Mark 9:35 If any man desire to be first, [the same] shall be last of all...

Spoken to
Apostles

After being told his apostles were debating who should be first.

KJV

Mark 9:35 If any man desire to be first, [the same] shall be last of all, and servant of all.

NIV

Mark 9:35 Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.

LISTENERS HEARD

As sure as anyone desires to be highest, he will be lowest of all and a servant of all

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The Greek words translated as "first" and "last" both take their meaning from their context. When referring to people, the "first" means "highest" and the "last" means "lowest." All of the Biblical versions offer this as "first" and "last" which makes the idea a little more vague. 

The word translated as "desire" means to "want" something.. Too often it is translated as "will" making it look like the future tense.

The word translated as "servant" is a little confusing because it is not the word usually translated as "servant." The usual word for "servant" actually means "slave" while this word does mean "servant." It is the word from which  we take our word "deacon."

MY TAKE

When you are the boss, you work for everyone else.

GREEK ORDER

Εἴ              τις        θέλει    πρῶτος   εἶναι  ἔσται         πάντων ἔσχατος καὶ πάντων    διάκονος.
As sure as anyone desires highest,  to be  he will be   of all    lowest    and of all   a servant

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
3
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "if" does not capture the word's specific meaning with this form of verb.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "man."
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "for them" doesn't exist in the source.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
4
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "as sure as" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "who" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "must" should be something more like "will."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
EACH WORD of KJV

If --(CW)  The "if" here expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not. It also means "if ever" and "whenever." However, when used in an "if" clause, the verb is the subjunctive form of possibility. When citing a fact with a declarative verb, indicative, instead of one of possibility the sense is more "since" or "as sure as." The verb, "desire," here is declarative.

any -- The Greek word translated as "any" in the singular means "anyone", "someone," and "anything." In the plural, it means "some", "they," and "those."

man -- (CW) This "man" is from the masculine, singular form of the previous word but that can refer to anyone.  It is not the word "man."

desire -- The Greek word translated as "desire"  expresses consent and even a delight in doing something. It means "to consent" and "to be resolved to a purpose".  We would say "want" or "desire." As an participle, it means "willingly" and "gladly".

to be --The verb "to be " here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. This form is an infinitive, "to be."

first, -- The word translated as "first" takes a lot of different types of "first" meanings from its context. Here, it is technically an adjective but it plays the role of the English adverb "initially." [

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

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.

be -- The verb "shall be " here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. This form is the future tense.

last -- "Last" is from an adjective that, in space, this means "furthest." In degree, it means "uttermost" and "highest." In persons, it means "lowest" and "meanest." Of time, it means "last" and "ending." In the first part of the verse, it is introduced with an article, making it a noun.

of -- This word comes from the form of the following "all."

all, --  The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way", "on every side," and "altogether."

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".

servant -- The word translated here as "servants," actually means "servant." It is not the Greek word usually translated as "servant," which really means "slave."

of -- This word comes from the form of the following "all."

all. -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way", "on every side," and "altogether."

EACH WORD of NIV


 

missing "as sure as"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "if" here expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not. It also means "if ever" and "whenever." However, when used in an "if" clause, the verb is the subjunctive form of possibility. When citing a fact with a declarative verb, indicative, instead of one of possibility with the objective negative, the sense is more "since" or "as sure as." The verb, "desire," here is declarative.

Anyone-- The Greek word translated as "anyone" in the singular means "anyone", "someone," and "anything." In the plural, it means "some", "they," and "those."

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

wants -- The Greek word translated as "desire"  expresses consent and even a delight in doing something. It means "to consent" and "to be resolved to a purpose".  We would say "want" or "desire." As an participle, it means "willingly" and "gladly".

to be --The verb "to be " here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. This form is an infinitive, "to be."

first, -- The word translated as "first" takes a lot of different types of "first" meanings from its context. Here, it is technically an adjective but it plays the role of the English adverb "initially." [

must -- (WW) This helping verb "must" indicates that the verb is the future tense os it should be "will." Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be -- The verb "shall be " here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. This form is the future tense.

the very --  (WW) The word translated as "the very" is the Greek adjective meaning "of all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything."

last -- "Last" is from an adjective that, in space, this means "furthest." In degree, it means "uttermost" and "highest." In persons, it means "lowest" and "meanest." Of time, it means "last" and "ending." In the first part of the verse, it is introduced with an article, making it a nou

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".

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

servant -- The word translated here as "servants," actually means "servant." It is not the Greek word usually translated as "servant," which really means "slave."

of -- This word comes from the form of the following "all."

all. -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way", "on every side," and "altogether."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

Εἴ  [90 verses](conj) "If" is ei, which is the particle used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect questions, "whether." It also means "if ever", "in case," and "whenever." It is combined with various conjunctions to create derivative conditions.

τις  [252 verses](pro sg masc nom) "Any man" is tis which can mean "someone", "any one", "everyone", "they [indefinite]", "many a one", "whoever", "anyone", "anything", "some sort", "some sort of", "each", "any", "the individual", "such," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who", "why," or "what."

θέλει [64 verses] ( verb 3rd sg pres ind act ) "Desire" is thelo, which as a verb means "to be willing (of consent rather than desire)", "to wish", "to ordain", "to decree", "to be resolved to a purpose" "to maintain", "to hold", "to delight in, and "will (too express a future event with inanimate objects)." As a participle, it means "being willing" or, adverbially, "willingly," and "gladly".

πρῶτος [41 verses](adjsg masc nom) "First" is protos. In place, this means "before", "in front," and, as a noun, "the foremost." Of time, it means "former", "earlier," and, as a noun, "the initial." In order, it means "the first." In math, it means the prime numbers. Of rank or degree, it means "superior" or, as a noun, "the highest" or "the best."

εἶναι .[614 verses] ( verb pres inf act ) "To be" is eimi, which means "to be", "to exist", "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen",  and "is possible." (The future form is esomai. The 3rd person present indicative is "esti.") --

ἔσται .[614 verses] (verb 3rd sg fut ind mid) "Shall be" is eimi, which means "to be", "to exist", "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen",  and "is possible." (The future form is esomai. The 3rd person present indicative is "esti.")

πάντων [212 verses](adj pl masc gen) "Of all" is 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." --

ἔσχατος [21 verses] (adj sg masc nom) "The last" is from eschatos. In space, this means "furthest." In degree, it means "uttermost" and "highest." In persons, it means "lowest" and "meanest." Of time, it means "last" and "ending."

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."

πάντων [212 verses](adj pl masc gen) "Of all" is 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." -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way", "on every side," and "altogether."

διάκονος. [6 verses](noun sg masc nom) "Servant" is the noun diakonos, which means "servant", "messenger," and "attendant." This is the source for our word "deacon."

Possible Symbolic Meaning
Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings

In Matthew 23:11, Jesus expresses the "superior" as "greater." The KJV usually translates this word as "will," which often confuses it with the future tense in English.  The give away as to meaning is the last phrase, "of all a servant," which is how Jesus describes himself. Jesus  commands the apostles to be servants less poetically in Mark 10:44.

In the KJV, it sounds more like that by desiring superiority, we are making ourselves low.

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