Mark 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Spoken to
group

On Mount of Olives, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Jesus when these things will be.

KJV

Mark 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

NIV

Mark 13:6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many.

3RD (NLT, if not otherwise identified)

NLT Translation

Mark 13:6 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.

LISTENERS HEARD

Many will show up upon this name of mine saying that "I myself exist," and they will mislead many.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The translators insert "Christ/he/the Messiah," after the "I am" statement. None of are in the Greek. It is, however, in the Matthew 24:5 parallel verse, but not in the other parallel, Luke 21:8. When the verb "to be" doesn't connect the subject to another noun or adjective or preposition phrase, it means "exist." Correctly translated, it sound a lot like Jesus is saying these people will claim he is still alive, which they do, like those who claimed Jesus never really died on the cross.

The phrase translated as "in my name" is discussed extensively in this article.

 

GREEK ORDER

Many are going to show up on my name saying that "I myself am," and they are going to mislead many.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5
  • OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "for" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "in" means "upon."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "myself" after "I" for emphasis.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "Christ" doesn't exist in the source.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "in" means "upon."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "claiming" means "saying."
  • MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "myself" after "I" for emphasis.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "he" doesn't exist in the source.
# 3RD TRANSLATION ISSUES
7
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "for" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "in" means "upon."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "claiming" means "saying."
  • MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "myself" after "I" for emphasis.
  • IP - Inserted phrase-- The phrase "the Messiah" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The conjunction "and" is not shown in the English translation.

 

 

EACH WORD of KJV

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

many -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size.

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

come -- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Jesus usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "come" or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. 

in -- (WW) The word translated as "unto" means "on", "over", "upon", "against", "before", "after", "during", "by" or "on." Jesus uses three prepositions in this phrase, see the discussion of their differences in this phrase in this article.

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

my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun.  The pronoun follows "name," so "of mine."

name, -- The Greek word translated as "name" is much more complicated than it might at first appear. It can simply mean a "name" as it does in English, but it doesn't mean the things themselves, but what people call it. For example, it can mean a "false name," or "a pretense" as we say "this is a marriage in name only." It can also mean representing another person's authority, as we say, "he is acting in the name of the boss," but mainly it represents their reputation among those who know their name.

saying, -- The word translated as "saying" 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.

I -- The pronoun "I" is added to add emphasis that he is referring to his own words. It is unnecessary because the first-person indication is part of the verb ending. Christ sometimes uses it humorously to refer to himself.

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

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

Christ; -- (IW) There is no Greek word that is translated as "Christ" 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"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".

shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. A "might" or "should" could work here or nothing at all in an "if/when/whoever" clause which implies a possibility.  Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English. 

deceive --  "Deceive" is from a verb that means "to cause to wander", "to lead astray", "to mislead", "to wander", "to stray," and "to be misled."

many. -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size.

EACH WORD of NIV

Many -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size.

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

come -- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Jesus usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "come" or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. 

in -- (WW) The word translated as "unto" means "on", "over", "upon", "against", "before", "after", "during", "by" or "on." Jesus uses three prepositions in this phrase, see the discussion of their differences in this phrase in this article.

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

my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun.  The pronoun follows "name," so "of mine."

name, -- The Greek word translated as "name" is much more complicated than it might at first appear. It can simply mean a "name" as it does in English, but it doesn't mean the things themselves, but what people call it. For example, it can mean a "false name," or "a pretense" as we say "this is a marriage in name only." It can also mean representing another person's authority, as we say, "he is acting in the name of the boss," but mainly it represents their reputation among those who know their name.

claiming, -- (WW)  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.

I -- The pronoun "I" is added to add emphasis that he is referring to his own words. It is unnecessary because the first-person indication is part of the verb ending. Christ sometimes uses it humorously to refer to himself.

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

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

he; -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "he" 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"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".

will -- This helping verb indicates that the following verb is likely the future tense. but it could also be in the form indicating possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

deceive --  "Deceive" is from a verb that means "to cause to wander", "to lead astray", "to mislead", "to wander", "to stray," and "to be misled."

many. -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size.

EACH WORD 3RD (NLT or as noted)

NLT Translation

for -- (IW) There is no Greek word that is translated as "for" in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.

many -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size.

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

come -- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Jesus usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "come" or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. 

in -- (WW) The word translated as "unto" means "on", "over", "upon", "against", "before", "after", "during", "by" or "on." Jesus uses three prepositions in this phrase, see the discussion of their differences in this phrase in this article.

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

my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun.  The pronoun follows "name," so "of mine."

name, -- The Greek word translated as "name" is much more complicated than it might at first appear. It can simply mean a "name" as it does in English, but it doesn't mean the things themselves, but what people call it. For example, it can mean a "false name," or "a pretense" as we say "this is a marriage in name only." It can also mean representing another person's authority, as we say, "he is acting in the name of the boss," but mainly it represents their reputation among those who know their name.

claiming, -- (WW) The word translated as "saying" 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.

I -- The pronoun "I" is added to add emphasis that he is referring to his own words. It is unnecessary because the first-person indication is part of the verb ending. Christ sometimes uses it humorously to refer to himself.

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

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

the Messiah; -- (IP) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "the Messiah." It was added for clarity or to promote a certain religious idea.

missing "and"-- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".

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

will-- This helping verb indicates that the following verb is likely the future tense. but it could also be in the form indicating possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

deceive --  "Deceive" is from a verb that means "to cause to wander", "to lead astray", "to mislead", "to wander", "to stray," and "to be misled."

many. -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

πολλοὶ [61 verses](adj pl masc nom) "Many"is from polys (polys)", "great (in size or power or worth)," and "large (of space)." As an adverb, it means "far", "very much", "a great way," and "long."

ἐλεύσονται [198 verses]( verb 3rd pl fut ind mid ) "Shall come" is erchomai, which means "to start," "to set out", "to come", "to go," and any kind of motion. It means both "to go" on a journey and "to arrive" at a place.

ἐπὶ [138 verses](prep) "In" is from epi, (epi) which means "on", "upon", "at", "by", "before, ""across," and "against."

 

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

ὀνόματί [47 verses](noun sg neut dat) "Name" is from onoma, which means "name." It means both the reputation of "fame," and "a name and nothing else," as opposed to a real person. Acting in someone's name means to act on their behalf, as their representative.

μου [132 verses](noun sg masc gen) "Me" is from emou, which means "me," and "mine."

λέγοντες [264 verses](part pl pres act masc nom) "Saying" is from 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 spelt the same means "to lay," "to lay asleep" and "to lull asleep."

ὅτι  [332 verses] Untranslated is hoti (hoti) which means "that ""because,"  and "since."

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

εἰμι [614 verses](pron 1st sg masc nom) "Is" is from eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," and "is possible." (The future form is esomai. The 3rd person present indicative is "esti.") -

 

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." 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."

πολλοὺς [61 verses](adj pl masc acc) "Many" is from polys, which means "many (in number)," "great (in size or power or worth)," and "large (of space)." As an adverb, it means "far," "very much," "a great way," and "long."

πλανήσουσιν. [12 verses](verb 3rd pl fut ind act) "Deceive" is planao which means "to cause to wander," "to lead astray," "to mislead," "to wander," "to stray," and "to be misled."

Wordplay

The repeat of "many" at the beginning and end of the verse, which is captured in English, is interesting since it means that the crowd will lead the crowd astray, a common idea in Christ's teaching.  More interesting is the use of the words "lego" and "ego" together. Christ seldom uses the first person pronoun (ego) without the word for "to say" (lego) nearby, something we discuss more extensively in this previous post about the two words.

Possible Symbolic Meaning
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