Mark 13:5-7
Narrative Lectionary
5 Then JesusA beganB to sayC to them,
A “Jesus” = Iesous. From Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua, the Lord is salvation); {from YHVH (proper name of the God of Israel; the self-existent and eternal one); {from havah (to become) or from hayah (to come to pass, become, be)} + yasha (to deliver, defend, help, preserve, rescue; properly, to be open, wide or free, which implies being safe. So, in a causative sense, this is to free someone)}. This is Jesus or Joshua in Greek – the Lord saves or the Lord is salvation.
B “began” = archo. This is to rule, begin, have first rank or have political power.
C “say” = lego. This is to speak, say, name, call, command. It is generally to convey verbally.
“BewareD that no one leads you astray.E 6 ManyF will comeG in my nameH and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.
D “beware” = blepo. This is literally to see – it is primarily used in the physical sense. However, figuratively it can be seeing, which includes attention and so to watchfulness, being observant, perceiving, and acting on the visual information. It can also mean beware.
E “leads…astray” = planao. From plane (wandering – used figuratively for deceit, error, sin, fraudulence, or wandering from orthodoxy); from planos (wandering, misleading, a deceiver or imposter). This is to wander, lead astray, mislead, mistake, seduce, or deceive. Generally used to refer to sin – going off the right path or roaming from truth/virtue. This word shares a root with “planet” (as a heavenly body that wanders).
F “many” = polus. This is much, often, plenteous – a large number or a great extent.
G “come” = erchomai. This is to come or go.
H “name” = onoma. May be from ginosko (know, recognize, learn from firsthand experience). This is a name, authority, cause, character, fame, reputation. The name was thought to include something of the essence of the person so it was not thought to be separate from the person.
7 When you hearI of warsJ and rumorsK of wars, do not be alarmed;L
I “hear” = akouo. This is hear or listen, but it also means to understand by hearing. This is where the word “acoustics” comes from.
J “wars” = polemos. 18x in NT. From pelomai (to bustle) or from polus (much, many, abundant). This is war, quarrel, strife; battle, whether one time or on-going. It is war in a literal or figurative sense.
K “rumors” = akoe. Related to “hear” in v7. From akouo (see note I above). This is hearing, ear, audience, fame, report, rumor.
L “be alarmed” = throeo. 3x in NT. From throos (noise, tumult). This is to be disturbed, unsettled, troubled. It is feeling the desire to scream from fear, very upset, startled.
this mustM take place,N but the endO is still to come.
M “must” = dei. From deo (to tie, bind, compel; declare unlawful). This is what is necessary or proper. It is what is needed or what one should do – a duty or something inevitable. This refers to something absolutely necessary.
N “take place” = ginomai. This is to come into being, to happen, become, be born. It can be to emerge from one state or condition to another or is coming into being with the sense of movement or growth.
O “end” = telos. From tel– (to reach a goal or aim); This is an end, aim, purpose, completion, goal, consummation, or tax. It is completing a stage of something and everything that results from that completion. It can be literal or figurative.
Image credit: “Acrylic Fluid Painting” by Mark Chadwick, 2013.