Mark 8:18 Having eyes, do you not see?

Spoken to:

Apostles

In a boat, Jesus asked them why they are arguing about bread.

KJV:

Mark 8:18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

NIV :

Mark 8:18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember?

LISTENERS HEARD:

Having eyes, don't you see? And having ears, don't you hear? And don't you remember?

MY TAKE:

What we don't see and here, we don't remember.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page):

Mark 8:18 “ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχοντες οὐ βλέπετε καὶ ὦτα ἔχοντες οὐκ ἀκούετε;” καὶ οὐ μνημονεύετε

GREEK ORDER:

“ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχοντες οὐ βλέπετε καὶ ὦτα ἔχοντες οὐκ ἀκούετε;” καὶ οὐ μνημονεύετε
eyes Having , don't you see? And ears, having don't you hear? And don't you remember?

LOST IN TRANSLATION:

Though translated as a series of questions, this could be a series of statements as well. There is not special verb form for questions in Greek, unlike in some languages. The "having" verb comes first, but that is how Jesus often uses participle phrases. The KJV is a very literal translation. The NIV add words and concepts that Jesus didn't use.

Jesus uses a variation of this eyes and ears statement at least a half dozen times in the Gospels, inspired and at times making a specific reference to Isaiah 6:10. The new element brought to the concept in this verse is remembering. This is also echoed in Matthew 16:9, the Matthew partial parallel to this verse, but that verse does not mention eyes or ears.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES:

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES:

WF -- Wrong Form - The "have" is not an active verb but a participle, "having."
IW - Inserted Word -- The word "but" doesn't exist in the source.
WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "fail" should be something more like "not."
WF --Wrong Form - The "to see" is not an infinitive but an active verb, "see".
MW - Missing Word -- The word "having" is not shown in the English translation.
IW - Inserted Word -- The word "but" doesn't exist in the source.
WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "fail" should be something more like "not."
WF --Wrong Form - The "to hear" is not an infinitive but an active verb, "hear".

EACH WORD of KJV :

Having -- The word translated as "having" means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do", "to have due to one", or "keep." The form is that of an adjective.

eyes, -- The Greek word for "eye" is the more technical terms for "eye" but it also means "sight". It is a metaphor for "cheer."

see -- The verb translated as "see" means "to see", "to look to", "to look like", "to beware", and "to look for." It is the more tangible sense of seeing, such as seeing what is right in front of you rather than understanding "look" in English.

ye -- This is from the second-person plural form of the verb.

not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. The negative comes before the verb, which is typical of Jesus so the feeling is more "don't you see?"

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".

having -- The word translated as "having" means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do", "to have due to one", or "keep." The form is that of an adjective.

ears, -- The term translated as "ears" means "ear," things resembling a handle and is a metaphor for understanding.

hear -- "Hear" is translated from a Greek word that has the same sense as the English not only of listening but of understanding.

ye -- This is from the second-person plural form of the verb.

do -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek

ye -- This is from the second-person plural form of the verb.

remember? -- "Remember" is from a verb that means to "call to mind", "to remember," and "to think of."

EACH WORD of NIV :

Do -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek

you -- This is from the second-person plural form of the verb.

have -- (WF) The word translated as "have" means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do", "to have due to one", or "keep." Its form is that of an verbal adjective not an active verb.

eyes, -- The Greek word for "eye" is the more technical terms for "eye" but it also means "sight". It is a metaphor for "cheer."

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

fail -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "fail" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. The negative comes before the verb, which is typical of Jesus so the feeling is more "don't you see?"

to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.

see -- (WF) The verb translated as "see" means "to see", "to look to", "to look like", "to beware", and "to look for." It is the more tangible sense of seeing, such as seeing what is right in front of you rather than understanding "look" in English. This is the active verb, not an infinitive.

missing "having" -- (MW) The untranslated word "having" means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do", "to have due to one", or "keep." The form is that of an adjective.

ears, -- The term translated as "ears" means "ear," things resembling a handle and is a metaphor for understanding.

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

to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.

hear -- (WF) "Hear" is translated from a Greek word that has the same sense as the English not only of listening but of understanding.

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".

do -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek

n't -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea.

you -- This is from the second-person plural form of the verb.

remember? -- "Remember" is from a verb that means to "call to mind", "to remember," and "to think of."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV :

“ὀφθαλμοὺς [26 verses]( noun pl masc acc ) "Eyes" is ophthalmos, which means "eye", "sight", "the dearest and best", "light", "cheer", "comfort," and "the bud [of a plant]."

ἔχοντες [181 verses] ( part pl pres act masc nom ) "Having" is echo, which means "to have", "to hold", "to possess", "to keep", "to have charge of", "to have due to one", "to maintain", "to hold fast", "to bear", "to carry", "to keep close", "to keep safe," and "to have means to do."

βλέπετε [46 verses]( verb 2nd pl pres ind act ) "See ye" is from of blepo, which means "to look", "to see", "to look to", "to look like", "to rely on", "to look longingly", "to propose", "to beware", "to behold," and "to look for."

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."

ὦτα (noun pl neut acc) "Ears" is from ous, which means "ear" and things that resemble an ear, such as a handle on pitchers, cups, etc.

ἔχοντες [15 verses] ( part pl pres act masc nom ) "Having" is echo, which means "to have", "to hold", "to possess", "to keep", "to have charge of", "to have due to one", "to maintain", "to hold fast", "to bear", "to carry", "to keep close", "to keep safe," and "to have means to do."

οὐκ [269 verses](partic) "Not" is 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.

ἀκούετε; [95 verses](verb 2nd pl pres ind act ) "Hear ye" is akouo, which means "hear of", "hear tell of", "what one actually hears", "know by hearsay", "listen to", "give ear to", "hear and understand," and "understand."

” 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." -- 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".

οὐ [269 verses] (partic) "Not" is 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. -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea.

μνημονεύετε [6 verses](verb 2nd pl pres ind act) "Remember" is from mnemoneuo, which means to "call to mind", "to remember," and "to think of." -- "Remember" is from a verb that means to "call to mind", "to remember," and "to think of."

Mark 4:23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross

Mark 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive;

Possible Symbolic Meaning:

For Jesus, understanding was a matter of seeing the pattern in symbols. Even ears and eyes are symbols. The words that we hear are nothing more than symbols. They have no meaning in themselves. They can only point to what the speaker means. While sight seems to capture reality, we still must interpret the meaning of what we see. Reality is understood in the mind, not in the outside world. It is up to the listener to hear, see, and understand the pattern indicated.

In this case, Jesus wants his followers to understand the symbolic meaning of bread and leaven. In both his words and actions, he uses them as symbols for what is hidden and cannot be seen directly: the kingdom of heaven, the universal rule, the reign of the Father. In several places, he tries to make it clear that we must work toward understanding, but that, if we make the effort, understanding is no more difficult than seeing and hearing what is right before us.

Front Page Date:

May 18 2023

Spoken to:

KJV:

NIV :

LISTENERS HEARD:

MY TAKE:

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page):

GREEK ORDER:

LOST IN TRANSLATION:

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES:

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES:

EACH WORD of KJV :

EACH WORD of NIV :

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV :

Related Verses:

Possible Symbolic Meaning:

Front Page Date:

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