Sending of the Apostles, Warnings
Matthew 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Matthew 10:21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
Matthew 10:21 A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.
He is will give up, however, a brother, a brother, for death, and a father ,a child. Not only are they going to rise up, children against parents, but also they will execute them.
Differences in belief can tear apart families.
This is a much trickier verse than it looks. The first part of this verse hints at something made clear in the second part. This is an example of a verse whose meaning changes in the minds of the listeners as it is spoken. The last verb in the verse is the verb that is used in the Greek Old Testament to describe executing people for violating the law of Moses. The word "death" appears at first as a noun and then, finally, as a verb.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "the" should be something more like "a."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "the" should be something more like "a."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "the" should be something more like "a."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "the" should be something more like "a."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "their" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "cause" seems to indicate an indirect form of agency but the verb is not indirect.
- WV - Wrong Voice- The "be" before "put to death" indicates a passive verb but it is an active one.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "betray" is broader and vaguer idea than the verb here that means "give over" or "turn in."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "his" means "a."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "their" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "have" seems to indicate an indirect form of agency but the verb is not indirect.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "betray" is broader and vaguer idea than the verb here that means "give over" or "turn in."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "his" means "a."
- IP - Inserted phrase-- The phrase "will betray his own" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "their" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "cause" seems to indicate an indirect form of agency but the verb is not indirect.
- WV - Wrong Voice- The "be" before "put to death" indicates a passive verb but it is an active one.
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position (i appears after the verb below), translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
the -- (WW) There is no definite article, "the" here in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
brother -- "Brother" is the Greek word that means any kinsmen, specifically, a "brother" and, more generally, "associate" or "colleague." Here, it is in the form of a subject.
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
deliver up -- "Deliver up" is a compound Greek word which literally means "to give over." It is in a form that indicates something "might" happen at some time. In Matthew 10:19. This verb is used to clearly means "turned over" to authorities. However, Jesus also uses this term to mean "to give over" in the sense of "bestow," for example, in Matthew 11:27. This verb comes first in the sentence and its form could be either second person, "you are going to give yourself over," or the simple third person, "he is going to give over."
the -- (WW) There is no definite article, "the" here in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
brother -- "Brother" is the Greek word that means any kinsmen, specifically, a "brother" and, more generally, "associate" or "colleague." Here, it is in the form of a object.
to -- The word translated as "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, and "up to" limits in time and measure, or "for" a purpose. It is not the "to" in English, which is much broader. The problem is that with this proposition Death could either be a time, "until death" or a purpose "for death." Usually, another preposition is used (epi) to describe someone being given a death sentence.
death, -- "Death" is the Greek word meaning "death" generally and the death penalty specifically. This is the first time that Christ uses the term in the Gospels. However, here it could initially means a time as well as the death penalty. This is the name of the Greek god of death, whose brother is sleep. He has earlier used the term "the dead," which refers to the dying, a dead body or the deceased.
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 can be translated as "not only...but also."
the -- (WW) There is no Greek article "the" here in the source, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
father -- "Father" is the common word that Jesus uses to address his own father, though it can mean any male ancestor.
the -- (WW) There is no Greek article "the" here in the source, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
child: -- The word translated as "child" means "child" but in the most general sense of "offspring." Jesus does not use it to refer specifically to children under seven, which is another term. See this article more about these words for "child."
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 can be translated as "not only...but also."
the -- There is no Greek article "the" here in the source, but the noun is plural and in English an article is used before plural nouns in phrases like this.
children -- The word translated as "children" is the plural of the word used above that is usually translated as "child."
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
rise up -- "Rise up" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "set up again," "to make to rise against," and "to revolt." It is in the form which indicates that the subject is acting on itself.
against -- "Against" is a proposition that has many different meanings, including "upon," "on," "at," "by," "before," and "against." This is the usual preposition used with the word "death" above, meaning sentencing someone.
their -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "their" in the Greek source.
parents, -- "Parents" is a word that means "progenitor" and can refer to parents or ancestors.
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 can be translated as "not only...but also."
cause -- (CW) This helping verb indicates an indirect form of agency but the verb doesn't support that idea. The following verb could well mean that the children put their parents to death themselves.
them -- The word translated as "them" (and "their") 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."
to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.
be -- (WV) This helping verb "be" seems to indicate that the verb is passive but it isn't.
put to death. --"Put to death" is the Greek verb form of the word for "death" (above). It means "to slay," "to put to death," and "to cause death," but it also means "to mortify." This is a common word in Greek but uncommon for Jesus, but Jesus knew it from the OT where it is used perhaps a hundred times to describe executing people for violating the law starting with Exo 14:11.
missing "and"-- (MW) The untranslated word "and" joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position (i appears after the verb below), translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
brother -- "Brother" is the Greek word that means any kinsmen, specifically, a "brother" and, more generally, "associate" or "colleague." Here, it is in the form of a subject.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
betray -- (CW) "Betray" is from a compound Greek word which literally means "to give over." It is in a form which indicates something "might" happen at some time. In Matthew 10:19. This verb is used to clearly means "turned over" to authorities. However, Christ also uses this term to mean "to give over" in the sense of "bestow," for example, in Matthew 11:27. This verb comes first in the sentence and its form could be either second person, "you are going to give yourself over," or the simple third person, "he is going to give over."
brother -- "Brother" is the Greek word that means any kinsmen, specifically, a "brother" and, more generally, "associate" or "colleague." Here, it is in the form of a object.
to -- The word translated as "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, and "up to" limits in time and measure, or "for" a purpose. It is not the "to" in English, which is much broader. The problem is that with this proposition Death could either be a time, "until death" or a purpose "for death." Usually, another preposition is used (epi) to describe someone being given a death sentence.
death, -- "Death" is the Greek word meaning "death" generally and the death penalty specifically. This is the first time that Christ uses the term in the Gospels. However, here it could initially means a time as well as the death penalty. This is the name of the Greek god of death, whose brother is sleep. He has earlier used the term "the dead," which refers to the dying, a dead body or the deceased.
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 can be translated as "not only...but also."
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
father -- "Father" is the common word that Jesus uses to address his own father, though it can mean any male ancestor.
his -- (WW) There is no Greek pronoun "his" here in the source, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
child: -- The word translated as "child" means "child" but in the most general sense of "offspring." Jesus does not use it to refer specifically to children under seven, which is another term. See this article more about these words for "child."
missing "and"-- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also."
children -- The word translated as "children" is the plural of the word used above that is usually translated as "child."
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
rebel -- "Rebel" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "set up again," "to make to rise against," and "to revolt." It is in the form which indicates that the subject is acting on itself.
against -- "Against" is a proposition that has many different meanings, including "upon," "on," "at," "by," "before," and "against." This is the usual preposition used with the word "death" above, meaning sentencing someone.
their -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "their" in the Greek source.
parents, -- "Parents" is a word that means "progenitor" and can refer to parents or ancestors.
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 can be translated as "not only...but also."
have -- (CW) This helping verb indicates an indirect form of agency but the verb doesn't support that idea. The following verb could well mean that the children put their parents to death themselves.
them -- The word translated as "them" (and "their") 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."
put to death. --"To put to death" is the Greek verb form of the word for "death" (above). It means "to put to death," and "to cause death," but it also means "to mortify." This is a common word in Greek but uncommon for Jesus, but Jesus knew it from the OT where it is used perhaps a hundred times to describe executing people for violating the law starting with Exo 14:11.
missing "and"-- (MW) The untranslated word "and" joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position (i appears after the verb below), translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
A -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
brother -- "Brother" is the Greek word that means any kinsmen, specifically, a "brother" and, more generally, "associate" or "colleague." Here, it is in the form of a subject.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
betray -- (CW) "Betray" is from a compound Greek word which literally means "to give over." It is in a form which indicates something "might" happen at some time. In Matthew 10:19. This verb is used to clearly means "turned over" to authorities. However, Christ also uses this term to mean "to give over" in the sense of "bestow," for example, in Matthew 11:27. This verb comes first in the sentence and its form could be either second person, "you are going to give yourself over," or the simple third person, "he is going to give over."
his -- (WW) There is no "his" pronoun here or definite article "the" in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
brother -- "Brother" is the Greek word that means any kinsmen, specifically, a "brother" and, more generally, "associate" or "colleague." Here, it is in the form of a object.
to -- The word translated as "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, and "up to" limits in time and measure, or "for" a purpose. It is not the "to" in English, which is much broader. The problem is that with this proposition Death could either be a time, "until death" or a purpose "for death." Usually, another preposition is used (epi) to describe someone being given a death sentence.
death, -- "Death" is the Greek word meaning "death" generally and the death penalty specifically. This is the first time that Christ uses the term in the Gospels. However, here it could initially means a time as well as the death penalty. This is the name of the Greek god of death, whose brother is sleep. He has earlier used the term "the dead," which refers to the dying, a dead body or the deceased.
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 can be translated as "not only...but also."
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
father -- "Father" is the common word that Jesus uses to address his own father, though it can mean any male ancestor.
will betray his own -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "will betray his own" in the Greek source.
child: -- The word translated as "child" means "child" but in the most general sense of "offspring." Jesus does not use it to refer specifically to children under seven, which is another term. See this article more about these words for "child."
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 can be translated as "not only...but also."
children -- The word translated as "children" is the plural of the word used above that is usually translated as "child."
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
rebel -- "Rebel" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "set up again," "to make to rise against," and "to revolt." It is in the form which indicates that the subject is acting on itself.
against -- "Against" is a proposition that has many different meanings, including "upon," "on," "at," "by," "before," and "against." This is the usual preposition used with the word "death" above, meaning sentencing someone.
their -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "their" in the Greek source.
parents, -- "Parents" is a word that means "progenitor" and can refer to parents or ancestors.
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 can be translated as "not only...but also."
cause -- (CW) This helping verb indicates an indirect form of agency but the verb doesn't support that idea. The following verb could well mean that the children put their parents to death themselves.
them -- The word translated as "them" (and "their") 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."
to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.
be -- (WV) This helping verb "be" seems to indicate that the verb is passive but it isn't.
killed. --"Put to death" is the Greek verb form of the word for "death" (above). It means "to slay," "to put to death," and "to cause death," but it also means "to mortify." This is a common word in Greek but uncommon for Jesus, but Jesus knew it from the OT where it is used perhaps a hundred times to describe executing people for violating the law starting with Exo 14:11.
παραδώσει (3rd sg fut ind act or verb 2nd sg fut ind mid) "Shall deliver up" is from paradidomi, which means "to give over to another," "to transmit," "to hand down," "to grant," "to teach," and "to bestow."
δὲ (partic) "And" is from de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of cause ("so").
ἀδελφὸς (noun sg masc nom) "Brother" is from adelphos, which means "son of the same mother," "kinsman," "colleague," "associate," and "brother."
ἀδελφὸν (noun sg masc acc) "Brother" is from adelphos, which means "son of the same mother," "kinsman," "colleague," "associate," and "brother."
εἰς (prep) "To" is from eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)," "until (of time)," "as much as (of measure or limit)," "as far as (of measure or limit)," "towards (to express relation)," "in regard to (to express relation)," "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."
θάνατον (noun sg masc acc ) "Death" is from thanatos, which means "death" "kinds of death," specifically, "violent death," "corpse," and "a death sentence." It is also the name of the God, death, the twin brother of Sleep.
καὶ (conj/adv) "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."
πατὴρ (noun sg masc nom) "Father" is from pater, which means "father," "grandfather," "author," "parent," and "forefathers."
τέκνον, (noun sg neut nom/acc) "Son" is from teknon, which means "that which is born," "child," and "the young."
καὶ (conj/adv) "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."
ἐπαναστήσονται [1 verse](3rd pl fut ind mid) "Shall rise up" is epanistemi, which means to "set up again," "make to rise against," "raise in revolt," "stand up after," "rise from "bed," rise, rise up against," "rise in insurrection against," "to be raised or built (of buildings), rise above
τέκνα (noun pl neut nom/acc) "Chidren" is from teknon, which means "that which is born," "child," and "the young."
ἐπὶ (prep) "Against" is from epi which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," and "against."
γονεῖς [4 verses] (noun pl masc nom/acc) "Parents" is goneus, which mean "progenitor" and can refer to parents or ancestors.
καὶ (conj/adv) "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."
θανατώσουσιν [3 verses] (3rd pl aor subj act or 3rd pl fut ind act) "Shall cause to put to death" is thanatoo, which means "to put to death," "to be made dead (passive)," "to be put to death by sentence of law," "to be fatal," and "to cause death."
αὐτούς. (adj pl masc acc) "Them" 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."
The first line works either in the 2nd person or the third. In the second person it describes use acting on ourselves. This fits with the penultimate phrase: children raising themselves against their parents.
“But that cannot happen among true Judeans, not even among the Distinguished,” complained Winebag. “Our traditions are too ingrained in us. We learn the story of Cane and Able as children.”
“And the story of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Issak,” countered Bar Simon.
“Can it happen, Master?” asked Netter.
“A brother is going to turn over a brother for death,” the Master said in a matter of fact way. “And a father, his child.”
“Next you will be telling that children will rise up against their parents!” Winebag objected.
“Not only are they going to rise up, the children against parents, but also they are going to execute them, replied the Master.