Jesus describes the apostles being captured, imprisoned, and brought before kings and governors.
Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Luke 21:15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
Because I myself will give you a mouth and wisdom, that they won't have the power to stand against or speak against, everyone of those setting themselves against you.
Jesus says that he will give his people "a mouth" to speak, which is a funny way to say this or it least it would be today. However, the real heart of the verse is a series of verbs that all begin with the prefix "anti" meaning "against". All three of these verbs are used by Jesus in this verse. The first two mean "to stand against" and "speak against". The third verb describes the opposition as "those setting themselves against you." None of this is captured in Biblical translation, but it is clearly intentional wordplay.
People can and do set themselves against obvious wisdom.
For I (MW) will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all(OS) your(WF) (MW) adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "myself" after "I" is not shown in the English translation.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "all" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "your" is not a subject but an object.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "adversaries" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "myself" after "I" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "words" should be something more like "mouth".
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "none".
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "all" after "none" is not shown in the English translation
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "your" is not a subject but an object.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "adversaries" is not shown in the English translation.
For -- The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why". However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause".
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
missing "myself" -- (MW) The pronoun "I" is used here. When the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, this pronoun accentuates who is speaking "I". Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English. The subject pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself". When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English. - However, the verb could also be in the form of possibility, "might".
give -- The verb translated as "give" means "to give", "to grant", "to hand over", "appoint", "establish" and "to describe". It is almost always translated as some form of "give".
you -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you", "for you", etc.
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
mouth -- The Greek word translated as "mouth" is means "mouth" and therefore, "speech" or "utterance". The Greek use this word to mean speech in the sense we say "that kid has a mouth on him" or describe being outspoken as "mouthing off". The sense is often humorous and deprecating since everyone has a mouth.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). "Also" may work best here because wisdom is what is highlighted in the rest of the verse.
wisdom-- Wisdom" is a word meaning "cleverness", "skill", "learning" and "wisdom". The Greek word, Sophia, was the goddess of wisdom among the Greeks. Among the Jews, this attribute was first recognized as an attribute of God and was later identified with the Spirit of God. In Greek, however, the word carried not just the idea of superior knowledge, but superior skill in doing things in the real world. It was a practical knowledge, more like we use the word "common sense". This serious idea is contrasted with the "mouth" above. Wisdom is what is discussed from now on.
which -- The word translated as "which" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this", "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that"), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause. The form refers only to the "wisdom" not the "mouth".
all -- -- (OS) This is not the word in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used. Today, the term translated as "all" includes several senses of "everything" and completeness. It is more extreme than the common word for "all".
your -- (WF) The Greek pronoun "your" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you", "for you", etc. This is not a possessive but an indirect object.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the", which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these" and "those"). See this article for more.
adversaries --"Adversaries" is from a verb beginning with "anti" which is used uniquely here. It means to "set against", "match with", in battle "withstand", "compare", "resist" and "fight on". This word is at the end of the sentence, either to create suspense or to act as a punchline.
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
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.
be -- This verb is not a passive voice but a middle voice requiring some form of "self" as the object.
able -- The word translated as "able" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
gainsay -- "Gainsay" is another unique "anti" verb that means to "speak against", "speak in answer", "contradict" and "deny".
nor -- "Nor" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison.
resist -- "Resist" means "to set against", "to match with", "to compare", "to stand against", "to withstand", "to turn out unfavorably" and "to make a stand".
For -- The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why". However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause".
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
missing "myself" -- (MW) The pronoun "I" is used here. When the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, this pronoun accentuates who is speaking "I". Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English. The subject pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself". When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English. - However, the verb could also be in the form of possibility, "might".
give -- The verb translated as "give" means "to give", "to grant", "to hand over", "appoint", "establish" and "to describe". It is almost always translated as some form of "give".
you -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you", "for you", etc.
words -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "mouth" is means "mouth" and therefore, "speech" or "utterance". The Greek use this word to mean speech in the sense we say "that kid has a mouth on him" or describe being outspoken as "mouthing off". The sense is often humorous and deprecating since everyone has a mouth. This word doesn't mean "words".
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). "Also" may work best here because wisdom is what is highlighted in the rest of the verse.
wisdom-- Wisdom" is a word meaning "cleverness", "skill", "learning" and "wisdom". The Greek word, Sophia, was the goddess of wisdom among the Greeks. Among the Jews, this attribute was first recognized as an attribute of God and was later identified with the Spirit of God. In Greek, however, the word carried not just the idea of superior knowledge, but superior skill in doing things in the real world. It was a practical knowledge, more like we use the word "common sense". This serious idea is contrasted with the "mouth" above. Wisdom is what is discussed from now on.
that -- The word translated as "that" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this", "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that"), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause. The form refers only to the "wisdom" not the "mouth".
none -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "none" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. This is not the word usually translated as "none".
missing "all" -- (MW) The untranslated word "all" includes several senses of "everything" and completeness. It is more extreme than the common word for "all".
your -- (WF) The Greek pronoun "your" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you", "for you", etc. This is not a possessive but an indirect object.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the", which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these" and "those"). See this article for more.
adversaries --"Adversaries" is from a verb beginning with "anti" which is used uniquely here. It means to "set against", "match with", in battle "withstand", "compare", "resist" and "fight on". This word is at the end of the sentence, either to create suspense or to act as a punchline.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- This verb is not a passive voice but a middle voice requiring some form of "self" as the object.
able -- The word translated as "able" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
resist -- "Resist" is means "to set against", "to match with", "to compare", "to stand against", "to withstand", "to turn out unfavorably" and "to make a stand".
gainsay -- "Gainsay" is another unique "anti" verb that means to "speak against", "speak in answer", "contradict" and "deny".
or -- "or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison.
contradict -- "Gainsay" is another unique "anti" verb that means to "speak against", "speak in answer", "contradict" and "deny".
ἐγὼ (pron 1st sg masc nom) "I" is ego, which is the first-person singular pronoun meaning "I". It also means "I at least", "for my part", "indeed" and "for myself".
γὰρ (partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for", "since" and "as". In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what".
δώσω ( verb 1st sg fut ind act ) "Will give" is didomi, which means "to give", "to grant", "to hand over", "appoint", "establish" and "to describe".
ὑμῖν (pron 2nd pl dat) "You" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you".
στόμα ( noun sg neut acc ) "Mouth" is stoma, which means "mouth" and therefore, "speech" or "utterance". In English, we say someone has a "foul mouth" when we mean they use bad language. The Greek use it to mean speech that was a little more direct.
καὶ (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".
σοφίαν (noun sg fem acc) "Wisdom" is from sophia, which means "cleverness", "skill" and "learning". This was seen as an attribute of God and a gift from God to men. Sophia was the Greek goddess of learning and in Christianity is used as a symbol for Mary, the mother of Jesus.
ᾗ ( pron sg fem dat ) "Which" is hos, which means "this", "that", "he", "she", "which", "what", "who", "whosoever", "where", "for which reason" and many similar meanings.
οὐ (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.
δυνήσονται ( verb 3rd pl fut ind mid ) "Be able" is the verb, dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities", "to be able" and "to be strong enough"
.ἀντιστῆναι [1 verse](verb aor inf act ) "Resist" is anthihestimi, which means "to set against", "to match with", "to compare", "to stand against", "to withstand", "to turn out unfavorably" and "to make a stand".
ἢ (conj/adv) "Or" is e which is a particle meaning "either", "or" or "than".
ἀντειπεῖν [ 1 verse]( verb aor inf act ) "Gainsay" is anteipon, which means to "speak against", "speak in answer", "contradict" and "deny". "Gainsay" is another unique "anti" verb that means to "speak against", "speak in answer", "contradict" and "deny".
ἅπαντες [4 verses](adj pl masc nom) "All" is from hapas, which means "quite all", "the whole", "all together", "all possible", "absolute", "every one", "everything", "every", "in any cause whatever", "in every matter" and (as an adverb) "altogether". It is the common word for "all" -pas, preceded by a prefix ha- that means "the same". The term translated as "of all" includes several senses of "all possible" and "everything" Jesus only uses it four times,
οἱ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones".
ἀντικείμενοι [ 1 verse]( ( part pl pres mp masc nom ) "Adversaries" is antikeimai, which means to "set against", "match with", "battle", "withstand", "compare", "resist" and "fight on". This word is at the end of the sentence, either to create suspense or to act as a punchline.
ὑμῖν. (pron 2nd pl dat) "You" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you".