Jesus begins teaching in the plain of Judea, attracting people from all over wanting to be healed.
Luke 6:25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
Luke 6:25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
Too bad for you, those having stuffed yourselves now, because you will get hungry. Too bad, those laughing now, because you will lament and perhaps weep.
Even if we are stuffed, we will get hungry again. Laugh now, because we will cry,
Again, the effect is primarily humorous and it becomes even more so given that it comments on people laughing. This verse is a pure truism. No matter how stuffed we are now, we will get hungry. Just because we are laughing now, doesn't mean we won't cry. Adding "woe" to this reality is purely comic, meant to show how silly it is not to enjoy the present and bemoan the nature of life.
The word translated as "woe" is one Jesus uses primarily in exaggeration. Today we would say "so sad for you" or "boo-hoo to you." The word is very like the Jewish, "oy veh" which can be used to express sorrow but is more commonly used cynically. More about this phrase in this article on Jesus's use of exaggeration.
The Greek verse translated as "that are full/well-fed" means "having stuffed themselves". It is used only here. The
The verb translated as "that laugh" means "to laugh" but it covers not just happy laughter. It includes laughing at people and deriding them. this is also the same word as used in Luke 6:21. Its use is entertaining because so much of what Christ said was designed to make people hearing him laugh. Some of the humor was even used to deride others in a light-hearted way. Unlike the previous "that are full", this tense is present, "are laughing". This may well indicate that Christ's audience was laughing as he said this.
Woe [unto you(OS)] that(WN) are(IW,WT) full(WF,WV) (MWnow) for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that(WN) laugh(WF) now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "unto you" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "that" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "are" doesn't exist in the source.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The "are" indicates the present tense but the tense is past perfect.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "full" is not an adjective but a participle, "having stuffed themselves."
- WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for yourselves" or a "yourselves" as an object.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "now" is not shown in the English translation.
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "that" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "laugh" is not an active verb but a participle, "laughing."
Woe to you who(WW) are(IW,WT) well fed(WF,WV) now, for you will go hungry. Woe [to you(IP)] who(WW) laugh(WF) now, for you will mourn and weep.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "who" should be something more like "those."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "are" doesn't exist in the source.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The "are" indicates the present tense but the tense is past perfect.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "well-fed" is not an adjective but a participle, "having stuffed themselves."
- WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for yourselves" or a "yourselves" as an object.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "to you" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "who" should be something more like "those."
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "laugh" is not an active verb but a participle, "laughing."
Woe -- "Woe" is an exclamation of grief, meaning "woe" or "alas." Jesus uses it humorously. Today we would say "so sad for you" or "boo-hoo to you." The word is very like the Jewish, "oy vey" which can be used to express sorrow but is more commonly used cynically. More about this phrase in this article on Christ's humor using exaggeration.
unto -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with," "in," "of," "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.
you -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc.
that -- (WN) The word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "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. This word is not singular but plural.
are -- (IW, WT) There is nothing that can be translated as "are" in the Greek source.
full! - (WF ) The Greek verse translated as "that are full" means to "fill quite full", "fill full of" a thing, and, in the passive, "to be satiated." This is not the word translated as "shall be filled" in Luke 6:21 or Matthew 5:6. That word is used as a punchline, having the sense of "get your fill". This word is also a punchline but has the sense of being stuffed. This is the only time Jesus uses it. The tense of the verb is something completed in the past, not the present tense, as shown, and the form is something people do to themselves, "having stuffed themselves". This word is a participle, not an adjective. It is the past perfect tense and the middle voice.
missing "by/for yourselves"-- (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 "yourselves," "for yourselves" or "by yourselves."
missing "now" - (MW) The untranslated word "now" means "now," "at the present moment,""presently," and "as it is." With the article, its sense is "the present" or "this now."
for -- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," 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.
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. A "might" or "should" could work here or nothing at all in an "if/when/whoever" clause which implies a possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
hunger. - The word for "hunger" is the verb for "to hunger" as in needing food and, like the English word, it is a metaphor for any craving. It is in a form that could be the future tense or the subjunctive mood. This means either "will starve" or "might starve".
Woe -- "Woe" is an exclamation of grief, meaning "woe" or "alas." Jesus uses it humorously. Today we would say "so sad for you" or "boo-hoo to you." The word is very like the Jewish, "oy vey" which can be used to express sorrow but is more commonly used cynically. More about this phrase in this article on Christ's humor using exaggeration.
unto you - -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "unto you" in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.
that -- (WN) The word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "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. This word is not singular but plural.
laugh - (WF) The verb translated as "laugh" means "to laugh" but it covers not just happy laughter. It includes laughing at people and deriding them. Its use is entertaining because so much of what Jesus said was designed to make people hearing him laugh. Some of the humor was even used to deride others in a light-hearted way. This word is a participle, not an active verb.
now! -- The Greek word translated as "henceforth" means "now," "at the present moment,""presently," and "as it is." With the article, its sense is "the present" or "this now."
for -- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," 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.
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. A "might" or "should" could work here or nothing at all in an "if/when/whoever" clause which implies a possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
mourn - "Mourn" is a Greek word that means "to bewail," "to mourn," "to go mourning" and "to lament." It is the same word used for "mourn" in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:4).
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."In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
weep. - The verb translated as "weep" means "to weep", "to lament," and "to cry".
Woe -- "Woe" is an exclamation of grief, meaning "woe" or "alas." Jesus uses it humorously. Today we would say "so sad for you" or "boo-hoo to you." The word is very like the Jewish, "oy vey" which can be used to express sorrow but is more commonly used cynically. More about this phrase in this article on Christ's humor using exaggeration.
to -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with," "in," "of," "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.
who -- (WW) The word translated as "who" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "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. This word is not singular but plural. There should be a different word here.
are -- (IW, WT) There is nothing that can be translated as "are" in the Greek source.
well fed ! - (WF ) The Greek verse translated as "well fed" means to "fill quite full", "fill full of" a thing, and, in the passive, "to be satiated." This is not the word translated as "shall be filled" in Luke 6:21 or Matthew 5:6. That word is used as a punchline, having the sense of "get your fill". This word is also a punchline but has the sense of being stuffed. This is the only time Jesus uses it. The tense of the verb is something completed in the past, not the present tense, as shown, and the form is something people do to themselves, "having stuffed themselves". This word is a participle, not an adjective. It is the past perfect tense and the middle voice.
missing "by/for yourselves"-- (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 "yourselves," "for yourselves" or "by yourselves."
now- The word "now" means "now," "at the present moment,""presently," and "as it is."
for -- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," 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.
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
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 hungry. - The word for "go hungry" is the verb for "to hunger" as in needing food and, like the English word, it is a metaphor for any craving. It is in a form that could be the future tense or the subjunctive mood. This means either "will starve" or "might starve".
Woe -- "Woe" is an exclamation of grief, meaning "woe" or "alas." Jesus uses it humorously. Today we would say "so sad for you" or "boo-hoo to you." The word is very like the Jewish, "oy vey" which can be used to express sorrow but is more commonly used cynically. More about this phrase in this article on Christ's humor using exaggeration.
to you -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "to you" in the Greek source.
who -- (WW) The word translated as "who" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "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. This word is not singular but plural. There should be a different word here.
laugh - (WF) The verb translated as "laugh" means "to laugh" but it covers not just happy laughter. It includes laughing at people and deriding them. Its use is entertaining because so much of what Jesus said was designed to make people hearing him laugh. Some of the humor was even used to deride others in a light-hearted way. This word is a participle, not an active verb.
now! -- The Greek word translated as "henceforth" means "now," "at the present moment,""presently," and "as it is." With the article, its sense is "the present" or "this now."
for -- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," 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.
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
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.
mourn - "Mourn" is a Greek word that means "to bewail," "to mourn," "to go mourning" and "to lament." It is the same word used for "mourn" in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:4).
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."In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
weep. - The verb translated as "weep" means "to weep", "to lament," and "to cry".
οὐαὶ [27 verses](exclam)"Woe" is ouai, which is an exclamation of pain or anger meaning "woe" or "alas" but it can be used sarcastically.
ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."
οἱ [821 verses](article pl masc nom) "That" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding 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.
ἐμπεπλησμένοι [1 verse](part pl perf mp masc nom/voc) "That are full" is from empiplemi, which means to "fill quite full", "fill full of" a thing, and, in the passive, "to be satiated."
νῦν [31 verses](adv) "Now" is nyn (nun), which means "now," "at the present moment," "at the present time," "just now," "presently," and "as it is." With the article, its sense is "the present" or "this now."
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."
πεινάσετε. [9 verses] (verb 2nd pl fut ind act or verb 2nd pl aor subj act) "You shall hunger" is peinoa, which means "to be hungry", "crave after," or "to be starved," and it is a metaphor for desire and cravings.
οὐαὶ [27 verses](exclam)"Woe" is ouai, which is an exclamation of pain or anger meaning "woe" or "alas" but it can be used sarcastically.
οἱ [821 verses](article pl masc nom) "That" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding 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.
γελῶντες [2 verses](part pl pres act masc nom/voc) "That laugh" is from gelao, which means to "laugh", "laugh at", and "deride".
νῦν [31 verses](adv) "Now" is nyn (nun), which means "now," "at the present moment," "at the present time," "just now," "presently," and "as it is." With the article, its sense is "the present" or "this now."
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." -- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," 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.
πενθήσετε [3 verses](verb 2nd pl fut ind act or verb 2nd pl aor subj act) "Those who mourn" is pentheo, which means "to bewail," "to mourn," "to go into mourning," and "to lament."
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."
κλαύσετε. [8 verses](verb 2nd pl aor subj act)"Are ye that weep" is from klaio, which means "to weep", "to cry", "to lament," and "to wail."