John 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law,

Spoken to
audience

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

KJV

John 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

NIV

John 7:19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”

LISTENERS HEARD

Hasn't Moses given you the law? But not one out of you all considers the law. How do you look to destroy me?

MY TAKE

Were they seeking to kill Jesus for the glory or for their masters?

LOST IN TRANSLATION

There is a clear connection between this verse and the previous one, but it is lost in translation. The word translated as "go ye about" is the same verb that was translated in the previous verse twice as "seek." The previous verse talked about how people seek glory, either for themselves or the one who sent them. This asks why they seek to destroy him. This question was answered in the previous verse: either for their own glory or for their masters. Jesus is again having fun with them though to his audience (and in translation) it seems almost paranoid because neither group understands him. Of course, Jesus knows his destiny, so he is a step ahead of them in the joke. 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
4
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "yet" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "keepeth" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "go..about" should be something more like "seek."
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "has" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "yet" should be something more like "and."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "keeps" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "trying" should be something more like "seek."
EACH WORD of KJV

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

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.

Moses -- "Moses" is from the Greek spelling of the name for the author of the first five books of the OT. Unlike most Hebrew names, Jesus sometimes adds Greek ending to it in the form of a first-declension Greek noun.

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

you -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. 

the -- The word translated as "the" 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. 

law, -- The Greek word translated as "law" describes the social norms, which can be from "tradition," "common practice," or the "laws." Jesus uses it to refer to the first five books of the OT written by Moses. He did not use it to refer to civl or Roman law. See this article.

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."

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

none -- The Greek word translated as "none" also means "no one," "nothing," and other negative nouns. However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative.

of -- (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "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.

you -- The word translated as "you" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the genitive case. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."

keepeth -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "keep" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action.  It is not as broad a word as the English "do," which covers all actions, productive or not.

the -- The word translated as "the" 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. 

law, -- The Greek word translated as "law" describes the social norms, which can be from "tradition," "common practice," or the "laws." Jesus uses it to refer to the first five books of the OT written by Moses. He did not use it to refer to civl or Roman law. See this article.

Why   -- The word translated as "why" means primarily "anything" or "anyone," but Jesus often uses it in this form to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."

go -- (WW) The Greek verb translated as "go" has a variety of meanings around the idea of "searching" and "desiring." It has a sense of seeking with a specific aim. This is not any form of "go."

ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

about -- This completes the idea of the verb, but the verb is still wrong.

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

kill -- "Kill" is translated from a Greek word that means "destroy" more than just "kill" because the base word means "slay." The Greek source has the sense of "kill off," that is, destroy in a more thorough way. When we talk about "destroying" someone, we use it to mean destroying their reputation, the strength of their spirit and ideas as well as physically killing them. This is more the sense here.

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

EACH WORD of NIV

Has -- (WT) This helping verb "has" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.

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.

Moses -- "Moses" is from the Greek spelling of the name for the author of the first five books of the OT. Unlike most Hebrew names, Jesus sometimes adds Greek ending to it in the form of a first-declension Greek noun.

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."

you -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. 

the -- The word translated as "the" 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. 

law, -- The Greek word translated as "law" describes the social norms, which can be from "tradition," "common practice," or the "laws." Jesus uses it to refer to the first five books of the OT written by Moses. He did not use it to refer to civl or Roman law. See this article.

Yet -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

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

not one -- The Greek word translated as "not one" also means "no one," "nothing," and other negative nouns. However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative.

of -- (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "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.

you -- The word translated as "you" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the genitive case. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."

keeps -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "keeps" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action.  It is not as broad a word as the English "do," which covers all actions, productive or not.

the -- The word translated as "the" 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.

law, -- The Greek word translated as "law" describes the social norms, which can be from "tradition," "common practice," or the "laws." Jesus uses it to refer to the first five books of the OT written by Moses. He did not use it to refer to civl or Roman law. See this article.

Why   -- The word translated as "why" means primarily "anything" or "anyone," but Jesus often uses it in this form to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."

are -- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb.

trying -- (WW) The Greek verb translated as "trying" has a variety of meanings around the idea of "searching" and "desiring." It has a sense of seeking with a specific aim. This is not any form of "go."

you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

about -- This completes the idea of the verb, but the verb is still wrong.

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

kill -- "Kill" is translated from a Greek word that means "destroy" more than just "kill" because the base word means "slay." The Greek source has the sense of "kill off," that is, destroy in a more thorough way. When we talk about "destroying" someone, we use it to mean destroying their reputation, the strength of their spirit and ideas as well as physically killing them. This is more the sense here.

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

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

οὐ [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.

Μωυσῆς [18 verses](Hebrew Name) "Moses" is Moyses, which means "Moses."

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

ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you." 

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

νόμον; [16 verses](noun sg masc nom) "Law" is nomos, which means "anything assigned," "a usage," "custom," "law," "ordinance," or "that which is a habitual practice." It is the basis of the English words "norm" and "normal."

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) "None" is oudeis which means "no one," "not one," "nothing," "naught," "good for naught," and "no matter."

ἐξ [121 verses] (prep) "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."

ὑμῶν [168 verses](pron 2nd pl gen) "You" is humon, the plural possessive form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."

ποιεῖ, [168 verses](verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Keepeth" is poieo, which means "to make," "to produce," "to create," "to bring into existence," "to bring about," "to cause," "to perform," "to render," "to consider," "to prepare," "to make ready," and "to do."

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

νόμον; [16 verses](noun sg masc nom) "Law" is nomos, which means "anything assigned," "a usage," "custom," "law," "ordinance," or "that which is a habitual practice." It is the basis of the English words "norm" and "normal."

τί [252 verses](irreg sg neut nom) "Why" 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, in this form can mean "who," "why," or "what."

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

ζητεῖτε [36 verses]2nd pl pres ind act) "Go ye about" is zeteo, which means "inquire for," "search for," "seek after," "desire," and "feel the want of."

ἀποκτεῖναι; [31 verses](aor inf act) "To kill" is apokteino, which means "to kill," and "to slay." It combines the word for "to slay" (-kteino) with the proposition, apo, indicating separation, meaning "from" or "away from." but it is a stronger form than the normal verb -kteino. It is more like our "destroy." It is in the form of a present participle, "destroying" acting as a noun ("those destroying").

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