Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened,

Spoken to
Apostles
A long section about "the end of the world" or, more precisely, "the end of an era."
KJV

Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

NIV

Matthew 24:22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

LISTENERS HEARD

And if they don't want to be shortened, the days, those, not possibly is it rescued, all flesh. Through, however, those selected, they will be shortened, the days those ones.

MY TAKE

Suffering can be shorten by those who have been selected to shorten it.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The colorful wordplay of this verse is lost in translation, such as the phrase "all flesh" edited out of English translation. The "these days, those ones" is repeated in a dramatic or poetic style in the first clause and as the punchline at the end.

The term translated as "shortened" and "cut short" means to prune a tree or clip a bird's wings.

The phrase "for the elect's sake" is manufactured in translation. The word "sake" is added to "elect" in both the KJV and NIV, but the Greek word Jesus uses to say that doesn't appear. The "for" in this phrase is also misleading, not being the word usually translated as "for" in the NT. This phrase is "by those selected." In other words, those selected actually saves people, not just being saved themselves.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
9
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "days" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "should" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "should" should be something more like "possibly."
  • WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "not" doesn't appear here but before "possibly."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "all" before "flesh" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "for" is not the common word usually translated as "for."
  • UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "elect" means "chosen." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "sake" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "days" is not shown in the English translation.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
15
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "days" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "had" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" is the subjective negative of opinion with the sense of "not wanting," "not thinking" or not seeming when used with a non-opinion verb.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "should" should be something more like "possibly."
  • WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "not" doesn't appear here but before "possibly."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "all" before "flesh" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "flash" before "all" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "survive" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • WV - Wrong Voice - The verb here is translated as active but it is passive.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "for" is not the common word usually translated as "for."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "sake of" doesn't exist in the source.
  • UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "elect" means "chosen." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "days" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "days" is not shown in the English translation.
EACH WORD of KJV

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 is can be translated as "not only...but also." When used in writing, it creates complex sentences, but when spoken, it makes a good pausing point so that an important or humorous word can follow.

except -- The two Greek words translated as "except" mean "if not." The "not" is an expression of doubt having the sense of not expecting or wanting.

those  - The word translated as "those" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." This word appears after "days."

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, 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," "those"). See this article for more. 

days -- The Greek word translated as "days" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime."

should -- (IW) This helping verb "should" usually indicates the future tense or a verb form that indicates something is possible, but this verb has neither of those characteristics.

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

shortened, --  "Shortened" is from a word that means "to curtail" from a base meaning "to prune" tree or "to clip" a bird's wings. The tense of the verb indicates a point in time that could be past, present, or future and, because of the context, we might interpret it as the future. 

there -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the following verb.

should -- (WW) "Should" is from a word that limits the verb by circumstances. It works similarly to the "might" or "should" of a subjunctive verb, but we don't want to confuse it with the subjunctive so using "possibly" provides a consistent translation. The same Greek letters can always be the more common conjunction meaning "when," so this meaning comes from context.

no -- (WP) The Greek word translated as "no" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. This negative appears before the previous word, "possibly" negating it, not "flesh."

missing "all"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. The form matches the following word "flesh."

flesh -- The Greek word translated as "flesh" means "flesh," "meat," and "the physical order of things" as opposed to the spiritual. It is often contrasted it with the Greek word translated as "spirit," so he usually uses it in the later sense.

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

saved: -- "Saved" is from the Greek word that means "to keep alive" when applied to people or "to keep safe" when applied to things. Jesus s it to mean "rescue" in most cases.

but  - The Greek word translated as "but" joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.

for -- (CW) The word translated as "for" means "through," in the midst of," or "by (a cause)." The sense here is "by."  This is not the particle usually translated as "for."

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, 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," "those"). See this article for more. 

elect's -- - (UW) "Elect" is from an adjective that means "picked out," "select," "choice," and "pure." It is used as a noun there, "the ones selected." Our English word is adapted from Biblical Greek through Latin. Greek has a specific word that is used to say "sake" in this sense, but it is not used here.

sake  -- (IW) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "sake" in the source we use today nor was there one in the source that the KJV translators used. There is a word that Jesus commonly uses the means "sake."

those  - The word translated as "those" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." This word appears after "days."

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, 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," "those"). See this article for more. 

days -- The Greek word translated as "days" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime."

shall -- -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the following verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English. This is the same verb form that is translated as "should" above.

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

shortened, "Shortened" is from a word that means "to curtail" from a base meaning "to prune" tree or "to clip" a bird's wings.

EACH WORD of NIV

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 is can be translated as "not only...but also." When used in writing, it creates complex sentences, but when spoken, it makes a good pausing point so that an important or humorous word can follow.

“If - The "if" here expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not. It also means "if ever" and "whenever."

those  - The word translated as "those" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." This word appears after "days."

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, 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," "those"). See this article for more. 

days -- The Greek word translated as "days" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime."

had -- (WT) This helping verb "had" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.

not -- (CW) The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. The sense is that "you don't want" or "think" something, not that it isn't done or thought.   With the verb "to be," the sense is "doesn't seem." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause.

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

cut short,  --  "Cut short" is from a word that means "to curtail" from a base meaning "to prune" tree or "to clip" a bird's wings. The tense of the verb indicates a point in time that could be past, present, or future and, because of the context, we might interpret it as the future. 

missing "probably"  -- (MW) The untranslated word a particle used with verbs to indicate that the action is limited by circumstances or defined by conditions. There is no exact equivalent in English, but it is translated as "possibly," "would have," "might," "should," and "could."

no -- (WP) The Greek word translated as "no" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. This negative appears before the previous word, "possibly" negating it, not "flesh."

one  -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the following verb.

would -- (WW) "Would" is from a word that limits the verb by circumstances. It works similarly to the "might" or "should" of a subjunctive verb, but we don't want to confuse it with the subjunctive so using "possibly" provides a consistent translation. The same Greek letters can always be the more common conjunction meaning "when," so this meaning comes from context.

missing "all"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. The form matches the following word "flesh."

missing "flesh"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "flesh" means "flesh," "meat," and "the physical order of things" as opposed to the spiritual. It is often contrasted it with the Greek word translated as "spirit," so he usually uses it in the later sense.

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

survive, -- (CW, WV) "Survive" is from the Greek word that means "to keep alive" when applied to people or "to keep safe" when applied to things. Jesus s it to mean "rescue" in most cases. The voice is passive, not active.

but  - The Greek word translated as "but" joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.

for -- (CW) The word translated as "for" means "through," in the midst of," or "by (a cause)." The sense here is "by."  This is not the particle usually translated as "for."

sake of -- (IW) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "sake of " in the source we use today nor was there one in the source that the KJV translators used. There is a word that Jesus commonly uses the means "sake."

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, 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," "those"). See this article for more. 

elect --- - (UW) "Elect" is from an adjective that means "picked out," "select," "choice," and "pure." It is used as a noun there, "the ones selected." Our English word is adapted from Biblical Greek through Latin. Greek has a specific word that is used to say "sake" in this sense, but it is not used here.

those  - The word translated as "those" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." This word appears after "days."

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, 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," "those"). See this article for more. 

days -- The Greek word translated as "days" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime."

will -- -- This helping verb "will " indicates that the following verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English. This is the same verb form that is translated as "should" above.

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

shortened, "Shortened" is from a word that means "to curtail" from a base meaning "to prune" tree or "to clip" a bird's wings.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

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." -- 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 is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

εἰ [90 verses](conj) "Except" is ei, which is the particle used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect questions, "whether." It also means "if ever," "in case," and "whenever." It is combined with various conjunctions to create derivative conditions.

μὴ [447 verses](conj) "Except" is me , which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." As οὐ (ou) negates fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective. With pres. or aor. subj. used in a warning or statement of fear, "take care" It can be the conjunction "lest" or "for fear that.

ἐκολοβώθησαν [2 verses](verb 3rd pl aor ind pass) "Should be shortened" is koloboô, which means "to dock," "to curtail," and "to mutilate." Kolobôsis means "mutilation."

αἱ [821 verses](article pl fem nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."

ἡμέραι [96 verses](noun pl fem nom) "Days" is from hemera, which, as a noun, means "day" "a state or time of life," "a time (poetic)," "day break" and "day time." It is also and also has a second meaning, of "quiet," "tame (animals)," "cultivated (crops)," and "civilized (people)."

ἐκεῖναι, [107 verses](adj pl fem nom) "Those" is ekeinos, which means "the person there," "that person," "that thing," "in that case," "in that way," "at that place," and "in that manner."

οὐκ [269 verses](partic)  "No" is from ou which is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.

ἂν (partic) "Should" is from an, which is a particle used with verbs to indicate that the action is limited by circumstances or defined by conditions. There is no exact equivalent in English, but it is translated as "possibly," "would have," "might," "should," and "could."

ἐσώθη (verb 3rd sg aor ind pass) "There...be saved" is sozo (soizo), which means "save from death," "keep alive," "keep safe," "preserve," "maintain," "keep in mind," "carry off safely," and "rescue." This is the 3rd person, singular, aortic, passive form.

πᾶσα (adj sg fem nom) Untranslated is pas, which means "all," "the whole," "every," "anyone," "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way," "on every side," "in every way," and "altogether." -- The word translated as "all" is from the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "every thing."

σάρξ: (noun sg fem nom) "The flesh" is from sarx, which means "flesh," "the body," "fleshy," "the pulp of fruit," "meat," and "the physical and natural order of things" (opposite of the spiritual or supernatural).

διὰ "For" is from dia which means "through," "in the midst of," "in a line (movement)," "throughout (time)," "by (causal)," "among," and "between." -

δὲ (conj) "But" 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").

τοὺς [821 verses](article pl masc acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."

ἐκλεκτοὺς (adj pl masc acc) "The elect's sake" is from eklektos, which means "picked out," "select," "choice," and "pure."

κολοβωθήσονται [2 verses](verb 3rd pl fut ind pass) "Should be shortened" is from koloboô, which means "to dock," "to curtail," and "to mutilate." Kolobôsis means "mutilation."

αἱ [821 verses](article pl fem nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."

ἡμέραι (noun pl fem nom) "Days" is from hemera, which, as a noun, means "day" "a state or time of life," "a time (poetic)," "day break" and "day time." It is also and also has a second meaning, of "quiet," "tame (animals)," "cultivated (crops)," and "civilized (people)."

ἐκεῖναι. (adj pl fem nom) "Those" is ekeinos, which means "the person there," "that person," "that thing," "in that case," "in that way," "at that place," and "in that manner."

Wordplay

The word translated as "shortened" means "clipped short." 

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings

"And no doubt," he continued. "if those times are not clipped short."

He illustrated the idea by working his hand as if he was using a pair of shears.

"Everything physical could not keep its life," he said, patting his chest emphasizing the word "physical."

"Though, however," he continued. "The chosen..."

He gestured to indicate the followers around him.

"Those time are going to be clipped short," he finished, with a final snip of his fingers.

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