Spoken to:
Accused of casting out demons by the power of demons, the house divided against itself, binding a strong man,
KJV:
Mark 3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
NIV :
Mark 3:28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter,
LISTENERS HEARD:
Ameni I tell you that all things will be let go for these sons of the people: those mistakes and those slanders as often as when they slander.
MY TAKE:
We all have to let go of the mistakes made in the past.
GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page):
GREEK ORDER:
Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι
Truly I tell you that
πάντα ἀφεθήσεται τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων,
all things will be let go for these sons of the people.
τὰ ἁμαρτήματα καὶ αἱ βλασφημίαι ὅσα ἐὰν βλασφημήσωσιν:
Those mistakes and those slanders as often as when they slander.
LOST IN TRANSLATION:
A number of interesting features here, starting with the "forgive sins" phrase, which is always misleading. See this article that discusses the two Greek words and their meaning in detail. The "wherewith soever" seems cumbersome not because of the dated English of the KJV, but because it is stretching the Greek to the breaking point. The Greek in that last phrase could be much more easily translated as "they are permitted when they might blaspheme." This phrase is also interesting because Jesus doesn't often use the phrase "the sons of the men" to refer to others because he usually uses this phrase to refer to himself. See this article.
# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES:
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "sins" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "forgiven" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "men" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "blasphemies" is not shown in the English translation.
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "blasphemy" means "slander." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "wherewith" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "so ever" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- CW - Confusing Word - This "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "blaspheme" means "to slander." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES:
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the " before "sons" is not shown in the English translation.--
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "people" should be something more like "sons."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the " before "men" is not shown in the English translation.--
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "men" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "can" should be something more like "shall."
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "forgiven" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "men" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "their" should be something more like "this/the."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "every" should be something more like "this/the."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "as great as" is not shown in the English translation
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "when" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW -- Missing Word -- This verb is a subjunctive, which requires a "should" or "might" when outside of a when/if clause.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "utter" should be something more like "slander."
EACH WORD of KJV :
Verily -- The word translated as "verily" is from 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." See this article discussing this "amen phrase."
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the following verb.
say -- The word translated as "say" 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.
missing "that" -- (MW) The untranslated word "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore." Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because."
All -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way", "on every side," and "altogether."
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.
sins -- The word translated as "sin" is a form of a word that means "to fail in one's purpose", "to neglect," and "to be deprived of." It has no sense of doing malicious evil in Greek. The best English translation is "mistakes" or "failures" rather than what we commonly think of as the evils of "sin." See this article for more information and context. This word comes much, much later in the sentence, separated from the "all" by six words.
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.
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.
forgiven -- (CW) The word translated as "forgive" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away." It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop. This same word is usually translated as "leave," "forgive," "suffer," and "let" in the New Testament. See this article for more.
unto -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with," "in," "of," "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article; without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
sons - The word translated as "sons" more generally means "child" or "children". It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations. Jesus also used it metaphorically to describe those who follow a way of thought or set of beliefs that descend from an individual. More about it in this article.
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
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.
men, The Greek word for "men" means "man", "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men", "people", and "peoples".
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
missing "the/this" -- (OS) 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.
blasphemies - (UW) This untranslated Greek word "blasphemies" means "word of evil omen," "profane speech," "slander," "defamation," and "abuse." Our word "blasphemy" comes directly from the Greek word, via the Bible. So our word came to mean specifically "slander against God." This word is only used twice in the Greek OT, to translate different Greek words, one is the Hebrew phrase that means "speak amiss error" and the other is a Hebrew word that means "contempt."
wherewith -- (CW) The adjective translated as "whatsoever" means "as great as," "as much as," and similar ideas of comparison.
soever -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "soever" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is how we use the word "when." This is not the simple "if."
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
shall -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the 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.
blaspheme: -- (UW) "Blaspheme" is the verb from the same root as above. It means "to speak profanely of sacred things", "to offer rash prayers", "to speak ill of", "to slander," and, since the NT, "to speak irreverently of God."
EACH WORD of NIV :
Truly -- The word translated as "truly " is from 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." See this article discussing this "amen phrase."
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the following verb.
tell -- The word translated as "say" 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 untranslated word "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore." Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because."
missing "the " -- (MW) The untranslated word "the" is the Greek definite article; without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
people - (WW) The word translated as "people " more generally means "sons," "child" or "children". It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations. Jesus also used it metaphorically to describe those who follow a way of thought or set of beliefs that descend from an individual. More about it in this article. WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "people" should be something more like "children."
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.
missing "men" -- (MW) The untranslated word "men" means "man", "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men", "people", and "peoples".
can -- (WW) This helping verb "can" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
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.
forgiven -- (CW) The word translated as "forgive" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away." It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop. This same word is usually translated as "leave," "forgive," "suffer," and "let" in the New Testament. See this article for more.
all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way", "on every side," and "altogether."
their -- (WW) The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article; without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
sins -- The word translated as "sin" is a form of a word that means "to fail in one's purpose", "to neglect," and "to be deprived of." It has no sense of doing malicious evil in Greek. The best English translation is "mistakes" or "failures" rather than what we commonly think of as the evils of "sin." See this article for more information and context. This word comes much, much later in the sentence, separated from the "all" by six words.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
every -- (WW) The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article; without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
missing "the/this" -- (OS) 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.
slander -This Greek word translated as "slanders" means "word of evil omen," "profane speech," "slander," "defamation," and "abuse." Our word "blasphemy" comes directly from the Greek word, via the Bible. So our word came to mean specifically "slander against God." This word is only used twice in the Greek OT, to translate different Greek words, one is the Hebrew phrase that means "speak amiss error" and the other is a Hebrew word that means "contempt."
missing "as great as" -- (MW) The untranslated word ."whatsoever" means "as great as," "as much as," and similar ideas of comparison.
missing "when" -- (MW) The untranslated word "when" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is how we use the word "when." This is not the simple "if."
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
missing "should" or "might"-- (MW) A helping verb is necessary because the following verb is a verb of possibility, a subjunctive, something that "should" or "might" occur. The helping verb is not needed in a clause beginning with an "if" or a "when." If the "when" was translated, this wouldn't be necessary.
utter,: -- (WW) "Utter" is the verb from the same root as above. It means "to speak profanely of sacred things", "to offer rash prayers", "to speak ill of", "to slander," and, since the NT, "to speak irreverently of God."
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) "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)Untranslated 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."
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." --
ἀφεθήσεται [73 verses] ( verb 3rd sg fut ind pass ) "Shall be forgiven" is aphiemi, which means "to let fall", "to send away", "give up", "hand over", "to let loose", "to get rid of", "to leave alone", "to pass by", "to permit," and "to send forth from oneself."
τοῖς [821 verses](article pl masc dat) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
υἱοῖς [158 verses] (noun pl masc dat) "The sons" is huios, which means a "son," and more generally, a "child." It is used generally to refer to any male descendant. --
τῶν [158 verses](article pl masc gen ) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
ἀνθρώπων, [209 verses]( noun pl masc gen ) "Of men" is anthropos, which is "man," and, in plural, "mankind." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate. --
τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
ἁμαρτήματα [28 verses]( noun pl neut nom) "Sins" is hamartia, which means "to miss the mark", "failure", "fault," and "error." Only in religious contexts does it become "guilt" and "sin." --
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."
αἱ [158 verses]( article pl fem nom ) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
βλασφημίαι [4 verses](noun pl fem nom) "Blasphemies" is from blasphemia, which means "slander," "profane speech," "word of evil omen," and "irreverent speech against God."
ὅσα -- [28 verses] ( adj sg fem nom ) "Whatsoever" is hosos, which means "as many," "as much as," "as great as," "as far as," and "only so far as."
ἐὰν [162 verses](conj) "If" is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (might), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event. This is how we use the word "when."
βλασφημήσωσιν: [4 verses]( verb 3rd pl aor subj act) "Blaspheme" is blasphemeo, which means "to speak profanely of sacred things", "to offer rash prayers", "to speak ill of", "to slander," and, since the NT, "to speak irreverently of God."
Wordplay:
The "all" is separated from the "sins" to create drama and tension in the sentence.