Jesus describes the end of Jerusalem.
Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luke 21:34 Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.
Hold onto, however, yourselves. Not at any time should those hearts of yours be weighed down by overindulgence and drunkenness and life cares and that day there set upon you unforeseen like a trap.
All the key words in this verse are unique and the meaning of several can be debated since they could be several different Greek words and this is the only time Jesus uses them. This verse has the following words that are only used by Jesus here:
- The word translated as "overcharged/weight down." Weight down is correct.
- The word translated as "surfeiting/carousing" is from a Latin word written in Greek letters, not a Greek or Aramaic one.
- The word translated as "drunkenness."
- The adjective translated as "life" is the adjective form of the common Greek word translated as "life".
- The word translated as "cares" and "anxieties".
- The word translated as "unawares" and "suddenly" means "unforeseen".
- The word translated as "trap".
Both verbs in the sentence are in the form of something that "should" or "might" happen.
The Divine likes surprises.
Hold onto, however, yourselves. Not at any time should those hearts of yours be weighed down
Προσέχετε δὲ ἑαυτοῖς μή ποτε βαρηθῶσιν αἱ καρδίαι ὑμῶν
by overindulgence and drunkenness and cares life and set upon you unforeseen that day there like a trap
ἐν κρεπάλῃ καὶ μέθῃ καὶ μερίμναις βιωτικαῖς, καὶ ἐπιστῇ ἐφ᾽ ὑμᾶς ἐφνίδιος ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνη ὡς “παγίς:”
And(WW) take heed to yourselves, lest(CW) at any time your (MW) hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares [of this(IW)] life(WF), and so(IW) that(CW) (IW) day come(CW) upon you unawares(CW).
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but".
- CW - Confusing Word -- This is not the Greek word combination normally translated as "lest".
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "hearts" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "of this" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "life" is not a noun but an adjective.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "so" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "that" is the common word that should be translated as "here" or "there".
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "day" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "come".
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "unawares" doesn't precisely mean "unawares".
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "but" at the beginning of the sentence is not shown in the English translation.
- MP3 - Missing Phrase - The phrase "yourselves not then" exists in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "hearts" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "will" should be something more like "should".
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" after "carousing" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "the" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "of" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "life" is not a noun but an adjective.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "that" is the common word that should be translated as "here" or "there."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "day" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "will" should be something more like "should".
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "suddenly" should be something more like "unforeseen".
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" 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. KJV translators regularly change it to "and" when they don't see the adversarial nature of the statement. This may be because Jesus is answering a question that was not recorded. This word doesn't mean "and".
take heed -- The word translated as "take heed" means "hold to", "offer", "turn toward", "attend to", "pay attention" and "be on your guard against". Its root is the Greek word meaning "have" and "hold". It works somewhat like our phrase "hold fast" or simply "hold on". It is a command to the group of listeners.
to -- This word "to" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with", "in", "of", "as", "by", "for", "at" or "on", depending on the context.
yourselves -- "Yourselves" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself" and so on. However, it cannot mean "yourselves". This is because the verb is not in the proper form. Greek has a special form for verbs where the subject acts on themselves and it isn't used here. This pronoun likely refers to something in the question asked of him. A question about "hearts", possibly.
lest -- The negative "lest" used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. This is not the Greek word combination normally translated as "lest". The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests.
at any time -- The "at any time" is from an adverb meaning "when", "at what time", "at some time or other", "at some unknown time and "at some time in the future".
your -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the possessive (genitive) case. This pronoun follows the noun so the possessive "of yours".
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the", which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these" and "those"). See this article for more.
hearts -- "Hearts" is the Greek word that means "heart" both the physical organ and as the seat of emotions, which we discuss in a larger Greek context in this article here. However, this phrase can be read as defining the "heart" and both the "soul" and "the mind".
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
overcharged -- "Overcharged" is verb Jesus only uses here that means to "weigh down", "depress", "debit" or "charge" (an account), "heavy" and "pregnant". It only means "charge" in the sense of charging an account. The idea of electric charges didn't exist at the time. The form is passive in the form of possibility, something that might happen.
with -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with" or "among".
surfeiting -- "Surfeiting", which means acting in excess, is from a unique Latin word, the only purely Latin word so far in this study. The word means "excessive drinking", "overindulgence" and "intoxication". This word is not Greek but a Latin word spelled in Greek letters.
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".
drunkenness -- "Drunkenness" is another unique word, this one Greek, that means "strong drink" and "drunkenness".
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".
cares -- "Cares" is translated from a Greek word that means "care", "thought" or "concern". It has most of the sense of the way we use "worry" in English. However, it is single, not plural.
of this -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
life -- (WF) "Life" is yet another unique word. It is not one of the several common words that mean life that Jesus uses (see this article). This word is an adjective that means "full of life", "lively" and "of life". It specifically refers to life of the body. It is from a root word that Jesus uses elsewhere that means "livelihood", and "means of living", in the sense of supporting yourself and your family. It is the adjective form of a Greek word normally translated as "life". This is not a noun but an adjective.
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".
so -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
that -- (CW) The word translated as "that" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there". So it means "there", "here" or "then". Used as a pronoun, the sense is "that one there" or "this one here".
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the", which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these" and "those"). See this article for more.
day -- The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time", in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime". This word comes later in the sentence, after the verb.
come --"Come" is another unique word for Jesus. It is not the word commonly translated as "come". This word means to "set upon", "place upon", "cause", "set up", and so on. This word starts the sentence and is in the form of possibility so it would be heard as "it might put upon."
upon -- The word translated as "upon" means "on", "over", "upon", "against", "before", "after", "during", "by" or "on". This is a repeated word because it already appeared in the prefix of the verb translated as "come".
you -- The "you" here is the second-person, plural pronoun in the form of an object.
unawares -- (CW) "Unawares" is another unique word that means "unforeseen" and "sudden". It is an adjective that comes before "day" modifying it, so "unforeseen day". This doesn't modify "you" but "day". This word doesn't precisely mean "unawares".
missing "as a trap" -- (OS) The untranslated word "as a trap". There are two words used in the next verse that are, in the Greek, clearly part of this verse. We will explain why in the next article, but these words mean "as a trap". The word translated as "as" has a very broad meaning, translating as "how", "when", "where", "just as", "like" and related words. "A trap" is from a Greek word Jesus only uses here that means "trap" and, metaphorically, "snare".
missing "but" -- (MW) The untranslated word "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. KJV translators regularly change it to "and" when they don't see the adversarial nature of the statement. This may be because Jesus is answering a question that was not recorded. This word doesn't mean "and".
Be careful, -- The word translated as "be careful" means"hold to", "offer", "turn toward", "attend to", "pay attention" and "be on your guard against". Its root is the Greek word meaning "have" and "hold". It works somewhat like our phrase "hold fast" or simply "hold on". It is a command to the group of listeners.
missing "yourselves not then" -- (MP) The untranslated word "yourselves" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself" and so on. However, it cannot mean "yourselves". This is because the verb is not in the proper form. Greek has a special form for verb where the subject acts on themselves and it isn't used here. This pronoun likely refers to something in the question asked of him. A question about "hearts", possibly. The negative "lest" used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. This is not the Greek word combination normally translated as "lest". The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. The "at an time" is from an adverb meaning "when", "at what time", "at some time or other", "at some unknown time" and "at some time in the future".
or -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
your -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the possessive (genitive) case. This pronoun follows the noun so the possessive "of yours".
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the", which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these" and "those"). See this article for more.
hearts -- "Hearts" is the Greek word that means "heart" both the physical organ and as the seat of emotions, which we discuss in a larger Greek context in this article here. However, this phrase can be read as defining the "heart" and both the "soul" and "the mind".
will -- (WW) This helping verb indicates that the verb is the future tense, but it isn't. It is in the form of possibility so it needs a "should" or "might".
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
weighed down -- "Weighed down" is verb Jesus only uses here that means to "weigh down", "depress", "debit" or "charge" an account, "heavy" and "pregnant". It only means "charge" in the sense of charging an account. The idea of electric charges didn't exist at the time. The form is passive in the form of possibility, something that might happen.
with -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with" or "among."
carousing -- "Carousing", which means acting in excess, is from a unique Latin word, the only purely Latin word so far in this study. The word means "excessive drinking", "overindulgence" and "intoxication". This word is not Greek but a Latin word spelled in Greek letters.
missing "and" -- (MW) The untranslated word "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".
drunkenness -- "Drunkenness" is another unique word, this one Greek, that means "strong drink" and "drunkenness".
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".
the -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
anxieties -- "Anxieties" is translated from a Greek word that means "care", "thought" or "concern". It has most of the sense of the way we use "worry" in English. However, it is single, not plural.
of -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
life -- (WF) "Life" is yet another unique word. It is not one of the several common words that mean life that Jesus uses (see this article). This word is an adjective that means "full of life", "lively", and "of life". It specifically refers to life of the body. It is from a root word that Jesus uses elsewhere that means "livelihood", and "means of living", in the sense of supporting yourself and your family. It is the adjective form of the Greek word normally translated as "life". This is not a noun but an adjective.
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".
that -- (CW) The word translated as "that" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there". So it means "there", "here" or "then". Used a pronoun, the sense is "that one there" or "this one here".
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, the", which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these" and "those"). See this article for more.
day -- The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time", in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime". This word comes later in the sentence, after the verb.
will -- (WW) This helping verb indicates that the verb is the future tense, but it isn't. It is in the form of possibility so it needs a "should" or "might".
close --"Close" is another unique word for Jesus. This word means to "set upon", "place upon", "cause", "set up", and so on. This word starts the sentence and is in the form of possibility so it would be heard as "it might put upon".
on -- The word translated as "on" means "on", "over", "upon", "against", "before", "after", "during", "by" or "on". This is a repeated word because it already appeared in the prefix of the verb translated as "come".
you -- The "you" here is the second-person, plural pronoun in the form of an object.
suddenly -- (WW) "Suddenly" is another unique word that means "unforeseen" and "sudden". It is an adjective that comes before "day" modifying it, so "unforeseen day". This doesn't modify "you" but "day." This word doesn't mean "suddenly".
like -- The word translated as "as" has a very broad meaning, translating as "how", "when", "where", "just as", "like" and related words.
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
trap. -- . "A trap" is from a Greek word Jesus only uses here that means "trap" and, metaphorically, "snare".
Προσέχετε ( verb 2nd pl pres imperat act ) "Take heed" is the Greek prosecho, which means "hold to", "to offer", "turn to or toward", "to turn your mind toward", "to be on one's guard against", "to take heed", "to pay attention", "to devote oneself to", "to attach oneself", "to continue", "to hold fast to" [a thing], "to have in addition" or "pay court to".
δὲ (conj/adv) "And" 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 a weak connective ("and") and explanation of cause ("so") and a condition ("if").
ἑαυτοῖς ( adj pl nuet/masc dat ) "To yourselves" is heautou, is a reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself", "itself", "themselves" and "ourselves". It is an alternative to autos.
μή (partic) "Lest" is me, which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no". As οὐ (ou) negates fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective.
ποτε (adv/conj) "At any time" comes from pote, which means "when", "at what time", "at some time or other", "at some unknown time" and "at some time in the future".
βαρηθῶσιν [1 verse]( verb 3rd pl aor subj pass) "Overcharged" is bareo, which means to "weigh down", "depress", "debit" or "charge" (an account), "heavy" and "pregnant".
αἱ [821 verses](article pl fem nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones".
καρδίαι (noun pl fem nom) "Hearts" is kardia, which means "heart" (the physical organ), "the seat of emotions" (especially passion, rage, and anger), "inclination", "desire", "purpose", "mind", "the pith" (in wood) and "the deep" (of the sea).
ὑμῶν (pron 2nd pl gen) "Your" is humon, the plural possessive form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you".
ἐν (prep) "In" is en, which means "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power" and "with".
κρεπάλῃ {Latin: crapula} [1 verse]( noun sg fem dat) "Surfeiting" is kraipalē, which means "excessive drinking", "overindulgence" and "intoxication". This word is not Greek but a Latin word spelled in Greek letters.
καὶ (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".
μέθῃ [1 verse]( noun sg fem dat) "Drunkenness" is methe, which means "strong drink" and "drunkenness".
καὶ (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". After words implying sameness "as".
μερίμναις [4 verses] (noun pl fem dat) "Cares"is from merimna , which means "care", "thought", "solicitude", "object of care or thought" and, in plural, "pursuit", "ambition".
βιωτικαῖς, [1 verse]( adj pl fem dat ) "Of this life" is biōtikos , which means "full of life", "lively" and "of life".
καὶ (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".
ἐπιστῇ [1 verse]( verb 3rd sg aor subj act ) "Come" is ephistemi, which means to "set upon", "Set up", "place upon", "cause", "set up" and so on.
ἐφ᾽ (prep) "Upon" is epi, which means "on", "over", "upon", "at", "by", "before", "across", "after" in position, "during" and "against".
ὑμᾶς (pron 2nd pl acc) "You" is humas which is the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you".
ἐφνίδιος {αἰφνίδιος} [1 verse]( adj sg fem nom ) "Unawares" is aiphnidios, which means "unforeseen" and "sudden".
ἡ [821 verses](article sg fem nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones".
ἡμέρα (noun sg fem nom) "Day" is hemera, which, as a noun, means "day", "a state or time of life", "a time" (poetic), "day break" and "day time". It also has a second meaning, of "quiet", "tame" (animals), "cultivated" (crops) and "civilized" (people).
ἐκείνη (adj sg fem nom) "That" is ekeinos, which means "the person there", "that person", "that thing", "in that case", "in that way", "at that place" and "in that manner".
The following two Greek words are translated into English the next verse, Luke 21:35, instead of here.
ὡς (adv/conj) "For as" is hos, an adverb which means to "thus", "as", "how", "when", "where", "like", "just as", "so far as", "as much as can be", "that", "in order that", "nearly" (with numbers) and "know that".
“παγίς:” [1 verse]( noun sg fem nom ) "A snare" is pagis, which means "trap" and, metaphorically, "snare".