Jesus begins teaching in the plain of Judea, attracting people from all over wanting to be healed.
Luke 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Luke 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Praise those cursing you themselves. Pray yourselves about those threatening you themselves.
The word translated as "bless" means "praise" (no relation to the word translated as "blessed" in the Beatitudes). The contrast is between this "praise" and "curse." The "curse" actually means "pray against." It root is a noun meaning "prayer. It is followed by a word that means "pray for." "Curse," "pray," "mistreat," are in the middle voice adding a "themselves" to emphasize that each action does not reciprocate what was done by the other.
The Greek verb translated as "them which despitefully use/mistreat" is from a root word that means "threats." Its prefix means "upon," the complete sense is "make threats upon" but "threatening" works better. It is in the form of a verbal adjective.
Return compliments for curses, prayers for threats.
εὐλογεῖτε τοὺς καταρωμένους ὑμᾶς, προσεύχεσθε περὶ τῶν ἐπηρεαζόντων ὑμᾶς.
Praise those cursing themselves you . Pray yourselves about those threatening themselves you
Bless(CW) them(WW) that(IW) curse(WF,WV) you, and(OS) pray(WV) for(CW) them(WW) which(IW) despitefully use(WF,WV) you.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "bless" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "them" should be something more like "those."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "curse" is not an active verb but a participle, "leaving."
- WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for themselves" or a "themselves" as an object.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "and " existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
- WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for yourselves" or a "yourselves" as an object.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "for" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "them" should be something more like "those."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "which" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "despitefully use" is not an active verb but a participle, "insulting."
- MW -- Missing Word -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for themselves" or a "themselves" as an object.
bless(CW) those who(IW) curse(WF,WV) you, pray for(CW) those who(IW) mistreat(CW,WF,WV) you.
Bless(CW) them(WW) that(IW) curse(WF,WV) you, and(OS) pray(WV) for(CW) them(WW) which(IW) despitefully use(WF,WF) you.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "bless" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "who" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "curse" is not an active verb but a participle, "leaving."
- WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for yourselves" or a "yourselves" as an object.
- WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for yourselves" or a "yourselves" as an object.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "for" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "who" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "mistreat" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "mistreat" is not an active verb but a participle, "threatening."
- MW -- Missing Word -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for themselves" or a "themselves" as an object.
Bless -- (CW) "Blessed" is from a verb that means to "speak well of," "praise." and "honor." Amusingly, this is a Hebrew euphemism for "cursed," reversing its normal meaning. This is not the word used in the Beatitudes ("Blessed are the poor..."). It is in a past passive form of an adjective, "having been honored." This is not the specific meaning of the word in this situation.
them -- (WW) The word translated as "them" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before an adjective, participle, or infinitive it changes the following word to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source.
curse -- (WF) "Them that curse" is an unusual word for Christ to use. It means "to call down curses upon". It is in the form of an adjective and in the form of one acting on themselves, so "calling down curses for themselves." This word is a participle, not an active verb.
missing "by/for themselves" -- (MW) The middle voice of the verb indicates that the subject does something to, for, or by themselves.
you, -- The "you" here is the second-person, plural pronoun in the form of an object of the action or preposition.
and -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "and " in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used. OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "and " existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
pray -- The Greek word translated as "pray" means "to offer prayers of vows" either "to worship" or "ask for a thing."
missing "by/for yourselves"-- (WV) A phrase is necessary because the form of the previous verb is a middle voice, which means that the subject is to act on "yourselves," "for yourselves" or "by yourselves."
for - (CW) The Greek word translated as "for" means "around" when referring to a place, but in referring to a subject, it means "about," "concerning," "on account of," and "in regard to." This is the way Jesus usually uses it. "For" is not the specific meaning of the word in this situation.
them -- (WW) The word translated as "them" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before an adjective, participle, or infinitive it changes the following word to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
which-- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "which" in the Greek source.
despitefully use - (WF) The Greek verb translated as "despitefully use" means to "threaten abusively", "deal despitefully with", and in the passive, "the be insulted". The root word means "threats." In English, we would say simply "threaten". It is in the form of an adjective, "threatening", used as a noun, "those threatening".
missing "by/for themselves" -- (MW) The middle voice of the verb indicates that the subject does something to, for, or by themselves.
you. -- The "you" here is the second-person, plural pronoun in the form of an object of the action or preposition.
bless -- (CW) "Blessed" is from a verb that means to "speak well of," "praise." and "honor." Amusingly, this is a Hebrew euphemism for "cursed," reversing its normal meaning. This is not the word used in the Beatitudes ("Blessed are the poor..."). It is in a past passive form of an adjective, "having been honored." This is not the specific meaning of the word in this situation.
those -- The word translated as "those" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before an adjective, participle, or infinitive it changes the following word to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
who-- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "who" in the Greek source.
curse -- (WF) "Them that curse" is an unusual word for Christ to use. It means "to call down curses upon". It is in the form of an adjective and in the form of one acting on themselves, so "calling down curses for themselves." This word is a participle, not an active verb.
missing "by/for themselves" -- - (WV) The middle voice of the verb indicates that the subject does something to, for, or by themselves.
you, -- The "you" here is the second-person, plural pronoun in the form of an object of the action or preposition.
pray -- The Greek word translated as "pray" means "to offer prayers of vows" either "to worship" or "ask for a thing."
missing "by/for yourselves"-- (WV) A phrase is necessary because the form of the previous verb is a middle voice, which means that the subject is to act on "yourselves," "for yourselves" or "by yourselves."
for - (CW) The Greek word translated as "for" means "around" when referring to a place, but in referring to a subject, it means "about," "concerning," "on account of," and "in regard to." This is the way Jesus usually uses it. "For" is not the specific meaning of the word in this situation.
those -- (WW) The word translated as "those" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before an adjective, participle, or infinitive it changes the following word to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
who -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "who" in the Greek source.
mistreat -- (WF) The Greek verb translated as "mistreat" means to "threaten abusively", "deal despitefully with", and in the passive, "the be insulted". The root word means "threats." In English, we would say simply "threaten". It is in the form of an adjective, "threatening", used as a noun, "those threatening".
missing "by/for themselves" -- (MW) The middle voice of the verb indicates that the subject does something to, for, or by themselves.
you. -- The "you" here is the second-person, plural pronoun in the form of an object of the action or preposition.
εὐλογεῖτε [4 verses](verb 2nd pl pres imperat act) "Bless" is from eulogeo, which means "speak well of," "praise." "honor," "bless," "praise" a god, by a Hebr. euphemism, "curse," and, as an adjective, "charmed," "lucky," and "blessed."
τοὺς [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "Them" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article.
καταρωμένους [2 -verses](part pl pres mp masc acc) "Them that curse" is from kataraomai, which means "to call down curses upon", "curse", and "execrate."
ὑμᾶς [210 verses](pron 2nd pl acc) "You" is humas which is the plural objective form of the second-person pronoun, "you."
προσεύχεσθε [26 verses](2nd pl pres imperat mp) "Pray" is from proseuchomai, which means "to offer prayers or vows," "to worship," and "to pray for a thing. It is the combination of two Greek word, pros, meaning "towards" or "by reason of," and euchomai, meaning "to pray to God."
περὶ [73 verses](prep) "For" is peri, which means "round about (Place)," "around," "about," "concerning," "on account of," "in regard to," "before," "above," "beyond," and "all around." With the genitive, "round about" of place, "for" or "about" something," with verbs of knowing, "about" and "concerning," "before or "beyond," of superiority With the dative, "round about" of clothes, "around" in holding, "for" or "about" a struggle, "on account of" and "by reason of" a cause. With the accusative, "around" in movement, caring and generally of relationships "about," "about" of time. As an adverb "around," "about," also, "near, by," and "exceedingly" in relationships.
τῶν [821 verses](article pl masc gen) "Them" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article.
ἐπηρεαζόντων [1 verse] (part pl pres act masc gen mp) "Them which despitefully use" is from epereazo, which means to "threaten abusively", "deal despitefully with", "act despitefully towards", "to be insolent", and in the passive, "the be insulted". The root word means "threats." In English, we would say simply "threaten". It is in the form of an adjective, "threatening", used as a noun, "those threatening".
ὑμᾶς [210 verses](pron 2nd pl acc) "You" is humas which is the plural objective form of the second-person pronoun, "you." -- The "you" here is the second-person, plural pronoun in the form of an object of the action or preposition. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.
This verse looks a lot like parts of Matthew 5:44 (But I tell you, Love your enemies,). but the Greek source is surprisingly different. Confusingly, the word translated as "bless" in Matthew 5:44 is the "pray" used here.
This line reminds me of how a good comedian responds to heckling, returnig compliments for curses, prayers for threats.