Luke 7:23And blessed is he, whosoever shall

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Told to followers of John the Baptist after being told about the blind seeing and the lame walking

KJV

 Luke 7:23And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

NIV

Luke 7:23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

LISTENERS HEARD

Also, he is fortunate whenever he is not tripped up by me.

MY TAKE

Jesus wants to make it fun but not necessarily easy.

GREEK ORDER

καὶ     μακάριός ἐστιν ὃς     ἐὰν    μὴ     σκανδαλισθῇ     ἐν ἐμοί.
Also, fortunate  he is   who ever  not    he is tripped up  by me.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The humor here is in the last phrase, but the verse starts in a light-hearted manner. The Greek words translated as "blessed" and "offended" is a Greek word that compliments someone for their good fortune, meaning "prosperous", "happy", "fortunate," and "blissful." It is not a religious concept except in the most general sense that all rewards come from the Divine.

The humor is in the word translated as "offended" and "stumble. It is a Greek form of a Hebrew word that means "to cause to stumble." It is the passive so it means "to stumble" or, more accurately, "is tripped up." It is the source of our word, "scandalize," but it does not mean what "scandalize" has come to mean relating to the criminal or moral activity. It has the sense simply of embarrassing someone. In English, the sense how we use the phrase "tripped up".

The word translated as "in" and "on account of" primarily means "in", "on", or "among," and "by" as an instument, means, or manner.

 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
3
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "blessed" means "blessed" primarily in the sense of "lucky" or "fortunate" without a sense of a "blessing."
  • CW - Confusing Word - This "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "offend" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "blessed" means "blessed" primarily in the sense of "lucky" or "fortunate" without a sense of a "blessing."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The "anyone " doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "when" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW -- Missing Word -- This verb is a subjunctive, which requires a "should" or "might" when outside of a "when/if/whoever" clause.
EACH WORD of KJV

And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

blessed -- (CW) The word "blessed" in Greek is an adjective a noun meaning "happy" or "fortunate" but with the sense of being favored by God. However, it does not refer to a religious blessing. It can also mean "wealthy" with in the sense of "the wealthy" (men with a fortune).

is -- The verb "is" 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.  The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.

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

whosoever -- The word translated as "whosoever" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings. The untranslated word  "when" makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event. It can be used, as it is here, after a demonstrative pronoun to mean "that possibly," "whosoever," or "whatsoever."

shall -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an
"if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.

not  --  The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. Used with verbs in the mood of possibility to express a prohibition. If not used with a verb of subjective action--thinking, feeling, seeing, etc.--its sense is that "not wanting" or "thinking" something, not that it isn't done or thought.  

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

offended -- (CW) "Offended" is a verb that means "to cause to stumble" or "to trip up." From there it is assumed by its translators to mean "to give offense" and "to scandalize." Our word "scandalize" come directly from the Greek. However, this interpretation of the word only comes from the translators of the Gospels. This is a Koine word that is found originally only in the New Testament, but based on a noun found only in the Greek Old Testament meaning "snare," or "stumbling block." The noun is changed to a verb by adding an ending very much like we add "ize" to a noun in order to make it a verb.  So, literally it would mean to "make or performing a stumble." In English, we would simply say, "trips up" capturing the same idea exactly. See the article on this word here.

in   -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time),  or "among"  with a dative object as the one here.  With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."

me. -- The "me" is in the indirect object form of the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me,""for me," and "by me." A dative object of a preposition implies no movement, but in a fixed position, events that occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed.

 

EACH WORD of NIV

missing "and"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

Blessed -- (CW) The word "blessed" in Greek is an adjective a noun meaning "happy" or "fortunate" but with the sense of being favored by God. However, it does not refer to a religious blessing. It can also mean "wealthy" with in the sense of "the wealthy" (men with a fortune).

is -- The verb "is" 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.  The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.

anyone -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.

who -- The word translated as "who" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.

missing "when"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "when" makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event. It can be used after a demonstrative pronoun to mean "that possibly," "whosoever," or "whatsoever."

does -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek

missing "should" or "might"-- (MW) A helping verb is necessary because the following verb is a verb of possibility, a subjunctive, something that "should" or "might" occur. The helping verb is not needed in a clause beginning with an "if," "when," "whoever" and other conditional clauses, but the when is untranslated.

not  --  The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. Used with verbs in the mood of possibility to express a prohibition. If not used with a verb of subjective action--thinking, feeling, seeing, etc.--its sense is that "not wanting" or "thinking" something, not that it isn't done or thought. 

stumble --  "Stumble " is a verb that means "to cause to stumble" or "to trip up." It is in the passive so the sense is "stumble." From there it is assumed by its translators to mean "to give offense" and "to scandalize." Our word "scandalize" comes directly from the Greek. However, this interpretation of the word only comes from the translators of the Gospels. This is a Koine word that is found originally only in the New Testament, but based on a noun found only in the Greek Old Testament meaning "snare," or "stumbling block." The noun is changed to a verb by adding an ending very much like we add "ize" to a noun in order to make it a verb.  So, literally, it would mean to "make or perform a stumble." In English, we would simply say, "trips up" capturing the same idea exactly. Or, in the passive, "is tripped up."  See the article on this word here

on account of -- (CW) The word translated as "on account of" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time),  or "among"  with a dative object as the one here.  With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near." -- (CW)  This is not the word usually translated as this word. CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "on account of."

me. -- The "me" is in the indirect object form of the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me,""for me," and "by me." A dative object of a preposition implies no movement, but in a fixed position, events that occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed.

 

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is 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."

μακάριός [25 verses](adj sg masc nom ) "Blessed" is makarios which means "blessed," "prosperous," "happy," "fortunate," and "blissful."

ἐστίν.[614 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "Is" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen,"  and "is possible." With the possessive (genitive) object, it means "is descended from," "is the type of," "belongs to," "is made of," "is a duty of," "is at the mercy of," or " is dependent on." With an indirect (dative) object, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed.  "It is to him" becomes "it is his" or "he has it."  With the preposition,"into" (εἰς), the sense is "consist of." When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."

ὃς . [294 verses] (pron sg masc nom) "Whosoever" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.

ὰν [163 verses](conj) "If" is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (possibly), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event. This is how we use the word "when." It can be used after a demonstrative pronoun hos or hostis meaning "that possibly,"  "whosoever" or "whatsoever."-

μὴ [447 verses](conj) "Not" is me , which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." The negative, μή, rejects, is relative,  and subjective. It is used in imperative and subjunctive clauses because both express opinions. This negative applies to will and thought. With pres. or aor. subjunctive, it is used in a warning or statement of fear, "take care" It can be the conjunction "lest" or "for fear that." Used before tis with an imperative to express a will or wish for something in independent sentences and, with subjunctives, to express prohibitions. It is used with infinitives that express a purpose.

σκανδαλισθῇ [20 verses] (3rd sg aor subj pass) "Offended"is skandalizo, which means "to cause to stumble," "to give offense," and "to scandalize." This is the verb form of skandolon, meaning "trap," "snare," or "stumbling block," that appears twenty-five times in the Septuagint, the Greek Old Testament. and fifteen in the NT.

ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with its usual indirect (dative) object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during,"  and "with." With a direct (accusative) object, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during."

μοί, [96 verses](pron 1st sg masc/fem dat) "Me" is moi (emoi) , which can be the object of some prepositions and as the object of a verb means "to me" "for me," and "by me."

parallel comparison

Though translated the same, there is a one letter difference between this version and the one in Matthew (Matthew 11:6). The difference could actually be a contraction in Matthew. In both, there is a ot of the humor here is lost in translation.

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