At the Last Supper, Jesus gives his final message to the apostles. He just repeated his command to love one another.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
NSRV John 15:13: No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.
No one has greater caring than this: that anyone might dedicate this self of his for these friends of his.
We should dedicate our lives to those we like.
The biggest problem here is the word translated as "lay down." Its primary meaning is "to put" or "to place," but it is one of Jesus's favorite "multiple meaning" words. In this context, it probably means "to dedicate." The sense of "lay down" applies more to warriors surrendering their arms. It also means "to bury." It is not an infinitive, as translated in modern BIbles, but a verb in the form of possibility, which requires a "might" or "should" helping verb before it.
This verse also contrasts two different Greek pronouns, which are confused in translation. The first word is "no one" and the second is "anyone." The "anyone" is mistranslated or left out.
There is also an interesting contrast between two "love" words. The "love" here is closer to "care" or "caring for." Its has more of a sense of taking responsibility for someone else. Its verb form has been used consistently in this section of John. The Greek word translated as "friends" is the noun form of another verb, always translated as "love" but has more the sense of "enjoy." See this article on "love" for more information.
- CW - Confusing Word -- This "man" is not the word for man, but a masculine pronoun.
- CW - Confusing Word -- This "love" is one of two different Greek noun translated as "love," but they mean different things.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "a" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "man" should be something more like "anyone."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "life" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- Neither "life" or "soul" capture this word's specific meaning.
- MW -- Missing Word -- This verb is a subjunctive, which requires a "should" or "might" when outside of a when/if clause.
- MM -- Many Meanings -- This word "lay down" has several different meanings that work here and is a form of wordplay.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "friends" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- This "love" is one of two different Greek noun translated as "love," but they mean different things.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "anyone" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "to lay down" is not an infinitive but an active verb, "lay down."
- MW -- Missing Word -- This verb is a subjunctive, which requires a "should" or "might" when outside of a when/if clause.
- MM -- Many Meanings -- This word "lay down" has several different meanings that work here and is a form of wordplay.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "life" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- Nether "life" or "soul" capture this word's specific meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "friends" is not shown in the English translation.
NSR Version Issues
- CW - Confusing Word -- This "love" is one of two different Greek noun translated as "love," but they mean different things.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "anyone" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "to lay down" is not an infinitive but an active verb, "lay down."
- MW -- Missing Word -- This verb is a subjunctive, which requires a "should" or "might" when outside of a when/if clause.
- MM -- Many Meanings -- This word "lay down" has several different meanings that work here and is a form of wordplay.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "life" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- Nether "life" or "soul" capture this word's specific meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "friends" is not shown in the English translation.
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 for
love - (CW) The noun translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "caring of spouses" "caring of God" and "charity" in the sense of giving to the poor. In the Gospels, it is usually translated as "love" or "beloved." The "love" is confusing because two different words are translated as "love," This word implies a sense of responsibility. The other word means enjoying one another. Translating this word as "caring" or "compassion" often works best. See this article on love for more information.
hath -- The word translated as "hath" means to "have," "possess," "bear," "keep close," "hold in," "have means to do," "to have due to one," or "keep" and many specific uses. This verb isn't used to form past tenses as the helper verb does in English. Nor does it has the sense of "must" when used with infinitives.
no man -- (CW) The Greek adjective translated as "no man" also means "no one," "nothing," and other negative pronouns. It is used by Jesus more like a negative pronoun than an adjective. However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative. Though masculine, this word does not means "man."
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 "than" in comparisons,
this,-- "This" is translated from a Greek adjective that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Without a noun, it has the sense of "this one" or "that one." In the genitive, its sense is "than this."
that -- The word translated as "that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" or "because." -- The word translated as "there" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," or "when."
a -- (IW) There is no indefinite article ("a," "an") but it is acceptable to add before a noun without a definite article. The following word is not a noun but a pronoun.
man - (WW) The Greek word translated as "man" in the singular means "anyone," "someone," "something," and "anything." The same forms are used both for the masculine or feminine so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone," "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."
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" or a "when." MW -- Missing Word -- This verb is a subjunctive, which requires a "should" or "might" when outside of a when/if clause.
lay down -- (MM) The Greek verb translated as "lay down" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "to put," "to dedicate," "to assign," "to award," and "to place," and in the military, "to bear arms," "to lay down and surrender," "to bury in a grave," but which has many related meanings as well.
his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
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.
life --The word translated here as "soul" is psyche, a common word in Greek, familiar in English, meaning "life," "soul," "consciousness," and "a sense of self." It is used for different aspects of "self," the emotional self, the conscious self, the intellectual self. It has a clear sense of the conscious self and is often translated as "life" in the Gospels. Jesus uses it to specifically mean our identity in our worldly life, the role we play on earth, what we might call the "social self," or what we commonly call our "ego." See this article for detail about this word.
for -- "For" is a preposition that means "over" "beyond," "concerning," "on behalf of," and "instead of" with many other specific uses.
his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
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.
friends. -- "Friends" is an adjective means "loved," "beloved," "dear," "kith and kin," "nearest and dearest," "friends," and (of things) "welcome" and "pleasant." It is an adjective used as a noun. In English, we would say "loved one."
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 for
love - (CW) The noun translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "caring of spouses" "caring of God" and "charity" in the sense of giving to the poor. In the Gospels, it is usually translated as "love" or "beloved." The "love" is confusing because two different words are translated as "love," This word implies a sense of responsibility. The other word means enjoying one another. Translating this word as "caring" or "compassion" often works best. See this article on love for more information.
has -- The word translated as "has" means to "have," "possess," "bear," "keep close," "hold in," "have means to do," "to have due to one," or "keep" and many specific uses. This verb isn't used to form past tenses as the helper verb does in English. Nor does it has the sense of "must" when used with infinitives.
no one -- The Greek adjective translated as "no one" also means "no one," "nothing," and other negative pronouns. It is used by Jesus more like a negative pronoun than an adjective. However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative.
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 "than" in comparisons,
this,-- "This" is translated from a Greek adjective that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Without a noun, it has the sense of "this one" or "that one." In the genitive, its sense is "than this."
missing "that" -- (MW) The untranslated word "that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" or "because." -- The word translated as "there" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," or "when."
missing "anyone" -- (MW) The untranslated word "anyone" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" or "because." -- The word translated as "there" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," or "when."
to -- (WF) This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English but the following verb is not an infinitive..
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" or a "when."
lay down -- (MM) The Greek verb translated as "lay down" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "to put," "to dedicate," "to assign," "to award," and "to place," and in the military, "to bear arms," "to lay down and surrender," but which has many related meanings as well.
one’s -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
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.
life --The word translated here as "soul" is psyche, a common word in Greek, familiar in English, meaning "life," "soul," "consciousness," and "a sense of self." It is used for different aspects of "self," the emotional self, the conscious self, the intellectual self. It has a clear sense of the conscious self and is often translated as "life" in the Gospels. Jesus uses it to specifically mean our identity in our worldly life, the role we play on earth, what we might call the "social self," or what we commonly call our "ego." See this article for detail about this word.
for -- "For" is a preposition that means "over" "beyond," "concerning," "on behalf of," and "instead of" with many other specific uses.
one’s -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
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.
friends. -- "Friends" is an adjective means "loved," "beloved," "dear," "kith and kin," "nearest and dearest," "friends," and (of things) "welcome" and "pleasant." It is an adjective used as a noun. In English, we would say "loved one."
NSR Version Analysis
No one -- The Greek adjective translated as "no one" also means "no one," "nothing," and other negative pronouns. It is used by Jesus more like a negative pronoun than an adjective. However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative.
has -- The word translated as "has" means to "have," "possess," "bear," "keep close," "hold in," "have means to do," "to have due to one," or "keep" and many specific uses. This verb isn't used to form past tenses as the helper verb does in English. Nor does it has the sense of "must" when used with infinitives.
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 for
love - (CW) The noun translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "caring of spouses" "caring of God" and "charity" in the sense of giving to the poor. In the Gospels, it is usually translated as "love" or "beloved." The "love" is confusing because two different words are translated as "love," This word implies a sense of responsibility. The other word means enjoying one another. Translating this word as "caring" or "compassion" often works best. See this article on love for more information.
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 "than" in comparisons,
this,-- "This" is translated from a Greek adjective that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Without a noun, it has the sense of "this one" or "that one." In the genitive, its sense is "than this."
missing "that" -- (MW) The untranslated word "that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" or "because." -- The word translated as "there" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," or "when."
missing "anyone" -- (MW) The untranslated word "anyone" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" or "because." -- The word translated as "there" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," or "when."
to -- (WF) This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English but the following verb is not an infinitive.
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" or a "when."
lay down -- (MM) The Greek verb translated as "lay down" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "to put," "to dedicate," "to assign," "to award," and "to place," and in the military, "to bear arms," "to lay down and surrender," but which has many related meanings as well.
one’s -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
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.
life --The word translated here as "soul" is psyche, a common word in Greek, familiar in English, meaning "life," "soul," "consciousness," and "a sense of self." It is used for different aspects of "self," the emotional self, the conscious self, the intellectual self. It has a clear sense of the conscious self and is often translated as "life" in the Gospels. Jesus uses it to specifically mean our identity in our worldly life, the role we play on earth, what we might call the "social self," or what we commonly call our "ego." See this article for detail about this word.
for -- "For" is a preposition that means "over" "beyond," "concerning," "on behalf of," and "instead of" with many other specific uses.
one’s -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
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.
friends. -- "Friends" is an adjective means "loved," "beloved," "dear," "kith and kin," "nearest and dearest," "friends," and (of things) "welcome" and "pleasant." It is an adjective used as a noun. In English, we would say "loved one."
μείζονα 22 verses](adj sg masc/vem nom comp ) "Greater " is meizon which means "bigger," "higher," "longer," and "greater" and is the comparative form of megas, which means "big" and "great."
ταύτης [83 verses](adj sg fem gen) ) "This" is houtos, which as an adjective means "this," "that," "the nearer."
ἀγάπην [12 verses] (noun sg fem acc) "Love" is agape, which means "the love of a husband and wife," "love of God by man," "brotherly love," "charity," and "alms." Jesus uses it to describe the people and things that we care about or should care about. -
οὐδεὶς [69 verses](adj sg masc nom) "No one" is oudeis which means "no one," "not one," "nothing," "naught," "good for naught," and "no matter."
ἔχει, [181 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "He hath" is echo, which means "to have," "to hold," "to possess," "to keep," "to have charge of," "to have due to one," "to maintain," "to hold fast," "to hold in," "to bear," "to carry," "to keep close," "to keep safe," and "to have means to do." In aorist, it can mean "acquire," or "get." The main sense when it has an object is "to have" or "to hold." It can also mean "to without" or "keep back" a thing.
ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place," "there," "where," "when," but when beginning a phrase "that," "in order that," "when," and "because."
τις [252 verses](pron sg masc/fem nom) "What" is tis, which can mean "someone," "something," "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." It has specific meanings with certain prepositions, \διὰ τί; for what reason? ἐκ τίνος; from what cause? ἐς τί; to what point? to what end? -
τὴν [821 verses](article sg masc nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). -
ψυχὴν [33 verses](noun sg fem nom) "Life" is psyche, which means "breath," "life," "self," "personality," "spirit," and "soul." It is also used to describe "the spirit" of things. It is also often translated as "soul."
αὐτοῦ [720 verses](adj sg masc gen) "His" is 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." In the plural, "they," "them," and "their." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there."
θῇ [24 verses](verb 3rd sg aor subj act) "Lay down " is tithemi which means "to put," "to place," "to propose," "to suggest," "o deposit," "to set up," "to dedicate," "to assign," "to award," "to agree upon," "to institute," "to establish," "to make," "to work," "to prepare oneself," "to bear arms [military]," "to lay down and surrender [military]," "to lay in the grave," "to bury," and "to put words on paper [writing]," and a metaphor for "to put in one's mind."
ὑπὲρ [17 verses](prep) "For" is hyper (huper), which means "over" (of place), "above' (in a state of rest), "off' (ships at sea), "over" and "across (in a state of motion), "over," "beyond," "on behalf of one (metaphor), "for," "instead of," "in the name of," "as a representative of" (in an entreaty), "for" and "because of" (of the cause or motive), "concerning," "exceeding" "above" and "beyond" (of measure), "above" and "upwards" (of numbers), "before" and "earlier than" (of time), "over much" and "beyond measure" (as an adverb), "for" and "in deference of" (doing a thing), and "above measure."
τῶν [821 verses](article sg masc nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). -
φίλων [17 verses](adj sg masc/fem gen) "Friends" is from philos, which as an adjective means "loved," "beloved," "dear," "kith and kin," "nearest and dearest," "friends," and (of things) "welcome" and "pleasant."
αὐτοῦ [720 verses](adj sg masc gen) "His" is 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." In the plural, "they," "them," and "their." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there."