Jesus talking to mourners of girl who died.
Luke 8:52 Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
Luke 8:52 Stop wailing, She is not dead but asleep.
Don't cry because she didn't die. Instead, she sleeps.
We shouldn't week because people sleep.
Both translations leave out the "because" that explains why the people should cry. In the KJV, it was left out of their source, but there is no excuse for the NIV.
The verbs "die" and "sleep" are translated as nouns. "dead" and "asleep" (NIV) instead of verbs. This makes Jesus's words about her state of being rather than what she is doing.
The word translated as "but" isn't the common "but." Instead, it is a word that contrasts negative and positive statements. "Instead" or "rather" are more accurate.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek missing word "word" is in the source we use today.
- WF --Wrong Form - "Dead" is translated as a noun, but it is a verb.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" is not the common word usually translated as "but" and works differently.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "stop" should be something more like "not."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "because" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF --Wrong Form - "Dead" is translated as a noun, but it is a verb.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" is not the common word usually translated as "but" and works differently.
- WF --Wrong Form - "Asleep" is translated as a noun, but it is a verb.
Weep -- The verb translated as "weep" means "to weep", "to lament," and "to cry".
not; -- The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. Used with verbs in the mood of possibility to express a prohibition.
missing "because" -- (OS) The untranslated word is "because" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause."
she -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
is -- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb.
not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact.
dead, - (WF) "Dead" is a Greek verb that means "to die" and "to die off." Since the root word also means "to die," and the prefix means "away," the sense is to "pass away" or to "die off." This is translated as a noun, but it is a verb.
but -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus almost always uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this," with a positive one, "instead this."
sleepeth. - The term used for "slept" is a Greek verb that means "to sleep," "to lie asleep," or to "lie down to sleep."
Stop -- (WW) The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. Used with verbs in the mood of possibility to express a prohibition. It is not the word that means "stop."
wailing -- The verb translated as "wailing" means "to weep", "to lament," and "to cry".
missing "because" -- (MW) The untranslated word "because" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause."
She -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
is -- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb.
not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact.
dead, - (WF) "Dead" is a Greek verb that means "to die" and "to die off." Since the root word also means "to die," and the prefix means "away," the sense is to "pass away" or to "die off." This is translated as a noun, but it is a verb.
but -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus almost always uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this," with a positive one, "instead this."
asleep . - (WF) The term used for "slept" is a Greek verb that means "to sleep," "to lie asleep," or to "lie down to sleep." This is translated as a noun, but it is a verb.
Μὴ [447 verses](conj) "Not" is me , which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." The negative, μή, rejects, is relative, and subjective. It is used in imperative and subjunctive clauses because both express opinions. This negative applies to will and thought. With pres. or aor. subjunctive, it is used in a warning or statement of fear, "take care." The combination of ἵνα μή means "lest." The combination of ὅτι μή, means "except." Used before tis with an imperative to express a will or wish for something in independent sentences and, with subjunctives, to express prohibitions. It is used with infinitives that express a purpose. It is used with verbs of subjective action thinking, feeling, seeing, etc. When used with verbs of physical action, its sense is that "not wanting" or "thinking" something, not that it isn't done or thought. With these verbs, the sense is "rejecting" the action, rather than simply not doing it. With the verb "to be," the sense is "doesn't seem." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. Used with an imperative to express a will or wish. Used in negative conditional "when/if/whoever" clauses. With "have," the sense is "lacks" or "wants."
κλαίετε, [8 verses](verb 2nd pl pres imperat act) "Weep" is from klaio, which means "to weep", "to cry", "to lament," and "to wail."
οὐ [269 verses](adv) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The negative, οὐ, denies, is absolute, and objective.
γὰρ [205 verses](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."
ἀπέθανεν [14 verses](3rd sg aor ind act) "Dead" is from apothnesko, which means "to die,""to pass away," and "to die off." The prefix means "away. The root "to die."
ἀλλὰ [154 verses](conj) "But" is alla, which means "instead," "otherwise," "but," "still," "at least," "except," "yet," nevertheless," "rather," "moreover," and "nay." Followed by οὐ, the sense is "still," and "at least." Followed by γὰρ. the sense is "but really" and "certainly." Following an εἰ μὴ, clause the sense is "if not" some word , related to time, "at least still," and without the reference time, "at least"
καθεύδει.[12 verses](verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Sleepeth" is katheudo, which means "to lie down to sleep," "to sleep," and "to lie asleep."
Both prior to the raising this girl and Lazarus, Kesus refers to one who is dead as sleeping (John 11:11). It is clearer in the case of Lazarus that Christ uses sleep as a metaphor for death. In that case, when the Apostles originally take his meaning literally, Jesus corrects them saying that Lazarus is dead. However, here, Jesus says "She doesn't die." Does that mean she hadn't really died or and was really sleeping?