Before Jesus chases the moneylenders from the Temple.
Mark 12:39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
Mark 12:39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
Mark 12:39 And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets.
And first seats in those meetings and first couches in those meals.
We must choose between caring about the Divine and neighbor and social attention.
καὶ πρωτοκαθεδρίας ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς καὶ πρωτοκλισίας ἐν τοῖς δείπνοις
And first seats in those meetings and first couches in those meals.
The word translated as various types of "seats" in the synagogue means "seats," but it has a prefix that is the common word for "first." This prefix connects it to the word mistranslated variously as "places," "rooms," and "table," which describes the couches people used to recline at meals. It too has a prefix meaning "first" and the connection is lost when it is interpreted instead of simply translated. This is important because "first" plays a key part in the earlier verses, Mark 12:29. There is an intentional contrast between caring about the virtue and caring about social attention.
The word translated as "synagogues" is a basically untranslated Greek word that means "meeting place."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "chief" means "first."
- UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "synagogues" means "meeting." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "uppermost" means "first."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "rooms" means "couches."
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the same Greek word translated as "say" earlier in the verse.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "have" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "most important" means "first."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "most important" means "first."
- UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "synagogues" means "meeting." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "places" means "seats."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "of honor" means "first."
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the same Greek word translated as "say" earlier in the verse.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "how" doesn't exist in the source.
- IP - Inserted phrase-- The phrase "they love" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "of honor" means "first."
- UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "synagogues" means "meeting." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "head" means "first."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "table" means "first couches."
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the same Greek word translated as "say" earlier in the verse.
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also."
the -- There is no Greek word that is translated as "the" in the source we use today nor was there one in the source that the KJV translators used. It was added for clarity because we usually use the definite article with plurals in English.
chief - (WW) This completes the meaning of the noun, but it means "first" not "chief". It is from the prefix.
seats - "Chief seats" from a compound word that literally means "first seat." It is a word only used in the New Testament.
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," or "among."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
synagogues, -- (UW) The Greek word translated as "synagogues" is the untranslated Greek adapted to English. It simply means an assembly, meeting, or place of assembly.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also."
the --There is no Greek word that is translated as "the" in the source we use today nor was there one in the source that the KJV translators used. It was added for clarity because we usually use the definite article with plurals in English.
uppermost - (WW) This completes the meaning of the noun, but it means "first" not "uppermost". It is from the prefix. By translating it as "of honor" it loses the connection with the "first" above.
rooms -- (WW) "Uppermost rooms" is a word that means "first seat at a table." There is nothing here about "rooms." Again, this word occurs only in the New Testament. It combines the prefix meaning "first" with the word for "seat at the table" means "a place for lying down or reclining", "anything for lying or sitting upon," a "couch for reclining at a table", "nuptial bed," and a "company" of people reclining at meals.
at -- (CW)The word translated as "at"is the word translated as "in" above that also means "within", "with," or "among." This is not the same Greek word translated as "say" earlier in the verse.
missing "the"-- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
feasts: -- "Feasts" is a noun that means "a meal", "noonday meal," and, generally, "food." The verb form means "to make a meal." Jesus uses it to refer to a meal to which guests are invited.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also."
have - (IW) There is no Greek word that can be translated as "have" in the Greek source.
the -- There is no Greek word that is translated as "the" in the source we use today nor was there one in the source that the KJV translators used. It was added for clarity because we usually use the definite article with plurals in English.
most important - (WW) This completes the meaning of the noun, but it means "first" not "most important". It is from the prefix.
seats -- "Seats" from a compound word that literally means "first seats." It is a word only used in the New Testament.
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," or "among."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
synagogues, -- (UW) The Greek word translated as "synagogues" is the untranslated Greek adapted to English. It simply means an assembly, meeting, or place of assembly.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also."
the -- There is no Greek word that is translated as "the" in the source. It was added for clarity because we usually use the definite article with plurals in English.
places-- (WW) "Places of honor" is a word that means "first seat at a table." There is nothing here about "rooms." Again, this word occurs only in the New Testament. It combines the prefix meaning "first" with the word for "seat at the table" means "a place for lying down or reclining", "anything for lying or sitting upon," a "couch for reclining at a table", "nuptial bed," and a "company" of people reclining at meals.
of honor -- - (WW) This completes the meaning of the noun, but it means "first" not "of honor". It is from the prefix. By translating it as "of honor" it loses the connection with the "first" above.
at -- (CW)The word translated as "at"is the word translated as "in" above that also means "within", "with," or "among." This is not the same Greek word translated as "say" earlier in the verse.
missing "the"-- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
banquets: -- "Banquets" is a noun that means "a meal", "noonday meal," and, generally, "food." The verb form means "to make a meal." Jesus uses it to refer to a meal to which guests are invited.
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also."
how - (IW) There is no Greek word that can be translated as "how" in the Greek source.
they love - (IP) There is no Greek words that can be translated as "they love" in the Greek source.
the -- There is no Greek word that is translated as "the" in the source we use today nor was there one in the source that the KJV translators used. It was added for clarity because we usually use the definite article with plurals in English.
seats- "Seats from a compound word that literally means "first seats." It is a word only used in the New Testament.
of honor -- (WW) This completes the meaning of the noun, but it means "first" not "chief". It is from the prefix.
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," or "among."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
synagogues, -- (UW) The Greek word translated as "synagogues" is the untranslated Greek adapted to English. It simply means an assembly, meeting, or place of assembly.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also."
the -- There is no Greek word that is translated as "the" in the source. It was added for clarity because we usually use the definite article with plurals in English.
head - (WW) This completes the meaning of the noun, but it means "first" not "head". It is from the prefix. By translating it as "of honor" it loses the connection with the "first" above.
table -- (WW, WN) "Table" is a word that means "first seat at a table." There is nothing here about "rooms." Again, this word occurs only in the New Testament. It combines the prefix meaning "first" with the word for "seat at the table" means "a place for lying down or reclining", "anything for lying or sitting upon," a "couch for reclining at a table", "nuptial bed," and a "company" of people reclining at meals. This word is not singular but plural.
at -- (CW)The word translated as "at"is the word translated as "in" above that also means "within", "with," or "among." This is not the same Greek word translated as "say" earlier in the verse.
missing "the"-- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
banquets: -- "Banquets" is a noun that means "a meal", "noonday meal," and, generally, "food." The verb form means "to make a meal." Jesus uses it to refer to a meal to which guests are invited.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." 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."
πρωτοκαθεδρίας [3 verses]( noun pl fem acc ) "Chief seats" is protokathedria, which literally means "first seat." It is a word only used in the New Testament. "First" is from prôtos (protos). In place, this means "the foremost." Of time, it means "the initial." In order, it means "the first." In math, it means the prime numbers. Of rank or degree, it means "the highest" or "the best." "Seats" is from kathedra, which means a "seat" to sit on, the "posterior," the "sitting posture", "sitting idle", "inaction," the "chair of a teacher," and "a throne."
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power," and "with". -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," or "among."
ταῖς [821 verses](article pl fem dat) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
συναγωγαῖς [14 verses] ( noun pl fem dat) "Synagogues" is synagoge, which means a "bringing together", "assembly", "place of assembly", "contracting", "collection", "combination", "conclusion," and "demonstration." It comes from a Greek word Christ uses commonly, sunagô, to mean "gather" or "bring together."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." 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." -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also."
πρωτοκλισίας [5 verses]( noun pl fem acc ) "Uppermost rooms" is protoklisia, which means "first seat at a table." Again, this word occurs only in the New Testament. It is from "proto" (see above) and klisia (klisia), which means "a place for lying down or reclining", "anything for lying or sitting upon," a "couch for reclining at a table", "nuptial bed," and a "company" of people reclining at meals.
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power," and "with".
τοῖς [821 verses]( article pl masc dat ) (article) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
δείπνοις [7 verses]( noun pl masc dat ) "Feasts" is deipnon, which means "a meal", "noonday meal," and, generally, "food."
Jesus invents a couple of new words here to create an alliteration here contrasting two ideas that refer both to position of honor but also subtly refer to doing nothing. He starts each phrase in this verse with similar sounding words. The two words translated as "chief seats" and "uppermost rooms" both start with "protok-". Both also refer to different types of furniture, one for sitting in and one for reclining. And both also refer to doing nothing.
Matthew 23:6 is the parallel verse in Matthew but it reverses the two phrases, putting "feasts" before "synagogues".
Luke 11:43 Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues,
Luke 20:46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes,