John 7:16 My doctrine is not mine,

Spoken to
audience

The Judeans marvel at Jesus's teaching because they think that he never learned to read.

KJV

John 7:16 My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

NIV

John 7:16 My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.

LISTENERS HEARD

This my own learning isn't my own but instead of the one sending me.

MY TAKE

Jesus again makes it clear that his words are not his own.  -

LOST IN TRANSLATION

Jesus starts with a joke, saying "this my own teaching is not my own," a clear contradiction. This idea is emphasized by the fact he uses an uncommon and more emphatic way of saying "my own" than the common "my" and "mine."

The Greek noun translated as "doctrine/teaching" is only used by Jesus in this verse and the next. It means literally, "what is taught." A related, more common word is usually translated as "teaching," and since Jesus is answering a question about his education, "learning" may work better here. 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "this" before "my" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" is not the common word usually translated as "but."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "his" is not the common word usually translated as "his."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "sent" is not an active verb but a participle, "sending."
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "this" before "my" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "rather" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "it comes from" doesn't exist in the source.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "who" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "sent" is not an active verb but a participle, "sending."
EACH WORD of KJV

missing "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," "those"). See this article for more.

My -- "My" is the regular first-person adjective in Greek indicating possession, so  "mine," "of me," "my," "relating to me," and "against me."

doctrine --  "Doctrine" is from a noun Jesus only uses here and in the next verse, means "teaching", "regulations" [military], and "discipline." Since Jesus is commenting on people wondering about his education, "learning" might work better here.

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."-- 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."

not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

mine, -- "Mine" is the regular first-person adjective in Greek indicating possession, so  "mine," "of me," "my," "relating to me," and "against me."

but -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, not doing something, with a positive one, "instead do this."

his  -- (CW) The word translated as "his" 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. 

that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source. It was added because the previous verb was translated as active rather than a participle.

sent -- (WF) "Sent" is from a Greek verb that means "send," "send forth," "send away," "conduct," and "escort." This is the second most common word Jesus uses that is translated as "send," but this one doesn't have the prefix that has the sense of "out." The form is a participle, introduced by a definite article, "the one sending."

me. -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

EACH WORD of NIV

missing "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," "those"). See this article for more.

My -- "My" is the regular first-person adjective in Greek indicating possession, so  "mine," "of me," "my," "relating to me," and "against me."

teaching --  "Teaching" is from a noun Jesus only uses here and in the next verse, means "teaching", "regulations" [military], and "discipline."

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."-- 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."

not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

my own, -- "My own" is the regular first-person adjective in Greek indicating possession, so  "mine," "of me," "my," "relating to me," and "against me."

missing "rather"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "rather" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, not doing something, with a positive one, "instead do this."

It comes from -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "it comes from" in the Greek source.

the one -- The word translated as "the one" 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. 

who -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "who " in the Greek source. It was added because the previous verb was translated as active rather than a participle.

sent -- (WF) "Sent" is from a Greek verb that means "send," "send forth," "send away," "conduct," and "escort." This is the second most common word Jesus uses that is translated as "send," but this one doesn't have the prefix that has the sense of "out." The form is a participle, introduced by a definite article, "the one sending."

me. -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

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

ἐμὴ [28 verses](adj sg fem nom) "My" is emos, which means "mine," "of me," "my," "relating to me," and "against me."

διδαχὴ [2 verses](noun sg fem nom) "Doctrine" is from didachē, which means "teaching", "regulations" [military], and "discipline."

οὐκ [269 verses](partic) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences.  The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.

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

ἐμὴ [28 verses](adj sg fem nom) "Mine" is emos, which means "mine," "of me," "my," "relating to me," and "against me."

ἀλλὰ [154 verses](conj) "But" is alla, which means "otherwise," "but," "still," "at least," "except," "yet," nevertheless," "rather," "moreover," and "nay."

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

πέμψαντός [39 verses](part sg aor act masc gen) "That sent" is pempo, which means "send," "send forth," "send away," "conduct," and "escort."

με: [49 verses](pron 1st sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which is the objective first-person, objective, singular pronoun that means  "me."

Wordplay

The contradiction: what is mine is not mine. 

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