Translating any document, whether it is the Bible or some other work, isn’t easy since there Greek words which do not have any corresponding English word to convey the meaning. Anyone who claims that the King James Version is a word for word translation is not stating the truth, either from ignorance or is deliberately telling a lie. (Donnie Swaggart often says that the King James is a word for word translation. Anyone decently familiar with the version knows that isn’t true. It is not always possible to convey in English the actual nuance of meaning in the Greek words so a word for word translation is impossible in many instances.) The foregoing is the reason for what follows; a discussion of the Greek and English words in the verses that have come, cometh/comes, coming and shall be.

According to Quick Verse, a Parson’s Bible reference, the word come appears 587 times in 556 verses of the New Testament and 96 times in Matthew, occurring seven times in chapter 24 as come, cometh/comes three times and coming 6 times. (Cometh is found 123 times in 122 verses in the New Testament and coming 67 times in 67 verses.) While it would be interesting to study the Greek words translated come and cometh in all of the New Testament, the focus of the present study is for the verses where come cometh/comes and coming translate five different Greek words in Matthew 24. The immediate context (a verse) and how the word relates to the whole chapter must be considered to determine the meaning of the word and the reason it was used in a given context of a verse and verses. 

There are five Greek words that are translated with come, cometh/comes, coming and one time shall be. Each Greek word will be studied in its verse context and its relationship to the entire message Jesus spoke in the chapter. Each word will be studied in alphabetical and verse order of its appearance.

First, in verses 5, 42, and 43, the word erchomai--pronounced: er'-khom-ahee (Strong’s G2064) is translated come Jesus said in verse 4 Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Verse 4 introduces the subject of verse 5. The preposition for of verse 5 gives the reason for man of verse 4 arriving. The context and the preposition for demand that the Greek word means a literal arrival in the future of those persons intent on deceiving. Verse 42 is next. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Does erchomai in the verse mean come is literal or figurative? The use of the verb in the verse means the coming is figurative in some manner rather than in person. For those who are interested, the verb form is Singular, Indicative, Present, Middle Voice Passive Deponent, Third Person.

What does it mean for the action of the verb in reference to Jesus? There will be an involvement by Jesus in some manner. Indicative shows there will be a factual action and when it happens, it will be in the present. Voice shows the action of the verb on the subject, either doing the acting or being acted upon. In the present case, the Middle Voice (action) is passive so Jesus is being acted upon. The Middle Voice cannot tell how Jesus is acting for himself, but since the verb is Passive/Deponent, it means Jesus is going to be acted upon as stated above. It must be concluded that erchomai in verse 42 is figurative with the action being done on his behalf with the action being done by a representative not named at his point, though Jesus is the focal point of the action that will take place.                                             

  `Last is the exposition of erchomai is verse 42 and 43. Both verses have the same verb form as verse 42. (Erchomai also occurs in verse 27 and will be discussed in a following part.) The message, verses 42 and 43, in the context is to be watchful for the thief, whomsoever he might be or how he acts for himself. The thief isn’t literal since Jesus was making a point in reference to be watching for trouble.

The next part will examine the next Greek word ginomai--pronounced: ghin'-om-ahee G1096) in verse 6 that is translated come. 

© 09-18-2012 DEC