Jesus arrives in a new area, north of Galilee, the regions of Caesarea Philippi. (not the "coast" as translated in KJV).
Matthew 16:13 Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Matthew 16:13 Who do people say the Son of Man is?
Whom do these people say the son of the man is.
Different people in different areas had different opinions about Jesus.
This question is much broader than it appears at first. Jesus may be asking "what" as much as "who." "The son of man" is a concept Jesus uses frequently. It's meaning, with the other main "son of" phrase, is explored in the article here. That meaning is much broader than just a title that he claims for himself.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these" is not shown in the English translation.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "that I" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
Whom - Jesus could be asking "what" as much as "who," the words are the same. not asking "who" as much as "what." The form is commonly not masculine, but neuter, so this can be read "what" as readily than "who."
do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English, but the Greek could be either a question or a statement.
missing "these" -- (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. From the initial reference to a location, this sense seems to be "these people."
men - The Greek word translated as "men" in the singular means "person" and "humanity" and "people" and "peoples" in the plural. It is plural here, but introduced by an article ("the"), so "the people."
say - The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak," but it also means "to teach." 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." Jesus usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching.
that I -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "that I" in the Greek source. This verb form has no person.
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.
Son -- The word translated as "son" more generally means "child" or "descendant." The phrase "the son of man" is the common way Christ refers to himself. It is discussed in detail in this article. Its sense may be "the child of the man."
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, but it can also mean "belonging to," "part of," "which is," "than" (in comparisons), or "for," "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs.
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.
man - The Greek word for "man" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples."
am - The verb "am" here is the infinitive form of "to be" in Greek, a form that has no information about the subject, number, or mood as do most Greek verbs. It has only voice and tense. After a verb of speaking it can be translated either as an active verb ("be" or "am") and an infinite, "to be."
Who - Jesus could be asking "what" as much as "who," the words are the same. not asking "who" as much as "what." The form is commonly not masculine, but neuter, so this can be read "what" as readily than "who."
do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English, but the Greek could be either a question or a statement.
missing "these" -- (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. From the initial reference to a location, this sense seems to be "these people."
people - The Greek word translated as "men" in the singular means "person" and "humanity" and "people" and "peoples" in the plural. It is plural here, but introduced by an article ("the"), so "the people."
say - The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak," but it also means "to teach." 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." Jesus usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching.
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.
Son -- The word translated as "son" more generally means "child" or "descendant." The phrase "the son of man" is the common way Christ refers to himself. It is discussed in detail in this article. Its sense may be "the child of the man."
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, but it can also mean "belonging to," "part of," "which is," "than" (in comparisons), or "for," "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs.
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.
man - The Greek word for "man" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples."
is - The verb "is" here is the infinitive form of "to be" in Greek, a form that has no information about the subject, number, or mood as do most Greek verbs. It has only voice and tense. After a verb of speaking it can be translated either as an active verb ("be" or "am") and an infinite, "to be."
Τίνα (irreg sg neuter/masc acc) "Whom" is from tis which can mean "someone," "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."
λέγουσιν (verb 3rd pl pres ind act) "Do...say" is from lego, which means "to recount," "to tell over," "to say," "to speak," "to teach," "to mean," "boast of," "tell of," "recite," nominate," and "command." It has a secondary meaning "pick out, ""choose for oneself," "pick up," "gather," "count," and "recount."
οἱ (article pl masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἄνθρωποι (noun pl masc nom)"Men" is from anthropos, which is "man," and, in plural, "people." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate.
εἶναι (verb pres inf act) "Is" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," and "is possible."
τὸν (article sg masc acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
υἱὸν (noun sg masc acc) "The Son" is from huios, which means a "son," and more generally, a "child."
τοῦ (article sg masc gen) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἀνθρώπου; (noun sg masc gen) "Of man" is from anthropos, which is "man," and, in plural, "people." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate.
The first word here means "what" more than it does "who."