Matthew 24:33 So likewise you, when you shall see all

Spoken to
Apostles

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

KJV

Matthew 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.​

NIV

Matthew 24:33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.

LISTENERS HEARD

In this ways, also you yourselves are, when you see all these, you know nearly that it is upon  doors.

MY TAKE

We are knock, knock, knocking on the devil's door.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The adverb translated here as "near" is the same word we saw in the previous verse (Matthew 24:32) as "nigh/near." This is also the root of the verb Jesus uses in his saying, "the realm of the skies has neared."

The odd thing about the word translated as "door" is that it is plural, "doors." Using this word this way, in the pliral, after this preposition without an article, seems to be a way of saying that a certain time is coming.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "so" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "likewise" means "also." This is not the adverbial form.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "yourself" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "shall" does not indicate that the following verb is in the future tense.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "even" doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "so" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "when" doesn't appear here but after the "you yourselves."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "likewise" means "also." This is not the adverbial form.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "yourself" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "right " doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "door" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural, "doors."
EACH WORD of KJV

So -- (CW)  "So" is from a Greek adverb that means "this," "that," "the nearer." It isn't one of the Greek words usually translated as "so."

likewise -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "likewise" is usually translated as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). It isn't the Greek word usually translated as "likewise."

ye,  - The pronoun "you" is used explicitly. Since it is already part of the verb, its use here emphasizes the "you." Like we say "you yourselves."

missing "yourself" -- (MW)  The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "you yourself."

when -- The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since."

ye  -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the following verb.

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.

see -- The verb translated as "see" means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive." It is not in the future tense, but a tense that indicates something that might happen. This word is very common in the NT. Jesus often uses it to describe the obvious things that people see as apart from the hidden things that only God can see. It is sometimes translated as "to know" but more in the sense of seeing what is apparent rather than learning.

all  - 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 "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way," "on every side," and "altogether."

these  - The "these " is from a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage. It is similar to the word that starts this verse in meaning, but it is an adjective that can be used as a noun.

things, -- This "things"  is from the plural, neutral form of the previous pronoun.

know -- "Know" is from a verb that means "to know," "to recognize," "make known," "to know carnally," and "to learn. It is in a form that could be the present tense, a command, or the tense used for things begun in the past.

that -- The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause.

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

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 is the opposite of the word translated as "is" in the previous verse (Matthew 24:32).

near, --  The adverb translated as "near" means near in time or distance. It was translated in the previous verse (Matthew 24:32) as "nigh." This term is only used here and in the previous verse in the synoptic Gospels but more extensively in John.

even -- (IW) There is no Greek word translated as "even."

at -- The word translated as "at" means "against," "before," "by" or "on." The sense here is "before." This is the  preposition always used with the word "door" as we used "at."

the --  There is no Greek article "the" here in the source, but the following noun is plural and in English, an article is needed before plural nouns in phrases like this.

doors.​ -- The word translated as "doors" means "door," "valve," "gate," "window shutter," "a frame of planks," [in war}"fence or similar obstruction," "entrance" and, metaphorically, "entrance to the soul." The odd thing about the word translated as "door" is that it is plural, "doors." Using this word this way, in the plural, after this preposition without an article, seems to be a way of saying that a certain time is coming.

EACH WORD of NIV

Even --  The Greek word translated as "even" is usually translated as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

so -- (CW)  "So" is from a Greek adverb that means "this," "that," "the nearer." It isn't one of the Greek words usually translated as "so."

when -- (WP) The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since." This appears after the "you yourself."

you ,  - The pronoun "you" is used explicitly. Since it is already part of the verb, its use here emphasizes the "you." Like we say "you yourselves."

missing "yourself" -- (MW)  The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "you yourself."

see -- The verb translated as "see" means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive." It is in a form that indicates something that might happen, which is assumed in a "when" clause. This word is very common in the NT. Jesus often uses it to describe the obvious things that people see as apart from the hidden things that only God can see. It is sometimes translated as "to know" but more in the sense of seeing what is apparent rather than learning.

all  - 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 "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way," "on every side," and "altogether."

these  - The "these " is from a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage. It is similar to the word that starts this verse in meaning, but it is an adjective that can be used as a noun.

things, -- This "things"  is from the plural, neutral form of the previous pronoun.

you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

know -- "Know" is from a verb that means "to know," "to recognize," "make known," "to know carnally," and "to learn. It is in a form that could be the present tense, a command, or the tense used for things begun in the past.

that -- The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause.

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

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 is the opposite of the word translated as "is" in the previous verse (Matthew 24:32).

near, --  The adverb translated as "near" means near in time or distance. It was translated in the previous verse (Matthew 24:32) as "nigh." This term is only used here and in the previous verse in the synoptic Gospels but more extensively in John.

right -- (IW) There is no Greek word translated as "right ."

at -- The word translated as "at" means "against," "before," "by" or "on." The sense here is before.

the --   There is no Greek article "the" here in the source, but the following noun is plural and in English an article is needed before plural nouns in phrases like this.

door.​ -- (WN) The word translated as "door" means "door," "valve," "gate," "window shutter," "a frame of planks," [in war}"fence or similar obstruction," "entrance" and, metaphorically, "entrance to the soul." The odd thing about the word translated as "door" is that it is plural, "doors." Using this word this way, in the plural, after this preposition without an article, seems to be a way of saying that a certain time is coming.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

οὕτως [137 verses](adv) "So" is from houtos, which as an adjective means "this," "that," "the nearer." As an adverb, it means "in this way," "therefore," "so much," "to such an extent," and "that is why." --

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) (conj/adv)"And" is from 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."

ὑμεῖς, [92 verses](pron 2nd pl nom) "You" is from hymeis (humeis), which is the plural nominative form of the second person, "you."

ὅταν [70 verses](adv) "When" is hotan, which means "whenever (as a condition)," and "since (as a cause)." --

ἴδητε [166 verses](verb 2nd pl pres subj act) "Ye shall see" is from eido which means "to see," "to examine," "to perceive," "to behold," "to know how to do," "to see with the mind's eye," and "to know."

πάντα [212 verses](adj pl neut nom/acc) "All" is from 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."

ταῦτα, [96 verses](adj pl neut nom/acc) "These things" is tauta, which is a referring pronoun meaning "these," "this," "that," and "here." It can mean the nearer or the further depending on usage. As an adverb it can mean "therefore" and "that is why."

γινώσκετε [62 verses](verb 2nd pl pres ind/imperat/imperf act) "Know," is from ginosko which means "to learn to know," "to know by reflection or observation," and "to perceive."

ὅτι [332 verses](conj)"That" is from hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

ἐγγύς [6 verses](adv) "Near" is from an adverb eggys, which means 1) (of place) "near," "nigh," "at hand," 2) (of time) "nigh at hand" 3) (of numbers) "nearly," "almost," "coming near," and 4) (of relationship) "akin to."

ἐστιν [614 verses](verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Is" is from eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," and "is possible." (The future form is esomai. The 3rd person present indicative is "esti.")

ἐπὶ  [138 verses](prep) "At" is from epi. which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," and "against."

θύραις. [9 verses](noun pl fem dat) "Door" is thyra, which means "door," "valve," "gate," "window shutter," "a frame of planks," [in war}"fence or similar obstruction," "entrance" and, metaphorically, "entrance to the soul."

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings

"This," he said looking the twig, and then looking in the distance beyond his followers. "And you."

"When you might observe all this in your minds eye," he said, still looking in the distance. "You have nearly begun to know what is at the door."

He reached forward as it to open a door.

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