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Mark 12:40
Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers...
After Jesus argues that the Anointed is not the son of David.
Mark 12:40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
Mark 12:40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.
The ones gulping down the households of these widows and praying long as a pretext, those getting an excessive judgment.
Greek
Greek Word Order
οἱ κατέσθοντες τὰς οἰκίας τῶν χηρῶν καὶ προφάσει μακρὰ προσευχόμενοι:
The ones gulping down the households of these widows and, as a pretext, long praying ;
οὗτοι λήμψονται περισσότερον κρίμα.
these getting an excessive judgment.
Our getting will get judged.
Lost in Translation
The most important error here is the final part of the verse, which does not look like a threat of punishment at all. The verb is not in the future tense as translated nor is it active. In the number of translation issues, we can see the lengths to which the translators go to make it mean what it likely does not mean. The adjective translated as "greater" and "more/most severely" means "more than sufficient." "superfluous," and extraordinary. The noun translated as "damnation" and "punished" means simply, "judgment" and it is almost always translated d that way in the Bible.
In the last clause of the verse, there is a word meaning "getting" that is translated as "receive" in the KJV and eliminated from more modern translations. The last phrase is word-for-word, "these getting more than sufficient judgment." It seems to refer back to the verses beginning, the scribes taking the widow's houses in court. However, like our "get" the Greek word has two meanings, its primary one, taking" and the minor one, "receiving." So this line refers both the houses and the punishment for doing it. However, t
This verse is good example of how humor is lost translating a spoken phrase into neat written sentences. In the Greek, there is no active verb in this verse. It is a series of verbal adjectives (participles), all describing the "scribes" of Mark 12:38. The first clause uses a funny verb to describe the act of taking the widow's houses, "gulping down." The last, the verb with a double meaning.
Vocabulary (Greek word by word)
οἱ [821 verses](article pl 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."
κατέσθοντες [7 times](part pl pres act masc nom) "Devour" is from katesthio, which means "to eat up" and "to devour." It is a term applied to animals of prey. It also means "to corrode" or "to be gnawed."
τὰς [821 verses](article pl fem acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
οἰκίας [40 times](noun pl fem acc) "Houses" is from oikia, which means "house," "building," and "household." It was also the term that was used to describe a family or clan and the people associated with that family or clan, such as their servants and slaves.
τῶν [821 verses](article pl masc gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
χηρῶν [9 verses](noun pl masc gen) "Widows'" is chera, which means "widow" and "bereaved."
καὶ [1089 verses](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."
προφάσει [5 verses] (noun sg fem dat) "For a pretense" is prophasis, which means "motive," "alleged cause," "actual motive," "plea," "falsely alleged motive," "pretext," "pretense," "purpose," "cause," "persuasion," and "suggestion."
μακρὰ [4 verses](noun/adj pl neut nom/acc) "Long" is makros, which means in length, "long," in height, "tall," "high," "deep," in distance, "long," "far," "remote," generally, "large in size or degree," "great," of Time, "long," and "tedious." As a noun, it means "length." As an adverb, "lengthy."
προσευχόμενοι: [26 verses](part pl pres mp masc nom/acc) "Make...prayers" is proseuchomai, which means "to offer prayers or vows," "to worship," and "to pray for a thing. It is the combination of two Greek word, pros, meaning "towards" or "by reason of," and euchomai, meaning "to pray to God."
οὗτοι [137 verses](adj pl masc nom) "These" is from houtos, which means "this," "that," "the nearer." As an adverb, it means "in this way," "therefore," "so much," "to such an extent," and "that is why."
λήμψονται [54 verse](part pl pres act masc nom) "Shall receive" is lambano means to "take," "take hold of," "grasp," "seize," "catch," "overtake," "find out," "detect," "take as," "take [food or drugs]," "understand," "take in hand," "undertake," "take in," "hold," "get," "receive [things]," "receive hospitably," "receive in marriage," "receive as produce," "profit," "admit," "initiate," "take hold of," "lay hold on," "seize and keep hold of," "obtain possession of," "lay hands upon," "find fault with," "censure," "to apprehend with the senses," "to take hold of," and "to seize." It is also specifically used to mean "seized with emotion."
περισσότερον [7 verses] (adj sg masc acc) "Greater" is perissoteros, which is a form of the word perissos, which means "beyond the regular number of size," "out of the common," "extraordinary" "more than sufficient," "superfluous," "useless," "excessive," "extravagant," "over-wise," "over-curious," "abundantly," and "remarkable."
κρίμα. [5 verses](noun sg neut acc) "Damnation" is from krima, which means "decision," "judgment," "decree," "resolution," and a "legal decision."
KJV — word by word
Which -- (WW) 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." Here, it precedes a verb in the form of an adjective. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
devour -- (WF) "Devour" is a compound word that means "to eat up" and "to devour." It is a term applied to animals of prey. It also means "to corrode" or "to be gnawed." It is the common word that means "to eat" or "to devour" with a prefix that means "down." The sense is how we say "gulping down" in English. This verb is only used seven times, in parallels to this verse and in parables where the exaggeration creates humor. The form is not an active verb but an verb adjective, "devouring" or "gulping down."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun, here, the noun "houses." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
widows' -- "Widows" is from chera, which means "widow" and "bereaved." The word follows "houses" in the form "of the widows."
missing "the" -- (MW)The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun, here, the noun "windows." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
houses, -- The Greek word translated as "house," in Christ's time, was not only the physical building but the whole household, its members, its property, business interests, and position in the community, all connected to the "name" of the head of the house.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
for -- This word comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. Here, the sense is "for" a purpose.
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
pretense -- "Pretense" is a noun that means "motive," "alleged cause," "actual motive," "plea," "falsely alleged motive," "pretext," "pretense," "purpose," "cause," "persuasion," and "suggestion." This word is used by Jesus only five times, most often in parallels of this verse.
make -- (WF) The Greek word translated as "make...prayers" means "to offer prayers of vows" either "to worship" or "to ask for a thing." This is not the normal Greek word for "make," but the verb for praying. The form is a verbal adjective, "praying" in the third person plural, "their praying," This is the last word in the clause.
long -- "Long" is an adjective that means in length, "long," in height, "tall," "high," "deep," in distance, "long," "far," "remote," generally, "large in size or degree," "great," of Time, "long," and "tedious." As a noun, it means "length." As an adverb, "lengthy."
prayers: -- There is no Greek noun that means "prayers" in the source . It is used to translate the verb "make" into "praying."
these -- "These" is translated from a Greek word that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Since this word and the following adjective, "receiving" are both in the form of subjects, a "are" can be inserted between them since no active verb is in the clause.
shall -- (WT) This helping verb seems to indicates that the following verb is the future tense. This is not the case. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
receive -- (MM, WF) The word translated as "receive" primarily means "take." However, it means "receive" in the same sense that we use "get" to mean "receive" and has many different uses as we use "get" in English. This could refer to the "taking" of the widow's houses. Among these are the ideas of "understanding" and "possessing." The form of this verb is again, a verbal adjective use, "getting." This may not be the specific meaning of the word in this situation.
greater -- "Greater" is an adjective that means "beyond the regular number of size," "out of the common," "extraordinary" "more than sufficient," "superfluous," "useless," "excessive," "extravagant," "over-wise," "over-curious," "abundantly," and "remarkable." The form is comparative, "greater" or "more" of something.
damnation.-- (WW) "Damnation" is a noun that means "decision," "judgment," "decree," "resolution," and a "legal decision." It is the same root as the noun that means "judge" and the common Greek word translated as "judgment."
NIV — word by word
They -- (CW) 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." Here, it precedes a verb in the form of an adjective. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. This is not the pronoun usually translated as "they."
devour -- (WF) "Devour" is a compound word that means "to eat up" and "to devour." It is a term applied to animals of prey. It also means "to corrode" or "to be gnawed." It is the common word that means "to eat" or "to devour" with a prefix that means "down." The sense is how we say "gulping down" in English. This verb is only used seven times, in parallels to this verse and in parables where the exaggeration creates humor. The form is not an active verb but an verb adjective, "devouring" or "gulping down."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun, here, the noun "houses." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
widows' -- "Widows" is from chera, which means "widow" and "bereaved." The word follows "houses" in the form "of the widows."
missing "the" -- (MW)The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun, here, the noun "windows." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
houses, -- The Greek word translated as "house," in Christ's time, was not only the physical building but the whole household, its members, its property, business interests, and position in the community, all connected to the "name" of the head of the house.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
for -- This word comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. Here, the sense is "for" a purpose.
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
show -- (WW) "Show" is a noun that means "motive," "alleged cause," "actual motive," "plea," "falsely alleged motive," "pretext," "pretense," "purpose," "cause," "persuasion," and "suggestion." This word is used by Jesus only five times, most often in parallels of this verse.
make -- (WF) The Greek word translated as "make...prayers" means "to offer prayers of vows" either "to worship" or "to ask for a thing." This is not the normal Greek word for "make," but the verb for praying. The form is a verbal adjective, "praying" in the third person plural, "their praying," This is the last word in the clause.
lengthy -- "Lengthy" is an adjective that means in length, "long," in height, "tall," "high," "deep," in distance, "long," "far," "remote," generally, "large in size or degree," "great," of Time, "long," and "tedious." As a noun, it means "length." As an adverb, "lengthy."
prayers: -- This completes the idae of the verb "making."
These -- "These" is translated from a Greek word that means "this," "that," "the nearer."
men -- (IW) There is no Greek word that can be translated as "men" in the Greek source.
will -- (WT) This helping verb seems to indicates that the following verb is the future tense. This is not the case. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- Though there is no verb here since the "these" and "getting" are both in the form of a subject, a verb "to be" can be inserted between them.
missing "getting"-- (MW) The untranslated word means "take." However, it means "receive" in the same sense that we use "get" to mean "receive" and has many different uses as we use "get" in English. Among these are the ideas of "understanding" and "possessing." The form of this verb is again, a verbal adjective use, "getting."
punished .-- (WW) "Punished" is a noun that means "decision," "judgment," "decree," "resolution," and a "legal decision." It is the same root as the noun that means "judge" and the common Greek word translated as "judgment." It is not a verb but a noun.
most -- (WF) This is from the comparative form of the following word. The sense is "more" of something not "most".
severely - (CW) - "Severely" is an adjective that means "beyond the regular number of size," "out of the common," "extraordinary" "more than sufficient," "superfluous," "useless," "excessive," "extravagant," "over-wise," "over-curious," "abundantly," and "remarkable."