Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now

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audience

John the Baptist, description

KJV

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

NIV

Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.

LISTENERS HEARD

From, however, the time of John the Dunker until just now, the realm of the skies has been constrained and the forceful snatch it away. 

LOST IN TRANSLATION

This verse may seem difficult to understand, but the Greek is more straightforward. It begins with a conjunction that makes it seem to be a response to something someone said. This is hidden in translation by either changing the word (KJV) or ignoring it (NIV). 

Jesus uses the verb here that is translated as "suffer violence" in one other verse and he clearly means it as "constrained." See how Jesus used this word in Luke 16:16, which is the only other place he used it. That verse discusses the effect of the realm of the skies upon people. It is not a bad thing. The root for both this verb and the noun translated as "violent people" means "force"  more than it does violence.

The word translated as "take by force" or "raiding" has nothing to do with violence. It simply means "to snatch away""to pluck" or "to catch." Jesus usually uses it negatively.

MY TAKE

Our ability to promote new ideas always limited by those in power under the old system.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
6
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but it is plural, "skies."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "suffereth violence" is not an active verb but a passive one, "is constrained."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "take" is not the common word usually translated as "take."
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "by force" doesn't exist in the source.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
7
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but it is plural, "skies."
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "has" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is the present.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "suffereth violence" is not an active verb but a passive one, "is constrained."
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is the present.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "been" doesn't exist in the source.
EACH WORD of KJV

And -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "and" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.  

from  - The word translated as "from" means "from" in both location and when referring to a source.

the  - -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

days - The Greek word translated as "days" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime."

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.

John --  "John" is the Greek word translated as the English proper name.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

Baptist - (UW) "The Baptist" is a noun that means "one who dips." In English, we would say "the Dipper." 

until  - The word translated as "until" means "until" but it also means "in order that."

now  - "Now" is a Greek word that means "just," "exactly," and "just now."  . Jesus usually seems to use it in the sense of "now."

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

kingdom -- The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Jesus does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" or "realm" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will.

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"  -- (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. 

heaven: - (WN) The word translated as "heaven" means "sky," the "climate," and the "universe."     It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article.  This word is plural, not singular, so "skies." 

suffereth violence -- (WF) "Suffers violence" is a verb that means "to constrain," "to force," and "to use violence." It is either a passive verb or the form where the subject is acted upon by or for itself. Jesus uses this verb to mean "constrained," or, in the passive, "is contrained."

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 can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

the -- There is no Greek article "the" here in the source, but the noun is plural and in English an article is used before plural nouns in phrases like this.

violent   "Violent" it is a Greek noun that means "forceful" and "mighty." It is a form which indicates that it is the indirect object of the verb. This noun and the previous verb are different forms of the same word. In English, only the word "force" works in a similar way. This is also an uncommon word for Christ to use. The word is plural so was add a "the" in front of it to indicate we mean a group of people. We could also say "violent ones" to capture the same idea. 

take  - (CW) "Take" is a verb that means "to snatch away," "to carry off," "to overpower," and "to plunder." It is in the present tense. This is not an uncommon word for Christ to use. Everywhere else it is translated as "snatch," "seize" or "catch."  The "by force" was added to indicate the sense of the previous noun.

it ." -- The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.  Its form refers to the "realm."

by force  - -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "by  force" here in the Greek source.

EACH WORD of NIV

missing "and"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "and" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.  

from  - The word translated as "from" means "from" in both location and when referring to a source.

the  - -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

days - The Greek word translated as "days" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime."

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.

John --  "John" is the Greek word translated as the English proper name.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

Baptist - (UW) "The Baptist" is a noun that means "one who dips." In English, we would say "the Dipper." 

until  - The word translated as "until" means "until" but it also means "in order that."

now  - "Now" is a Greek word that means "just," "exactly," and "just now."  . Jesus usually seems to use it in the sense of "now."

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

kingdom -- The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Jesus does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" or "realm" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will.

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"  -- (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. 

heaven: - (WN) The word translated as "heaven" means "sky," the "climate," and the "universe."     It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article.  This word is plural, not singular, so "skies." 

has -- (WT) This helping verb "has" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.

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

subjected to violence,--   "Subjected to violence" is a verb that means "to constrain," "to force," and "to use violence." It is either a passive verb or the form where the subject is acted upon by or for itself. Jesus uses this verb to mean "constrained," or, in the passive, "is contrained."

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 can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

violent   "Violent" it is a Greek noun that means "forceful" and "mighty." It is a form which indicates that it is the indirect object of the verb. This noun and the previous verb are different forms of the same word. In English, only the word "force" works in a similar way. This is also an uncommon word for Christ to use. The word is plural so was add a "the" in front of it to indicate we mean a group of people. We could also say "violent ones" to capture the same idea. 

people -- There is not word for "people" here but it can be assumed from the form of the previous adjective.

have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.

been -- -- (IW) There is  nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "been" in the Greek source and isn't justified by the tense.

raiding - (CW) "Take" is a verb that means "to snatch away," "to carry off," "to overpower," and "to plunder." It is in the present tense. This is not an uncommon word for Christ to use. Everywhere else it is translated as "snatch," "seize" or "catch."  The "by force" was added to indicate the sense of the previous noun.

it ." -- The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.  Its form refers to the "realm."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

ἀπὸ (prep) "From" is from apo, a preposition of separation which means "from" or "away from" from when referring to place or motion, "from" or "after" when referring to time, "from" as an origin or cause.

δὲ (partic) "And" is from 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 cause ("so").

τῶν (article pl fem gen)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

ἡμερῶν (noun pl fem gen) "The 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)."

Ἰωάνου (noun sg masc gen) "John" is from Ioannes, which is the Greek form of the name "John."

τοῦ (article sg masc gen)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

βαπτιστοῦ: [3 verses](noun sg masc gen) "The baptist" is from baptistes, which means "one who dips," and "baptizer."

ἕως (conj) "Until" is from heos which means "until," "till," and "in order that" and "up to the point that."

ἄρτι (adv) "Now" is from arti, which means "just," "exactly," and "just now."

(article sg fem nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

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."

τῶν (article sg masc gen)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

οὐρανῶν (noun pl masc gen) "Of Heaven" is from the Greek ouranos, which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky," "heaven as the seat of the gods," "the sky," "the universe," and "the climate." -.

βιάζεται, [2 verses](3rd sg pres ind mp) "Suffereth violence" is from biazo, which means to "constrain," "be hard pressed or overpowered," "be forced or constrained to do," "forcibly made slaves." " make good," "suffice to discharge (a debt)," "carry by force," "act with violence, " "use force," and "contend or argue vehemently."

καὶ "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."

βιασταὶ [1 verse](noun pl masc nom ) "The violent" is from biastes, which means "forceful," "one who uses force," "a violent man," and "mighty."

ἁρπάζουσιν [5 verses](3rd pl pres ind act) "Take...by force" is from the Greek harpazô, which means to "snatch away," "seize hastily, " "snatch up," "overpower, " "overmaster," "grasp with the senses," "plunder," "carry off," and "be a robber."

αὐτήν. (adj sg fem acc)  "It" is from autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord."

Wordplay

The verb "suffers violence" and the noun ("the violent") forms of the same Greek word are used. 

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings

“But wasn’t John the Dunker the first to herald the realm of the skies like you do?” someone asked.
“From, however, the time of John the Dunker until just now,” the Master explained, “the realm of the skies has been constrained.”
“By those like Antipas,” the man added. “Who just snatched John away from us.”
“And those forceful snatch it away,” agreed the Master, referring to the realm of the skies.

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