Mark 2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy,

Spoken to
challengers

Scribes think that Jesus is blaspheming by letting go of sins.

KJV

Mark 2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

NIV

Mark 2:9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?

LISTENERS HEARD

What is less tiring? To say to this paralytic, "Those mistakes are letting go of you! Or to say, wake up and lift that pallet of yours and walk around.

MY TAKE

Saying is always easier that doing but letting go it pretty easy to.

GREEK ORDER

τί       ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν     τῷ   παραλυτικῷ Ἀφίενταί           σου   αἱ ἁμαρτίαι,
What is       less tiring?     To say to this paralytic, "  are letting go of you! Those mistakes
  εἰπεῖν Ἐγείρου  [καὶ] ἆρον τὸν  κράβαττόν σου       καὶ  περιπάτει;
Or to say, wake up  and   lift    that pallet         of yours and walk around.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

This verse seems to be a light-hearted answer.  The "easier" word is actually a humorous reference. It has the sense of "less tiring." The question seems what is easier "to say," but saying is always easier. However, it also contrasts what as easier to do, the very easy "letting go" and the harder "waking up, picking up, and walking around." This may be a hint that healing people takes effort on Jesus's part, but it also may be a reference to how tiring it is to answer these questions.  

The "arise and "walk" statement has a double meaning of "awake and live." The word translated as "arise" and "get up" primarily means "awaken." "The "forgive" means "let go" is plural with "sin" meaning "mistakes" as its plural subject. It is a form that is either passive ("are let go") or the middle voice, when the subject acts by, for, or on itself ("let go by themselves").

This version of this verse adds two phrases "to the paralytic" and "take up your bed/mat" doesn't appear in the versions in Matthew and Luke.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
6
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "whether" should be "what."
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "sick of the" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "thy" should be "the."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "sin" should be "mistakes."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "forgive" should be "let go."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "bed" is not shown in the English translation.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
7
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "whether" should be "what."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "man" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "your" should be "the."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "sins" should be "mistakes."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "forgiven" should be "let go."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "you" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "mat" is not shown in the English translation.
EACH WORD of KJV

Whether  - (WW) The Greek word translated as "whether" primarily means "someone" and "something," but it has a lot of uses including the introduction of short questions such as "what", "why", etc.

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.

easier, The word translated as "easier" is a compound words. It is an uncommon word, appearing only a seven  times in the NT and only five times in the rest of ancient Greek literature. The word is only used by Jesus in the NT, not other writers. The prefix here means "good" or  rather, "better," because the word is comparative. The base word primarily means "beating" or "fatigue". So the sense is "better fatigue", which has the sense of "less tiring".

to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.

say,  - The word translated as "to say" is the primary verb used in the NT to refer to speaking, telling, or saying. It also means "proclaiming," which works pretty well when Christ is referring to this type of statement.

to - This word "to" 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.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article; 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. 

sick of the -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "sick of the " in the Greek source.

palsy,  "Palsy" is an adjective that means "paralytic." This Greek word is the source of our word. This is the only time that Jesus uses this word. The word itself only appears in the NT, not in other Greek literature.

Thy --(WW) The word translated as "thy" is the Greek definite article; 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. 

sins  - (WW) The word translated as "sins" is a form of a word that means "to fail in one's purpose", "to neglect," and "to be deprived of." It has no sense of doing malicious evil in Greek. The best English translation is "mistake," "fault," or "failure" rather than what we commonly think of as the evils of "sin." More about this word in this article.

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

forgiven -- (WW) The word translated as "be forgiven" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away." This same word is translated as "leave", "forgive", "suffer," and "let" in the New Testament. With the word translated as "sin" it is translated as "forgive" even though it doesn't really mean that in Greek. Its form is that in which the subject is acted upon by itself. It is in the present tense so "are being let go by themselves".

thee. --- The word translated as "thee" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. However, if this were meant to describe the "mistakes," Jesus would almost always put it after that word. Here, it appears before the untranslated article and after the verb. This possibly makes it an "objective" genitive with a transitive verb where instead of inserting "of" we use words like ‘for’, ‘about’, ‘concerning’, ‘toward’ or ‘against. The sense is "being let go of you".

or  - The word translated as "or" also means "than" in comparison.

to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.

say,  - The word for "to say" is the same word in the same form as the earlier "to say."

Arise, - - The word for "arise" means "awaken" The word is the same word Christ uses to describe God raising the dead and false prophets arising.

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

take up -- "Take up" is one of Christ's favorite "multiple meaning" words. It is a verb that means "to raise up," "elevate," "to bear," "to carry off," "to take and apply to any use," "lifted" in the sense of "removed," and "to cause to cease." Jesus uses this verb to refer to what will happen to "the son of man," which can apply either to his being raised from the dead or lifted up on the cross. The verb also came to mean "remove" in the same way we describe stealing as "shoplifting."

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." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more. 

bed, -- The word translated as "bed" is only used by Jesus here and it means means "couch", "mattress," and "pallet."

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

walk? -- The word translated as "walk" means "walk around" and it is a metaphor meaning "making your way", "progress", "to use your opportunities," and "to live."

EACH WORD of NIV

Which - (WW) The Greek word translated as "which" primarily means "someone" and "something," but it has a lot of uses including the introduction of short questions such as "what", "why", etc.

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.

easier, The word translated as "easier" is a compound words. It is an uncommon word, appearing only a seven  times in the NT and only five times in the rest of ancient Greek literature. The word is only used by Jesus in the NT, not other writers. The prefix here means "good" or  rather, "better," because the word is comparative. The base word primarily means "beating" or "fatigue". So the sense is "better fatigue", which has the sense of "less tiring".

to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.

say,  - The word translated as "to say" is the primary verb used in the NT to refer to speaking, telling, or saying. It also means "proclaiming," which works pretty well when Christ is referring to this type of statement.

to - This word "to" 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.

this -- The word translated as "this" is the Greek definite article; 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. 

paralyzed --  "Paralyzed " is an adjective that means "paralytic." This Greek word is the source of our word. This is the only time that Jesus uses this word. The word itself only appears in the NT, not in other Greek literature.

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

Your --(WW) The word translated as "your" is the Greek definite article; 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. 

sins  - (WW) The word translated as "sins" is a form of a word that means "to fail in one's purpose", "to neglect," and "to be deprived of." It has no sense of doing malicious evil in Greek. The best English translation is "mistake," "fault," or "failure" rather than what we commonly think of as the evils of "sin." More about this word in this article.

are -- This helping verb "are" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

forgiven -- (WW) The word translated as "be forgiven" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away." This same word is translated as "leave", "forgive", "suffer," and "let" in the New Testament. With the word translated as "sin" it is translated as "forgive" even though it doesn't really mean that in Greek. Its form is that in which the subject is acted upon by itself. It is in the present tense so "are being let go by themselves".

missing "you"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "you" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. However, if this were meant to describe the "mistakes," Jesus would almost always put it after that word. Here, it appears before the untranslated article and after the verb. This possibly makes it an "objective" genitive with a transitive verb where instead of inserting "of" we use words like ‘for’, ‘about’, ‘concerning’, ‘toward’ or ‘against. The sense is "being let go of you".

or  - The word translated as "or" also means "than" in a comparison, as it is used here.

to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.

say,  - The word for "to say" is the same word in the same form as the earlier "to say."

Get up, - -The word for "get up" means "awaken" The word is the same word Christ uses to describe God raising the dead and false prophets arising.

take up -- "Take up" is one of Christ's favorite "multiple meaning" words. It is a verb that means "to raise up," "elevate," "to bear," "to carry off," "to take and apply to any use," "lifted" in the sense of "removed," and "to cause to cease." Jesus uses this verb to refer to what will happen to "the son of man," which can apply either to his being raised from the dead or lifted up on the cross. The verb also came to mean "remove" in the same way we describe stealing as "shoplifting."

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." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more. 

mat, -- The word translated as "mat" is only used by Jesus here and it means means "couch", "mattress," and "pallet."

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

walk? -- The word translated as "walk" means "walk around" and it is a metaphor meaning "making your way", "progress", "to use your opportunities," and "to live."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

τί [252 verses](irreg sg neut nom/acc) "Whether" is from tis which can mean "someone", "anyone", "everyone", "they [indefinite]", "many a one", "whoever", "anyone", "anything", "some sort", "some sort of", "each", "any", "the individual", "such," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who", "why," or "what."

ἐστιν [614 verses](3rd sg pres ind act ) "Is" is from eimi, which means "to be", "to exist", "to be the case," and "is possible."

εὐκοπώτερον, [7 verses](adj sg neut nom/acc comp) "Easier" is eukopo, which is a comparative form of "easy." It is a compound eu, the word for "well", "thoroughly", "competently", "fortunately," and "happily." and kopos, which means "striking", "beating", "toil and trouble", "fatigue," and "work."

εἰπεῖν [162 verses](aor inf act ) "To say" is from eipon, which means "to speak", "to say", "to recite", "to address", "to mention", "to name", "to proclaim", "to plead", "to promise," and "to offer."

τῷ [821 verses](article sg masc dat)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

παραλυτικῷ [1 verse] ( adj sg masc dat) "To the sick with palsy" is from paralutikos which means "paralytic."

Ἀφίενταί [73 verses](3rd pl pres ind mp) "Be forgiven" is from aphiemi, which means "to let fall", "to send away", "give up", "hand over", "to let loose", "to get rid of", "to leave alone", "to pass by", "to permit," and "to send forth from oneself."

σου [144 verses](pron 2nd sg gen ) "Thy" is from sou which means "you" and "your."

αἱ [821 verses] (article pl fem nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

ἁμαρτίαι, [28 verses](noun pl fem nom) "Sin" is from hamartia, which means "to miss the mark", "failure", "fault," and "error." Only in religious contexts does it become "guilt" and "sin."

 [92 verses](conj) "Or" is e which is a particle meaning "either", "or," or "than."

εἰπεῖν [162 verses](aor inf act ) "To say" is from eipon, which means "to speak", "to say", "to recite", "to address", "to mention", "to name", "to proclaim", "to plead", "to promise," and "to offer."

Ἔγειρε [41 verses] (2nd sg pres imperat act) "Arise" is from egeiro, which means "to awaken", "to stir up," and "to rouse."

καὶ [1089 verses](conj) "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."

ἆρον [56 verses]( verb 2nd sg aor imperat act ) "Take up" is airo, which means "to lift up," "to raise," "to raise up," "to exalt," "to lift and take away," and "to remove." In some forms, it is the same as apaomai, which means to "pray to," or "pray for."

τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  -

κράβαττόν [1 verse](noun sg masc acc)"Bed" is krabbatos, which means "couch", "mattress," and "pallet."

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." 

καὶ [1089 verses](conj) "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."

περιπάτει; [13 verses](2nd sg pres imperat act) "Walk" is from peripateo, which means "to walk up and down", "to walk about," and "to walk about while teaching."

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