Mark 5:19 Go home to your friends...

Spoken to: 

an individual

After Jesus casts the demon into swines, the man asks to come with him and Jesus responds this way. As discussed in this article, "demons" were the way people talked about mental illness at the time.

KJV: 

Mark 5:19 Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

NIV : 

Mark 5:19  Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Go away into that house of yours before those of yours and report to them how much the Master has done for you and he pitied you.

MY TAKE: 

We have to commit ourselves to sanity publicly in our normal environment.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

Ὕπαγε    εἰς   τὸν οἶκόν      σου    πρὸς    τοὺς       σούς,
Go away into that house of yours before those of yours

καὶ ἀπάγγειλον     αὐτοῖς ὅσα                κύριός       σοι        πεποίηκεν καὶ ἠλέησέν σε.
and report         to them   how much the Lord     for you       has done   and he pitied you.

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

This is another example how more modern translations copy the mistakes of the earlier KJV. Note how the phrase "into that house of yours" is shortened to "home" in both. This leaves out words and translates a word usually rendered as "house" to "home." While "home" is acceptable it is confusing the common words. Jesus uses both masculine and feminine forms of this Greek word "house." It may be the masculine is more consistently used to refer to a household.

There is no "friends" or "own people" here. The phrase used is "those of yours." This is referring back to the household. The word translated as "tell" is not a common word but one from the same root as "angel" which actually means "messenger." Translating is as "tell" makes it seem like a more common word so a less common words is needed.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

7
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "go" does not capture the word's specific meaning of "go away" or "depart."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "into" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "home" does not capture the word's specific meaning of "house."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "home" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "of yours" after "home" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "friends" should be something more like "those." The phrase "thy friends" is "those of yours."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "tell" is not the common word usually translated as "tell."
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "has" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

8
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "go" does not capture the word's specific meaning of "go away" or "depart."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "into" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "home" does not capture the word's specific meaning of "house."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "home" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "of yours" after "home" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "own people" should be something more like "those." The phrase "thy friends" is "those of yours."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "tell" is not the common word usually translated as "tell."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "how" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "has" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).

EACH WORD of KJV : 

Go  - (CW) "Go" is a Greek verbal command that means literally "go under" or "bring under," but Jesus usually uses it to mean "go away" and "depart." The point here is that he is telling the man to depart, not following him.

missing "into"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure.

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. 

home  - (CW) The Greek word translated as "home," is any dwelling place but not exclusively a separate house. It means the household or clan that lives in the building as well. This word is almost always translated as "house" because it refers to the household, which is the point here.

missing "of yours"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "of yours" is the possessive form of the second-person pronoun.

to -- The word translated as "to" means "towards," "by reason of (for)," "before" both in time and place, "in the presence of," "against," and several other types of "before." With verbs of seeing it specifically means "towards."

thy -- The word translated as "thy" is the possessive form of the second-person pronoun.

friends, - (WW) The word translated as "friends" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. 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.  The article and pronoun means "those of yours." There is no word for "friends" here.

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

tell  - (CW) "Tell" is not any of the common forms of "say" or "speak." It is a verb used only here in the synoptic Gospels by Jesus, but one he uses many times in John. It means to "carry back tidings", "to report", "tell," and "proclaim." It is from the root word for "angels" meaning "messengers."

them  - -- The word translated as "them" or "to them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural as an indirect object of the verb or the object of a preposition. A dative object of a preposition implies no movement but in a fixed position.

how great - The adjective translated as "how great" means "as many," "how many,"  "how much," "as much as," "as great as,"how great," "as far as," "how far," and "only so far as."and similar ideas of comparison.

things - - There is no word, "things," in the Greek source, but this word comes from the neuter, plural form of the previous adjective.

the  - The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun.

Lord  - The word translated as "master" is the same word that is often translated as "Lord" or "the Lord" in the NT. It also means "lord", "master of the house," and "head of the family." It is the specific terms for the master of slaves or servants, but it was a common term of respect both for those in authority and who were honored. It was the term people used to address Christ, even though he had no formal authority. Today, we would say "boss" or "chief".

hath - This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.

done - The Greek word translated as "done" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action.  It is not as broad a word as the English "do", which covers all actions, productive or not. 

for -- This word "for" 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. 

thee,  - The "thee" here is singular second-person pronoun. The form of this word requires that addition of a preposition in English to capture its meaning, a "to" as an indirect object, a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, and an "in" for area of effect.

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

hath -- (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.

had compassion on - "Had compassion on" and "had mercy" are both from the same verb. It means "to have pity on," and "to show mercy to." In this first occurrence, it is not an active verb, but an infinitive, "to have mercy." A more accurate translation would simply be "pitied."

thee. -- The "thee/you" here is the singular, accusative (objective,) second-person pronoun. It is the object of either the action of the verb or a preposition.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

Go  - (CW) "Go" is a Greek verbal command that means literally "go under" or "bring under," but Jesus usually uses it to mean "go away" and "depart." The point here is that he is telling the man to depart, not following him.

missing "into"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure.

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. 

home  - (CW) The Greek word translated as "home," is any dwelling place but not exclusively a separate house. It means the household or clan that lives in the building as well. This word is almost always translated as "house" because it refers to the household, which is the point here.

missing "of yours"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "of yours" is the possessive form of the second-person pronoun.

to -- The word translated as "to" means "towards," "by reason of (for)," "before" both in time and place, "in the presence of," "against," and several other types of "before." With verbs of seeing it specifically means "towards."

your -- The word translated as "your" is the possessive form of the second-person pronoun.

own people, - (WW) The word translated as "own people" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. 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.  The article and pronoun means "those of yours." There is no word for "people" here.

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

tell  - (CW) "Tell" is not any of the common forms of "say" or "speak." It is a verb used only here in the synoptic Gospels by Jesus, but one he uses many times in John. It means to "carry back tidings", "to report", "tell," and "proclaim." It is from the root word for "angels" meaning "messengers."

them  - -- The word translated as "them" or "to them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural as an indirect object of the verb or the object of a preposition. A dative object of a preposition implies no movement but in a fixed position.

how much- The adjective translated as "how much" means "as many," "how many,"  "how much," "as much as," "as great as,"how great," "as far as," "how far," and "only so far as."and similar ideas of comparison.

the  - The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun.

Lord  - The word translated as "master" is the same word that is often translated as "Lord" or "the Lord" in the NT. It also means "lord", "master of the house," and "head of the family." It is the specific terms for the master of slaves or servants, but it was a common term of respect both for those in authority and who were honored. It was the term people used to address Christ, even though he had no formal authority. Today, we would say "boss" or "chief".

has- This helping verb "has" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.

done - The Greek word translated as "done" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action.  It is not as broad a word as the English "do", which covers all actions, productive or not. 

for -- This word "for" 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. 

you ,  - The "you" here is singular second-person pronoun. The form of this word requires that addition of a preposition in English to capture its meaning, a "to" as an indirect object, a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, and an "in" for area of effect.

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

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

he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

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.

had mercy on - "Had compassion on" and "had mercy" are both from the same verb. It means "to have pity on," and "to show mercy to." In this first occurrence, it is not an active verb, but an infinitive, "to have mercy." A more accurate translation would simply be "pitied."

thee. -- The "thee/you" here is the singular, accusative (objective,) second-person pronoun. It is the object of either the action of the verb or a preposition.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

Ὕπαγε [47 verses]( verb 2nd sg pres imperat act ) "Go" is hypago, which means "to lead under", "to bring under", "to bring a person before judgment", "to lead on by degrees", "to take away from beneath", "to withdraw", "to go away", "to retire", "to draw off," and "off with you." --

εἰς [325 verses] (prep) Untranslated is 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").  -

οἶκόν [29 verses] (noun sg masc acc) "Home" is oikos, which means "house", "dwelling place", "room", "home", "meeting hall", "household goods", "substance," and "ruling family." It is any dwelling place but not exclusively a separate house. --

σου [144 verses](adj sg masc gen) Untranslated is sou which means "of you" and "your." 

πρὸς [92 verses] (prep) "For" is pros, which means "on the side of", "in the direction of", "from (place)", "towards" "before", "in the presence of", "in the eyes of", "in the name of", "by reason of", "before (supplication)", "proceeding from (for effects)", "dependent on", "derivable from", "agreeable,""becoming", "like", "at the point of", "in addition to", "against," and "before." --

τοὺς [821 verses](article pl masc acc) "Thy" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  -

σούς [8 verses]( adj pl masc acc ) "Friends" is sos, which means "thy", "thine" "of thee," or "from thee."

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." --

ἀπάγγειλον [5 verses]( verb 2nd sg aor imperat act ) "Tell" is anaggello, which means to "carry back tidings", "to report", "tell," and "proclaim." From the root word for "angels" meaning "messengers."

αὐτοῖς, [55 verses](pron/adj pl masc dat) "Them" is the dative case of the third-person, plural adjective that is used as a pronoun. The word also means "the same,""one's true self," and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord."

ὅσα ( adj pl neut acc/nom ) "Great" is hosos, which means "as many," "how many,"  "how much," "as much as," "as great as,"how great," "as far as," "how far," and "only so far as."

[821 verses](article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --

κύριός (noun sg masc nom) "Lord" is kyrios (kurios), which means "having power", "being in authority" and "being in possession of." It also means "lord", "master of the house," and "head of the family." --

σοι [81 verses] (pron 2nd sg dat) "You" is soi which is the singular, second person pronoun, "you". -- The word for "you" is the indirect object form of the pronoun. 

πεποίηκεν [168 verses]( verb 3rd sg perf ind act ) "Has done" is poieo, which means "to make", "to produce", "to create", "to bring into existence", "to bring about", "to cause", "to perform", "to render", "to consider", "to prepare", "to make ready," and "to do." --

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." --

ἠλέησέν  [10 verses]( verb 3rd sg aor ind act ) "Hath had compassion" is the verb eleeo, which means "to have pity on," "to show pity to," and "to feel pity." In the passive, "to be shown pity," and "to be pitied."

σε. [48 verses](pron 2nd sg acc) "Thee" is from se, the second person singular accusative pronoun.

Related Verses: 

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings: 

It may seem odd that Jesus didn't want this man to follow him. Could this be because traveling with Jesus would not be good for his continued sanity? Note how Jesus instructs the man to tell others about his healing whereas in other cures, for example, Matthew 8:4, he tells people to tell no one. Could this be a difference between physical and mental cures? The person has to commit to them. Is this to prevent the condition from returning as discussed in Matthew 12:43 "When the unclean spirit goes out..."? In Matthew 12:44, the spirit is out looking for a house not a home.

Front Page Date: 

Apr 10 2023