After a parable about caring for worldly goods. In a series of verses about "self."
Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!
Observe those ravens. Because they don't sow nor mow. These don't have a storeroom nor warehouse, and the Divine nurtures them. How much more certainly are you yourselves important than those winged ones?
κατανοήσατε τοὺς κόρακας ὅτι οὐ c σπείρουσιν οὐδὲ θερίζουσιν,
Observe those ravens. Because don't they sow nor mow.
οἷς οὐκ ἔστιν ταμεῖον οὐδὲ ἀποθήκη, καὶ ὁ θεὸς τρέφει αὐτούς:
These don't have a storeroom nor warehouse, and the Divine nurtures them.
πόσῳ μᾶλλον ὑμεῖς διαφέρετε τῶν πετεινῶν.
How much more certainly are you yourselves important than those winged ones?
"The ravens" is from the noun that means "raven" and "crows." It is the basis for our scientific name, "Corvus corax". The first word is the Latin word, adapted from the Greek. The second is the Greek word. This is the only time this word is used in the NT. The word was also used as an insult.
The words "sow" and "reap" rhyme.
The verb "have" is the here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. However, when it takes an indirect (dative) object, the "which/they" but should be "these", the literal meaning is "a storehouse/storeroom nor barn isn't of them." However, this is more understandable translated as, "they don't have a storehouse/storeroom nor barn," changing the "is" to "have" and reversing the subject and indirect object.
"Storehouse" is from the Greek word that means "treasury", "magazine", "storehouse", "store-room", "chamber," and "closet." It refers more to a room. "Barn" refers more to the general sense of "storage" and to a building like a warehouse.
The Greek word translated as "feed" has a number of uses in Greek, including many poetic ones, but it isn't a common word for "feed." It primarily refers to rearing children and animals so the sense is "nurture."
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow(CW) nor reap; which neither(CW) have storehouse nor barn; and (MW) God feedeth(CW) them: how much more(CW) are ye (MW) better than the fowls?
- CW --Confusing Word -- This word before "sow" is not the common word usually translated as "neither."
- CW --Confusing Word -- This word before "have" is not the common word usually translated as "neither."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "feed" should be something more like "nurture."
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the word translated as "more" in the previous verse.
- MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "yourselves" after "you" for emphasis.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "because" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "neither."
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "they ."
- WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "no" doesn't appear here but negates the verb.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "or."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "yet" should be something more like "and."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "feed" should be something more like "nurture."
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the word translated as "more" in the previous verse.
- MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "yourselves" after "you" for emphasis.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "birds" is not shown in the English translation.
Consider - The word translated as "consider" primarily means "observe well" and "understand". It is based on a root word that means "to understand" or "to perceive with the mind". It has a specific sense of coming to understand something.
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.
ravens: - - "The ravens" is from the noun means "raven" or "crow." It is the basis for our scientific name today, "Corvus corax". It was also used as an epithet, especially when adopted into Latin. This is the only time this word is used in the NT.
for -- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," "seeing that," "that," and "wherefore." Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because" in statements that seem like an answer to a question because of the change of context. It means "because" when answering a "why" question and "that" when explaining a "what" question. Another common word is used for "for."
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
neither -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "neither" 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. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. This is not the word usually translated as "neither."
sow -- The Greek word translated as "sow" means specifically to "sow seeds" and "to scatter" as in sowing seeds. It is, however, from the same root word as the Greek word for "seeds" so "seeding" is closer to its meaning. Seeds" are Jesus's symbol of knowledge or the beginning of knowledge.
nor -- The Greek word for "neither" is an adverb that means "not at all" or "not even" and, literally, "not, however." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions.
reap; -- The Greek word translated as "reap" means "to do summer work" and "to reap."
which-- The word translated as "which" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," "for which reason," and many similar meanings. It is plural.
neither -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "neither" 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. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. This is not the word usually translated as "neither."
have -- The verb "have" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. With an indirect (dative) object used here, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed. "It is to him" becomes "it is his" or "he has it."
storehouse -- The word translated as "storehouse " means a "treasury" or a "storeroom." The idea is a room without windows and just one door. The whole idea is that they were dark and private, not places where people were normally found.
nor -- The Greek word for "neither" is an adverb that means "not at all" or "not even" and, literally, "not, however." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions.
barn; - The word translated as "barn" generally means any storage area, basically a storehouse as opposed to a storeroom, since Jesus uses another word for that idea. It root is a word that means "storage chest" and "tomb."
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."
missing "the/this" -- (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.
God -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods. When a definite article does not introduce it, it refers more generally to "divinity," the nature of God. CW --Confusing Word -- The "divinity" doesn't precisely mean "God" in this context.
feedeth- (WW) The Greek word, "feed," in this context, means to "bring up," "rear," "tend," "cherish," "maintain," and "support." This word doesn't mean "feed."
them: -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English in the form of a plural object of a verb or preposition.
how much -- The adjective translated as "how much" means "of what quantity," [in distance] "how far." [of number] how far," [of time] "how long," [of value] "how much," "how great," "how many," and "how much."
more - (CW) "More" is the comparative form of the Greek word that means "very," "exceedingly," "more certainly," "especially," "more," "to a greater degree," and "rather." This is not the word translated as "more" in the previous verse.
are -- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb. It is used here to form the present, progressive tense, which doesn't exist in Greek but which can smooth the flow of English sentences.
ye -- The pronoun "you" is used explicitly as the subject of the sentence. When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When it is already part of the verb, its use here creates emphasis on the "you" as we might say "you yourselves." It sometimes precedes a verbal adjective or infinitive where it is not part of the verb. It is plural.
missing "yourselves" ---- (MW) The pronoun is used here explicitly as the subject of the sentence. Since this information is already in the verb, the sense is repetitive as we say "you yourselves."
better - - The Greek verb translated as "are better" means "to be different from," and "to be of importance." Jesus always uses this to compare people to some animal.
than -- This word "than" comes from the possessive form (genitive case) of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English, the most common is the "of" of possession. However, it can also mean "belonging to," "part of," "which is," "than" (in comparisons), or "for," "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs. Here, it is the "than."
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.
fowls? - The Greek word translated as "birds" is normally an adjective means "able to fly" and "winged," but it is used as a noun here, so "winged ones" or, more simply, "birds." Jesus always uses this word to refer to birds generally, not one of the more common normal Greek words that means "bird," but those other words are not used in the Septuagint.
Consider - The word translated as "consider" primarily means "observe well" and "understand". It is based on a root word that means "to understand" or "to perceive with the mind". It has a specific sense of coming to understand something.
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.
ravens: - - "The ravens" is from the noun means "raven" or "crow." It is the basis for our scientific name today, "Corvus corax". It was also used as an epithet, especially when adopted into Latin. This is the only time this word is used in the NT.
missing "because" -- (MW) The untranslated word "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," "seeing that," "that," and "wherefore." Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because" in statements that seem like an answer to a question because of the change of context. It means "because" when answering a "why" question and "that" when explaining a "what" question. Another common word is used for "for."
They -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English.
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. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. This is not the word usually translated as "neither."
sow -- The Greek word translated as "sow" means specifically to "sow seeds" and "to scatter" as in sowing seeds. It is, however, from the same root word as the Greek word for "seeds" so "seeding" is closer to its meaning. Seeds" are Jesus's symbol of knowledge or the beginning of knowledge.
nor -- The Greek word for "neither" is an adverb that means "not at all" or "not even" and, literally, "not, however." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions.
reap; -- The Greek word translated as "reap" means "to do summer work" and "to reap."
they -- (CW) The word translated as "they " is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," "for which reason," and many similar meanings. It is plural. This is not the word usually translated as "they ."
have -- The verb "have" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. With an indirect (dative) object used here, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed. "It is to him" becomes "it is his" or "he has it."
no -- (WP) The Greek word translated as "no" 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. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. The "no" doesn't belong here but before the verb. The "no" doesn't belong here but before the verb.
storehouse -- The word translated as "storehouse " means a "treasury" or a "storeroom." The idea is a room without windows and just one door. The whole idea is that they were dark and private, not places where people were normally found.
or -- (CW) The Greek word for "neither" is an adverb that means "not at all" or "not even" and, literally, "not, however." As a conjunction, it works as both parts of the "neither/nor" constructions. This is not the word usually translated as "or."
barn; - The word translated as "barn" generally means any storage area, basically a storehouse as opposed to a storeroom, since Jesus uses another word for that idea. It root is a word that means "storage chest" and "tomb."
yet -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." This word doesn't mean "yet."
missing "the/this" -- (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.
God -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods. When a definite article does not introduce it, it refers more generally to "divinity," the nature of God. CW --Confusing Word -- The "divinity" doesn't precisely mean "God" in this context.
feeds- (WW) The Greek word, "feed," in this context, means to "bring up," "rear," "tend," "cherish," "maintain," and "support." This word doesn't mean "feed."
them: -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English in the form of a plural object of a verb or preposition.
And -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
you are than birds!
how much -- The adjective translated as "how much" means "of what quantity," [in distance] "how far." [of number] how far," [of time] "how long," [of value] "how much," "how great," "how many," and "how much."
more - (CW) "More" is the comparative form of the Greek word that means "very," "exceedingly," "more certainly," "especially," "more," "to a greater degree," and "rather." This is not the word translated as "more" in the previous verse.
valuable - - The Greek verb translated as "are better" means "to be different from," and "to be of importance." Jesus always uses this to compare people to some animal.
you -- The pronoun "you" is used explicitly as the subject of the sentence. When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When it is already part of the verb, its use here creates emphasis on the "you" as we might say "you yourselves." It sometimes precedes a verbal adjective or infinitive where it is not part of the verb. It is plural.
missing "yourselves" ---- (MW) The pronoun is used here explicitly as the subject of the sentence. Since this information is already in the verb, the sense is repetitive as we say "you yourselves."
are -- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb. It is used here to form the present, progressive tense, which doesn't exist in Greek but which can smooth the flow of English sentences.
than -- This word "than" comes from the possessive form (genitive case) of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English, the most common is the "of" of possession. However, it can also mean "belonging to," "part of," "which is," "than" (in comparisons), or "for," "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs. Here, it is the "than."
missing "the/this" -- (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.
birds? - The Greek word translated as "birds" is normally an adjective means "able to fly" and "winged," but it is used as a noun here, so "winged ones" or, more simply, "birds." Jesus always uses this word to refer to birds generally, not one of the more common normal Greek words that means "bird," but those other words are not used in the Septuagint.
κατανοήσατε [5 verses] (verb 2nd pl aor imperat act) "Consider" is from katanoeo, which means to "observe well", "understand", "apprehend", "perceive", "learn", "consider", "look at", "view", "to be in one's right mind," and "to be in one's senses."
τοὺς [821 verses](article pl masc acc) "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."
κόρακας [1 verse](noun pl masc acc ) "The ravens" is korax, which means "raven", "Corvus corax".
ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "For" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore." This is the same word can be translated as both "because" and "that" in the same verse when answering two different types of questions.
οὐ [269 verses](adv) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The negative, οὐ, denies, is absolute, and objective.
σπείρουσιν [31 verses] (3rd pl pres ind act) "They...sow" is speiro, which means "to sow a seed," "to beget offspring," "to scatter like a seed," and "to sow a field."
οὐδὲ [51 verses](partic) "Nor" is oude, which, as a conjunction, means "but not," "neither," and "nor." As an adverb that means "not at all" or "not even" and, literally, "not, however."
θερίζουσιν, [10 verses] (verb 3rd pl pres ind act) "Reap" is therizo, which means "to do summer work," "to reap," "to mow," "to cut off," and, in some areas, "to plunder."
οἷς [294 verses] (pron pl masc dat) "Which" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," " "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things."
οὐκ [269 verses](adv) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The negative, οὐ, denies, is absolute, and objective.
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."
ταμεῖον [4 verses] (noun sg neut nom) "Storehouse" is tameion, which means "treasury," "magazine," "storehouse," "store-room," "chamber," and "closet."
οὐδὲ [51 verses](partic) "Neither" is oude, which, as a conjunction, means "but not," "neither," and "nor." As an adverb that means "not at all" or "not even" and, literally, "not, however."
ποθήκη, [4 verses] (noun sg fem nom) "Barn" is apotheke, which means "any place wherein to lay up a thing", "magazine", "storehouse", "burial-place", "refuge", "anything laid by", "store," and "store of favor." Its root (theke) means a "storage chest" or "tomb."
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."
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) 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." --
θεὸς [144 verses](noun sg masc nom) "God" is theos, which means "God," "divine," and "Deity."
τρέφει [4verses] (3rd sg pres ind act) "Feedeth" is trepho, which means primarily, to "thicken or congeal [a liquid]," "cause to grow or increase," "bring up," "rear," "rear and keep [animals, slaves]," "tend," "cherish," "let grow (of parts of the body)," "cherish," "foster," "breed," "produce," "teem [of earth and sea]," "have within oneself," "contain," "maintain," "support."
αὐτοὺς [62 verses](pron pl masc acc) "Them" is autous, in the form of the plural, masculine pronoun "them" in the form of a direct object. An accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement. Event may show the amount of time. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.
πόσῳ [19 verses] (adj sg masc dat) "How much" is posos, which means "of what quantity," [in distance] "how far." [of number] how far," [of time] "how long," [of value] "how much," "how great," "how many," and "how much."
μᾶλλον [13 verses](adv) "Much" is mallon, which is the comparative of mala which means "very," "exceedingly," "more certainly," "especially," "more," "to a greater degree," and "rather."
ὑμεῖς [92 verses](pron 2nd pl nom) "You" is hymeis, which is the plural nominative form of the second person, "you."
διαφέρετε [5 verses](2nd pl pres ind act) "Are...better than" is diaphero, which means to "carry over or across," "carry from one to another," "go through life [of Time]," "bear through," "bear to the end," "go through with," "carry different ways," "differ," "to be different," "spread...fame abroad," "tear asunder," "defer or reserve for judgment," "differ," "make the difference," "to be of importance," "have an interest at stake," "prevail," "quarrel," "struggle," "come between," and "intervene."
τῶν[821 verses](article pl masc gen) "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."
πετεινῶν. [13 verses] (adj pl masc gen) "The fowls" is peteinon, which as an adjective means "able to fly," "full-fledged," and "winged," and, as a noun, "winged fowl," and "a bird." There was clearly a conscious choice here not to use the Greek word for bird, which is ornis, or, in the diminutive, ornithion. All the English words referring to birds coming from Greek begin with this "ornith" prefix, including ornithology, the study of birds.
The version in Matthew 6:26 has a more obvious rhyme because the rhyming words are repeated three times instead of just two. This version seems more business-like. It may be that the birds that Jesus could see were ravens here, which is why he changed this verse from "winged ones.".