Matthew 12:25 Every kingdom divided against itself...

Spoken to
audience

Pharisees attack, demon power

KJV

Matthew 12:25 Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

NIV

Matthew 12:25 Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

LISTENERS HEARD

Each realm, being split against itself is wasted, and each city or household, being spit against itself, will not stand..

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The verbs hear are all passive. The verbs, "divided," "brought to desolation/be ruined" are uncommon for Jesus. the "stand" is common, but it is an odd verb. The "stand" looks active in English translation, but the active form of this verb in Greek means to "make stand," and so the passive is "being stood" or "to stand." This final verb is in the future tense.
 

MY TAKE

Unity is strength.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
0
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
1
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but the tense is the present.
EACH WORD of KJV

Every  - The word translated as "every," it means "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas.

kingdom  - "Kingdom" is a Greek word that means "kingdom," "realm," "dominion," "royal power," and "reign." It is the same word used in the phrase "kingdom of heaven"  or, more accurately, "realm of the skies," the saying that is at the center of Jesus's teaching. It means that which is ruled by a specific person. It is not a synonym for a state, a country, or any social group of people (see "city" below). It is defined by its control or ownership by a master and refers both to people, organizations, and property under that control.

divided  - "Divided" is a verb, in the form of an adjective which means "to divide," "to spit up," and "to be divided." It is in the passive, which is the sense of the English "divided" but "being split up" works as well.  This is a rare word for Jesus uses, seen only here and in similar verse in Mark (Mark 3:24). An even rarer word is used in Luke (Luke 11:17). 

against -- The word translated as "against" means "down from," "down into," "against," "opposite," "separately," "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."

itself -- "Itself" a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself," "herself," "itself," and so on.

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

brought to desolation; " - Is brought to desolation" is a verb that means "to strip bare," and and "to abandon," but it also means "to set free" and "to deliver from." It is in a form that is either passive or middle voice where the subject acts on itself.

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

every   - The word translated as "every," it means "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas.

city  - "City" is the Greek word that means "city," but at the time also indicated a country, a society, a country, and a community. It was generally thought of as the defining social unity for a people.

or -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi" or the adverb meaning "in truth."

house  - The Greek word translated as "house," in Christ's time, was not only the physical building but the whole household, its members, its property, business interests, and position in the community, all connected to the "name" of the head of the house. It had the same sense of "kingdom," but for a regular person, not a ruler.

divided  - "Divided" is a verb, in the form of an adjective which means "to divide," "to spit up," and "to be divided." It is in the passive, which is the sense of the English "divided" but "being split up" works as well.  This is a rare word for Jesus uses, seen only here and in similar verse in Mark (Mark 3:24). An even rarer word is used in Luke (Luke 11:17).  

against -- The word translated as "against" means "down from," "down into," "against," "opposite," "separately," "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."

itself -- "Itself" a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself," "herself," "itself," and so on.

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.

not  - The negative here is the negative referring to objective facts, not opinions. Adding "really" is sometimes necessary to capture this sense in English. 

stand:  - The verb translated as "shall stand" means. in the active form,  "to make stand," "to set up," "to establish and similar words. In the passive, it means "to be placed," "to stand," and "to stand firm."  Like the English words "put" and "set," it has a number of specific meanings from "to put down [in writing]," "to bury," "to establish," "to make," "to cause," and "to assign."

EACH WORD of NIV

Every  - The word translated as "every," it means "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas.

kingdom  - "Kingdom" is a Greek word that means "kingdom," "realm," "dominion," "royal power," and "reign." It is the same word used in the phrase "kingdom of heaven"  or, more accurately, "realm of the skies," the saying that is at the center of Jesus's teaching. It means that which is ruled by a specific person. It is not a synonym for a state, a country, or any social group of people (see "city" below). It is defined by its control or ownership by a master and refers both to people, organizations, and property under that control.

divided  -- "Divided" is a verb, in the form of an adjective which means "to divide," "to spit up," and "to be divided." It is in the passive, which is the sense of the English "divided" but "being split up" works as well.  This is a rare word for Jesus uses, seen only here and in similar verse in Mark (Mark 3:24). An even rarer word is used in Luke (Luke 11:17). 

against -- The word translated as "against" means "down from," "down into," "against," "opposite," "separately," "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."

itself -- "Itself" a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself," "herself," "itself," and so on.

will -- (WT) This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense, but the tense is the present.

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

ruined; " - "Ruined" is a verb that means "to strip bare," and and "to abandon," but it also means "to set free" and "to deliver from." It is in a form that is either passive or middle voice where the subject acts on itself.

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

every   - The word translated as "every," it means "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas.

city  - "City" is the Greek word that means "city," but at the time also indicated a country, a society, a country, and a community. It was generally thought of as the defining social unity for a people.

or -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi" or the adverb meaning "in truth."

household - The Greek word translated as "household ," in Christ's time, was not only the physical building but the whole household, its members, its property, business interests, and position in the community, all connected to the "name" of the head of the house. It had the same sense of "kingdom," but for a regular person, not a ruler.

divided  - "Divided" is a verb, in the form of an adjective which means "to divide," "to spit up," and "to be divided." It is in the passive, which is the sense of the English "divided" but "being split up" works as well.  This is a rare word for Jesus uses, seen only here and in similar verse in Mark (Mark 3:24). An even rarer word is used in Luke (Luke 11:17). 

against -- The word translated as "against" means "down from," "down into," "against," "opposite," "separately," "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."

itself -- "Itself" a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself," "herself," "itself," and so on.

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.

not  - The negative here is the negative referring to objective facts, not opinions. Adding "really" is sometimes necessary to capture this sense in English. 

stand:  -- The verb translated as "shall stand" means. in the active form,  "to make stand," "to set up," "to establish and similar words. In the passive, it means "to be placed," "to stand," and "to stand firm."  Like the English words "put" and "set," it has a number of specific meanings from "to put down [in writing]," "to bury," "to establish," "to make," "to cause," and "to assign."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

Πᾶσα (adj sg fem nom) "Every" 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."

βασιλεία (noun sg fem nom) "The kingdom" is from basileia, which means "kingdom," "dominion," "hereditary monarchy," "kingly office," (passive) "being ruled by a king," and "reign."It means that which is ruled by a specific person, a basileus, which means "leader," "prince," "commander," or "king." Basileia is not a synonym for a state, a country, or any social group of people. A basileia is defined by its control or ownership by the master and refers both to people and property under that control. 

μερισθεῖσα [5 verses](part sg aor pass fem nom) "Divided" is merizo, which means "divide," "distribute," "assign," "sever," "cut-off," (passive) "to be divided," "to be dispersed," and "to be reckoned a part."

καθ (prep) "Against" is from kata, which means "downwards," "down from," "down into," "against," "down toward," "opposite," "separately," "individually," "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."

ἑαυτῆς (adj sg fem gen) "Itself" is from heautou, is a reflexive pronoun that means "himself," "herself," "itself," "themselves," and "ourselves." It is an alternative to autos.

ἐρημοῦται, [2 verses] (3rd sg pres ind mp) "Is brought to desolation" is from eremoo, which means "to strip bare," "to lay waste," "to desolate," "bereave one of a thing," "set free," "deliver from," "abandon," "desert," "leave alone," "keep isolated," and, in the passive, "to be bereft of," "to left without," "being free from...," and "being isolated from."

καὶ (conj) "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."

πᾶσα (adj sg fem nom) "Every" is from 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."

πόλις (noun sg fem nom) "City" is from polis, which means "city," "citadel," "one's city," "one's country," "community," "state," "state affairs," and "civic duties." -- The Greek word for "city" meant not only a city but a nation, culture, or a society. It worked something like the word "community" today.

 (conj) "Or" is e which is a particle meaning "either," "or," or "than."

οἰκία (noun dual fem nom) "House" is from oikia, which means "house," "building," and "household."

μερισθεῖσα [5 verses](part sg aor pass fem nom) "Divided" is from merizo, which means "divide," "distribute," "assign," "sever," "cut-off," (passive) "to be divided," "to be dispersed," and "to be reckoned a part."

καθ᾽ (prep) "Against" is from kata, which means "downwards," "down from," "down into," "against," "down toward," "opposite," "separately," "individually," "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."

ἑαυτῆς (adj sg fem gen) "Itself" is from heautou, is a reflexive pronoun that means "himself," "herself," "itself ""themselves," and "ourselves." It is an alternative to autos.

οὐ (partic) "Not" is from ou which is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.

σταθήσεται. (3rd sg fut ind pass) "Shall...stand" is histemi, which means "to make to stand," , "to set up," "to bring to a standstill," "to check," "to appoint," "to establish," "to set upright," "to erected,""to fix by agreement," and "to place." In the passive, it means "to be placed," "to be set," "to stand," "to stand still," "to stand firm," "to arise,"

Wordplay

The word translated as "is brought to desolation" also means "sets itself free." 

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings

The Master spent a few minutes observing the man. He then approached him and touch his head, and whispered something in his ear. The man responded. He looked first at the Master. Then he looked around at the crowd. The man greeted his family, embracing them as one who was returning from a long trip. He then embraced the Master.
The crowd applauded and praised the Master, but the leader of the Distinguished pronounced his judgment on what he had seen.
“This one,” he announced loudly, indicating the Master, “does not toss out demons except by that Beelzebub, the first of the demons!”
Many in the crowd booed this statement, but the Master laughed.
“Each realm, being split against itself is ruined,” observed the Master in a cheerful voice. “And each city or household, being spit against itself, will not stand.”
The crowd was confused. Was he talking about the nation of Judea?

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