be one flesh:...

Spoken to: 

The Pharisees

The Pharisees tell Jesus that Moses only required a certificate of divorce.

KJV: 

Mark 10:8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

NIV : 

Mark 10:8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

And these two will consist of one flesh, in as much as no longer are they two, instead one flesh.

MY TAKE: 

In marriage, one and one make one (and sometimes eventually some more ).

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

καὶ   ἔσονται            οἱ      δύο   εἰς σάρκα μίαν:” ὥστε            οὐκέτι         εἰσὶν      δύο ἀλλὰ    μία σάρξ:
And will consist these two        of  flesh,  one      in as much as no longer are they two instead  one flesh.

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

Jesus is again quoting Genesis. This first clause here is Jesus quoting the last clause of Genesis 2:24.

Most English translation drop the prepositon "into" and most, except the KJV, change the first "to be" verb to "become." However, "be" and "become" are, in many senses,  opposites in Greek (see this article). With the preposition "into" the Greek verb "to be" takes on the meaning of "consists of" which works very well here.

The term used for "flesh" is usually translated as  "meat." This is literally true: a man and woman produce children, combining their DNA into one flesh. This changes the meaning of "flesh" to represent the "flesh" of a family group, as we describe families are our "flesh and blood."

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

3
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "two" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "into" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" is not the common word usually translated as "but."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "two" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "become" should be something more like "consist."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "into" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" is not the common word usually translated as "but."

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 is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".

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

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more. 

twain -- The Greek word for "two" means "two" or a "couple."

shall -- This comes from the future tense of the verb.

be -- The verb "be" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. With the preposition "into" used below, the sense is "consist of."

missing "into"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  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 time and measure, and "for" a purpose or object.

one -- The Greek word translated as "one thing" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single," and "one and the same."As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

flesh: -- The Greek word translated as "the flesh" means "flesh", "meat," and "the physical order of things" as opposed to the spiritual. In contrasting it with "spirit," he is making it clear that he has been using it in the later sense.

so then -- "So that" is an adverb that marks the power or virtue by which one does a thing, "as being," "inasmuch as," expresses the actual or intended result of the action in the principal clause: "as," "for," implying " on condition that," at the beginning of a sentence, to mark a strong conclusion, "and so," "therefore."

they -- This is from the plural form of the verb.

are -- The verb "are" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.

no more -- "No more" is an adverb that means "no more", "no longer", "no further" and generally, "not now."

twain, -- The Greek word for "two" means "two" or a "couple."

but -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus almost always uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this," with a positive one, "instead this."

one  -- The Greek word translated as "one thing" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single," and "one and the same."As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

flesh. -- The Greek word translated as "the flesh" means "flesh", "meat," and "the physical order of things" as opposed to the spiritual. In contrasting it with "spirit," he is making it clear that he has been using it in the later sense.

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 is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".

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. 

two -- The Greek word for "two" means "two" or a "couple."

will -- This comes from the future tense of the verb.

become -- (WW) The verb "be" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. With the preposition "into" used below, the sense is "consist of."

missing "into"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  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 time and measure, and "for" a purpose or object.

one -- The Greek word translated as "one thing" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single," and "one and the same."As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

flesh: -- The Greek word translated as "the flesh" means "flesh", "meat," and "the physical order of things" as opposed to the spiritual. In contrasting it with "spirit," he is making it clear that he has been using it in the later sense.

so -- "So " is an adverb that marks the power or virtue by which one does a thing, "as being," "inasmuch as," expresses the actual or intended result of the action in the principal clause: "as," "for," implying " on condition that," at the beginning of a sentence, to mark a strong conclusion, "and so," "therefore."

they -- This is from the plural form of the verb.

are -- The verb "are" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.

no more -- "No more" is an adverb that means "no more", "no longer", "no further" and generally, "not now."

two, -- The Greek word for "two" means "two" or a "couple."

but -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus almost always uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this," with a positive one, "instead this."

one  -- The Greek word translated as "one thing" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single," and "one and the same."As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

flesh. -- The Greek word translated as "the flesh" means "flesh", "meat," and "the physical order of things" as opposed to the spiritual. In contrasting it with "spirit," he is making it clear that he has been using it in the later sense.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

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."

ἔσονται .[614 verses] ( verb 3rd pl fut ind mid ) "Will be" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen,"  and "is possible." With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." With the dative, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed.

οἱ [821 verses](article pl masc nom) "They" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."

δύο [36 verses] ( numeral ) "Two" is duo, which means the number "two", "a couple," and "a pair."

εἰς [325 verses](prep) "Into" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)", "until (of time)", "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)."

σάρκα [19 verses] ( noun sg fem acc ) "Flesh" is sarx, which means "flesh," "the body," "fleshy," "the pulp of fruit," "meat," and "the physical and natural order of things" (opposite of the spiritual or supernatural). --

μίαν:” [85 verses] ( adj sg fem acc ) "One" is heis, which means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single," and "one and the same." This noun/adjective is irregular, having a number of forms depending on gender and case. It is always singular

ὥστε  [9 verses](adv/conj) "So then" is hoste, which marks the power or virtue by which one does a thing, "as being", "inasmuch as," expresses the the actual or intended result of the action in the principal clause: "as", "for," implying " on condition that," at the beginning of a sentence, to mark a strong conclusion, "and so", "therefore," and, with subj. " in order that."

οὐκέτι [17 verses](adv) "No more" is ouketi, which means "no more", "no longer", "no further" and generally, "not now." 

εἰσὶν [614 verses](verb 3rd pl pres ind act) "Is" is eimi, which means "to be", "to exist", "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen",  and "is possible." (The future form is esomai. The 3rd person present indicative is "esti.")

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."

ἀλλὰ [154 verses](conj) "But" is alla, which means "instead," "otherwise," "but," "still," "at least," "except," "yet," nevertheless," "rather," "moreover," and "nay."

μία  [85 verses](adj sg fem nom) "One" is heis, which means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single," and "one and the same." This noun/adjective is irregular, having a number of forms depending on gender and case. It is always singular

σάρξ: [19 verses] (noun sg fem nom) "Flesh" is sarx, which means "flesh," "the body," "fleshy," "the pulp of fruit," "meat," and "the physical and natural order of things" (opposite of the spiritual or supernatural). --

Wordplay: 

Play on two meaning of the word "flesh," genetic material within a cell and the shared genetics of a family.

Related Verses: 

Possible Symbolic Meaning: 

The version of this verse in Mat. 19:5 is examined here. The play on words here is in the word for meat, which means not only meat in the sense of the body, but in Greek meat in the sense of the physical nature of reality. It was used to denote what was really tangible, what we can get a hold on. We have a similar idea in modern English when we talk about "the meat of an argument" but in Greek the idea was less about the "core" of things and more about what is physical, what we can hold on to. In English, we might say that someone embodies a certain characteristic by saying, for example, "He is Greed in the flesh." This is very close to the way this word is used in Greed.

Our temporal world exists for the purpose of transformation but that transformation is hard to pin down on a theoretical levels, but in the sexes we see transformation in the flesh. Though our two forms of humanity have separate characteristics and souls, we are designed as pieces that fit together in one complete unit.  Our different parts fit together in the physical nature of things and become productive: creating new life, new flesh.

For Christ, marriage wasn't just about love or the sex act. Like so much of his work, it is about what is productive, what is beautiful as opposed to worthless (the two words in Greek that we mistranslate as good and evil).  Love and sex only become physically productive when the two sexes are united and with that union comes the responsibilities of acting as one unit, a single team, where our partners survival is necessary for that of our own and the family and life that we have produced together.

To say that one sex or the other is more important or better is just as silly as saying that the jacket or pants are more important in creating a suit or that the handle or bowl are more important in a spoon. It is their two parts together that make them complete, that make it a marriage, a suit, or a spoon. Take away either and it doesn't work as it should. The separate parts may have uses in themselves, but they are not what they were physically meant to be.

Front Page Date: 

Jun 29 2023