18
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?”
Berean Standard Bible · CC0
Greek — tap a word ↓
Kai hoi Iōannou mathētai kai hoi Pharisaioi ēsan nēsteuontes kai erchontai autō kai legousin Dia ti ou de soi hoi mathētai nēsteuousin Iōannou hoi mathētai kai hoi mathētai tōn Pharisaiōn nēsteuousin
Word by word31 · parsed
√ καί — and, also, even, so then, too, etcConjunction
√ ὁ — the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)ArticleNominative Masculine Plural
√ Ἰωάννης — Joannes (iNounGenitive Masculine Singular
√ μαθητής — a learner, iNounNominative Masculine Plural
mathētēs: a learner, disciple The whole scene turns on discipleship as an observable practice: three bodies of mathētai are compared by what they do with food. Cambridge sees in the pairing an alliance of convenience, since the rigorous asceticism of the Baptist's followers gave them common ground with the Pharisees.
√ καί — and, also, even, so then, too, etcConjunction
√ ὁ — the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)ArticleNominative Masculine Plural
√ Φαρισαῖος — a separatist, iNounNominative Masculine Plural
Pharisaios: a separatist The name itself means the separated. Fasting was one of the visible boundary markers by which the separation was kept, which is why an unfasting table looks to them like a doctrinal claim.
√ εἰμί — I exist (used only when emphatic)VerbImperfect Indicative Active3rd Person Plural
Imperfect of eimi, carrying the durative force of the participle that follows: the fast was going on as they spoke.
√ νηστεύω — to abstain from food (religiously)VerbPresent Participle ActiveNominative Masculine Plural
nēsteuō: to abstain from food religiously A relatively uncommon verb (15 verses in the Verifier's count) and always religious, never mere hunger. Pulpit weighs the legal question honestly: “This was not one of the fasts prescribed by the Law; had it been so, it would have been observed by our Lord.” The Law commands one fast (Leviticus 16:29-31, the Day of Atonement); the twice-weekly fast of Luke 18:12 is custom, and it is custom, not commandment, that is being pressed on Jesus here.
√ καί — and, also, even, so then, too, etcConjunction
√ ἔρχομαι — to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)VerbPresent Indicative Middle or Passive3rd Person Plural
Historic present: Mark's habitual narrative device, which puts the reader inside the confrontation rather than behind it.
√ αὐτός — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other personsPersonal / Possessive PronounDative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
√ καί — and, also, even, so then, too, etcConjunction
√ λέγω — properly, to "lay" forth, iVerbPresent Indicative Active3rd Person Plural
√ διά — through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)Preposition
dia: through, because of With the accusative it becomes causal: the questioners want a ground, and they get one, though not the one they expected.
√ τίς — an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)Interrogative / Indefinite PronounAccusative Neuter Singular
√ οὐ — the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverbAdverb
ou: the absolute negative Flat indicative denial, and the ✦ voices say it is simply untrue. Pulpit: “It was not correct to say, but thy disciples fast not.” They did fast, he grants, but in another spirit and not in order to be seen.
√ δέ — but, and, etcConjunction
√ σός — thinePersonal / Possessive PronounNominative Masculine 2nd Person Plural
sos: thine Emphatic and personal. The dispute is not really about diet; it is about whose disciples these are, and therefore about who He is.
√ ὁ — the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)ArticleNominative Masculine Plural
√ μαθητής — a learner, iNounNominative Masculine Plural
√ νηστεύω — to abstain from food (religiously)VerbPresent Indicative Active3rd Person Plural
√ Ἰωάννης — Joannes (iNounGenitive Masculine Singular
√ ὁ — the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)ArticleNominative Masculine Plural
√ μαθητής — a learner, iNounNominative Masculine Plural
√ καί — and, also, even, so then, too, etcConjunction
√ ὁ — the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)ArticleNominative Masculine Plural
√ μαθητής — a learner, iNounNominative Masculine Plural
√ ὁ — the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)ArticleGenitive Masculine Plural
√ Φαρισαῖος — a separatist, iNounGenitive Masculine Plural
√ νηστεύω — to abstain from food (religiously)VerbPresent Indicative Active3rd Person Plural