Spoken to:
On Mount of Olives, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Jesus when these things will be.
KJV:
Mark 13:17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
NIV :
Mark 13:17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!
3RD (NLT, if not otherwise identified):
Mark 13:17 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days.
LISTENERS HEARD:
So sad, however, for those carrying in a womb and for those nursing in those, the days.
MY TAKE:
Pregnant and nursing mothers are especially endangered when the rot of emptiness is stood up.
GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page):
GREEK ORDER:
LOST IN TRANSLATION:
There are several signs that this verse was said in a much light-hearted tone than its translations. For example, there are no active verbs used in this verse, it is all participles, verbal adjectives. Not is there a subject to suggest a specific verb. It is a great example of a verse that works better when spoken than written. So when spoken, it would be heard as the repetition of a rhyming words, all ending the same sound. There is also a classic play on words.
Even the "woe" that starts this verse is potentially light-hearted. The word is very like the Jewish, "oy vey" which can be used to express sorrow but is more commonly used somewhat lightly. In English, we might say "so sad" or "boo-hoo" depending on how we wanted to express the idea.
The phrase translated as "with child" and "pregnant" is a participle phrase meaning "carrying in womb." The modern Greek word meaning "pregnant" is a contraction of the words in this phrase, but that word didn't exist in ancient Greek. However, until the participle is heard at the end, the word means "gluttony," so, it too have a humorous feel.
# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES:
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "are" should be something more like "carrying."
- WF - Wrong Form - The "are" is not an active verb but a participle, "carrying."
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "child."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "give."
- WF - Wrong Form - The "give suck" is not an active verb but a participle, "giving suck."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES:
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "but" is not shown in the English translation.
- IP - Inserted phrase-- The phrase "it will be" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "days" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "pregnant" is not a noun but a participle phrase, "carrying in a womb."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "women" should be something more like "those."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "mothers" should be something more like "those."
# 3RD TRANSLATION ISSUES:
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "but" is not shown in the English translation.
- IP - Inserted phrase-- The phrase "it will be" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "pregnant" is not a noun but a participle phrase, "carrying in a womb."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "women" should be something more like "those."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "mothers" should be something more like "those."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "days" is not shown in the English translation.
EACH WORD of KJV :
But - The Greek word translated as "but" joins phrases in an adversarial way and it is usually translated as "but." Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. When used in writing, it creates complex sentences, but when spoken, it makes a good pausing point so that an important or humorous word can follow. Its use seems to indicates this verse expresses a different feeling than the one before.
woe -- "Woe" is from an exclamation of grief, meaning "woe" or "alas." However, Jesus seems to use it humorously. Most verses in which it appears have the hallmarks of Christ's humor. However, this one may be an exception. More about this phrase in this article on Christ's humor, under the subtitle, "exaggeration."
to -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word(s) that requires the addition of a preposition in English: a "to" as an indirect object, a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, "at" or "on" a time, and an "in" for the area of effect.
them -- The word translated as "them " is from the Greek article, "the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. Since the article is feminine, the sense is "those women.
that -- This is from the third-person form of the following verb.
are -- (WW, WF) The word translated as "are" means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do", "to have due to one", or "keep" and many specific uses.Pregnancy was described as "carrying in a belly."This is not an active verb, but a verbal adjective, "having." This word follows the phrase "in/with belly."
with -- The word translated as "with" is from a word that means "in" but also means "within", "with," or "among." The sense is "in" belly because of the "having" verb.
child, -- (CW) The word translated as "child" actually means "paunch", "belly", "gluttony" or with the preposition the verb, the sense is "womb." Until the verb, the sense with "in" is "gluttony." This word only means "child" in the context of the expression. This is not any word usually translated as "child."
and -- The "and" here is the normal conjunction "and" which can also be used as "also."
to -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English: a "to" as an indirect object, a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, "at" or "on" a time, and an "in" for the area of effect.
them -- The word translated as "unto them that" is again the Greek article, "the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. Since the article is feminine, the sense is "those women.
that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.
give -- (CW, WF) This is not the verb or its root usually translated as "give." It means "nursing." We would say, "the ones nursing." Again, the gender is feminine
suck -- (WF) "Give suck" is the adjective form of the verb that means "to nurse" or "to suckle." This completes the meaning of the verb.
in -- The word translated as "in" is the same preposition translated as "with" earlier, emphasizing the repetition of the verse.
those -- The word translated as "those" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." It seems to indicate that the "days" are about a certain place as well as time.
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.
days! -- The Greek word translated as "days" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime."
EACH WORD of NIV :
missing "but "-- (MW) The untranslated word "but" joins phrases in an adversarial way and it is usually translated as "but." Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. When used in writing, it creates complex sentences, but when spoken, it makes a good pausing point so that an important or humorous word can follow. Its use seems to indicates this verse expresses a different feeling than the one before.
How dreadful -- "How dreadful " is from an exclamation of grief, meaning "woe" or "alas." However, Jesus seems to use it humorously. Most verses in which it appears have the hallmarks of Christ's humor. However, this one may be an exception. More about this phrase in this article on Christ's humor, under the subtitle, "exaggeration."
it will be -- (IP) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "it will be" in the Greek source.
in -- The word translated as "in" is the same preposition translated as "with" earlier, emphasizing the repetition of the verse.
those -- The word translated as "those" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." It seems to indicate that the "days" are about a certain place as well as time.
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.
days! -- The Greek word translated as "days" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime."
for -- This word "for " comes from the dative case of the word translated as "women" that requires the addition of a preposition in English: a "to" as an indirect object, a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, "at" or "on" a time, and an "in" for the area of effect.
pregnant -- (WF) This word is from three Greek word meaning "having in belly." The modern Greek word for "pregnant" is a contraction of these words, but that word was not used in ancient Greek. The verb in this phrase means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do", "to have due to one", or "keep" and many specific uses. This is not an active verb, but a verbal adjective, "having." The preposition means "in" but also means "within", "with," or "among." The sense is "in" belly because of the "having" verb. The noun means "paunch", "belly", "gluttony" when not in this phrase.
women -- (WW) The word translated as "women" is from the Greek article, "the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
and -- The "and" here is the normal conjunction "and" which can also be used as "also."
nursing -- "Nursing" is the adjective form of the verb that means "to nurse" or "to suckle." The sense is "nursing." We would say, "the ones nursing."
mothers! -- (WW) This is again the Greek article, "the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Here, it precedes the adjective "nursing." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
EACH WORD 3RD (NLT or as noted):
missing "but "-- (MW) The untranslated word "but" joins phrases in an adversarial way and it is usually translated as "but." Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. When used in writing, it creates complex sentences, but when spoken, it makes a good pausing point so that an important or humorous word can follow. Its use seems to indicates this verse expresses a different feeling than the one before.
How terrible -- "How terrible" is from an exclamation of grief, meaning "woe" or "alas." However, Jesus seems to use it humorously. Most verses in which it appears have the hallmarks of Christ's humor. However, this one may be an exception. More about this phrase in this article on Christ's humor, under the subtitle, "exaggeration."
it will be -- (IP) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "it will be" in the Greek source.
for -- This word "for " comes from the dative case of the word translated as "women" that requires the addition of a preposition in English: a "to" as an indirect object, a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, "at" or "on" a time, and an "in" for the area of effect.
pregnant -- (WF) This word is from three Greek word meaning "having in belly." The modern Greek word for "pregnant" is a contraction of these words, but that word was not used in ancient Greek. The verb in this phrase means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do", "to have due to one", or "keep" and many specific uses. This is not an active verb, but a verbal adjective, "having." The preposition means "in" but also means "within", "with," or "among." The sense is "in" belly because of the "having" verb. The noun means "paunch", "belly", "gluttony" when not in this phrase.
women -- (WW) The word translated as "women" is from the Greek article, "the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
and -- The "and" here is the normal conjunction "and" which can also be used as "also."
for -- This word doesn't appear in the Greek but the previous preposition need not be repeated but can be.
nursing -- "Nursing" is the adjective form of the verb that means "to nurse" or "to suckle." The sense is "nursing." We would say, "the ones nursing." Again, the form is obviously female.
mothers! -- (WW) This is again the Greek article, "the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Here, it precedes the adjective "nursing." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
in -- The word translated as "in" is the same preposition translated as "with" earlier, emphasizing the repetition of the verse.
those -- The word translated as "those" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." It seems to indicate that the "days" are about a certain place as well as time.
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.
days! -- The Greek word translated as "days" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime."
COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV :
οὐαὶ [27 verses](exclam) "Woe" is from ouai, which is an exclamation of pain or anger meaning "woe" or "alas" but it can also be used sarcastically like "oy vey."
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of indirect cause ("so"). In an "if" (εἰ ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then." In a series begun by men, its means "on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then.
ταῖς [821 verses](article pl fem dat) "Unto them that" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "With" is from(article pl fem dat) "Unto them that" which means "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power," and "with". -
γαστρὶ [3 verses](noun sg fem dat) "Child" is gaster, which means "paunch", "belly", "gluttony" with en, or "womb."
ἐχούσαις [181 verses](part pl pres act fem dat) "Have" is from echo, which means "to have", "to hold", "to possess", "to keep", "to have charge of", "to maintain", "to hold fast", "to bear", "to carry", "to keep close", "to keep safe," and "to have means to do."
καὶ [181 verses](conj/adv) "And" is from 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."
ταῖς [821 verses](article pl fem dat) "The" 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."
θηλαζούσαις [4 verses](part pl pres act fem dat) "To them that give suck" is from thelazo, which means "to suckle", "to nurse," and "to suck (for animals)." This is the present participle form used as a female dative noun.
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is from en, which means "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power," and "with". -
ἐκείναις [107 verses](adj pl fem dat) "Those" is from ekeinos, which means "the person there", "that person", "that thing", "in that case", "in that way", "at that place," and "in that manner."
ταῖς [821 verses](article pl fem dat) 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." --
ἡμέραις. [96 verses](noun pl fem dat) "Days" is from hemera, which, as a noun, means "day" "a state or time of life", "a time (poetic)", "day break" and "day time." It is also and also has a second meaning, of "quiet", "tame (animals)", "cultivated (crops)," and "civilized (people)." -
Wordplay:
Jesus is contrasting two meanings of the word, ἡμέραις, which means both a period of time and being civilized or taming an animal. There is actually a little joke here contrasting the chaotic end times of to civilized quiet times. Of course, since Christ is talking here primarily about the destruction of the Jewish state by the Romans, which the Roman's saw as taming animals.
Related Verses:
Possible Symbolic Meaning:
The symbolic keys connect the physical body with our emotional relationships. The physical key is the belly, used throughout Christ's words to portray the physical aspect of life. That physical relationship is connected to the emotional relationship through the act of a mother nursing children. While eating always symbolizes the physical, nursing a child is the most basic form of emotional relationship. This is one of the many verses where Christ illustrate how one temporary state, in this case physical, is naturally transformed into another temporary state, in this case the emotional.
The emotional note here is the sadness and woe because this personal relationship arises in a time of social disorder. All the ideas in this verse are feminine. Not on those who are pregnant and nursing, but the day was feminine (the word for day comes from the name of the goddess of the day, Hemera) and, most significantly, the second meaning of "hemera" as "tame" is also feminine. Civilization was, in a sense, the feminine form of society as opposed to war, for example, which was the masculine.