After John the Baptist leaves, Jesus talks to people about him. This continues the description of John the Baptist ("Dunker").
Luke 7:27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Luke 7:27 This is the one about whom it is written: “ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.
This is about whom it has been written: "Look! I send off this messenger of mine before a face of yours who will build that way of yours in front of you.
John's message laid the basis for Jesus's work.
The quote in this verse is from Mal 3:1, but it differs from the Septuagint Greek (shown above) when in Malachi says "I myself", "a face of mine." I cannot find a Septuagint for any part of the final phrase, so Jesus is not quoting here, but saying something more. The Septuagint version of this verse translates to: "Look! I myself am sending that envoy of mine and he shall prepare a path for a face of mine." After that, its Greek says: "and he will suddenly come into that temple of yours, a lord."
"Messenger" is a word that is the Greek source of our word, angel. It means "messenger" and "envoy." Notice how it is translated correctly here because the translators didn't want to call John the Baptist an "angel." The Hebrew word in the original OT verse is mal'ak, which is also usually translated as "angel" in the English, However, it was always translated as "messenger" in the Greek Septuagint.
There are two different words translated as "before" here. The point may be to create a contrast between the ideas of "a head of" in time and "in front of" in place.
"Shall prepare" is a word that means "to equip", "to prove", "to construct," and "to prepare oneself." It is in the future tense. Christ uses this word only in this quote. It appears in all the Synoptic Gospels. A completely different Greek word is used in the Septuagint."
At this point, Christ changes the verse's pronouns from those in the Septuagint: from the first person "my", that is, God referring to himself, to "thy" or "your", God referring to Christ.
"Thy" is the possessive pronoun.
"Way" is a word that means literally, "a threshold," but has all of the same meaning of "way" in English. It means "a road", "further along the road", "a journey", "a manner of doing things," and "a system." In the Septuagint, there is no "your' here, it is "a way".
The "you" is the second person pronoun. In the Septuagint version the phrase "my face" appears here.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The English verb "written" is the present tense, but Greek is in the past perfect, a completed action, "have seen."
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "sent" does not capture the word's specific meaning of "sent off" or "sent out."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "messenger" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "way" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the same Greek word translated as "before" earlier in the verse.
- CW --Confusing Word -- "The one" translation is more specific than the word's more general meaning.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The English verb "written" is the present tense, but Greek is in the past perfect, a completed action, "have seen."
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "sent" does not capture the word's specific meaning of "sent off" or "sent out."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "messenger" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "face" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "way" is not shown in the English translation.
This - "This" is translated from a Greek adjective that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Without a noun, it has the sense of "this one" or "that one."
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. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
he, -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
of - (CW) The Greek word translated as "of" means "around" when referring to a place, but in referring to a subject, it means "about," "concerning," "on account of," and "in regard to." This is the way Jesus usually uses it. It is not the word form usually translated as "of."
whom -- The word translated as "whon" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.
it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
is -- This helping verb "is" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
written, -- (WT) "Written" is the Greek verb that means "to mark," "to express by written characters," "to write a letter," "to write down [a law]," and so on. The form is passive participle of an action completed in the past, "having been written."
Behold, -- "Behold" is a verbal command meaning "See!" and "Look!" It is from the most common word meaning "to see" in Greek. In a humorous vein, it is also an adverbial exclamation like we use the phrase "ta-da" in a magic show, or "voila" in French which means "see there". "Look here!" or "See there!" comes closest in English. Jesus uses it both ways.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
send --- (CW) The "send " here is a word that means "to send off" and "dispatch." It is the source of our word "apostle." This word is not the simple "send" but a more complex one that means "send out" or "send from." CW --Confusing Word -- The "sent" does not capture the word's specific meaning of "sent off" or "sent out."
my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my," "me," and "mine." Usually follows the noun so, "of mine."
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." Before an adjective or a particle, it changes the following word to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
messenger -- "Messenger" is a noun meaning "messenger" and "envoys" though it became to mean "semi-divine beings" in later use from its use in the NT, which is usually translated as "angels." Jesus uses this word to describe the means by which Jesus communicates to us and our thoughts.
before -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "before" means (of place) "before," "in front of," (of time) "before," (of preference), "rather than," "more than," and so on. This is not the same Greek word translated as "before" earlier in the verse.
thy -- The word translated as "your" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
face, -- The Greek word translated as "faces" means "face" , "façade", "one's look", "dramatic part", "character", and other other similar ideas.
which -- The word translated as "which" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.
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.
prepare - "Shall prepare" is a word that means "to equip," "to prove," "to construct," and "to prepare oneself." It is in the future tense. Christ uses this word only in this quote here and in Luke 7:26, the parallel quote in Luke. A
completely different Greek word is used in the Septuagint. A word that I cannot find a good Greek definition of.
thy -- The word translated as "your" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."
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." Before an adjective or a particle, it changes the following word to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
way -- "Way" is from a word meaning "the way" or "the road" but which is used symbolically to mean "a way of doing things" or "a philosophy of life." In Acts, followers of Jesus are described as those "belonging to the way."
before -- The Greek word translated as "before" means "in front of" referring to place and when used to apply to time means "beforehand."
thee -- The word translated as "thee" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
This - "This" is translated from a Greek adjective that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Without a noun, it has the sense of "this one" or "that one."
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. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
the one -- (CW) This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.This translation is more specific than the word's meaning.
about - The Greek word translated as "about " means "around" when referring to a place, but in referring to a subject, it means "about," "concerning," "on account of," and "in regard to." This is the way Jesus usually uses it.
whom -- The word translated as "whon" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.
it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
is -- This helping verb "is" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
written, -- (WT) "Written" is the Greek verb that means "to mark," "to express by written characters," "to write a letter," "to write down [a law]," and so on. The form is passive participle of an action completed in the past, "having been written."
Behold, -- "Behold" is a verbal command meaning "See!" and "Look!" It is from the most common word meaning "to see" in Greek. In a humorous vein, it is also an adverbial exclamation like we use the phrase "ta-da" in a magic show, or "voila" in French which means "see there". "Look here!" or "See there!" comes closest in English. Jesus uses it both ways.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
will -- (WT) This helping verb "will" indicates the future tense, but the verb is not the future.
send --- (CW) The "send " here is a word that means "to send off" and "dispatch." It is the source of our word "apostle." This word is not the simple "send" but a more complex one that means "send out" or "send from."
my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my," "me," and "mine." Usually follows the noun so, "of mine."
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." Before an adjective or a particle, it changes the following word to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
messenger -- "Messenger" is a noun meaning "messenger" and "envoys" though it became to mean "semi-divine beings" in later use from its use in the NT, which is usually translated as "angels." Jesus uses this word to describe the means by which Jesus communicates to us and our thoughts.
ahead of -- The Greek word translated as "ahead of" means (of place) "before," "in front of," (of time) "before," (of preference), "rather than," "more than," and so on.
you -- (WF) The word translated as "your" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
missing "face" -- (MW) The untranslated word "face" means "face" , "façade", "one's look", "dramatic part", "character", and other other similar ideas."
who -- The word translated as "who" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.
will -- 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.
prepare - "Shall prepare" is a word that means "to equip," "to prove," "to construct," and "to prepare oneself." It is in the future tense. Christ uses this word only in this quote here and in Luke 7:26, the parallel quote in Luke. A
completely different Greek word is used in the Septuagint. A word that I cannot find a good Greek definition of.
your -- The word translated as "your" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."
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." Before an adjective or a particle, it changes the following word to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
way -- "Way" is from a word meaning "the way" or "the road" but which is used symbolically to mean "a way of doing things" or "a philosophy of life." In Acts, followers of Jesus are described as those "belonging to the way."
before -- The Greek word translated as "before" means "in front of" referring to place and when used to apply to time means "beforehand."
you -- The word translated as "thee" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
οὗτός [83 verses](adj sg masc nom) "This" is houtos, which as an adjective means "this," "that," "the nearer." --
ἐστίν.[614 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "Is" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen," and "is possible." With the possessive (genitive) object, it means "is descended from," "is the type of," "belongs to," "is made of," "is a duty of," "is at the mercy of," or " is dependent on." With an indirect (dative) object, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed. "It is to him" becomes "it is his" or "he has it." With the preposition,"into" (εἰς), the sense is "consist of." When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."
περὶ [73 verses](prep) "Of" is peri, which means "round about (Place)," "around," "about," "concerning," "on account of," "in regard to," "before," "above," "beyond," and "all around." With the genitive, "round about" of place, "for" or "about" something," with verbs of knowing, "about" and "concerning," "before or "beyond," of superiority With the dative, "round about" of clothes, "around" in holding, "for" or "about" a struggle, "on account of" and "by reason of" a cause. With the accusative, "around" in movement, caring and generally of relationships "about," "about" of time. As an adverb "around," "about," also, "near, by," and "exceedingly" in relationships.
οὗ [294 verses](pron sg masc gen ) "Whom" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.
γέγραπται [34 verses](3rd sg perf ind mp) "It is written" is grapho which means "to mark," "to express by written characters," "to write a letter," "to write down [a law]," "to proscribe," "to ordain," "to write for oneself," "to enroll oneself," "to draw signs," "to describe a figure" "to brand," and "to indict."
Ἰδοὺ [52 verses](adv, verb 2nd sg aor imperat mid) "Behold" is idou, which means "to behold," "to see," and "to perceive." It acts as an adverbial phrase in this form meaning "Lo! Behold!" and "See there!' It is a form of the verb eido, which means "to see." This Greek word was translated into the Latin ecce, "behold."
ἀποστέλλω [60 verses](1st sg pres ind act) "Send" is apostello, which means "to send off," "to send away," or "to dispatch."
τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc) Untranslated 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. -
ἄγγελόν [25 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Messenger" is from aggelos, (aggelos) which means "messenger" and "envoy." "Angels" is aggelos, which means "messenger" and "envoys" though it became to mean "semi-divine beings" in later use.
μου [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "My" is from mou (emou), which means "me," and "mine." As a genitive object means movement away from something or a position away from something else.
πρὸ [12 verses](prep) "Before" is pro, which means (of place) "before," "in front of," (of time) "before," (of preference) "before" in time, "rather than," "more than," and so on.
προσώπου [8 verses] (noun sg neut gen ) "Face" is prosopon, which means "face", "countenance." "in front", "facing", "front", "façade", "one's look", "dramatic part", "character", "in person", "in bodily presence", "legal personality", "person," and "feature [of the city, of a person]."
σου [144 verses](pron 2nd sg gen) "Thy" is sou is the genitive form of the second-person, singular pronoun that means "of you" and "your."
ὃς [294 verses](pron sg masc nom) "Which" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.
κατασκευάσει [2 verses](3rd sg fut ind act) "Shall prepare" is kataskeuazô, which means "to equip," "to furnish fully with," "to build," "to prove," "to construct," and "to prepare oneself."
τὴν [821 verses](article sg masc acc) Untranslated 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. -
ὁδόν [27 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Way" is hodos, which means literally "way" or "road" but it also means "travel" and "journey." It is interesting that a term joining a path with philosophy exists in many languages from the west to the east.
σου [144 verses](pron 2nd sg gen) "Thy" is sou is the genitive form of the second-person, singular pronoun that means "of you" and "your."
ἔμπροσθεν [18 verses](adv, prep) "Before" is emprosthen, which as an adverb means [of place]"in front of," "before," "forwards," [of time] "before," "of old," and as a preposition, "facing," "opposite," "in front," [of time] beforehand," and [of degree] "preferred before." It also denotes a ranking. Takes a genitive object.
σου [144 verses](pron 2nd sg gen) "Thee" is sou is the genitive form of the second-person, singular pronoun that means "of you" and "your."
This verse is identical to Matthew 11:10 except the personal pronoun "I" (ego) is missing from the quote.