John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me

Spoken to
challengers

Jesus says he gives his followers on-going life so that they don't destroy themselves.

KJV

John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

NIV

John 10:29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

LISTENERS HEARD

That Father of mine who has given [them] to me is greater than everyone and no one has the power to snatch from the hand of that Father.

MY TAKE

The ability to hold others is a matter of power.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The real fun in this verse is in the contrast between the ideas of "everyone" and "no one." The word translated as "all" and the word translated as "no man/no one" are logical opposites in Greek, meaning "everyone" and "no one" in English. When used after a term of comparison (in this case, the Greek word for "greater than") the form of the word "all" creates a comparison, "than everyone." This "greater" relates directly to "power," but we cannot see this because the verb that means "having power" is translated as "is able" and "can." This verb is the root for the English words "dynamo," "dynamic," and "dynamite." 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
3
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "father" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The English verb "gave" is the past tense, but Greek is in the past perfect, a completed action, "have seen."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "my" should be something more like "the."
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "father" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "snatch" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to snatch" or "to catch."
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The English verb "gave" is the past tense, but Greek is in the past perfect, a completed action, "have seen."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "my" should be something more like "the."
EACH WORD of KJV

My  - -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine."  

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. 

Father - "Father" is the common word that Jesus uses to address his own father, though it can mean any male ancestor. It is in the genitive form (see word above).

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

gave -- (WT) The verb translated as "gave" means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe." It is almost always translated as some form of "give." However, the tense is not the simple past, but the past perfect, a task completed in the past, "have given."

them - This English objective pronoun is added and not in the Greek source.   In Greek, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence.

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

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. With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. -- 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."

greater -- "Greater" is an adjective which is the comparative form of the word meaning "big" or "great." It means "bigger," "higher," "longer," "greater" and simply, "superior." When it is introduced by an article, it means "the greater." It is not the superlative form.

than -- This word "that"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession. However, it can also mean "than" (in comparisons).

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

no man  -- The Greek adjective translated as "no man" also means "no one," "nothing," and other negative ideas. It is used by Jesus more like a negative pronoun than an adjective.  It is in the male form so "man" words even though the Greek word for "man" doesn't appear.

is -- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb. It is used here to form the present, progressive tense, which doesn't exist in Greek but which can smooth the flow of English sentences.

able -- The word translated as "is able" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English.

to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.

pluck - "Pluck" is a verb that means "to snatch away," "to carry off," "to overpower," and "to plunder." It is in the present tense. This is not an uncommon word for Christ to use. Everywhere else it is translated as "snatch," "seize" or "catch." Jesus uses this rare word earlier in John 10:12 to describe wolves "snatching" sheep."

them - This English objective pronoun is added and not in the Greek source.   In Greek, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence.

out of   - The Greek preposition translated as "out of" means "out of" or "from." The word also means "beyond," "on," "in," "since," or "by"based upon its context. However, in Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases that are translated into English "of" phrases.

my -- (WW) The word translated as "my" 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. 

Father - "Father" is the common word that Jesus uses to address his own father, though it can mean any male ancestor. It is in the genitive form (see word above).

's -- This word "'s"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" or apostrpphe "s"  of possession.

hand. -- The Greek word translated as "hands" means "the hand and forearm." It can mean both the idea of a helping hand and being in someone's control. 

EACH WORD of NIV

My  - -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine."  

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. 

Father - "Father" is the common word that Jesus uses to address his own father, though it can mean any male ancestor. It is in the genitive form (see word above).

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

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

given -- The verb translated as "given" means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe." It is almost always translated as some form of "give."

them - This English objective pronoun is added and not in the Greek source.   In Greek, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence.

to -- This word "to" 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.

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

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. With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. -- 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."

greater -- "Greater" is an adjective which is the comparative form of the word meaning "big" or "great." It means "bigger," "higher," "longer," "greater" and simply, "superior." When it is introduced by an article, it means "the greater." It is not the superlative form.

than -- This word "that"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession. However, it can also mean "than" (in comparisons).

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

no one -- The Greek adjective translated as "no one" also means "no one," "nothing," and other negative ideas. It is used by Jesus more like a negative pronoun than an adjective.  It is in the male form so "man" words even though the Greek word for "man" doesn't appear.

is -- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb. It is used here to form the present, progressive tense, which doesn't exist in Greek but which can smooth the flow of English sentences.

can -- (CW) The Greek verb translated as "can" means "to have an ability" and "to have a power" to do something. Unlike the English "can," it is not a "helper" verb but the main verb of the sentence. -

snatch -  (WF) "Snatch" is a verb that means "to snatch away," "to carry off," "to overpower," and "to plunder." It is in the present tense. This is not an uncommon word for Christ to use. Everywhere else it is translated as "snatch," "seize" or "catch." Jesus uses this rare word earlier in John 10:12 to describe wolves "snatching" sheep."

them - This English objective pronoun is added and not in the Greek source.   In Greek, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence.

out of   - The Greek preposition translated as "out of" means "out of" or "from." The word also means "beyond," "on," "in," "since," or "by"based upon its context. However, in Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases that are translated into English "of" phrases.

my -- (WW) The word translated as "my" 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. 

Father - "Father" is the common word that Jesus uses to address his own father, though it can mean any male ancestor. It is in the genitive form (see word above).

's -- This word "'s"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" or apostrpphe "s"  of possession.

hand. -- The Greek word translated as "hands" means "the hand and forearm." It can mean both the idea of a helping hand and being in someone's control. 

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

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

πατὴρ [191 verses](noun sg masc nom) "The Father" is pater, which means "father," "grandfather," "author," "parent," and "forefathers."

μου [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "Me" is from mou (emou), which means "me," and "mine." As a genitive object means movement away from something or a position away from something else.

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

δέδωκέν  [147 verses] (3rd sg perf ind act) "Gave" is didomi, which means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe."

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."

πάντων [212 verses](adj pl masc/neut gen) "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."

μεῖζόν [22 verses](adj sg masc nom comp ) "Greater" is meizon which means "bigger," "higher," "longer," and "greater" and is the comparative form of megas, which means "big" and "great." The superlative form "greatest" is megistos, μέγιστος.

ἐστιν, .[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 genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." It can also mean "must" with a dative.

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."

οὐδεὶς [69 verses](adj sg masc nom) "No man" is oudeis which means "no one," "not one," "nothing," "naught," "good for naught," and "no matter."

δύναται [61 verses]( 3rd sg pres ind mp) "Is able" is the verb, dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities," "to be able," and "to be strong enough."

ἁρπάζειν [6 verses](pres inf act) "To pluck" is from the Greek harpazô, which means to "snatch away," "seize hastily, " "snatch up," "overpower, " "overmaster," "grasp with the senses," "plunder," "carry off," and "be a robber." 

ἐκ  [121 verses] (prep) "Out of" is ek, which means 1) [of motion] "out of," "from," "by," "away from;" 2) [of place] "beyond," "outside of," "beyond;" 3) [of succession] "after," "from;" 4) [of rest] "on," "in," 5) [of time] "since," "from," "at," "in;" 5) [of materials] "out of," "made from;" 6) cause, instrument, or means "by."

τῆς [821 verses](article sg masc gen)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  -

χειρός [25 verses] ( noun sg fem gen) "Hand" is cheir, which means "the hand and arm," and "with the help of agency of another." Like "hand" in English, it has a lot of meanings including "an act or deed," "a body of people," and the measurement "handful."

τοῦ  [821 verses](article sg masc gen)  "My" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

πατρός. [191 verses](noun sg masc gen) "The Father" is pater, which means "father," "grandfather," "author," "parent," and "forefathers."

Wordplay

 The contrast of "everything" and "nothing." 

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