Jesus is praying with students
Luke 9:18 Whom say the people that I am?
Luke 9:18 Who do the crowds say I am?
What do the crowds call me to be?
Our identify comes from how people perceive us.
The word translated as "who/whom" means "someone, "everyone," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who", "why," or "what." The form is primarily neuter, but it can be use for masculine or feminie as well, but the idea is more "what" than "who."
When the verb "say" has an object, here, the "whom" the meaning is more "call" as in "what do they call me?
The "me" is not in the form of a subject, "I," but as an object, "me." The verb "am" is not active, but an infinitive, "to be," which taks an accusative subject.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "people."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "I" is not the object of the verb but the subject, "me."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to be."
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "I" is not the object of the verb but the subject, "me."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to be."
Whom -- The Greek word translated as "whom" in the singular means "anyone," "someone," "something," and "anything." The same forms are used both for the masculine or feminine so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone," "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."
say -- The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say," "to tell," and "to speak," but when used with an objective noun or pronoun, the sense is "say of" or "speak of." When two accusative objects are used, the sense is "say of him this," or "call him this." The form Jesus uses to describe his own speaking can be either indicative, "I say/tell" or subjunctive, "I should/could say/tell." It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself."
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.
people -- (CW) "People" is a Greek singular noun meaning "a throng" or "multitude" but it also means "trouble" and "annoyance." Our words "crowd" or "mob" capture the idea best. Jesus uses this word only four times. This is not the word usually translated as "people."
that -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as an infinitive.
I -- (WF) "I" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.
am? -- (WF)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. This is not an active verb but an infinitive.
Who -- The Greek word translated as "any" in the singular means "anyone," "someone," "something," and "anything." The same forms are used both for the masculine or feminine so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone," "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."
do -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek
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.
crowds -- "Crowds" is a Greek singular noun meaning "a throng" or "multitude" but it also means "trouble" and "annoyance." Our words "crowd" or "mob" capture the idea best. Jesus uses this word only four times. This is not the word usually translated as "people."
say -- The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say," "to tell," and "to speak," but when used with an objective noun or pronoun, the sense is "say of" or "speak of." When two accusative objects are used, the sense is "say of him this," or "call him this." The form Jesus uses to describe his own speaking can be either indicative, "I say/tell" or subjunctive, "I should/could say/tell." It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself."
I -- (WF) "I" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.
am? -- (WF)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. This is not an active verb but an infinitive.
Τίνα [252 verses](irreg sg neutral/masc/fem acc) "Whom" 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?
με [49 verses](pron 1st sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which is the objective first-person, objective, singular pronoun that means "me."
οἱ [821 verses](article pl masc 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.
ὄχλοι [4 verses] (noun pl masc nom) "Multitude" is from ochlos, which means "a throng" or "multitude" but which also mean "trouble" and "annoyance." Our word "mob" or "crowd" really captures the idea best.
λέγουσιν [264 verses](verb 3rd pl pres ind act) "Do...say" is lego, which means "to recount," "to tell over," "to say," "to speak," "to teach," "to mean," "boast of," "tell of," "recite," nominate," and "command." When used with an object is has the sense of "call by name." It has a secondary meaning "pick out," "choose for oneself," "pick up," "gather," "count," and "recount." A less common word that is spelled the same means "to lay," "to lay asleep" and "to lull asleep." This word is more about making a statement than participating in a discussion. Translating is as "stated" might distinguish it better.
εἶναι; [614 verses] (verb pres inf act) "Am" 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."
This verse is a good example of how translation can make verses seem closer than they are. This verse is also one where the variation from Matthew and Mark seems to cast doubt on Luke's accuracy in vocabulary. We have seen in many verses how Luke prefers uncommon words. Here both Matthew and Mark use a word for "people" that Jesus use regularly while Luke uses another word that doesn't quite mean "people" that Jesus only uses very uncommonly.