After Jesus says a prophet is not understood in the land of his father, and gives examples of Elijah leaving Israel to perform wonders.
Luke 4:27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian
And many scabrous were in this Israel during Elisha, the prophet, and none of them were cleansed except Naiman the Syrian.
Not everyone is cured. The cured are chosen for reasons we cannot understand.
In answering the complaint of his hometown and offer more evidence that prophets aren't understood in the homes, Jesus continues to offer examples of Elijah leaving to perform cure a leper. The Greek translated as "leprosy" means skin disease, not fatal leprosy. All skin diseases caused people to be cast out of their homes. This resonates with Jesus being rejected in his hometown, but the punchline is "Syrian," a particularly hated group in Judea because they ruled the area brutally before Rome. Jesus's examples make the crowd from Nazareth angry and gets him tossed out of town. This proves his point.
And many lepers(CW) were in (MW) Israel in(WW) [the time(IP)] of Elisha, the prophet(UW); and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "lepers" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "Israel" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "in" should be something more like "during."
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "the time" doesn't exist in the source.
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "prophets" means "luminaries." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
And there were many in (MW) Israel with(IW) leprosy(CW,WF,WN) in(WW) [the time(IP)] of Elisha the prophet(UW), yet not one of them was cleansed—only(WW) Naaman the Syrian.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "Israel" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "with" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "leprosy" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "leprosy" is not the name of a disease but a description of people. object of the verb but the subject, "he."
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "leprosy" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "in" should be something more like "during."
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "the time" doesn't exist in the source.
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "prophet" means "luminaries." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "only" should be something more like "during."
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." After words implying sameness "as."
many -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size.
lepers -- (CW) "Lepers" is an adjective that means "scaly," scabrous," and "rough." It describes any skin problem, not just the disease leprosy.
were -- The verb "were" 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. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
in -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time), or "among" with a dative object as the one here. With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."
missing "the/this" -- (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." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show its role in the sentence. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose here may be demonstrative. See this article.
Israel -- The word translated as "Israel" comes from the Hebrew, not the Greek.
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." After words implying sameness "as."
none -- The Greek adjective translated as "none" also means "no one," "nothing," and other negative pronouns. It is used by Jesus more like a negative pronoun than an adjective. However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative.
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.
them - The word translated as "them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural in the genitive form. It is used as a possessive or the object of a verb or preposition. As a preposition's object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. This pronoun follows the noun so "of theirs."
was -- This helping verb "was" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
cleansed, -- The Greek word translated as "be clean," means to remove dirt. It is used for a lot of specific types of "cleaning" including cleansing a person of leprosy but it also has a general meaning of "purifying" anything.
saving - "Save" is from Two Greek words are translated as "except." Literally, they mean "if not" but this phrase is used to mean "except." In negative questions "instead...not" might work better.
Naaman Naaman is the proper name, in Greek, Naiman.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
Syrian. "Syrian" is the Greek word for a person from Syria.
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." After words implying sameness "as."
there - "There" is from the plural form of the word "to be."
were -- The verb "were" 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. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
many -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size.
in -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time), or "among" with a dative object as the one here. With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."
missing "the/this" -- (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." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show its role in the sentence. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose here may be demonstrative. See this article.
Israel -- The word translated as "Israel" comes from the Hebrew, not the Greek.
with -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "with" in the Greek source.
leprosy (CW, WF, WN) - "Leprosy" is an adjective that means "scaly," scabrous," and "rough." It describes any skin problem, not just the disease leprosy. The word is plural.
in -- (WW) The word translated as "unto" means "on," "over," "upon," "for," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of."
the time -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "the time" in the Greek source.
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.
Eliseus - Eliseus is the Greek for the prophet Elisha.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
prophet; -- (UW) The Greek word translated as "prophets" means "one who speaks for God," "interpreter" and was the highest level of priesthood in Egypt, but its root words mean "shine light before" and so "luminaties," "shining lights" or "enlightened" seems to capture the idea better. Jesus uses it to refer not only to divine spokespeople but their books in the OT. It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English. Read this article for more information.
yet -- 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." After words implying sameness "as."
not one -- The Greek adjective translated as "not one" also means "no one," "nothing," and other negative pronouns. It is used by Jesus more like a negative pronoun than an adjective. However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative.
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.
them - The word translated as "them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural in the genitive form. It is used as a possessive or the object of a verb or preposition. As a preposition's object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. This pronoun follows the noun so "of theirs."
was -- This helping verb "was" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
cleansed, -- The Greek word translated as "be clean," means to remove dirt. It is used for a lot of specific types of "cleaning" including cleansing a person of leprosy but it also has a general meaning of "purifying" anything.
only - (WW) "Only" is from Two Greek words are translated as "except." Literally, they mean "if not" but this phrase is used to mean "except." In negative questions "instead...not" might work better.
Naaman Naaman is the proper name, in Greek, Naiman.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
Syrian. "Syrian" is the Greek word for a person from Syria.
only Naaman the Syrian
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is 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."
πολλοὶ [61 verses](adj pl masc nom) "Many" is polys, which means "many (in number)," "great (in size or power or worth)," and "large (of space)." As an adverb, it means "far," "very much," "a great way," and "long."
λεπροὶ [4 verses] (adj pl masc nom) "Lepers" is lepros, which "scaly," scabrous," and "rough" and is used to describe the leprous.
ἦσαν [614 verses](verb 3rd pl imperf ind act) "Were" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen," and "is possible." With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." With the dative object, the object acts like a possessive and "it is to him" becomes "it is his." With the preposition, εἰς, the sense is "consist of."
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with an usual indirect (dative) object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during," and "with." With a direct (accusative) object, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during."
τῷ [821 verses](article sg masc dat) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article.
Ἰσραήλ, [11 verses](noun sg masc dat) "Israel" is Israel, which means "Israel."
ἐπὶ [138 verses](prep) "On" is from epi which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," and "against." With a noun in the possessive, genitive, it means "upon," "on" but not necessarily of Place, "by (of persons)," "deep (with numbers)," "in the presence of," "towards," "in the time of," and "over (referring to a person of authority)." With a noun indirect object, dative, it means of place: "upon," "on," or "over," of people: "against (in a hostile sense)," regarding a situation: "towards" or "in reference to," of an accumulation: "upon," "after," "addition to," and "besides," of position: "after," "behind," "in dependence upon," and "in the power of," of time: "by," and "after," and. in a causal sense: "of the occasion or cause," "for" a person, an end, or purpose," "on condition that," and "for" (a price).
Ἐλισαίου [1 verse](proper noun sg masc gen) "Eliseus" is from Eliseus, the Greek for the prophet Elisha.
τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article.
προφήτου, [37 verses]](noun sg masc gen) "The prophet" is prophetes, which means "one who speaks for a god and interprets his will," "interpreter," "keepers of the oracle," "the highest level of priesthood in Egypt," "interpreter," and "herald." It is a form of the verb, prophao. which means "to shine light forth," or "to shine light before." Its roots are pros ("before"), phos ("light) and phaino ("shine.)
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is 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."
οὐδεὶς [69 verses] (adj sg masc acc) "None" is oudeis which means "no one," "not one," "nothing," "naught," "good for naught," and "no matter."
αὐτῶν [86 verses](pron/adj pl masc/fem/neut gen) "Their" is auton, is the genitive case of the third-person, plural adjective that is used as a pronoun. The word also means "the same," "one's true self," and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord."
ἐκαθαρίσθη[12 verses] (verb 3rd sg aor ind pass) "Was cleansed" is katharizo, which means "to clean," "to clear the ground of weeds," "prune away," "to remove dirt," "to purify,"and "to remove impurities." It is also used to describe the removal of the inedible parts from grain (winnowing), clearing weeds from a field, pruning a plant and so on.
εἰ μὴ [14 verses](conj particle) "Except" is ei me, which is the conjunction that means "if not," and "except." It is also used to create negative questions when the subjective negative would be used in the direct question. In negative questions "instead...not" can work better. εἰ is the particle use with the imperative usually to express conditions "if" or indirect questions, "whether." mê (me) is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." Followed by an ἀλλὰ clause, the sense is "if not" some word related to time, "at least still," and without the reference time, "at least"
Ναιμὰν [1 verse](proper noun sg masc acc) Naaman is from Naiman, a name.
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article.
Σύρος. [1 verse](proper noun sg masc nom) "Syrian" is from Syros, which means "Syrian".