After Jesus tells those that follow him will be rewarded.
Mark 10:31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
Mark 10:31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Many, however, will be in front at the end and those at the end in front.
Every position gets reversed over time.
This verse is Jesus's typical play on words. There are no nouns in the sentence and only one verb, "will be." There is only one definite article, before the final "last," but it appears in only some Greek sources and the majority omit it. The keywords, "many," "first," and "last" are all adjectives. All the adjectives in the sentence are in the form of subjects so they are all equated to each other.
Both the words translated as "first" and "last" have multiple meanings. Both are adjectives, that often take their meaning from the context, especially the nouns they modify. However, without any nouns, the phrase becomes more open to interpretation. Some of the mearnings of the adjectives "first" and "last" are opposites, but some make their meaning similar. For example, both adjectives mean "highest."
The primary meanings are are "in front" and "at the end" of lines. Referring to people, the "first" also means "superior" and the "last" means "lowest>'
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "that are" doesn't exist in the source.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "who are" doesn't exist in the source.
But -- -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
many -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size. This is the first word in the sentence and in the form of a subject. In Greek, the most important word come first.
that are -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "that are" in the Greek source.
first -- The word translated as "first" takes a lot of different types of "first" meanings from its context. In place, this means "before," "in front," and, as a noun, "the foremost." Of time, it means "former," "earlier," and, as a noun, "the initial." In order, it means "the first." In math, it means the prime numbers. Of rank or degree, it means "superior" or, as a noun, "the highest" or "the best."
shall -- This indicates that the following verb is in the future tense.
be -- 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 also equates terms or assigns characteristics. This verb appears after the "many" and before the "first." While Greek doesn't uses the "subject > verb > object word order of English, the word order still does create meaning.
last; -- "Last" is from an adjective that, in space, this means "furthest." In degree, it means "uttermost" and "highest." In persons, it means "lowest" and "meanest." Of time, it means "last" and "ending." There are a lot of other meanings as well.
and -- 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."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
last -- "Last" is from an adjective that, in space, this means "furthest." In degree, it means "uttermost" and "highest." In persons, it means "lowest" and "meanest." Of time, it means "last" and "ending." There are a lot of other meanings as well.
first. -- The word translated as "first" takes a lot of different types of "first" meanings from its context. In place, this means "before," "in front," and, as a noun, "the foremost." Of time, it means "former," "earlier," and, as a noun, "the initial." In order, it means "the first." In math, it means the prime numbers. Of rank or degree, it means "superior" or, as a noun, "the highest" or "the best."
But -- -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
many -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size. This is the first word in the sentence and in the form of a subject. In Greek, the most important word come first.
who are-- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "who are" in the Greek source.
first -- The word translated as "first" takes a lot of different types of "first" meanings from its context. In place, this means "before," "in front," and, as a noun, "the foremost." Of time, it means "former," "earlier," and, as a noun, "the initial." In order, it means "the first." In math, it means the prime numbers. Of rank or degree, it means "superior" or, as a noun, "the highest" or "the best."
will-- This indicates that the following verb is in the future tense.
be -- 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 also equates terms or assigns characteristics. This verb appears after the "many" and before the "first." While Greek doesn't uses the "subject > verb > object word order of English, the word order still does create meaning.
last; -- "Last" is from an adjective that, in space, this means "furthest." In degree, it means "uttermost" and "highest." In persons, it means "lowest" and "meanest." Of time, it means "last" and "ending." There are a lot of other meanings as well.
and -- 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."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
last -- "Last" is from an adjective that, in space, this means "furthest." In degree, it means "uttermost" and "highest." In persons, it means "lowest" and "meanest." Of time, it means "last" and "ending." There are a lot of other meanings as well.
first. -- The word translated as "first" takes a lot of different types of "first" meanings from its context. In place, this means "before," "in front," and, as a noun, "the foremost." Of time, it means "former," "earlier," and, as a noun, "the initial." In order, it means "the first." In math, it means the prime numbers. Of rank or degree, it means "superior" or, as a noun, "the highest" or "the best."
πολλοὶ [61 verses] (adj pl masc nom) "Many" is polys, which means "many (in number)," "great (in size or power or worth)," and "large (of space)." As an adverb, it means "far," "very much," "a great way," and "long."
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is 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 indirect cause ("so"). In an "if" (εἰ ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then." In a series begun by men, its means "on the other hand." In a series begun by men, its means "on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then."
ἔσονται .[614 verses]( verb 3rd pl fut ind mid ) "Shall be"is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen," and "is possible." With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." With the dative, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed. With the preposition, eis, , the sense is "consist of.
πρῶτοι [41 verses](adj pl masc nom) "First" is protos. In place, this means "before," "in front," and, as a noun, "the foremost." Of time, it means "former," "earlier," and, as a noun, "the initial." In order, it means "the first." In math, it means the prime numbers. Of rank or degree, it means "superior" or, as a noun, "the highest" or "the best."
ἔσχατοι [21 verses] (adj pl masc nom) "Last" is eschatos. In space, this means "furthest." In degree, it means "uttermost" and "highest." In persons, it means "lowest" and "meanest." Of time, it means "last" and "ending."
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."
[οἱ] [821 verses] (article pl masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἔσχατοι [21 verses] (adj pl masc nom) "Last" is eschatos. In space, this means "furthest." In degree, it means "uttermost" and "highest." In persons, it means "lowest" and "meanest." Of time, it means "last" and "ending."
πρῶτοι. [41 verses](adj pl masc nom) "First" is protos. In place, this means "before," "in front," and, as a noun, "the foremost." Of time, it means "former," "earlier," and, as a noun, "the initial." In order, it means "the first." In math, it means the prime numbers. Of rank or degree, it means "superior" or, as a noun, "the highest" or "the best."