Matthew 26:52 Put up again your sword into its place:

Spoken to: 

an individual

Soldiers grab Jesus, and a follower cuts off the ear of a temple servant. John identifies this follower as Peter.

KJV: 

Matthew 26:52 Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

NIV : 

Matthew 26:52 “Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Return that sword of yours into that place of hers because all those getting a sword, by a sword will destroy themselves.

MY TAKE: 

In Jesus's minds, swords have their place.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

"Put" is a verb that means "to turn from," "to turn back", "to turn aside", and "to dissuade from." Jesus only used is twice. This is not a word that means "put." Its root means "turn." Its prefix means "away from."  However, what fits is the sense of "return" because the context is "into its place." All the words Jesus uses from this root are translated as some form of "turn."

The word translated as "take" primarily means "take." However, it also means "receive" and it is usually translated that way in the Gospels. It works much like we use "get" to mean both "take" and "receive." It also has many of the same uses "get" has in English. Among these are the ideas of "understanding" and "possessing." The word is in the form of an adjective, "getting," introduced by a plural definite article, "the ones getting." Notice how this has the sense of both using, receiving, and understanding, which is very much the sense in Greek.

Note: Did any of Jesus's followers take up the sword? No, they did not start an armed rebellion, either against the Jewish leaders or Rome. But how did they die? All of his followers died by the sword in one form or another. They died at the hands of others exerting physical power over them. So, his followers didn't take up the sword and yet they physically died by the sword, but they were not destroyed. Their ideas, the realm of their ideas, was not destroyed. Their realm grew more and more powerful. Symbolically, the sword is physical power, but realms arise first from the power of ideas.

Also, note that Christ does not say "Throw away your sword." He said, "Return your sword in its place." Swords have a place and the physical struggle that they represent also has a place. They are necessary as Jesus says in Matthew 10:34. -

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

11
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "put" should be something more like "return."
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "up again" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "sword" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "his" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "place" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "that" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural, "those" or "the ones."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "take" is not an active verb but a participle, "taking."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" before "sword" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "perish" should be something more like "destroy."
  • WV  - Wrong Voice - The verb is in the middle voice requiring the concept of "themselves" as its object.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" before "sword" doesn't exist in the source.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

11
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "put" should be something more like "return."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "sword" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IW - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "back" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "place" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "who" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural, "those" or "the ones."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "draw" should be something more like "getting."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "draw" is not an active verb but a participle, "getting."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" before "sword" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "perish" should be something more like "destroy."
  • WV  - Wrong Voice - The verb is in the middle voice requiring the concept of "themselves" as its object.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" before "sword" doesn't exist in the source.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

Put " - (WW) "Put" is a verb that means "to turn from," "to turn back", "to turn aside", and "to dissuade from." Jesus only used is twice. This is not a word that means "put." Its root means "turn." Its prefix means "away from."  However, what fits is the sense of "return" because the context is "into its place."

up again -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "up again" in the Greek source.

thy -- The word translated as "thy" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."

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. 

sword  -  The term for sword specifically means a short sword, a weapon like a machete, since the Greek word used here is the source for the word "machete.

into - The word translated as "into" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure.

his -- (CW) The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.  However, the form is feminine, not masculine because it matches the gender of  the Greek word for "sword." In English, we should probably translate it as its. This pronoun follows the noun so "of hers or "of its."

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. 

place: The word translated as "place" means "region", "position", but it is also a metaphor for "opening", "occasion," and "opportunity."

for  - The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation.

all  -  - The word translated as "all they" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything" or "everyone."

they  - This is for the plural form of "all" above or the .

that -- (WN) The word translated as "that" 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. However, it is plural before a verb in the form of an adjective, so "the ones" works best.

take  - -  (WF)  The word translated as "take" primarily means "take." However, it also means "receive" and it is usually translated that way in the Gospels. It works much like we use "get" to mean both "take" and "receive." It also has many of the same uses "get" has in English. Among these are the ideas of "understanding" and "possessing." The word is in the form of an adjective, "getting," introduced by a plural definite article, "the ones getting." Notice how this has the sense of both using, receiving, and understanding, which is very much the sense in Greek.

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

sword -  The term for sword specifically means a short sword, a weapon like a machete, since the Greek word used here is the source for the word "machete.

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.

perish -- (WW) The word translated as "perish" means "to destroy" or "demolish," which is the opposite of "perish," It is in the future and it is not passive ("will be destroyed"), as the KJV reads. It is a form where the subjects act on themselves, so "will destroy themselves." Note that this word does not mean "die" though it is translated that way in many modern translations including the NIV. This is the word Jesus uses more broadly to describe the destruction of peoples and states.

missing "by/for themselves"-- (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 "themselves," "for themselves" or "by themselves."

with  - The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "during" (time),  or "among"  with a dative object as the one here. The sense of it is "with" a sword

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

sword.-  The term for sword specifically means a short sword, a weapon like a machete, since the Greek word used here is the source for the word "machete.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

Put " - (WW) "Put" is a verb that means "to turn from," "to turn back", "to turn aside", and "to dissuade from." Jesus only used is twice. This is not a word that means "put." Its root means "turn." Its prefix means "away from."  However, what fits is the sense of "return" because the context is "into its place."

your -- The word translated as "your " is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."

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. 

sword  -  The term for sword specifically means a short sword, a weapon like a machete, since the Greek word used here is the source for the word "machete.

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

into - The word translated as "into" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure.

its -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.  However, the form is feminine, not masculine because it matches the gender of  the Greek word for "sword." In English, we should probably translate it as its. This pronoun follows the noun so "of hers or "of its."

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. 

place: The word translated as "place" means "region", "position", but it is also a metaphor for "opening", "occasion," and "opportunity."\

for  - The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation.

all  -  - The word translated as "all they" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything" or "everyone."

who -- (WN) The word translated as "who" 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. However, it is plural before a verb in the form of an adjective, so "the ones" works best.

draw - -  (WW, WF) The word translated as "take" primarily means "take." However, it also means "receive" and it is usually translated that way in the Gospels. It works much like we use "get" to mean both "take" and "receive." It also has many of the same uses "get" has in English. Among these are the ideas of "understanding" and "possessing." The word is in the form of an adjective, "getting," introduced by a plural definite article, "the ones getting." Notice how this has the sense of both using, receiving, and understanding, which is very much the sense in Greek.

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

sword -  The term for sword specifically means a short sword, a weapon like a machete, since the Greek word used here is the source for the word "machete.

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

die -- (WW) The word translated as "die" means "to destroy" or "demolish," which is the opposite of "perish," It is in the future and it is not passive ("will be destroyed"), as the KJV reads. It is a form where the subjects act on themselves, so "will destroy themselves." Note that this word does not mean "die" though it is translated that way in many modern translations including the NIV. This is the word Jesus uses more broadly to describe the destruction of peoples and states.

missing "by/for themselves"-- (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 "themselves," "for themselves" or "by themselves."

by - The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "during" (time),  or "among"  with a dative object as the one here. The sense of it is "with" a sword

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

sword.-  The term for sword specifically means a short sword, a weapon like a machete, since the Greek word used here is the source for the word "machete.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

Ἀπόστρεψον [2 verses](verb 2nd sg aor imperat act) "Put up again" is from apostrepho, which means "to turn from," "to turn back", "to turn aside", "to dissuade from", "to bring back," and "to recall."

τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem acc)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

μάχαιράν  [8 verses] (noun sg fem acc) "Sword" is machaira, which means a "large knife", "large dagger", "short sword," or "dirk." It specifically the type of weapon used for making sacrifices, by assassins, bodyguards, and jugglers.

σου [144 verses](pron 2nd sg gen) "Thy" is from sou which means "of you" and "your."

εἰς [325 verses](prep) "Into" is from eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)", "until (of time)", "as much as (of measure or limit)", "as far as (of measure or limit)", "towards (to express relation)", "in regard to (to express relation)", "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."

τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

τόπον [16 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Place" is from topos, which means "place", "region", "position", "part [of the body]", "district", "room," and "topic." It is also a metaphor for "opening", "occasion," and "opportunity."

αὐτῆς, [720 verses](adj sg fem gen) "His" 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."

πάντες [212 verses](adj pl masc nom ) "All they" is from 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."

γὰρ [205 verses](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."

οἱ [821 verses](article sg masc nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

λαβόντες [54 verse](part pl aor act masc nom) "That take" is from lambano means to "take", "take hold of", "grasp", "seize", "catch", "overtake", "find out", "detect", "take as", "take [food or drugs]", "understand", "take in hand", "undertake", "take in", "hold", "get", "receive [things]", "receive hospitably", "receive in marriage", "receive as produce", "profit", "admit", "initiate", "take hold of", "lay hold on", "seize and keep hold of", "obtain possession of", "lay hands upon", "find fault with", "censure," "to apprehend with the senses", "to take hold of," and "to seize." It is also specifically used to mean "seized with emotion."

μάχαιραν [8 verses] (noun sg fem acc ) "Sword" is machaira, which means a "large knife", "large dagger", "short sword," or " dirk ." It specifically the type of weapon used for making sacrifices, by assassins, bodyguards, and jugglers.

ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is from en, which means "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power," and "with".

μαχαίρῃ [8 verses](noun sg fem dat) "Sword" is machaira, which means a "large knife", "large dagger", "short sword," or " dirk ." It specifically the type of weapon used for making sacrifices, by assassins, bodyguards, and jugglers.

ἀπολοῦνται: [43 verses](verb 3rd pl fut ind mid) "Shall perish" is from apollymi, which means "to demolish", "to lay waste", "to lose", "to perish", "to die", "to cease to exist," and "to be undone."

Related Verses: 

Possible Symbolic Meaning: 

Jesus seems to use "the sword" as a symbol for struggle, which is n necessary. Jesus says explicitly that his larger purpose is not to bring peace but the sword in Matthew 10:34. As a symbol of struggle, it is the opposite of the cup, which is the symbol of acceptance. Jesus makes this contrast between cup and sword explicit in John 18:11.

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings: 

"Return your sword into its place," he said. "Because all the ones getting the sword are going to destroy themselves along with the sword. "

Front Page Date: 

Dec 29 2021