Matthew 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came,

Spoken to
audience

The Sermon on the Mount, invisible and visible, worthwhile and worthless, acting  and speaking

KJV

Matthw 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

NIV

Matthw 7:25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

 

LISTENERS HEARD

And, it came down...the rain. And they showed up...the streams. And they blew...the winds. And they fell on...the house, that one, and no, it doesn't fall. Because it had its foundations laid on that rock.

MY TAKE

That which is built on stability is stable in challenging situations.

GREEK ORDER

καὶ    κατέβη                 βροχὴ καὶ  ἦλθαν                   οἱ   ποταμοὶ καὶ  ἔπνευσαν    οἱ ἄνεμοι 
And, it came down...the rain.    And they showed up...the streams. And they blew...the winds.

καὶ   προσέπεσαν  τῇ οἰκίᾳ    ἐκείνῃ,   καὶ οὐκ ἔπεσεν,          τεθεμελίωτο                     γὰρ         ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν.
And they fell on...the house, that one, and no, it doesn't fall. it had its foundations laid Because on that rock.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

This verse has a pair of unique words translated as "beat" and "founded." It also has  four other words that are uncommon for Jesus to use 

It is a good example of Jesus 's use of word order to create great story-telling and little jokes. In the first part of the verse, all the verbs come first, with the specific subjects following, acting as punchlines creating an unexpected meaning of the preceding verb.   One example is that it starts with a word translated as "descended" that means "fall down." This verb would be assumed to apply to the house. This is also an example used in the article on the difference between spoken and written language because it works much better spoken than written with a pause before the subject.

The word translated as "descended" means "fall down," but two other words in this verse express a related idea. The word translated "fell" is hte most common word for "fall." It is the root of the word translated as "beat," which means literally  "to fall against."

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
2
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "floods" should be "rivers."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "house" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "a" should be "the."
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
6
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "came" should be "fell."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "rose" should be "came."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "house" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "yet" should be "and."
  • WV  - Wrong Voice - The verb is in the passive voice requiring a "be" verb in English.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "its" doesn't exist in the source.
EACH WORD of KJV

And  - The Greek word translated as "and" repeatedly here 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 -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") that the English "the." See this article for more. 

rain The word translated as "rain" primarily means "rain" but it also has the sense of irrigation flooding. This appears later in the Greek than in the KJV translation.

descended, - The word translated as "descended" but it means "fell down". This creates a play on words  because this word appears in the Greek before we know what fell down and would assume the house.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

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

floods  - (WW) The word translated as "floods" means a "river," and similar existing bodies of water. Other than in this verse, this word is always translated as "river" or "stream." In the Greek OT, it is also uses as "river" not flood.

came,  - The word translated as "came" primarily means "to start out." It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "come" or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." See this article.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

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

winds  - The word translated as "the winds" means both the physical wind and the directions from which the wind comes.

blew,  - The word translated as "blew" primarily means "to blow" and "to breath," and comes from the same root as a common Greek word for "wind", "breath," and "spirit."

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

beat - The Greek word translated as "beat upon" means literally "fall towards" and usually means to "sit by."

upon  -- This word "upon" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can chose other prepositions: "with,"  "in,"   "of,"  "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.

that  - The word translated as "that" means specifically "that person." Christ tends to use it, as here, referring to a person mentioned earlier.

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

house;  - The Greek word translated as "house," in Christ's time, was not only the physical building but the whole household, its members, its property, business interests, and position in the community, all connected to the "name" of the head of the house.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

fell  - The word translated as "fell" primarily means "to fall" but, like our English word, it has a large number of special uses.

not:  - The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact but adding "really" captures some of its feeling in English.

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. In spoken language, we would just say "because".

it  - -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

was  - -- (WT) This helping verb "was" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English. The tense is the pluperfect to "had been" would be better. Jesus seldom uses this tense.

founded  - The Greek term translated as "founded" is a verb meaning "to build a foundation" or "to found firmly."

upon  - -- The word translated as "upon" means "on", "over", "upon", "against", "before", "after", "during", "by" or "on."

a -- (WW) The word translated as "a" is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") that the English "the." See this article for more. 

rock.  - The Greek word translated as "rock" also means specifically a "high cliff over the sea." Both the height and its position over the sea are related symbols.

EACH WORD of NIV

missing "and"-- (MW) The untranslated word "and" repeatedly here 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 -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") that the English "the." See this article for more. 

rain The word translated as "rain" primarily means "rain" but it also has the sense of irrigation flooding. This appears later in the Greek than in the KJV translation.

came, - (WW) The word translated as "came"means "fell down". This creates a play on words  because this word appears in the Greek before we know what fell down and would assume the house.

down -- This is from the prefix of the previous verb.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

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

streams - The word translated as "streams" means a "river," and similar existing bodies of water. Other than in this verse, this word is always translated as "river" or "stream." In the Greek OT, it is also uses as "river" not flood.

rose,  -  (WW) The word translated as "came" primarily means "to start out." It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "come" or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." See this article.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

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

winds  - The word translated as "the winds" means both the physical wind and the directions from which the wind comes.

blew,  - The word translated as "blew" primarily means "to blow" and "to breath," and comes from the same root as a common Greek word for "wind", "breath," and "spirit."

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

beat - The Greek word translated as "beat upon" means literally "fall towards" and usually means to "sit by."

against --- This is from the prefix of the verb that can "towards" or "against."

that  - The word translated as "that" means specifically "that person." Christ tends to use it, as here, referring to a person mentioned earlier.

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

house;  - The Greek word translated as "house," in Christ's time, was not only the physical building but the whole household, its members, its property, business interests, and position in the community, all connected to the "name" of the head of the house.

yet -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "yet" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

did -- This helping verb is added to make this a negative sentence.

not:  - The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact but adding "really" captures some of its feeling in English.

fall  - The word translated as "fell" primarily means "to fall" but, like our English word, it has a large number of special uses.

because - The word translated as "because " can be treated as supporting a dependent clause, or, in written English, as "this is because..." to start a new sentence. In spoken language, we would just say "because".

it  - -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

had - -- (WV) This helping verb "had" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English. The tense is the pluperfect to "had been" would be better. Jesus seldom uses this tense.

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

foundation -  (WF) The Greek term translated as "foundation" is a verb meaning "to build a foundation" or "to found firmly." It is not a noun.

on  - -- The word translated as "on" means "on", "over", "upon", "against", "before", "after", "during", "by" or "on."

the --  The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") that the English "the." See this article for more. 

rock.  - The Greek word translated as "rock" also means specifically a "high cliff over the sea." Both the height and its position over the sea are related symbols.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

καὶ (conj) "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."

κατέβη (3rd sg aor ind act) "Descended" is katabaino, which means "go down", "come down from," and "dismount from." Metaphorically, it means "attain", "conform to", "condescend", "fall in value," and "arrive at the end [of a speech]."

(article sg fem nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

βροχὴ [2 verses] (noun sg fem nom) "Rain" is from broche , which means "rain" "moistening", "steeping (in brewing)", "inundation (of the Nile)," and "irrigation."

καὶ (conj) "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."

ἦλθαν (3rd pl aor ind act) "Came" is from erchomai, which means "to start," "to set out", "to come", "to go," and any kind of motion. It means both "to go" on a journey and "to arrive" at a place.

οἱ (article pl masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

ποταμοὶ [5 verses] (noun pl masc nom) "Floods" is potamos, which means "river", "stream", "artificial river," and "canal."

καὶ (conj) "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."

ἔπνευσαν [4 verses] (3rd pl aor ind act) "Blew" is pneo, which means "blow", "breath", "give off an odor", "breath forth," and "breath out."

οἱ (article pl masc nom )  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

ἄνεμοι [6 verses](noun pl masc nom ) "The winds" is anemos, which means "wind", "a cardinal point," or "quarter." It means both the physical wind and the direction from which the wind comes.

καὶ" (and) 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."

προσέπεσαν [1 verse](3rd pl aor ind act) "Beat" is prospipto, which means to "sit by", "sit near," and means literally "fall towards" and "fell against".

τῇ (article sg neut dat)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

οἰκίᾳ (noun sg fem dat) "House" is from oikia, which means "house", "building," and "household."

ἐκείνῃ, (adj sg fem dat) "That" is ekeinos, which means "the person there", "that person", "that thing", "in that case", "in that way", "at that place," and "in that manner."

καὶ (conj) "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."

οὐκ (partic) "Not" is from ou which is the negative particle for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative particle, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.

ἔπεσεν, (3rd sg aor ind act) "Fell" is from the verb pipto, which means "to fall", "to fall down", "to be cast down," "fall upon", "intersect (geometry)", "meet", "pass through", "fall violently upon", "attack", "fall in battle", "sink{in water)", "fall short i.e. fail", " fall out of", "lose a thing", "escape from", "fall asleep", "to be accessible to perception", "to fall (between her feet, i.e. to be born)", "to let fall[dice)", "turn out," and "fall under (belong to a class)." -- The word translated as "fell" primarily means "to fall" but like our English word, has a large number of special uses.

τεθεμελίωτο [1 verse](3rd sg plup ind mp) "Founded" is themelioo, which means "to lay the foundation of", "to found firmly," and, in the passive, "to have the foundations laid," and "to destroy utterly."

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."

ἐπὶ (prep) "Upon" is from epi which means "on", "upon", "at", "by", "before", "across," and "against."

τὴν (article sg neut dat)  "A" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

πέτραν. (noun sg fem acc) "A rock" is from petra, which means "rock", "boulder," and "stone" as a building material. It has the specific meaning of "rocky cliffs" of "ledges" over the sea and a "rocky peak" or "ridge."

Wordplay

All of the word order here is playing with words, putting the verbs before the nouns to keep the audience in suspense. See end of the section on "word order" in this article where it is explained. 

There are three words here than mean "fall" playing on the idea of the house falling.

The common term for "wind" is avoided here because it is a metaphor for spirit.

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings

“And, it came down...” he proclaimed sadly.
We laughed with surprise at the sudden ending of his story with the house falling down.
The Master looked surprised at our laughter. Then he seemed to realize our mistake.  
“The rain!” he exclaimed in exasperation, as if it was obvious, gesturing to the falling drizzle.
We laughed. Of course the house couldn’t fall at the beginning of his illustration, certainly not when the house was build by a man who followed his teaching, but we didn’t yet realized that this story about the house on a rock was being inspired by our weather.
“And they showed up...” he said sourly, gesturing down the hillside, toward the path the Distinguished had used, but he paused, letting us think about who “they” might be again.
Many of us jumped to the conclusion that he was talking about the Distinguished. Some in the crowd booed.
The Master looked shocked at the boos, as if people were booing him.Then again he seemed to realize our mistake.  
“Those streams!” he explained, indicating the rivulets of water from the rain beginning to flow down the hillside along the path more specifically.
We laughed again at the misdirection.
Then he was buffeted by a gust of wind.
“And they blew...” the Teacher said, blowing out his breath before he paused again.
Now, we laughed because recognized the pattern of misdirection. He appeared to mean the wind, but did he?
“The wind,” he admitted with a shrug.
We laughed again. Of course, some of the crowd thought this was another example of his ability to control the weather.
There was a flash of lightning. Another gust of wind buffeted the Master.
“And they fell against that house there,” the Teacher said, pointing again up at the rocky cliff.
The wind gusted again, and he exaggerated a stumble. He swayed and staggered, pretending that the wind was blowing him this way and that.
We laughed at the routing.
He ended up teetering on one foot, acting as though he was about to fall.
“And no,” the Teacher announced slowly and dramatically, as he balanced on one foot. “It does. Not. Fall.”
Then he took propped up his foot on the rock that he has used earlier as a footstool.  
“Because it was built on...” he explained casually, gesturing toward the rock on which his foot was resting.
Then he changed his gesture, surprising us by indicating the sky.
“That rock,” he said.

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