Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you,

Spoken to
Apostles

A long section about "the end of the world" or, more precisely, "the culmination of an era."

KJV

Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

NIV

Matthew 24:23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.

LISTENERS HEARD

Then, when anyone to you proclaims, "See! here the anointed or here." You should not trust.

MY TAKE

The point here is that during times of great pressure, people will look for saviors to help them and this demand will create supply.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

This verse does not start with an "if" but a "when."  Jesus did not see this as a matter of possibility, but just a matter of when it happened. There is not command here not to believe, simply a statement that you shouldn't trust.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
7
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "if" should be something more like "when."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "shall" does not mean the future tense.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "lo" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" before "Christ"  is not shown in the English
  • UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "christos" means "anointed." It is not translated but a title is substituted.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "there" means "here."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "believe" is not in the form of command but something that "should" or "might" be done.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
4
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "if" should be something more like "when."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "there" means "here."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "he is" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "believe" is not in the form of command but something that "should" or "might" be done.
EACH WORD of KJV

Then -- "Then" is from the Greek word that means "at that time" and "then."

if -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "if" means "if might" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. In English, we say "when."

any man -- The word translated as "any man" means primarily "anything" or "anyone."

shall --  (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the following verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form. In English, the subjunctive is assumed in an "if/when/whoever" clause.

say -- "Say" is from means "to say" and "to speak" also. It has less a sense addressing and proclaiming.

unto -- This word "unto" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English, but the translator must decide which preposition to use: a "to" as an indirect object seem likely here.

you, -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. 

Lo, -- (CW)  "Lo" is from an adverb meaning "Lo! Behold!" and "See there!" In a humorous vein, this about how Christ uses this like we use the phrase "ta-da" in a magic show, or "see!" in French.

here -- The word translated as "here" means in manner, "in this way," referring to manner, or "here," referring to place.

is -- -- There is no verb "to be" here in the Greek. However, when a noun and pronouns appear in the form of a subject without a verb, the verb "to be" is assumed.

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. 

Christ, -- (UW) The word translated as "Christ" means "anointed." In the NT, it is understood to mean the Messiah, following the anointing of the kings of Israel. The Jews of Jesus's era thought they understood who the Messiah was and the source of his authority. He was a descendant of David, and his authority came from David as "the anointed" king of the Jews.

or -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi" or the adverb meaning "in truth."

there; -- (WW) The word translated as "there" means in manner, "in this way," referring to manner, or "here," referring to place. It is the same as the "here" above.

believe -- (WF) The Greek word translated as "believe" does not apply to religious belief as much as it does trusting in other people, especially their word. Jesus usually uses it in contexts, as the one here, that apply to trusting words.  It is not in the form of a command. It is either the form of possibility ("you might") or the future tense ("you are going to.")

it -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.

not. -- The negative "not" used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. The sense is that "you don't want" to do something, not that it isn't done or don't think something that might be true. If it wasn't done or wasn't true, the objective negative of fact would be used. This is the negative used with commands and requests.

EACH WORD of NIV

At that time-- "At that time" is from the Greek word that means "at that time" and "then."

if -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "if" means "if might" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. In English, we say "when."

anyone -- The word translated as "anyone " means primarily "anything" or "anyone."

says -- "Says" is from means "to say" and "to speak" also. It has less a sense addressing and proclaiming.

to -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English, but the translator must decide which preposition to use: a "to" as an indirect object seem likely here.

you, -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. 

Look, --  "Look" is from an adverb meaning "Lo! Behold!" and "See there!" In a humorous vein, this about how Christ uses this like we use the phrase "ta-da" in a magic show, or "see!" in French.

here -- The word translated as "here" means in manner, "in this way," referring to manner, or "here," referring to place.

is -- -- There is no verb "to be" here in the Greek. However, when a noun and pronouns appear in the form of a subject without a verb, the verb "to be" is assumed.

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. 

Messiah, -- ( The word translated as "Messiah" means "anointed." In the NT, it is understood to mean the Messiah, following the anointing of the kings of Israel. The Jews of Jesus's era thought they understood who the Messiah was and the source of his authority. He was a descendant of David, and his authority came from David as "the anointed" king of the Jews.

or -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi" or the adverb meaning "in truth."

there; -- (WW) The word translated as "there" means in manner, "in this way," referring to manner, or "here," referring to place. It is the same as the "here" above.

he is!’-- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "he is" in the Greek source.

do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English, but the Greek could be either a question or a statement.

not. -- The negative "not" used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. The sense is that "you don't want" to do something, not that it isn't done or don't think something that might be true. If it wasn't done or wasn't true, the objective negative of fact would be used. This is the negative used with commands and requests.

believe -- (WF) The Greek word translated as "believe" does not apply to religious belief as much as it does trusting in other people, especially their word. Jesus usually uses it in contexts, as the one here, that apply to trusting words.  It is not in the form of a command. It is either the form of possibility ("you might") or the future tense ("you are going to.")

it -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

Τότε [53 verses](adv) "Then" is from tote, which means "at that time" and "then."

ἐάν [162 verses](conk)"If" is from ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if)and an (might)) which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event.

τις [252 verses](pron sg fem/masc nom) "Any man" is from tis which can mean "someone," "any one," "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."

ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "Unto you" is from humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."

εἴπῃ [162 verses](verb 3rd sg aor subj act) "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."

Ἰδοὺ[52 verses] (adv or verb 2nd sg aor imperat mid ) "Lo" 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."

ὧδε [29 verses] (adv) "Here" is hode, the demonstrative adverb that means in manner, "in this wise," "thus," "so very," "so exceedingly," of Place, "hither," and "here."

[821 verses](article sg masc 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."

χριστός [15 verses](noun sg masc nom) "Christ" is christos, which means "to be rubbed with salve," "used as an ointment," and, of persons, "anointed."

[92 verses](conj) "Or" is e which is a particle meaning "either," "or," or "than." -- "Than" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison.

ωδε, [29 verses] (adv)  "Here" is hode, the demonstrative adverb that means in manner, "in this wise," "thus," "so very," "so exceedingly," of Place, "hither," and "here."

μὴ [447 verses](conj) "Not" is from 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.

πιστεύσητε: [69 verses](verb 2nd pl aor subj act or verb 2nd pl fut ind act) "Believe" is pisteuo, which means "to trust, put faith in, or rely on a person," "to believe in someone's words," "to comply," "to feel confident in a thing," and "to entrust in a thing."

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings

"Then," he said. "If anyone might just proclaim."

He struck a pose as if he was a magician.

"Ta-dah!" he said gesturing as if uncovering a surprise. "This is the chosen one!"

Then he looked uncertain and added, "Or this."

His followers laughed and he smiled, joining in the humor.

"You aren't going to trust that?" he asked innocently.

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