Mark 13:30 ...that this generation shall not pass,

Spoken to
Apostles

Jesus describes the destruction of the temple as an analogy for the end of the world.

KJV

Mark 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

NIV

Mark 13:30  Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

3RD (NLT, if not otherwise identified)

NLT:

Mark 13:30 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place.

LISTENERS HEARD

Ameni, I tell you that the type, this one, should never get by until this: all these things should happen.

MY TAKE

We all hope to get by without trouble but few of us do.

GREEK ORDER

ἀμὴν   λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι  οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ                     γενεὰ αὕτη      μέχρις οὗ  ταῦτα           πάντα γένηται.
Truly, I tell  you  that never should it get by    , the  type , this one, until   this: these things all      should happen.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

We should not interpret "pass" as we use the term "pass away" in English, referring to dying and death. The term for "pass" used in Greek does not have that meaning. It means "passing" in the sense of one thing going by another, one thing surpassing by another,  or "passing" the time. However, given the active form of the word, the only meaning that seems to work is the sense of "passing to a place" as we use "arrive." It could also have the sense of "pass" like we use it to mean "passing" a test. It also means "to escape the notice of." In the Latin Vulgate, this verb was translated as "transient" which is the future, plural, active form of the word that means "to cross". To me, the verb has the sense of "getting by," as in "avoiding."

The whole human race is hiding behind the word translated as "generation," which Jesus does not seem to use to refer to his generation at all (see this detailed analysis of his use of the term).  Jesus uses it more frequently to refer to his challengers like the Pharisees.

The translation of this verse as a prophecy about the future of Jesus's generation may be misleading. None of the verbs are in the future tense. What is hidden in the Greek is the explicit idea that this is possible, but not certain.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
6
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is missing in the translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "shall" does not mean the future tense.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" is a more extreme negative more like "never."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word meaning "this" is not indicated in the English translation.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "be" should be  "should" or "might."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "done" means "happen." This is not the adverbial form.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
8
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" is missing in the translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "generation" is missing in the translation.
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
  • WF --Wrong Form -  The "pass" is something that "should" or "might" be done.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The word "pass" does not mean "pass away" as in "die."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word meaning "this" is not indicated in the English translation.
  • 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).
  • WF --Wrong Form -  The "have" is something that "should" or "might" be done.
# 3RD TRANSLATION ISSUES
9
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "truth" is not a noun but an adverb, "truly."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" is missing in the translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is missing in the translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "will" does not mean the future tense.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" hear is a more extreme negative like "never."
  • IP - Inserted phrase-- The phrase "from the scene" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word meaning "this" is not indicated in the English translation.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The  verb "take place" is in a form that indicates a possibility so it should have a "should" or "might" indicating that.
EACH WORD of KJV

Verily -- The word translated as "verily" is the Hebrew word that means "truly" or "certainly," but it sounds like the Greek word with the same meaning. In Greek, the word also means "to reap."

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the following verb.

say -- The word translated as "I tell" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak," but it also means "to teach," which seems to be the way Christ uses it more frequently. It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself." Christ usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching.

unto -- This word "unto" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English, but the translator must decide which preposition to use: a "to" as an indirect object.

you,  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you", "for you", etc.

that -- The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore." Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because."

This -- "This" is translated from a Greek word that means "this", "that", "the nearer." This word appears after the noun referring to it.

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, 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", "those"). See this article for more. 

generation The word translated as "generation" means "race", "family", and "generation". Christ uses this term frequently in criticism, but that criticism seems more aim at a certain type of person, or, more narrowly, a certain group among his own people, than it is his generation as we used the term. It is the word from which we get the scientific "genus".

shall -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the following verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.

not -- (CW) The "not" here is both of the Greek negatives used together. Greek has two negatives, one objective, one subjective. The use of both together is more extreme, like saying "you cannot really think" or, more simple, "never".

pass, -- The word "pass " means one thing going by another, one thing surpassing by another,  or the "passing" the time. It also has the sense of arriving to a place and to "pass" a test. The form is not the future tense, as translated, but in a form that means something is possible and "should" or "might" happen. It does not mean "pass away" as in dying.

till -- The word translated as "until" is not the common Greek word for "until," but an uncommon word for Jesus that means "up until" but it also means "as far as." It can be a preposition that takes an object, which is what it does here.

missing "this"  --- (MW) Untranslated here is a Greek word means "this" appears here. It is singular and in the form of being the object of "up until."

all -- The word translated as "all" is from the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas.

these -- The "these" is from a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage.

things  -- This "things"  is from the plural, neutral form of the previous adjective. Though the subject  here is plural, the verb is singular because neutral plural verbs are treated as a collective.

be -- (WW) This helping verb "be" seems to indicate that the following verb is passive but it isn't. It is a verb from that indicates the subject is acting on itself.  However, since the verb only indicates a possibility, there should be a "might" here.  Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

done. -- (WW) The word translated as "done" means "to become" and "to happen", that is, to enter into a new state. Another Greek word us usually translated as "fulfill" in Greek. It is also not in the future tense, but the form that indicates something that might happen. Since it refers to events, the sense is "happen". The form is that of things acting on themselves, which is captures by our word "happen", which doesn't suggests and outside force.

EACH WORD of NIV

Truly -- The word translated as "truly" is the Hebrew word that means "truly" or "certainly," but it sounds like the Greek word with the same meaning. In Greek, the word also means "to reap."

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the following verb.

say -- The word translated as "I tell" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak," but it also means "to teach," which seems to be the way Christ uses it more frequently. It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself." Christ usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching.

you,  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you", "for you", etc. 

missing "that"  -- (MW) The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore." Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because."

This -- "This" is translated from a Greek word that means "this", "that", "the nearer." This word appears after the noun referring to it.

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, 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", "those"). See this article for more. 

generation The word translated as "generation" means "race", "family", and "generation". Christ uses this term frequently in criticism, but that criticism seems more aim at a certain type of person, or, more narrowly, a certain group among his own people, than it is his generation as we used the term. It is the word from which we get the scientific "genus".

will  -- (WT) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the following verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.

certainly not --   The "certainly not" here is both of the Greek negatives used together. Greek has two negatives, one objective, one subjective. The use of both together is more extreme, like saying "you cannot really think" or, more simple, "never".

pass away, -- (WF, CW) The word "pass away" is from a verb that means  means one thing going by another, one thing surpassing by another,  or the "passing" the time. It also has the sense of arriving to a place and to "pass" a test. The form is not the future tense, as translated, but in a form that means something is possible and "should" or "might" happen. It does not mean "pass away" as in dying.

until -- The word translated as "until" is not the common Greek word for "until," but an uncommon word for Jesus that means "up until" but it also means "as far as." It can be a preposition that takes an object, which is what it does here.

missing "this"  ---(MW) Untranslated here is a Greek word means "this" appears here. It is singular and in the form of being the object of "up until."

all -- The word translated as "all" is from the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas.

these -- The "these" is from a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage.

things  -- This "things"  is from the plural, neutral form of the previous adjective. Though the subject  here is plural, the verb is singular because neutral plural verbs are treated as a collective.

have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" seems to indicate that the following verb is the past perfect tense, but it isn't. However, since the verb only indicates a possibility, there should be a "might" here.  Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

happened. -- (WF) The word translated as "happened" means "to become" and "to happen", that is, to enter into a new state. Another Greek word us usually translated as "fulfill" in Greek. It is also not in the future tense, but the form that indicates something that might happen. Since it refers to events, the sense is "happen". The form is that of things acting on themselves, which is captures by our word "happen", which doesn't suggests and outside force.

EACH WORD 3RD (NLT or as noted)

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the following verb.

tell -- The word translated as "I tell" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak," but it also means "to teach," which seems to be the way Christ uses it more frequently. It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself." Christ usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching.

you,  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you", "for you", etc. 

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

truth --   (WF) The word translated as "truth" is the Hebrew word that means "truly" or "certainly," The "truth" is not a noun but an adverb, "truly."

missing "that"  -- (MW) The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore." Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because."

this -- "This" is translated from a Greek word that means "this", "that", "the nearer." This word appears after the noun referring to it.

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, 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", "those"). See this article for more. 

generation -- The word translated as "generation" means "race", "family", and "generation". Christ uses this term frequently in criticism, but that criticism seems more aim at a certain type of person, or, more narrowly, a certain group among his own people, than it is his generation as we used the term. It is the word from which we get the scientific "genus".

will -- (CW) This helping verb "will" does not indicate the future tense, but that the following verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.

not --  (CW) The "certainly not" here is both of the Greek negatives used together. Greek has two negatives, one objective, one subjective. The use of both together is more extreme, like saying "you cannot really think" or, more simple, "never".

pass, --  The word "pass " is from a verb that means  means one thing going by another, one thing surpassing by another,  or the "passing" the time. It also has the sense of arriving to a place and to "pass" a test. The form is not the future tense, as translated, but in a form that means something is possible and "should" or "might" happen. It does not mean "pass away" as in dying.

from the scene -- (IP) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "from the scene in the Greek source.

before -- The word translated as "before" is not the common Greek word for "before," but an uncommon word for Jesus that means "up until" but it also means "as far as." It can be a preposition that takes an object, which is what it does here.

missing "this"  ---(MW) Untranslated here is a Greek word means "this" appears here. It is singular and in the form of being the object of "up until."

all -- The word translated as "all" is from the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas.

these -- The "these" is from a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage.

things  -- This "things"  is from the plural, neutral form of the previous adjective. Though the subject  here is plural, the verb is singular because neutral plural verbs are treated as a collective.

take place. --  (WF) The word translated as "take place" means "to become" and "to happen", that is, to enter into a new state. Another Greek word us usually translated as "fulfill" in Greek. It is also not in the future tense, but the form that indicates something that might happen. Since it refers to events, the sense is "happen". The form is that of things acting on themselves, which is captures by our word "happen", which doesn't suggests and outside force. However, the form is something that "might" or "should" happen, not something that is certain.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

 

ἀμὴν [88 verses](exclaim) "Verily" is amen, which is the Hebrew, meaning "truly," "of a truth," and "so be it." It has no history in Greek of this meaning before the NT. However, this is also the infinitive form of the Greek verb amao, which means "to reap" or "to cut."

λέγω [264 verses](1st sg pres ind act/subj) "I say" is lego, which means "to recount," "to tell over," "to say," "to speak," "to teach," "to mean," "boast of," "tell of," "recite," nominate," and "command." It has a secondary meaning "pick out," "choose for oneself," "pick up," "gather," "count," and "recount." A less common word that is spelled the same means "to lay," "to lay asleep" and "to lull asleep."

ὑμῖν, [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."

ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

οὐ μὴ [39 verses](partic) "Never" is ou me, the two forms of Greek negative used together. Ou is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. Mê (me) is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." As οὐ (ou) negates fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective.

παρέλθῃ [5 verses](verb 3rd sg aor subj act) "Shall...pass" is from parerchomai, which means "go by", "pass by", "outstrip" (in speed), "outwit", "pass time," "pass to a place", "arrive," "past events" (in time), "disregard," and "pass without heeding."

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

γενεὰ [19 verses](noun sg fem nom/acc) "Generation" is genea, which means "race", "family", "generation", "class," and "kind." It is a form of the word that we get the scientific "genus" from.

αὕτη [83 verses](adj sg fem nom) "This" is houtos, which means "this", "that", "the nearer." As an adverb, it means "therefore," and "that is why."

μέχρις [3 verses](prep/conj/adv) "Till" is mechri, which means "as far as", "even to", "so far as", "up to", "until", "about," and "nearly."

οὗ [294 verses](pron sg masc gen) Untranslated is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.

πάντα [212 verses]  (adj pl neut nom) "All" is pas, which means "all," "the whole," "every," "anyone," "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way," "on every side," "in every way," and "altogether." --

ταῦτα [96 verses(adj pl neut nom) "These things" is from tauta, which is a referring pronoun meaning "these", "this", "that," and "here." It can mean the nearer or the further depending on usage. As an adverb it can mean "therefore" and "that is why."

γένηται. [117 verses](verb 3rd sg aor subj mid) "Be done" is from ginomai, which means "to become", "to come into being", "to happen", and "to be produced." It means changing into a new state of being.

Wordplay

This is the third verse in a row that has referenced the concept of "coming into begin" (gignomai  ginomai). The first goes back to referring to the coming of summer or harvest time. 

Front Page Date