Matthew 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will

Spoken to
audience

Jesus's mother and brothers

KJV

Matthew 12:50 For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

 

NIV

Matthew 12:50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

LISTENERS HEARD

Because anyone whoever when he performs the desires of that Father of mine, in the skies, he himself [is] my brother, not only a sister, but a mother she is.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

This verse and the previous two verses (Matthew 12:49, Matthew 12:48 ) end a chapter where the over-arching theme has been how worthwhile people produce worthwhile things. Here, the issue is the source of things and what comes from that source. Note that, while it doesn't make much sense to call one person a "brother, sister, and mother," this verse makes more sense if we consider that other meanings of those words and the way Christ says them.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "when" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "who is" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but it is plural, "skies."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "the same" is usually translated as pronouns.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
4
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "when" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but it is plural, "skies."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "he himself" is not shown in the English translation.
EACH WORD of KJV

For  - The word translated as "for" can be treated as supporting a dependent clause, or, in written English, as "this is because..." to start a new sentence.

whoever  - -- "Whosoever" is a pronoun that means "that," "anyone who," "anything which," "whosoever," "whichsoever" and "anybody whatsoever." 

missing "when"  -- (MW) The untranslated word meaning "if might" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when."

does  - The Greek word translated as "do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "rendering" as service. It has the specific sense of "to bring about" and "to cause" through one's efforts. It is in the past tense, not the future as it appears in KJV.

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") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

will -- The word translated as "will" means what someone wants or desires as well as the "will" of character. It mostly means what one wishes or has determined shall be done. It also means a desire or a choice.

of -- This word "of"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine."  

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. 

Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father. 

who is -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "who is" in the Greek source.

in -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with," "during" (time),  or "among"  with a dative object as the one here. 

heaven,  -  (WN) The word translated as "heaven" means "sky," the climate, and the universe. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. It is not singular but plural, "skies."

the same  - (CW) The word translated as "the same" is the Greek word commonly translated as pronouns in English, but it has a few shades of meaning our pronouns do not have. The word technically means "the same," but it is almost always used as pronouns in the Gospels, but this pronoun is a subject. Since this information is part of the verb, the use of a pronoun as a subject creating emphasis as we would say "he himself."

is -- 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

my -- -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This "my" appears before the noun as it does in English.

brother, -- The word translated as "brother" means a biological brother, any kinsmen, and more broadly and friend or associate.

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 can be translated as "not only...but also."

sister, " - Sister" is female forms of the word that means "kin," and generally it means "child of the same mother."

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 can be translated as "not only...but also."

mother -- "Mother" is from the common Greek word for "mother" and "grandmothers," but it also means "the source" of something.

EACH WORD of NIV

For  - The word translated as "for" can be treated as supporting a dependent clause, or, in written English, as "this is because..." to start a new sentence.

whoever  - -- "Whosoever" is a pronoun that means "that," "anyone who," "anything which," "whosoever," "whichsoever" and "anybody whatsoever." 

missing "when"  -- (MW) The untranslated word meaning "if might" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when."

does  - The Greek word translated as "do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "rendering" as service. It has the specific sense of "to bring about" and "to cause" through one's efforts. It is in the past tense, not the future as it appears in KJV.

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") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

will -- The word translated as "will" means what someone wants or desires as well as the "will" of character. It mostly means what one wishes or has determined shall be done. It also means a desire or a choice.

of -- This word "of"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine."  

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. 

Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

in -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with," "during" (time),  or "among"  with a dative object as the one here. 

heaven,  -  (WN) The word translated as "heaven" means "sky," the climate, and the universe. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. It is not singular but plural, "skies."

missing "he himself"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  is the Greek word commonly translated as pronouns in English, but it has a few shades of meaning our pronouns do not have. The word technically means "the same," but it is almost always used as pronouns in the Gospels, but this pronoun is a subject. Since this information is part of the verb, the use of a pronoun as a subject creating emphasis as we would say "he himself."

is -- 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

my -- -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This "my" appears before the noun as it does in English.

brother, -- The word translated as "brother" means a biological brother, any kinsmen, and more broadly and friend or associate.

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 can be translated as "not only...but also."

sister, " - Sister" is female forms of the word that means "kin," and generally it means "child of the same mother."

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 can be translated as "not only...but also."

mother -- "Mother" is from the common Greek word for "mother" and "grandmothers," but it also means "the source" of something.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

ὅστις (pron sg masc nom) "Whosoever" is hostis, which means "that," "anyone who," "anything which," "whosoever," "whichsoever" and "anybody whatsoever.

γὰρ (partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for," "since," and "as." In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what."

ἂν (conj) "Shall" is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (might), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event.

ποιήσῃ ( verb 3rd sg aor subj act) "Do" is from poieo, which means "to make," "to produce," "to create," "to bring into existence," "to bring about," "to cause," "to render," "to consider," "to prepare," "to make ready," and "to do."

τὸ (article sg neut acc)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

θέλημα (noun sg neut acc) "Will" is from the noun, thelema, which means "will ""desire," "choice,"and "pleasure."

τοῦ (article sg masc gen)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

πατρός (noun sg masc gen) "The Father" is from pater, which means "father," "grandfather," "author," "parent," and "forefathers."

μου  (pron 1st sg masc gen) "My" is mou, which mean "my," or "mine."

ἐν (prep) "In" is from en, which means "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," and "with."

τοῦ (article pl masc dat)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

οὐρανοῖς, (noun pl masc dat) "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."

αὐτός (adj sg masc nom) "The same" is from autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord."

μου (pron 1st sg masc gen) "My" is mou, which mean "my," or "mine."

ἀδελφὸς (noun sg masc nom) "Brothers" is from adelphos, which means "son of the same mother," "kinsman," "colleague," "associate," and "brother."

καὶ "And" is from 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."

ἀδελφὴ [5 verses] (noun sg fem nom) "Sister" is adelphe, which means "daughter of the same mother," "kinswoman," and it a term of endearment.

καὶ (conj) "And" is from 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."

μήτηρ (noun sg fem nom) "Mother" is from meter, which means "mother," "grandmother," "mother hen," "source," and "origin."

ἐστίν. (verb 3rd sg pres ind) "Is" is from eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," and "is possible."

Wordplay

"Brother" and "sister" also mean "colleague" and "loved one. ""Mother" also means "source."

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings

The crowd moaned a little. They were hoping to see the Nazarene’s real family, but he was clearly protecting them.
“Why are they your family?” someone called.
“Because anyone whoever,” responded the Nazarene happily, “when he performs the desires of that Father of mine in the skies, he himself is my brother”
“And your women followers are all your sisters,” someone called suggestively.
“Not only a sister, but a mother,” responded the Master. “She is.”

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