A crowd gathers.
Luke 11:35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
Look out then lest that light, the one in you is dark blindness.
Even the light can become darkness, a lesson for all the "enlightened."
The verb translated "take heed" and "see to it: is from a Greek word that means "behold", "contemplate", "look to or into", "consider", "examine", and "look out for.". Since Jesus uses other, more common words for "behold," "see," and "watch out," "look out" works well, especially since the topic is eyes and seeing. This is the only time Jesus uses this word. This is not the word usually translated as "take heed."
The negative here doesn't negate "darkness." It appears before the sentence acting as the negative conjunction, "lest." Greek nagatives negate words when they come before it, not when they are words away.
The Greek word translated as "the light" means "light", "daylight [primarily], "opening", and "public visibility." Jesus uses it as a metaphor for "knowledge,"
The Greek word translated as "darkness" has the general meaning of "darkness", "gloom", "blindness" and have many of the opposite meanings of light. Though it has an article making it "the darkness," it doesn't have an article "the" associated with it so "a darkness" is also the sense. As the opposite of "light" of knowledge, it has the sense of ignorance. In Greek, it also means blindness.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "take heed."
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "which."
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "is" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "not " does not capture the words meaning as a conjunction "lest."
- WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The negative doesn't apply to "darkness."
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "see."
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the one" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "not " does not capture the words meaning as a conjunction "lest."
- WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The negative doesn't apply to "darkness."
Take heed - -(CW) "Take heed" is from a Greek word that means "behold", "contemplate", "look to or into", "consider", "examine", and "look out for.". Since Jesus uses other, more common words for "behold," "see," and "watch out," "look out" works well, especially since the topic is eyes and seeing. This is the only time Jesus uses this word. This is not the word usually translated as "take heed." This is not the word usually translated as "take heed."
therefore -- The Greek word translated as "therefore" either emphasizes the truth of something ("certainly," "really") or it simply continues an existing narrative, "then," "therefore." Jesus uses it to respond positively to questions, but in parables, it can continue the story.
that -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
the -- The word translated as "the" 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," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
light -- The Greek word translated as "the light" means "light," "daylight [primarily], "opening," and "public visibility." Jesus uses it as a metaphor for "knowledge,"
which -- (CW) The word translated as "which" 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," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. This is not the word usually translated as "which."
is -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
in -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time), or "among" with an indirect-object form object. With the direct object form, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."
thee -- The word for "you" is the indirect object form of the singular, second-person pronoun in the form of an indirect object of a verb or a preposition.
be -- 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. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
not -- (CW, WP) The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. However, here it acts a the connection "lest." The "lest" doesn't belong here but before "the light.".
darkness. -- The Greek word translated as "darkness" has the general meaning of "darkness," "gloom," "blindness," but it also has the sense of "hidden," "obscure," and "deceit."
See to it - -(CW) "Take heed" is from a Greek word that means "behold", "contemplate", "look to or into", "consider", "examine", and "look out for.".Since Jesus uses other, more common words for "behold," "see," and "watch out," "look out" works well, especially since the topic is eyes and seeing. This is the only time Jesus uses this word. This is not the word usually translated as "take heed." This is not the word usually translated as "see."
then-- The Greek word translated as "then" either emphasizes the truth of something ("certainly," "really") or it simply continues an existing narrative, "then," "therefore." Jesus uses it to respond positively to questions, but in parables, it can continue the story.
that -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
the -- The word translated as "the" 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," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
light -- The Greek word translated as "the light" means "light," "daylight [primarily], "opening," and "public visibility." Jesus uses it as a metaphor for "knowledge,"
missing "the one" -- (MW) The untranslated word The word translated as "which" is the Greek definite article, "the one," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. Without a noun, it means "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.
within -- The word translated as "within " means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time), or "among" with an indirect-object form object. With the direct object form, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."
you -- The word for "you" is the indirect object form of the singular, second-person pronoun in the form of an indirect object of a verb or a preposition.
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. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
not -- (CW, WP) The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. However, here it acts a the connection "lest." The "lest" doesn't belong here but before "the light.".
darkness. -- The Greek word translated as "darkness" has the general meaning of "darkness," "gloom," "blindness," but it also has the sense of "hidden," "obscure," and "deceit."
σκόπει [1 verse](verb 2nd sg pres imperat act ) "Take heed" is skopeo, which means "behold", "contemplate", "look to or into", "consider", "examine", and "look out for".
οὖν [82 verses](adv) "Therefore" is oun, which means "certainly," "in fact," "really," "in fact," "so" and "then" (continuing a narrative), and "then" and "therefore."
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." 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."
τὸ [821 verses](article sg neut nom) "The" 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.There is no vocative definite article, (despite being shown in Perseus). When the vocative is meant, no article is used or they used ω or ε. See this article.
φῶς [21 verses](noun sg neut nom) "Light" is phos, which means "light," "daylight [primarily], "illumination [of things and of the mind]," "light [of the eyes], "window," "opening," " public visibility," and "publicity." Christ uses it as a metaphor for "knowledge," but in Greek it is also a metaphor for "deliverance," "happiness," "victory," and "glory."
τὸ [821 verses](article sg neut nom) "Which" 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.There is no vocative definite article, (despite being shown in Perseus). When the vocative is meant, no article is used or they used ω or ε. See this article.
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with its usual indirect (dative) object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during," and "with." With a direct (accusative) object, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during."
σοὶ [81 verses](pron 2nd sg dat) "You" is soi which is the singular, second-person pronoun, "you," in the form of an indirect pronoun.
σκότος [7 verses](noun sg neut nom) "Darkness" is from skotos, which means "darkness," "gloom," "blindness," and "dizziness." It also means "obscurity," "deceit," and "hidden." It is a metaphor in Greek for ignorance.
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 possessive (genitive) object, it means "is descended from," "is the type of," "belongs to," "is made of," "is a duty of," "is at the mercy of," or " is dependent on." With an indirect (dative) object, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed. "It is to him" becomes "it is his" or "he has it." With the preposition,"into" (εἰς), the sense is "consist of." 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."