Mar 13:11 But when they shall lead [you], and deliver you up...
ar 13:11 But when they shall lead [you], and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what you shall speak, neither do you premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak you: for it is not you that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Alternative: But since they will fetch [you] to turn you in, don't worry beforehand about what you will babble nor should you rehearse: you will be given what to babble at the right time: for it is not you that babbles but divine inspiration.
Wordplay: Christ plays in the idea of being "given" something to contrast when men give and what God gives us. A form of the same word is used to describe being handed over to authorities by others and being given inspiration from the Holy Spirit. In a sense, both are seen as gifts.
Hidden meaning:The big surprise in this verse is the word used for "speak." There are two words that Christ normally uses for "speaking" and "saying" things, eipon and legô.
Here he repeated uses another word, laleô. this word carries the sense of very casual speaking, chatting, if you will. It very much is the idea of speaking without really paying any attention to what you are saying.
The sense is that in these pressured situations, Christ doesn't want us to expect that we are going to be calm are make serious pronouncements. Instead of worrying about what we say, we should just go with it. Don't worry about it. While it may not be what we think should be said, it is what God thinks should be said.
Thematically and Linguistically Related Verse(s): Luk 12:12 is the similar verse in Luke. There is no parallel in Matthew.
Vocabulary:
"But" is from de (de), which means "but." It is the conjunction that joins sentences and an adversarial way.
"When" is from hotan (hotan), which means "whenever (as a condition)," and "since (as a cause)."
"Shall lead" is from agô (ago), which means to "lead," "carry," "bring," "fetch," "take with one," "carry of," "bear up," "remove," "lead to a point," "lead," "guide," "manage," "refer," "bring up," "train," "educate," "reduce," "draw out (in length)," "hold," "celebrate," "observe (a date)," "pass (Time)," "hold account," "treat," "draw down (in the scale)," and "weight."'
"Deliver you up" is from paradidômi (paradidomi), which means "to give over to another," "to transmit," "to hand down," "to grant," "to teach," and "to bestow."
"Take thought beforehand" is from promerimnaô (promerimnao), which means "take thought before" from deconstruction. The word only appears here in the gospel. It is made of pros (pros), which means "before" and mermêrizô, which means "to be anxious," "to be in doubt," and "to be thoughtful."
"Told" is from laleô (laleo), which means "to talk," "to prattle," "to chat," "to talk," and "to speak." It also means "chatter" as the opposite of articulate speech.
"Premeditate" is from meletaô (meletao), which means "take thought or care for," "attend," "study," "pursue," "exercise," and "train."
"Given" is from didômi (didomi), which means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," and "to describe."
"Is" is from eimi (eimi), which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," and "is possible." (The 2rd person form is "este.")
"Holy" is from hagios ( hagios ), which means "devoted to the gods," "pure," "holy," and on the negative side "accursed."
"Spirit" is pneuma (pneuma), which means "blast," "wind," "breath," "the breath of life," and "divine inspiration."
