Jesus asks all the apostles.
Luke 9:20 But whom say ye that I am?
Luke 9:20 But what about you? Who do you say I am?”
Yourselves, however, who do you call me to be?
We each must identify the Divine for ourselves.
The pronoun is used explicitly as the subject of the sentence. Since it is already part of the verb, its use creates emphasis on the "you" as we might say "you yourselves".
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.
- MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "yourselves" after "you" for emphasis.
- 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."
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "what about you?" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "yourselves" after "you" for emphasis.
- 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."
But -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
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."
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."
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.
ButWho do say I am?”
But -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
what about you? -- -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
Who -- 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."
do -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek
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."
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.
Ὑμεῖς [92 verses](pron 2nd pl nom) "You" is hymeis, which is the plural nominative form of the second person, "you."
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of indirect cause ("so"). In an "if" (εἰ ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then." In a series begun by men, its means "on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then." It can also be an explanation of cause ("so"). When used with a conditional starting a clause, the sense is "if/when...then." When used with a particle meaning "indeed" the sense is "on one hand...on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then."
τίνα [252 verses](irreg sg neutral/masc 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."
λέγετε [264 verses](verb 2nd pl pres ind) "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."
Also interesting, for Luke, this verse is identical, word-for-word with Matthew 16:15 and Mark 8:29.