Jesus describes the end of Jerusalem. This verse give the reason way everyone should avoid the careless practices warned against in the previous verse.
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Luke 21:36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
But stay awake in all seasons being in need so that you will prevail to flee from these things, all those being destined to happen, and to be place in front of the son of the man.
Looking at this verse in the KJV, you might think these are the same Greek words translated commonly as "watch ye", "therefore", "pray" or "worthy/be able". Yet, none of those common words appear here.
This first line is a bit of a joke: "don't sleep in all seasons." This seems to be a light-hearted response to a question about when they can rest.
The word translated as "pray" means lacking, needing, or begging.
The KJV and NIV sources have two different Greek verbs that they translated as "accounted worthy" (KJV) and "be able" (NIV). The oldest sources of the Gospel agree with the NIV version though one agrees with the KJV. Both of the Greek words are used only once by Jesus.
I am no good at staying awake.
ἀγρυπνεῖτε δὲ ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ δεόμενοι ἵνα κατισχύσητε ἐκφυγεῖν ταῦτα
stay awake But in all seasons being in need so that you will prevail to flee from these things,
πάντα τὰ μέλλοντα γίνεσθαι, καὶ σταθῆναι ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.
all those being destined to happen, and to be place in front of the son of the man.
Watch(WW) ye therefore(WW), and(IW) pray(WW,WF) always, that ye may be(WV) [accounted worthy(WW)] to escape all these things that(CW) shall(CW) come to pass, and to stand(WV) before the Son of (MW) man.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "watch" should be something more like "lie awake."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "therefore" should be something more like "but."
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "pray" should be something more like "being in need." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "being in need."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a passive participle, a verbal adjective, "being in need."
- WV --Wrong Voice - The verb here is translated as passive but it is active.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "accounted worthy" should be something more like "prevail over."
- CW --Confusing Word -- This "that" is not the same Greek word translated earlier in the verse as "that."
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the future tense.
- WV --Wrong Voice - The "stand" here is translated as active but it is passive.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "man" is not shown in the English translation.
(MW) Be(IW) always [on the(IP)] watch, and(IW) pray(WW,WF) that you may be able(CW) to escape all (MW) that(CW) is about to happen, and [that you may be able(IP)] to stand(WV) before the Son of (MW) Man.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "but" at the beginning of the sentence is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "be" doesn't exist in the source.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "on the" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "watch" should be something more like "lie awake".
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "pray" should be something more like "being in need". This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "being in need".
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a passive participle, a verbal adjective, "being in need".
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "be able".
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these" after "all" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This "that" is not the same Greek word translated earlier in the verse as "that".
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "that you may be able" doesn't exist in the source.
- WV --Wrong Voice - The "stand" here is translated as active but it is passive.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "man" is not shown in the English translation.
Watch -- (WW) "Watch" is an uncommon word, used only in one other verse, that means "to lie awake", "to pass sleepless night," and "to suffer from insomnia." "Stay awake. This word doesn't mean "watch."
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
therefore -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "therefore" 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. It is edited out like this when the KJV translators see no contradiction to a previous statement. It is likely that Jesus is contradicting something that is said to him. This word doesn't mean "therefore."
and -- (IW) These is no "and" here. It is added because the previous participle was changed from an adjective form to an active verb in translation.
pray -- (WW, WF) The Greek word translated as "pray" is means to "lack," "miss," "stand in need of," "want," "to be in want or need," "require," and to "beg a thing from." It is an uncommon word for Jesus. It is not a command, as translated, but a passive participle, "being in need."
always -- "Always" is from a phrase of three Greek words that mean "in all seasons". The word translated as "in" means "in," "on," "within," "among" "by" (near), "by" (as an instrument), "during" (time), or "among" with an indirect-object form object. The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. "Seasons" is a noun that means "due measure", "season", "opportunity", "time," and "profit." This phrase comes right after "stay awake."
that -- The word translated as "that" is an adverb or a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "there", "where," and "in order that."
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
may -- This helping verb "may" indicates that the verb indicates a possibility, the subjunctive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- (WV) This helping verb "be" seems to indicate that the verb is passive but it is active.
accounted worthy -- (WW) "Accounted worthy" is a verb that Jesus only uses here. It means to " overpower", "prevail over", and "have the upper hand." It has nothing to do with worthiness, as Jesus uses the term. The KJV confuses this rare word with another one. This word doesn't mean "and."
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
escape -- "Escape" is another unique word that means to " flee out or away", "escape", and "to be beyond". The literal meaning is "to flee beyond". The root word that means "flee" is one that Jesus commonly uses.
all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. However, this adjective doesn't seem to modify "these things" as much as the following clause "that shall come to pass."
these -- The "these" is a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage. The "things" comes from the neutral, plural form.
things -- This "things" is from the plural, neuter form of the previous adjective.
that -- (CW) The word translated as "that " 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. This is a very different word than then "that" above.
shall -- (CW) "Shall" is a Greek verb, which means "to be destined or likely to", "to be about to do something," or "to intend to" or "to have in mind to." It is in the form of a participle, uses as a noun, so " being destined." This is the way that Jesus uses this word, though it is not common. This is not the future tense.
come to pass, -- The word translated as "come to pass," means "to become," and "to happen" for events, that is, to enter into a new state. In Greek, especially as used by Jesus, it is the opposite of "being," which is existence in the current state. The meaning hear clearly applies to events so "to happen".
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
stand -- "Stand" is from a common verb that means "to make to stand", "to stand", "to set up", "to bring to a standstill", "to check", "to appoint", "to establish", "to fix by agreement", "to be placed", "to be set", "to stand still", "to stand firm", "to set upright", "to erected", "to arise," and "to place." It, however, is passive, so "be made to stand" or "to be established" or some other variations of it possible meanings. The verb here is translated as active but it is passive.
before -- The Greek word translated as "before" means "in front of" referring to place and when used to apply to time means "beforehand."
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.
Son -- The word translated as "son" more generally means "child" or "descendant." The phrase "the son of man" is the common way Christ refers to himself. It is discussed in detail in this article. Its sense may be "the child of the man."
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession, but it can also mean "belonging to," "part of," "which is," "than" (in comparisons), or "for," "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs.
missing "the" -- (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.
man - The Greek word for "man" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples."
Be -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
always -- "Always" is from a phrase of three Greek words that mean "in all seasons". The word translated as "in" means "in", "on", "within", "among", "by" (near), "by" (as an instrument), "during" (time) or "among" with an indirect-object form object. The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every" and similar ideas. "Seasons" is a noun that means "due measure", "season", "opportunity", "time" and "profit". This phrase comes right after "stay awake".
on the -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
watch -- (WW) "Watch" is an uncommon word, used only in one other verse, that means "to lie awake", "to pass sleepless night" and "to suffer from insomnia". "Stay awake". This word doesn't mean "watch".
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. It is edited out like this when the KJV translators see no contradiction to a previous statement. It is likely that Jesus is contradicting something that is said to him. This word doesn't mean "therefore".
and -- (IW) These is no "and" here. It is added because the previous participle was changed from an adjective form to an active verb in translation.
pray -- (WW, WF) The Greek word translated as "pray" means to "lack", "miss", "stand in need of", "want", "to be in want or need", "require" and to "beg a thing from". It is an uncommon word for Jesus. It is not a command, as translated, but a passive participle, "being in need".
that -- The word translated as "that" is an adverb or a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "there", "where" and "in order that".
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
may -- This helping verb "may" indicates that the verb indicates a possibility, the subjunctive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be able -- (CW) "Accounted worthy" is a verb that Jesus only uses here. It means to " overpower", "prevail over" and "have the upper hand". It has nothing to do with worthiness, as Jesus uses the term. This is not the word usually translated as "be able".
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
escape -- "Escape" is another unique word that means to "flee out or away", "escape" and "to be beyond". The literal meaning is "to flee beyond". The root word that means "flee" is one that Jesus commonly uses.
all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every" and similar ideas. However, this adjective doesn't seem to modify "these things" as much as the following clause "that shall come to pass".
missing "these things" -- (MW) The untranslated word "these" is a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that", "the nearer" or "the further" depending on usage. The "things" comes from the neutral, plural form.
that -- (CW) The word translated as "that" 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. This is a very different word than "that" above.
is about -- "Is about" is a Greek verb, which means "to be destined or likely to", "to be about to do something" or "to intend to" or "to have in mind to". It is in the form of a participle, used as a noun, so "being destined". This is the way that Jesus uses this word, though it is not common. This is not the future tense.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
happen -- The word translated as "happen," means "to become" and "to happen" for events, that is, to enter into a new state. In Greek, especially as used by Jesus, it is the opposite of "being", which is existence in the current state. The meaning here clearly applies to events so "to happen".
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). This does not join the following verb with the previous one, which was part of the description of events. It connects to the verb "to flee beyond".
that you may be able -- -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source. It is a repetition of what is earlier in the sentence.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
stand -- "Stand" is from a common verb that means "to make to stand", "to stand", "to set up", "to bring to a standstill", "to check", "to appoint", "to establish", "to fix by agreement", "to be placed", "to be set", "to stand still", "to stand firm", "to set upright", "to be erected", "to arise" and "to place". It, however, is passive, so "be made to stand" or "to be established" or some other variations of it possible meanings. The verb here is translated as active but it is passive.
before -- The Greek word translated as "before" means "in front of" referring to place and when used to apply to time means "beforehand".
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.
Son -- The word translated as "son" more generally means "child" or "descendant". The phrase "the son of man" is the common way Christ refers to himself. It is discussed in detail in this article. Its sense may be "the child of the man".
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession, but it can also mean "belonging to", "part of", "which is", "than" (in comparisons), or "for", "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs.
missing "the" -- (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.
man - The Greek word for "man" means "man", "person" and "humanity", in the singular. In the plural, it means "men", "people" and "peoples".
ἀγρυπνεῖτε [2 verses] ( verb 2nd pl imperf ind act ) "Watch ye" is from agrypneo, which means "to lie awake", "to pass sleepless night," and "to suffer from insomnia." It is described as a metaphor for being watchful. -- "Watch ye" is an uncommon word, used only in one other verse, that means "to lie awake", "to pass sleepless night," and "to suffer from insomnia." "Stay awake.
δὲ (conj/adv) "Threfore" 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"). --
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". --
παντὶ (adj sg masc dat) "Al-" is pas, which means "all", "the whole", "every", "anyone", "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way", "on every side", "in every way," and "altogether." --
καιρῷ ( noun sg masc dat ) "-ways" is kairos, which means "due measure", "proportion", "fitness", "exact time", "season", "opportunity", "time", "critical times", "advantage," and "profit."
δεόμενοι [4 verses] ( part pl pres mp masc nom ) "Pray" is from deomai, which means to "lack," "miss," "stand in need of," "want," "to be in want or need," "require," and to "beg a thing from."
ἵνα (adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place", "there", "where", "when", "that", "in order that", "when," and "because." --
κατισχύσητε [1 verse], (verb 2nd pl fut ind act ) "You may be accounted worthy" is katischyō, which means to "overpower," "prevail over," and "come to one's full strength." The KJV confuses it with kataxioō (καταξιωθέντες).
ἐκφυγεῖν [1 verse]( verb aor inf act ) "To escape" is ekpheugō, which means to " flee out or away", "escape", and "to be beyond".
ταῦτα ( adj pl neut acc ) "These things" is tauta, which is a referring pronoun meaning "these", "this", "that," and "here." It can mean the nearer or the further depending on usage. As an adverb it can mean "therefore" and "that is why." --
πάντα ( adj pl neut acc ) "All" is pas, which means "all", "the whole", "every", "anyone", "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way", "on every side", "in every way," and "altogether." --
τὰ ( article pl neut acc ) "That" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
μέλλοντα ( part pl pres act neut nom/acc ) "Shall" is from mello, which means to "be destined or likely to", "might have, " "must surely have," "to be about to", "to be always going to do", "delay," and "to put off." --
γίνεσθαι, ( verb pres inf mp ) "Come to pass" is ginomai, which means "to become", "to come into being", "to happen", of things "to be produced," of events "take place", "come to pass", "to be engaged in", math "to be multiplied into", "become one of", "turn into".and "to be." It means changing into a new state of being. It is the complementary opposite of the verb "to be" (eimi)which indicates existence in the same state.
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." --
σταθῆναι ( verb aor inf pass ) "To stand" is histemi, which means "to make to stand", "to stand", "to set up", "to bring to a standstill", "to check", "to appoint", "to establish", "to fix by agreement", "to be placed", "to be set", "to stand still", "to stand firm", "to set upright", "to erected", "to arise," and "to place."
ἔμπροσθεν (adv) "Before" is emprosthen, which as an adverb means [of place]"in front of", "before", "forwards," [of time] "before", "of old," and as a preposition, "facing", "opposite", "in front," [of time] beforehand," and [of degree] "preferred before." It also denotes a ranking. --
τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen) "The" 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 a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." -- The word translated as "the" 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," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
υἱοῦ ( noun sg masc gen ) [157 verses](noun sg masc gen) "Son" is from huios, which means a "son," and more generally, a "child." -- The word translated as "son" more generally means "child."
τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἀνθρώπου [209 verses](noun sg masc gen) "Of man" is from anthropos, which is "man," and, in plural, "mankind." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate. -- The Greek word for "of man" in the singular means "person" and "humanity" and "people" and "peoples" in the plural.