Luke 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God;

Spoken to
group

After the verse about seeking foreigners caring for material things.

KJV

Luke 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.

NIV

Luke 12:31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

LISTENERS HEARD

Except search after that realm and that virtue of his, and these things? It is going to be handed over to you.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

This is a slightly truncated version of Matthew 6:33. It is best understood as a spoken phrase. Especially because the verb in the last phrase doesn't match with the subjects. 

The word translated as "but rather" here is not the normal conjunction translated as "but" be an uncommon preposition that means "except."

The Greek verb translated as "seek ye" has a variety of meanings ranging from "seek after" to "desire".

The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Christ does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so translating it as "reign" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will. More about the meaning of the "kingdom of heaven" in this article.

There is no Greek word for "of God" in the current Greek sources we use. IThis was also added to the Matthew version. 

The "his" here is in a form that refers to "the Father" mentioned in the previous verse, Luke 12:30.

The Greek word translated as "righteousness," means "righteousness", "justice", and "fulfillment of the law". When this word applies to people, "virtue" may come closest because we don't use "righteousness" very much anymore. 

Both the Greek word translated as "all these things" are adjectives, meaning "these" and "all," but they are together used as a noun and the subject of the sentence, "these all". Both words are plural.

The Greek word translated as "shall be added" means "to apply", "to deliver," "to impose upon," and many other meanings. The word literally means "to put in addition to" or "put before". In Matthew 6:27, it was translated simply as "add", but here that "put before" you sense seems to work better. It is passive, referring to "these all".

The "you" is in the form of an indirect object. It is plural.

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.

But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

EACH WORD of KJV

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.

EACH WORD of NIV

But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

πλὴν [20 verses](prep/adv)  "But" is from plen, which is a preposition meaning "except," or "save," with the genitive object, as a conjunction, "besides," and "in addition to." Often used with the negative as a conjunction, "except not." Used to change the subject, "except," "however," and "but." -- The word translated as "nevertheless" is a less common preposition used like a conjunction that means "except," "save," with an object in the possessive form, or "besides," and "in addition to." Often used with the negative as a conjunction, "except not." Used to change the subject, "except," "however," and "but."

ζητεῖτε, [36 verses](verb 2nd pl pres imperat act) "Seek" is zeteo, which means "inquire for," "search for," "seek after," "desire," and "feel the want of." -- The Greek verb translated as "seek" has a variety of meanings around the idea of "searching" and "desiring." It has a sense of seeking with a specific aim. It also means to "search," "inquire into," "investigate," and "examine."

τὴν [821 verses](article sg 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."  -- 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. 

βασιλείαν  [98 verses](adj sg fem acc) "Kingdom" is basileia, which means "kingdom," "dominion," "hereditary monarchy," "kingly office," (passive) "being ruled by a king," and "reign." -- The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Christ does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" or "realm" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will.

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." -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

ταῦτα [96 verses](adj pl neut acc) "These things" is tauta, which is a referring pronoun meaning "these," "this," "that," and "here." It can mean the nearer or the further depending on usage. When ταῦτα and ἐκεῖνος refer to two things ἐκεῖνος, which normally means "the nearer" as well belongs to the more remote, "the latter" in time, place, or thought, οὗτος to "the nearer".- The "these" is a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," "here," or "there" the nearer or the further depending on usage. When the noun already has an article, it meaning is "here." It is often used in the neuter plural without a noun to refer to "these things." things -- This "things"  is from the plural, neuter form of the previous adjective.

προστεθήσεται [7 verses] (3rd sg fut ind pass) "Shall be added" is prostithemi, which is formed from two root words that mean "to put towards" and means to "put to", "to hold close", "to apply medicine [to a wound]", "to hand over", "to give something more", "to impose upon", "to attribute to", "to add", "to agree", "to associate with", "to bring upon oneself," and "to apply to oneself." -- The Greek word translated as "shall be added" means "to apply", "to deliver," "to impose upon," and many other meanings. It has the general sense of "increase."

ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of the pronoun of the second person, "you." As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed. With the "to be," it acts as a possessive, "yours." to -- This word "to" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc.

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