After Jesus appoints the seventy and is sending them out.
Luke 10:15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
Luke 10:15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.
And you, Capernaum, not to sky will you be lifted up. To Hades, you will bring yourself down.
We must be lifted, but we can bring ourselves down.
This verse makes a play on words that is lost in translation. These two verses reflect themselves as opposites. The first phrase Jesus uses is "not to sky will you be lifted up." The verb and the clause and the "up" at the end comes from the verbs prefix. Many translations ignore the negative in this phrase and those that translate it have it negating the verb. The NIV and others show it in the second phrase where it doesn't below.
The second phrase reverses the first, "To this Hades, you will bring yourself down." The "to this Hades" negatively reflects the "not to sky." The "will bring yourself down" negatively reflects the "be lifted up." The "down" is a prefix reflecting the "up." Notice, however, that the "lift" is passive, we cannot lift ourselves but must be lifted. The "bring down" is the middle voice, something we do to ourselves.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek missing negative is in the source we use today.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "which" should be something more like "you."
- WT -- Wrong Tense -- This verb is the future tense, which requires a "will" before the verb.
- CW --Confusing Word --The word, "heaven," is a religious concept, but this word just means "sky."
- WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for yourself" or a "yourself" as an object.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" before "hades" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "the" before "heavens" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word --The word, "heaven," is a religious concept, but this word just means "sky."
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "heavens" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
- WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "no" doesn't appear here but negates "to sky."
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not one of the common words usually translated as "go."
- WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for yourself" or a "yourself" as an object.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" before "hades" is not shown in the English translation.
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
thou, -- The "you" here in the second-person pronoun in form of a singular subject. When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When it has a verb, the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, its explicit use repeats the idea of who is speaking, "you." Saying "you yourself" captures this feeling in English.
Capernaum, -- - This is the Greek spelling of the fishing village in Galilee where Jesus taught in the synagogue.
missing "not" -- - (OS) The untranslated word is the negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. It applies to will, feeling, and thought. Used with verbs in the mood of possibility to express a prohibition..-
which -- (WW) -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb, so "you."
missing "will" -- (WT) The helping vcrb, "will," is needed to show the future tense of the verb.
art -- This helping verb "are" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
exalted -- The word translated as "exhalt" is from a verb that means "to lift high," "to raise up." It is a metaphor for "to elevate" and "to exalt." It is in the future tense. Jesus uses several words to mean "lift" or "raise" up but he uses this one primarily when making a play on words.
to -- The word translated as "to" means "until" but it also means "till," "while," "as long as," "up to the point," "in order that." Here the sense is "up to."
heaven, -- (CW The word translated as "heaven" means simply the "sky," but it can also mean the "climate," or the "universe." It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article. CW --Confusing Word --The word, "heaven," is a religious concept, but this word just means "sky."
shalt -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- (WV) This helping verb "be" seems to indicate that the verb is passive but it isn't. It is a verb form that indicates the subject is acting on itself. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
thrust -- "Thrust down" is a word that means "to bring down" and "to bring down from." It also is in the second person future, but in a form that means the subject is acting on itself.
missing "yourself"-- (WV) A phrase is necessary because the form of the previous verb is a middle voice, which means that the subject is to act on "yourself."
down - - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.
to -- The word translated as "to" means "until" but it also means "till," "while," "as long as," "up to the point," "in order that." Here the sense is "up to."
missing "the/that" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
hell. - "Hell" is the Greek concept of the land of departed spirits. It is the name of Pluto, the god of the underworld and used for the netherworld. See this article on the words for "hell."
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
you, -- The "you" here in the second-person pronoun in form of a singular subject.
Capernaum, -- - This is the Greek spelling of the fishing village in Galilee where Jesus taught in the synagogue.
will -- This helping verb "will " indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
you -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb, so "you."
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
lifted -- The word translated as "exhalt" is from a verb that means "to lift high," "to raise up." It is a metaphor for "to elevate" and "to exalt." It is in the future tense. Jesus uses several words to mean "lift" or "raise" up but he uses this one primarily when making a play on words.
to -- The word translated as "to" means "until" but it also means "till," "while," "as long as," "up to the point," "in order that." Here the sense is "up to."
the -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
heavens? -- (CW, WN) The word translated as "heavens" means simply the "sky," but it can also mean the "climate," or the "universe." It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article. This word is not plural but singular.
No, -- (WP) The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. It applies to will, feeling, and thought. However, it negates "to sky" earlier in the verse. Negative negate the words they appear of or, when before the verb, the whole clause.
you -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb, so "you."
will -- This helping verb "will " indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
go - (CW) - "Go down" is a word that means "to bring down" and "to bring down from." It also is in the second person future, but in a form that means the subject is acting on itself. This is not one of the common words usually translated as "go."
missing "yourself"-- (WV) A phrase is necessary because the form of the previous verb is a middle voice, which means that the subject is to act on "yourself."
down - - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.
to -- The word translated as "to" means "until" but it also means "till," "while," "as long as," "up to the point," "in order that." Here the sense is "up to."
missing "the/that" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
Hades. - "Hades" is the Greek concept of the land of departed spirits. It is the name of Pluto, the god of the underworld and used for the netherworld. See this article on the words for "hell."
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." In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
σὺ [36 verses](pron 2nd sg nom/voc) "Thee/you" is su , which means "you" in the second-person pronoun in form of a singular subject.
Καφαρναούμ, [3 verses](noun) "Capernaum" is from Kapharnaoum, which is the Greek spelling of the fishing village in Galilee where Jesus taught in the synagogue.
μὴ [447 verses](conj) "Not" is me , which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." The negative, μή, rejects, is relative, and subjective. It is used with verbs of subjective action: thinking, feeling, seeing, etc. It is used in imperative and subjunctive clauses because both express opinions. With pres. or aor. subjunctive, it is used in a warning or statement of fear, "take care." The combination of ἵνα μή means "lest." The combination of ὅτι μή, means "except." Used before tis with an imperative to express a will or wish for something in independent sentences and, with subjunctives, to express prohibitions. It is used with infinitives that express a purpose. When used with verbs of physical action, its sense is that "not wanting" or "thinking" something, not that it isn't done or thought. With these verbs, the sense is rejecting the action, rather than simply not doing it. With the verb "to be," the sense is "doesn't seem." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. Used with an imperative to express a will or wish. Used in negative conditional "when/if/whoever" clauses. With "have," the sense is "lacks" or "wants."
ἕως [63 verses](conj) "Which" is heos which means "until," "till," "while," "as long as," "up to the point," and "in order that" and "up to the point that." Takes a genitive object.
οὐρανοῦ [111 verses](noun sg masc gen) "Heaven" is the Greek ouranos, which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky," "heaven as the seat of the gods," "the sky," "the universe," and "the climate."
ὑψωθήσῃ;[8 verses] (2nd sg fut ind pass) "Art exhalted" is hypsoo, which means "to lift high," "to raise up." It is a metaphor for "to elevate" and "to exalt."
ἕως [63 verses](conj) "To" is heos which means "until," "till," "while," "as long as," "up to the point," and "in order that" and "up to the point that." Takes a genitive object.
τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article. -
ᾄδου [4 verses](noun sg masc gen ) "Hell" is from hades, the Greek term for the netherworld. It is a place of departed spirits. It is also a synonym for "death."
καταβήσῃ.” [2 verses] (2nd sg fut ind mid) "Thrust down" is katabibazo, which means to "cause to bring down" "come down from," "dismount from," "go down from," "attain (metaphor)," "come to," "arrive at," "conform to," "condescend," "fall in value," and "to bring down."
In the Greek, the words translated as "exalted" and "down to" are clearly antonyms, "lifted up" and "brought down." However, the "lifting up" is down by someone else, a passive form, while the "bringing down" is something that they town is going to do to itself, a "middle passive" in Greek.
Christ is exaggerating here and in the previous verses, for humorous effect. He may be mimicking the style of John that Baptist, who was the subject of the verses proceeding these. However, he doesn't take is as seriously, as he makes clear at the end, in Mat 11:25.
Word-for-word the same as the beginning of Matthew 11:23