A complete change of topic from the discussion of vigilant servants, as if in response to a question about what they should be vigilant about;
Luke 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
Luke 12:49: I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
I started a fire to throw over the earth. And how I wish that it was already catching on.
We are all frustrated by how long it takes people to catch on.
This verse starts out in a dramatic way, "I started a fire to throw over the earth!" However, it ends with self effacing humor. The trick is the last word that has two meaning to "kindle a fire" and "to catch on." Jesus says, "And how I wish that it was already catching on."
I am come(CW) to send(WW) fire on the earth; and what will(WW) I, if(CW) it be already kindled?
- CW --Confusing Word -- This word doesn't mean "come" in this situation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "send" should be something more like "throw."
- CW --Confusing Word -- This "will" is not a helping verb indicating the future tense
- .CW --Confusing Word -- This word doesn't mean "if" in this situation.
I have(WT) come(CW)to bring(WW) fire on the earth, and how I wish (MW-that) it were already kindled
- 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 -- This word doesn't mean "come" in this situation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "bring" should be something more like "throw."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" after "wish" is not shown in the English translation.
I-- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
am -- 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.
come -- (CW) The word translated as "I am come" primarily means "to start" or "to start out", but Jesus usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. Here is a good example of a place where it clearly means "start", the primary sense of the word, taking the object, "a fire.". John 12:46 uses it similarly to describe "starting a light". Here, this word takes on object, "fire." This word doesn't mean "come" in this situation.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
send -- (WW) The word translated as "to send" has a number of meanings revolving around "toss" as we do in English with both "throw" and "toss." Jesus often uses this word in the same way we use "dump" in English. In the NT it is usually translated as "cast" since it is used to describe "casting out demons". This is not the Greek word usually translated as "send", which is the source of our word apostle. It is not the word for "send."
fire "Fire" is a noun that means "fire", "sacrificial fire", "funeral fire", and so on, but Christ only uses this word to describe the fire of a trash dump. He usually uses it with the word that is translated as "hell" but which was the name of the burning trash dump outside of Jerusalem. Its use here seems a lot like the use of "light" in . See this article on the concepts of "fire" and "light" and their relationship.
on -- The word translated as "on" means "against", "before", "during", "by" or "on."
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.
earth -- The word translated as "earth" means the physical planet, not society, which Christ describes as the world. It also means "earth" in the sense of "dirt" and "ground". The image here is setting the ground, that is, the fields on fire. See this article for more on earth, sky, and related words.
; and The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
what -- The word translated as "what" means primarily "anything" or "anyone," but Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who", "what", or even "why". Here it is neutral so "what".
will -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "will" expresses consent and even delight in doing something. It is not the same as the helper verb "will" in English. It means "to consent" and "to be resolved to a purpose." As a participle, it can mean "willingly" and "gladly."
I-- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
if -- (CW) The "if" normally expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not. However, it is also used to express a wish. The sense is "I wish that." We can tell that it isn't the conjunction that means "if" because the verb is not subjunctive, something that might happen. This is a special use of the "if" after a verb expressing a desire where it expresses the object of the feeling in a hypothetical form, so "that" with the indicative (not subjunctive). This word doesn't mean "if" in this situation. CW --Confusing Word -- This word doesn't mean "if" in this situation.
it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
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.
already "Already" is a Greek adverb meaning "by this time", "forthwith", "after", "immediately," and "now." It means proximity in time, but also place.
kindled? The last word translated as "kindled" primarily means "to fasten on". It means "to be lit up" in the same way we describe a fire as "catching on" when we try to light it. This word is only used by Jesus here.
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.
come -- (CW) The word translated as "I am come" primarily means "to start" or "to start out", but Jesus usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. Here is a good example of a place where it clearly means "start", the primary sense of the word, taking the object, "a fire.". John 12:46 uses it similarly to describe "starting a light". Here, this word takes on object, "fire." This word doesn't mean "come" in this situation.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
bring -- (WW) The word translated as "to send" has a number of meanings revolving around "toss" as we do in English with both "throw" and "toss." Jesus often uses this word in the same way we use "dump" in English. In the NT it is usually translated as "cast" since it is used to describe "casting out demons". This is not the Greek word usually translated as "send", which is the source of our word apostle. It is not the word for "bring."
fire "Fire" is a noun that means "fire", "sacrificial fire", "funeral fire", and so on, but Christ only uses this word to describe the fire of a trash dump. He usually uses it with the word that is translated as "hell" but which was the name of the burning trash dump outside of Jerusalem. Its use here seems a lot like the use of "light" in . See this article on the concepts of "fire" and "light" and their relationship.
on -- The word translated as "on" means "against", "before", "during", "by" or "on."
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.
earth -- The word translated as "earth" means the physical planet, not society, which Christ describes as the world. It also means "earth" in the sense of "dirt" and "ground". The image here is setting the ground, that is, the fields on fire. See this article for more on earth, sky, and related words.
; and The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
how I wish it were already kindled!
how -- The word translated as "how " means primarily "anything" or "anyone," but Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who", "what", or even "why". Here it is neutral so "what".
I-- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
wish -- The Greek word translated as "will" expresses consent and even delight in doing something. It is not the same as the helper verb "will" in English. It means "to consent" and "to be resolved to a purpose." As a participle, it can mean "willingly" and "gladly."
missing "that" -- (MW) The untranslated word "that" is used to express a wish. The sense is "I wish that." We can tell that it isn't the conjunction that means "if" because the verb is not subjunctive, something that might happen. This is a special use of the "if" after a verb expressing a desire where it expresses the object of the feeling in a hypothetical form, so "that" with the hypothetical.
it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
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.
already "Already" is a Greek adverb meaning "by this time", "forthwith", "after", "immediately," and "now." It means proximity in time, but also place.
kindled? The last word translated as "kindled" primarily means "to fasten on". It means "to be lit up" in the same way we describe a fire as "catching on" when we try to light it. This word is only used by Jesus here.
πῦρ [14 verses](noun sg neut acc) "Fire" is pyr (pur), which means "fire," "sacrificial fire," "funeral fire," "hearth-fire," "lightning," "the light of torches," and "heat of fever."
ἦλθον [198 verses] (verb 1st sg aor ind act) "I am come" is erchomai, which means "to start," "to set out," "to come," "to go," and any kind of motion. It means both "to go" on a journey and "to arrive" at a place.
βαλεῖν [54 verses] (verb fut/aor inf act) "To send" is ballo, which means "to throw," "to let fall," "to cast," "to put," "to pour," "to place money on deposit," "push forward or in front [of animals]," "to shed," "to place," "to pay,"to throw [of dice,]" "to be lucky," "to fall," "to lay as foundation," "to begin to form," "to dash oneself with water," and "to bathe."
ἐπὶ [138 verses](prep) "On" is from epi , which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," "for," and "against." With a noun in the possessive, genitive, it means "upon," "on" but not necessarily of Place, "by (of persons)," "deep (with numbers)," "in the presence of," "towards," "in the time of," and "over (referring to a person of authority)." With a noun indirect object, dative, it means of place: "upon," "on," or "over," of people: "against (in a hostile sense)," regarding a situation: "towards" or "in reference to," of an accumulation: "upon," "after," "addition to," and "besides," of position: "after," "behind," "in dependence upon," and "in the power of," of time: "by," and "after," and. in a causal sense: "of the occasion or cause," "for" a person, an end, or purpose," "on condition that," and "for" (a price). With the objective noun, an accusative, it means of place: "upon or on to a height," "up to," "as far as," "a little way," "a little," "towards," "to," in hostile sense: "against," of extension: "over," "over (a space)," of time: "for," "during," "up to" or "till," in a causal sense: "of (the object)," for (this purpose)," "as regards," "according to," and "by (this cause)." With verbs of perceiving, observing, and judging, it means "in the case of."
τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem 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."
γῆν, [59 verses](noun sg fem acc)"Earth" is ge, which means "the element of earth," "land (country)," "arable land," "the ground," and "the world" as the opposite of the sky. Like our English word "earth," it means both dirt and the planet. -- The word translated as "earth" means "ground," "land," "country," and "dirt." Translated as "earth," it refers to the physical planet, not society, which Jesus describes as the world. See this article for more on these words.
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." -
τί [252 verses](irreg sg neut nom/acc) "What" 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." Plural, "who are" is τίνες ἐόντες. 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? τί ὅτι "why it is that,"-
θέλω [64 verses] (verb 1st sg pres ind/subj act) "Will I,l" is thelo, which as a verb means "to be willing (of consent rather than desire)," "to wish," "to ordain," "to decree," "to be resolved to a purpose" "to maintain," "to hold," "to delight in, and "will (too express a future event with inanimate objects)." It is a prolonged form (only found in NT) of a verb that means "to be resolved to a purpose" so, in a sense, "to decide," and "to desire." As a participle, it means "being willing" or, adverbially, "willingly," and "gladly." In the Hebrew, "will" or "desire" is chaphets, which means "to delight in," "to take pleasure in," and "to be pleased with."
εἰ [90 verses](conj) "If" is ei, which is the particle used to express conditions "if" (with the indicative, implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect and direct 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 δὲ μή . . means "otherwise." 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, it is use instead of ὅτι, to express the object of the feeling in a hypothetical form, "that" with the indicative (not subjunctive). After ὅτι, it introduces a quotation where we use quotation marks. With the future tense, it is used for emphasis, a warning, or an intention. When this word is paired with the conjunction translated as "but" or "however," the structure works like an "if then" statement in English. With verbs of desire and emotion and the indicative in the second clause, the sense is "that." With an imperative, it is used to express a wish. The sense is "I wish that." With the future tense indicative, it is used for emphasis, a warning, or an intention. The emphasis clause is after the main statement.
ἤδη [13 verses](adv) "Already" is ede, which means "already," "by this time," "forthwith," "after," "immediately," and "now." It means proximity in time, but also place.
ἀνήφθη; [1 verse](verb 3rd sg aor ind pass) "Be kindled" is anapto, which means "make fast on", "moor", "cling", "fasten on", "offer up", "hang up", "kindle", "light up", "inflame with anger", and, in the passive "to be lighted up".- The last word translated as "kindled" primarily means "to fasten on". The last word translated as "kindled" primarily means "to fasten on". It means "to be lit up" in the same way we describe a fire as "catching on" when we try to light it. This word is only used by Jesus here.