Mark 11:25

And when you stand praying, forgive...

Jesus says that whatever they ask for themselves, they will get.

Spoken to:: Apostles
KJV issues:: 8

KJV

Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

NIV

Mark 11:25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

What His Listeners Heard

And whenever you stand praying, let go if you have anything against anyone so that also that Father of yours, the one in the skies, might let go of you those slip-ups of yours.

Greek

Greek Word Order

καὶ ὅταν στήκετε προσευχόμενοι, ἀφίετε εἴ τι ἔχετε κατά τινος,
And whenever you stand praying, let go if anything you have against anyone

ἵνα καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς ἀφῇ ὑμῖν τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν.
so that also that Father of yours, the one in the skies, might let go of you those slip-ups of yours

We must let go of all of life's blunders, our own and those of others.

Lost in Translation

The word used for "stand" is unique to this verse, probably as a reference to a Bible quote (1 Kings 8:11). It is not the common word usually translated as "stand."

The word translated as "trespasses/sins" is used only here and in the next verse. The word translated as "trespasses/sins" is also much softer in the Greek, meaning what we would describe simply as "slip-ups" and "blunders." It is not the word translated as "trespasses" in the Lord's Prayers, which means "debts." Nor is it the word translated as "sins" most other places in the NT.

The words translated as "forgive," though often translated as "forgive" in the NT, means letting go and leaving behind, a very general idea without any connection to past wrongs. See this article

Vocabulary (Greek word by word)

καὶ [1089 verses] (conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." 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."

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

στήκετε [1 verse]( verb 2nd pl pres ind act ) "Ye stand" is steko, which means "stand." The word is an archaic version of the more common histemi.

προσευχόμενοι,[26 verses] ( part pl pres mp masc nom ) "Praying" is proseuchomai, which means "to offer prayers or vows," and "to pray for a thing."

ἀφίετε [73 verses] ( verb 2nd pl pres imperat act) "Forgive" is 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."

εἴ [90 verses](conj) "If" 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.

τι [252 verses]( pron sg neut acc) "Ought" is tis which can mean "omeone", "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."

ἔχετε [181 verses] ( verb 2nd pl pres ind act ) "Have" is echo, which means "to have", "to hold", "to possess", "to keep", "to have charge of", "to have due to one", "to maintain", "to hold fast", "to bear", "to carry", "to keep close", "to keep safe," and "to have means to do."

κατά [60 verses] (prep) "Against" is kata, which, as a preposition, means "downwards", "down from", "down into", "against", "down toward", "opposite", "separately", "individually", "at a time", "towards", "in accordance with", "concerning", "corresponding with", "during the course of a period," and "severally." As an adverb, it means "according as", "just as", "in so far as", "wherefore", "like as if" and "exactly as."

τινος, [252 verses] (pron sg gen) "Any" is 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."

ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place", "there", "where", "when", "that", "in order that", "when," and "because."

καὶ [1089 verses] (conj/adv) "Also" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." 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."

ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

πατὴρ [191 verses](noun sg masc nom) "The Father" is pater, which means "father", "grandfather", "author", "parent," and "forefathers."

ὑμῶν [168 verses](pron 2nd pl gen) "Your/you" is humon, the plural possessive form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you." It is either a possessive pronoun or the object of a preposition.

ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "Which" 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."

ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with a dative object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during," and "with." With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during.

τοῖς [821 verses] (article pl masc dat) 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." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.

οὐρανοῖς [111 verses](noun pl masc dat) "Heaven" is the Greek ouranos, which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky", "heaven as the seat of the gods", "the sky", "the universe," and "the climate."

ἀφῇ [73 verses] ( verb 3rd sg aor subj act ) "May forgive" is 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."

ὑμῖν. [299 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is hymin (humin), which is the 2nd person plural dative pronoun. Dative is the case which indicates to whom something is given.

τὰ [821 verses] (article pl neut nom/acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

παραπτώματα [2 verses]( noun pl neut acc ) "Trespasses" is a paraptôma, which means "false step", "blunder," and "slip." Only in the NT is defined as "trespass."

KJV — word by word

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 best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".

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

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

stand -- Stand" is a verb that appears only here in Jesus's words that means "stand." It may be from the use of this word in 1 Kings 8:11 in the Septuagint that describes the inability of the priest to stand before the presence of the Lord.

praying, -- The Greek word translated as "praying" means "to offer prayers of vows" either "to worship" or "to ask for a thing". It is in the form of a plural, masculine adjective.

forgive, -- (CW) The word translated as "forgive" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away." It can also means "remit" a debt or "excuse" a fault. It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop. See this article for more.

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."

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

have -- The word translated as "have" means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do", "to have due to one", or "keep" and many specific uses.

ought -- "Ought" The Greek word translated as "ought" in the singular means "anyone", "someone," and "anything." The form here is "anything."

against -- The word translated as "against" means "down from", "down into", "against", "opposite", "separately", "at a time", "towards", "in accordance with", "concerning", "corresponding with", "during the course of a period," and "severally."

any: -- The Greek word translated as "any" in the singular means "anyone", "someone," and "anything." The form here is "anyone."

that -- The word translated as "that" is an adverb or a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "there", "so that," and "in order that."

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.

your -- The word translated as "your" is plural addressing a group of Jesus's listeners.

Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers". It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

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

which-- The word translated as "which" 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.

is -- (IW) There is no verb "to be" here.

in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," or "among."

heaven -- (WN) The word translated as "heaven" means sky, the climate, and the universe. It is plural, so "heavens" or "skies." It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article.

may -- This is from the voice of the following verb which indicates a possibility.

forgive -- (CW) The word translated as "forgive" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away." It can also means "remit" a debt or "excuse" a fault. It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop. See this article for more.

you -- The "you" here is plural, indicating all Jesu's listeners. It is in the form of an object.

missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.

your -- The word translated as "your" is plural addressing a group of Jesus's listeners.

trespasses. -- (CW) "Trespasses" is another word that Jesus uses only here and in the next verse. It means "false step", "blunder," and "slip." Only in the NT is it defined as "trespass."

NIV — word by word

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

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

stand -- Stand" is a verb that appears only here in Jesus's words which means "stand." It may be from the use of this word in 1 Kings 8:11 in the Septuagint that describes the inability of the priest to stand before the presence of the Lord.

praying, -- The Greek word translated as "praying" means "to offer prayers of vows" either "to worship" or "to ask for a thing". It is in the form of a plural, masculine adjective.

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."

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

hold -- The word translated as "have" means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do", "to have due to one", or "keep" and many specific uses.

anything -- "Ought" The Greek word translated as "ought" in the singular means "anyone", "someone," and "anything." The form here is "anything."

anyone: -- The Greek word translated as "any" in the singular means "anyone", "someone," and "anything." The form here is "anyone."

them, -- (IW) There is not pronoun here. This verb comes before the "anyone" but anyone is not plural.

so that -- The word translated as "that" is an adverb or a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "there", "so that," and "in order that."

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

missing "the/this"-- (MW) The word is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.

your -- The word translated as "your" is plural addressing a group of Jesus's listeners.

Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers". It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

missing "the one"-- (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.

in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," or "among."

missing "the/this"-- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.

may -- This is from the voice of the following verb which indicates a possibility.

you -- The "you" here is plural, indicating all Jesu's listeners. It is in the form of an object.

missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.

your -- The word translated as "your" is plural addressing a group of Jesus's listeners.

sins. -- (WW) "Sins" is another word that Jesus uses only here and in the next verse. It means "false step", "blunder," and "slip." Only in the NT is defined as "trespass."

Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,

Matthew 18:15 Moreover if your brother shall trespass against you,

Matthew 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you...

Greek

Greek Word Order

Lost in Translation

Vocabulary (Greek word by word)

KJV — word by word

NIV — word by word

Related Verses