On Mount of Olives, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Jesus when the temple will fall.
Mark 13:25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
Mark 13:25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
Mark 13:25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
And the stars will exist falling out of the sky, and the powers, those in the skies, will be shaken.
Don't come knockin' when the heavens are rockin'.
The same word for "heaven" is used twice in this verse. The first time, describing the "stars" as singular. This might describe just the night sky. The second, describing the powers, is plural, perhaps describing both the day and night skies or the greater universe. This verse is a good example of the general liberties taken in translation with the word translated as "heaven," which are discussed in detail this article.
There is a contrast here in the two prepositions meaning "in" and "out" is lost in translation. The stars fall "out of the sky" but the powers are described as "in the skies."
The previous verse paraphrased Isa 13:10, and Isa 13:13 seems to say something similar in translation, but the Greek verb translated as "shaken" is different. However,Ecc 12:2 is also similar to the previous verse and the word "tremble" in the following verse, Ecc 12:3 is the same Greek word as "shaken," but it is the "keepers of the house" that will tremble.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "of" is not the "of" or possession as it usually is and appears here. It is the preposition that means "out of" or "from."
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "shall" here does not indicate the future tense of the following verb. It is the future tense of the verb "to be." Greek does not use helping verbs like English does.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "fall" is not an active verb but a participle, "falling."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "that" here is not the Greek pronoun that is usually translated as "that" to connect clauses. It is the Greek article and has the sense of "the ones" when not used with a noun.
- 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 and isn't otherwise justified.
- WN -- Wrong Number -- The Greek word for "heaven" is plural but translated as singular.
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "and" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "will" here does not indicate the future tense of the following verb. It is the future tense of the verb "to be." Greek does not use helping verbs like English does.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "fall" is not an active verb but a participle, "falling."
- WN -- Wrong Number -- The Greek word for "heaven" is plural but translated as singular.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "heavenly" is not an active adjective but a noun, "skies."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "bodies" means "powers."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "in" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "are" doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
- WN - Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but it is plural.
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "and" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "will" here does not indicate the future tense of the following verb. It is the future tense of the verb "to be." Greek does not use helping verbs like English does.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "fall" is not an active verb but a participle, "falling."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the ones" is not shown in the English translation.
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
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.
stars -- The word translated as "stars" means "star" but it is also the term for "shooting stars", which is the sense here. Jesus only uses the word for "stars" twice.
of -- (CW)The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "out of" or "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."
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.
heaven -- The word translated as "heaven" means sky, the climate, and the universe. More about the word in this article. While Jesus often uses it in the plural when referring to it as the throne of God, here it is singular.
shall -- (CW) This is the verb "to be" in the future tense not a helping verb indicating the next verb is in the future tense. 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." In Greek, the verb doesn't act as a helping verb as it does in English, but it is translated that way here. The sense is "will exist."
fall, -- (WF) The word translated as "fall" is the verb that means "fall" generally and has a lot of related uses like the English word. The form is an adjective, "falling," not an active verb modified by "shall."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
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.
powers -- "Powers" is from a word that describes abilities and capacities, so "power", "might", "influence", and "force." It does not carry the sense of authority over others, either people or laws. In describing the "influence" of the sky, the sense is people's confidence in the sky for its ability to predict the future.
that -- (CW, WN) The word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article, "the," 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. This word is plural, "those."
are -- (IW) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "are" in the source we use today nor was there one in the source that the KJV translators used. It was added for clarity.
in -- The word translated as "in" that means "within", "with," or "among."
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.
heaven (WN) "Heaven" is from the same word as "heaven" used above and, again, it is plural, not singular, so "the sky." This is the opposite of the problem in the parallel in Matthew 24:29 where the Greek is singular and it is translated as plural.
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the following verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the following verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
shaken: -- "Shaken" is from a Greek verb that means "to cause to rock", "to make vibrate", "to be shaken", "to waver", "to totter", "to move up and down", "to roll," and "to toss." The word is the future, passive form.
missing "and"-- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
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.
stars -- The word translated as "stars" means "star" but it is also the term for "shooting stars", which is the sense here. Jesus only uses the word for "stars" twice.
from -- The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "out of" or "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."
the -- This 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.
sky -- The word translated as "heaven" means sky, the climate, and the universe. More about the word in this article. While Jesus often uses it in the plural when referring to it as the throne of God, here it is singular.
will - (CW) This is the verb "to be" in the future tense not a helping verb indicating the next verb is in the future tense. 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." In Greek, the verb doesn't act as a helping verb as it does in English, but it is translated that way here.
fall, -- (WF) The word translated as "fall" is the verb that means "fall" generally and has a lot of related uses like the English word. The form is an adjective, "falling," not an active verb modified by "shall."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
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.
heavenly (WF, WN) "Heaven" is from the same word as "heaven" used above and, again, it is plural, not singular, so "the skies." This is the opposite of the problem in the parallel in Matthew 24:29 where the Greek is singular and it is translated as plural. The word is not an adjective, but a noun.
bodies -- (WW) "Bodies" is from a word that describes abilities and capacities, so "power", "might", "influence", and "force." It does not carry the sense of authority over others, either people or laws. In describing the "influence" of the sky, the sense is people's confidence in the sky for its ability to predict the future.
missing "those"-- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the," 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. The word is plural.
missing "in"-- (MW) The untranslated word "in" that means "within", "with," or "among."
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.
NOTE: The word for "heavens" or "skies" appears here in the Greek.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the following verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the following verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
shaken: -- "Shaken" is from a Greek verb that means "to cause to rock", "to make vibrate", "to be shaken", "to waver", "to totter", "to move up and down", "to roll," and "to toss." The word is the future, passive form.
missing "and"-- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
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.
stars -- The word translated as "stars" means "star" but it is also the term for "shooting stars", which is the sense here. Jesus only uses the word for "stars" twice.
will - (CW) This is the verb "to be" in the future tense not a helping verb indicating the next verb is in the future tense. 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." In Greek, the verb doesn't act as a helping verb as it does in English, but it is translated that way here.
fall, -- (WF) The word translated as "fall" is the verb that means "fall" generally and has a lot of related uses like the English word. The form is an adjective, "falling," not an active verb modified by "shall."
from -- The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "out of" or "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."
the -- This 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.
sky -- The word translated as "heaven" means sky, the climate, and the universe. More about the word in this article. While Jesus often uses it in the plural when referring to it as the throne of God, here it is singular.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
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.
powers -- "Powers" is from a word that describes abilities and capacities, so "power", "might", "influence", and "force." It does not carry the sense of authority over others, either people or laws. In describing the "influence" of the sky, the sense is people's confidence in the sky for its ability to predict the future.
missing "those"-- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the," 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.
in -- The word "in" that means "within", "with," or "among."
the -- This 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.
heavens -- "Heaven" is from the same word as "heaven" used above and, again, it is plural, not singular, so "the sky." This is the opposite of the problem in the parallel in Matthew 24:29 where the Greek is singular and it is translated as plural. The word is not an adjective, but a noun.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the following verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the following verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
shaken: -- "Shaken" is from a Greek verb that means "to cause to rock", "to make vibrate", "to be shaken", "to waver", "to totter", "to move up and down", "to roll," and "to toss." The word is the future, passive form.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is from 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." -
οἱ [821 verses](article pl masc nom) "The" 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."
ἀστέρες [2 verses](noun pl masc nom) "Stars" is from aster, which means "star", "shooting star," and "meteor" and is used lyrically to refer to flame, light, and fire. It was also used, as in English, to refer to "illustrious" people.
ἔσονται [614 verses]( verb 3rd pl fut ind mid ) "Shall" is eimi, which means "to be", "to exist", "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen", and "is possible." (The future form is esomai. The 3rd person present indicative is "esti.") -- 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.
ἐκ [121 verses] (prep) "From" is ek, which means 1) [of motion] "out of", "from", "by", "away from;" 2) [of place] "beyond", "outside of", "beyond;" 3) [of succession] "after", "from;" 4) [of rest] "on", "in," 5) [of time] "since", "from", "at", "in;" 5) [of materials] "out of", "made from."
τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen) 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."
οὐρανοῦ [111 verses](noun sg masc gen) "Heaven" is from the Greek ouranos, which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky", "heaven as the seat of the gods", "the sky", "the universe," and "the climate."
πίπτοντες, (part pl pres act masc nom pres) "Fall" is the verb pipto, which means "to fall", "to fall down", "to be cast down," and "to fall upon." It also means "to descend to a prostrate position," as one does when worshiping. Participles are used as adjective or nouns. The English equivalent would be "felled" or "toppled."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is from 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." -
αἱ [821 verses](article pl fem nom) "The" 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."
δυνάμεις [21 verses]( noun pl fem nom ) "Power"is dynamis, which means "power," "might," "influence," "capacity," "elementary force," "force of a word," and "value of money." Elemental forces are forces such as heat and cold.
αἱ [821 verses](article pl fem nom) "That" 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."
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with a dative object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during," and "with."
τοῖς [821 verses](article pl masc dat) 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."
οὐρανοῖς [111 verses](noun pl masc dat) "Of the heavens" the Greek ouranos, which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky," "heaven as the seat of the gods," "the sky," "the universe," and "the climate."
σαλευθήσονται. ” [4 verses] (verb 3rd pl fut ind pass) "Shaken" is from saleuô, which means "to cause to rock", "to make vibrate", "to be shaken", "to waver", "to totter", "to move up and down", "to roll," and "to toss."
Jesus plays on two difference meanings of "heaven" here, the sky and the greater universe. He also plays with two meanings of "stars". both as physical star (and meteors) and as illustrious people, the same way we use "stars" today to refer to Hollywood or media stars.