Jesus is bound, taken to Caiaphas, and struck by a guard after making an impudent answer.
John 18:23...If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
John 18:23...“If I said something wrong, testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”
If I communicate wickedly, testily about the evil. If well then why do you beat me?
People should not get hit by others for speaking.
The Greek word translated as "I have spoken/I said" is not the ordinary "to say" or "to speak" in Greek. This word means both "idle chatter", "gossip," and "the proclamations of an oracle." It has the sense of relaying or communicating information from another source.
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The word translated as "evil" is a word that actually means "evil" rather than the more common word that means "worthless" that is usually translated as "evil." It appears here first as an adverb and then as an adjective used as a noun. The word translated as "well/'the truth" is also an adverb form of the adjective meaning "beautiful" and "good." It Greek, these "evil" and "good" words are sound-alikes. More about it in this article.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "spoken" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "evil" is not an adjective or noun here, but an adverb, "wrongly."
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- CW --Confusing Word ---- The "but" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "said" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "something" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "wrong" is not an adjective here, but an adverb, "wrongly."
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "what is" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word ---- The "but" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase " I spoke the" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "truth" should be something more like "well."
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "truth" is not an noun here, but an adverb, "well."
If -- The "if" here expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not when used with the subjective negative. However, when used in an "if" clause, the verb is the subjunctive form of possibility. When this word is paired with the conjunction translated as "but" or "however," as we see above, the structure works like an "if,,,then" statement in English.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
spoken -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "speak" is not the ordinary "to say," "to talk," "to tell," or "to speak" in Greek. This word means "idle chatter," "gossip," and "the proclamations of an oracle." Jesus uses it to capture the idea of "passing on." "conveying," or "relaying" information. When there isn't an object, "transmit" captures the idea of being a conduit rather than a source of information.
evil, -- (WF) The word translated as "evil" is an adverb from of an adjective, which means many different forms of "bad," including "ugly," "low born," "craven," and "ill." In the NT, it is often translated as "evil." More about it in this article. As an adverb, the form here, the sense is "wrongly" or "wickedly."
bear witness -- "Bear witness" is the Greek verb that means "to give testimony" and "to bear witness." It has the sense of being true testimony. It is the verb form of the Greek word for "testimony" and "proof," which is the source of our word "martyr."
of - (CW) The Greek word translated as "of" means "around" when referring to a place, but in referring to a subject, it means "about," "concerning," "on account of," and "in regard to." This is the way Jesus usually uses it. It is not the word form usually translated as "of."
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.
evil: -- The word translated as "evil" is an adjective used here as a noun which means many different forms of "bad," including "ugly," "low born," "craven," and "ill." In the NT, it is often translated as "evil." More about it in this article.
but -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. When used with a conditional (the "if" that follows) starting a clause, the sense is "if/when...then." That is how it is used here.
if -- The "if" here expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not when used with the subjective negative. It also means "if ever" and "whenever." However, when used in an "if" clause, the verb is the subjunctive form of possibility. When citing a fact with a declarative verb, indicative, instead of one of possibility with the objective negative, the sense is more "since" or "as sure as." When this word is paired with the conjunction translated as "but" or "however," the structure works like an "if then" statement in English. With an imperative, it is used to express a wish. The sense is "I wish that."
well, -- The word translated as "well, as an adverb,the word translated as "well" means, "well," "rightly," "happily," "thoroughly," "altogether," and "deservedly."
why -- The Greek word translated as "why" 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."
smitest ---- The Greek verb translated as "smitest" means "to flay" or "to skin" someone, though in later use it came to mean "to cudgel" or "to thrash." Jesus seems to use it to mean being "beaten" or "flogged."
thou -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
me? -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.
If -- The "if" here expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not when used with the subjective negative. However, when used in an "if" clause, the verb is the subjunctive form of possibility. When this word is paired with the conjunction translated as "but" or "however," as we see above, the structure works like an "if,,,then" statement in English.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
said -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "said" is not the ordinary "to say," "to talk," "to tell," or "to speak" in Greek. This word means "idle chatter," "gossip," and "the proclamations of an oracle." Jesus uses it to capture the idea of "passing on." "conveying," or "relaying" information. When there isn't an object, "transmit" captures the idea of being a conduit rather than a source of information.
something -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "something" in the Greek source.
wrong, -- (WF) The word translated as "wrong" is an adverb from of an adjective, which means many different forms of "bad," including "ugly," "low born," "craven," and "ill." In the NT, it is often translated as "evil." More about it in this article. As an adverb, the form here, the sense is "wrongly" or "wickedly."
testify -- "Testify " is the Greek verb that means "to give testimony" and "to bear witness." It has the sense of being true testimony. It is the verb form of the Greek word for "testimony" and "proof," which is the source of our word "martyr."
as to - The Greek word translated as "as to" means "around" when referring to a place, but in referring to a subject, it means "about," "concerning," "on account of," and "in regard to." This is the way Jesus usually uses it. It is not the word form usually translated as "of."
what is . -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "what is " in the Greek source.
missing "the " -- (MW) The untranslated word "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.
wrong: -- The word translated as "evil" is an adjective used here as a noun which means many different forms of "bad," including "ugly," "low born," "craven," and "ill." In the NT, it is often translated as "evil." More about it in this article.
But -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. When used with a conditional (the "if" that follows) starting a clause, the sense is "if/when...then." That is how it is used here.
if -- The "if" here expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not when used with the subjective negative. It also means "if ever" and "whenever." However, when used in an "if" clause, the verb is the subjunctive form of possibility. When citing a fact with a declarative verb, indicative, instead of one of possibility with the objective negative, the sense is more "since" or "as sure as." When this word is paired with the conjunction translated as "but" or "however," the structure works like an "if then" statement in English. With an imperative, it is used to express a wish. The sense is "I wish that."
I spoke the -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as " I spoke the" in the Greek source.
truth, -- (WW, WF) The word translated as "well, as an adverb,the word translated as "well" means, "well," "rightly," "happily," "thoroughly," "altogether," and "deservedly." This is not the word for "truth" nor is it a noun.
why -- The Greek word translated as "why" 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."
did -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek
you-- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
strike ---- The Greek verb translated as "strike " means "to flay" or "to skin" someone, though in later use it came to mean "to cudgel" or "to thrash." Jesus seems to use it to mean being "beaten" or "flogged."
me? -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.
Εἰ [90 verses](conj) "If" is ei, which is the particle used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect questions, "whether." It also means "if ever," "in case," and "whenever." In citing a fact, it can mean "as sure as" or "since." It is combined with various conjunctions to create derivative conditions. When appearing as εἰ δὲ (literally, "if however") the sense is "if this...then that." The construction εἰ οὖν has the sense of "if so." However, it is also used to express a wish. After verbs of wonder, delight, indignation, disappointment, contentment, and similar emotions, the sense is "that" (hoti) with the indicative (not subjunctive).
κακῶς [7 verses](adv) "Evil" is kakos, which means "bad," "mean," "base," "ugly," "ill-born," "evil," "worthless," "sorry," "pernicious," and "ill." As an adverb, its sense is "ill," "poorly," and "wrongly."
ἐλάλησα, [49 verses](verb 1st sg aor ind act ) "I have spoken"is laleo, which means "to talk," "to speak" "to prattle," "to chat," and [for oracles] "to proclaim." It also means "chatter" as the opposite of articulate speech. However, Jesus seems to use in in the sense of "relaying" information gained from another.
μαρτύρησον [16 verses](verb 2nd sg aor imperat act ) "Bear witness" is martyreo, which means "to bear witness," "to give evidence," "give a good report," "testify to," and "acknowledge the value of." It is the basis for our word "martyr."
περὶ [73 verses](prep) "Of" is peri, which means "round about (Place)," "around," "about," "concerning," "on account of," "in regard to," "before," "above," "beyond," and "all around." With the genitive, "round about" of place, "for" or "about" something," with verbs of knowing, "about" and "concerning," "before or "beyond," of superiority With the dative, "round about" of clothes, "around" in holding, "for" or "about" a struggle, "on account of" and "by reason of" a cause. With the accusative, "around" in movement, caring and generally of relationships "about," "about" of time. As an adverb "around," "about," also, "near, by," and "exceedingly" in relationships.
τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc/neut gen) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
κακοῦ: [7 verses](adj sg masc/neut gen) "Evil" is kakos, which means "bad," "mean," "base," "ugly," "ill-born," "evil," "worthless," "sorry," "pernicious," and "ill."
εἰ [90 verses](conj) "If" is ei, which is the particle used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect questions, "whether." It also means "if ever," "in case," and "whenever." In citing a fact, it can mean "as sure as" or "since." It is combined with various conjunctions to create derivative conditions. When appearing as εἰ δὲ (literally, "if however") the sense is "if this...then that." The construction εἰ οὖν has the sense of "if so." However, it is also used to express a wish. After verbs of wonder, delight, indignation, disappointment, contentment, and similar emotions, the sense is "that" (hoti) with the indicative (not subjunctive).
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of indirect cause ("so"). In an "if" (εἰ ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then." In a series begun by men, its means "on the other hand." In a series begun by men, its means "on the other hand."
καλῶς, [48 verses](adv) "Well" is kalos, which means "beautiful," "good," "of fine quality," "noble," and "honorable." Referring to parts of the body, "fair" and "shapely."As an adverb,the word translated as "well" means, "well," "rightly," "happily," "thoroughly," "altogether," and "deservedly."
τί [252 verses](ίpron sg neut nom/acc) "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, 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?
με [49 verses](pron 1st sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which is the objective first-person, objective, singular pronoun that means "me."
δέρεις; (verb 2nd sg pres ind act ) "Smitest thou" is from dero, which means "to flay" or "to skin" someone, though in later use it came to mean "to cudgel" or "to thrash."