αὐτοῦ and ἑαυτοῦ, Part 1

In another essay I understood τὴν παρθένον αὐτοῦ (ESV: his betrothed)1 differently from τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον (ESV: her as his betrothed and his betrothed).2 My decision was based primarily on Paul’s argument, but it isn’t the customary way these phrases have been translated into English. I want to do a survey of the occurrences of αὐτοῦ and ἑαυτοῦ in the New Testament, particularly when associated with an article and noun in the accusative case.

According to the Englishman’s Concordance on Bible Hub there are 1,428 occurrences of αὐτοῦ and 47 occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ [see Table below]. If I’ve counted and recognized the accusative case correctly, there are only 21 occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ flanked by an article and a noun in the accusative case [see Table below].

Matthew

With the caveats above regarding counting and my ability to recognize the accusative case in Greek, I found 267 occurrences of αὐτοῦ in the Gospel of Matthew. Only 90 of them were associated with an accusative phrase. There were 2 occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ, but neither were associated with an accusative phrase. In most occurrences αὐτοῦ followed the accusative phrase. There were 4 exceptions:

In Matthew 2:2 his star (ESV) was αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀστέρα. In Matthew 7:24 and 7:26 his house (ESV) was αὐτοῦ τὴν οἰκίαν. And in Matthew 26:51 his ear (ESV) was αὐτοῦ τὸ ὠτίον.

In 7 occurrences αὐτοῦ wasn’t translated (i.e., his usually) in the ESV: Matthew 3:4 εἶχεν τὸ ἔνδυμα αὐτοῦ was wore a garment. In Matthew 9:7 ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ was and went home. In Matthew 9:16 τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτοῦ was the patch. In Matthew 22:24 τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ was the widow. In Matthew 24:51 καὶ τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ὑποκριτῶν θήσει was …and put him with the hypocrites. In that place… In Matthew 27:30 τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ was the head. And in Matthew 27:37 ἐπέθηκαν ἐπάνω τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ τὴν αἰτίαν αὐτοῦ was translated over his head they put the charge against him.

There were no occurrences of παρθένον in Matthew, so I latched onto τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ as a proxy. The phrase was translated his wife (ESV) in Matthew 1:24, 5:31, 5:32 [Table], 19:9 [Table] and 22:25. It was translated one’s wife (ESV) in Matthew 19:3 [Table] and (as mentioned above) the widow (ESV) in Matthew 22:24.

Both occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ are found in Jesus’ description of a wandering unclean spirit (Matthew 12:43-45 ESV):

When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it (ἑαυτοῦ) seven other spirits more evil than itself (ἑαυτοῦ), and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.

Here ἑαυτοῦ was translated it (KJV: himself) and itself (KJV: himself), rather than his own like most occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ associated with an accusative phrase [see Table below]. As a matter of interest, τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ in Matthew 27:31 was translated his own clothes (ESV).

Mark

I found 163 occurrences of αὐτοῦ in the Gospel of Mark. Only 46 of them were associated with an accusative phrase. There were no occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ. In most occurrences αὐτοῦ followed the accusative phrase. There were 4 exceptions:

In Mark 7:19 his heart (ESV) was αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν καρδίαν. In Mark 14:47 his ear (ESV) was αὐτοῦ τὸ ὠτάριον. In Mark 14:65 his face (ESV) was αὐτοῦ τὸ πρόσωπον. And in Mark 15:19 his head (ESV) was αὐτοῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν.

Only 1 occurrence of αὐτοῦ wasn’t translated (i.e., his usually) in the ESV: Mark 13:34 ἀφεὶς τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ was when he leaves home. There were no occurrences of παρθένον in Mark, so again I used τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ as a proxy. The phrase was translated his wife (ESV) in Mark 10:11.

Luke

I found 249 occurrences of αὐτοῦ in the Gospel of Luke. Only 72 of them were associated with an accusative phrase. In all of those occurrences αὐτοῦ followed the accusative phrase. There were 5 occurrences where αὐτοῦ was not translated (i.e., his usually) in the ESV:

In Luke 1:58 ὅτι ἐμεγάλυνεν κύριος τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτῆς was that the Lord had shown great mercy to her. In Luke 2:21 καὶ ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς was he was called Jesus. In Luke 5:25 ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ δοξάζων τὸν θεόν was and went home, glorifying God. In Luke 12:46 καὶ τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀπίστων θήσει was and put him with the unfaithful. And in Luke 15:20 καὶ δραμὼν ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ was translated and ran and embraced him.

There were 12 occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ, 7 of which were associated with an accusative phrase [see Table below]. The first occurrence follows (Luke 2:1, 3-5 ESV).

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered…And all went to be registered, each to his own3 (ἑαυτοῦ) town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth,4 to Judea, to the city of David,5 which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,6 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed7 (τῇ ἐμνηστευμένῃ αὐτῷ), who was with child.

Here, the Greek word translated his own was ἑαυτοῦ (NET Parallel Greek and NA28) or ιδιαν (Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text). It is fairly clear why Luke chose τὴν ἑαυτοῦ πόλιν (or, την ιδιαν πολιν) rather than τὴν πόλιν αὐτοῦ. The latter implies current residence, i.e., the town of Nazareth. The words ἑαυτοῦ or ιδιαν alert the reader that Joseph had a different relationship to this particular town: because [Joseph] was of the house and lineage of David he went to be registered to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem.

The next occurrence is similar, though more subtle (Luke 11:21, 22 ESV).

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own (ἑαυτοῦ) palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil [Table].

Here again, the Greek word translated his own was ἑαυτοῦ: his goods (τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ) are safe When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace (τὴν ἑαυτοῦ αὐλήν). Why did Luke choose τὴν ἑαυτοῦ αὐλήν rather than τὴν αὐλήν αὐτοῦ? Matthew and Mark chose τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ ἰσχυροῦ (a strong man’s house)8 until someone bound the strongman. Then it became τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ (his house).9

I think Luke’s choice highlights that his palace, before it was taken from him, was not merely the current residence of the strong man, but in some sense it shared his identity, like Joseph’s relationship to Bethlehem. It was “the of himself palace” or “the palace of himself” in ways that his goods (τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ), his armor (τὴν πανοπλίαν αὐτοῦ) and his spoil (τὰ σκῦλα αὐτοῦ) were not.

This is borne out in the next occurrence, where ἑαυτοῦ, when not part of an accusative phrase, is simply “oneself” in the genitive case (Luke 11:26 ESV):

Then [the unclean spirit]10 goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself (ἑαυτοῦ), and they enter11 and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.

The next occurrence of ἑαυτοῦ was a little more difficult to grasp (Luke 13:18, 19 ESV):

He said therefore,12 “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his (ἑαυτοῦ) garden, and it grew and became a tree,13 and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

The Greek words translated his garden were κῆπον ἑαυτοῦ: literally, “garden of himself.” Neither Matthew’s nor Mark’s Gospel account seemed particularly helpful at first (Matthew 13:31, 32 ESV):

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants (τῶν λαχάνων) and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

In Matthew’s account Jesus’ parable described βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν (The kingdom of heaven; literally, heavens) rather than βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ (the kingdom of God). He wrote of a man who ἔσπειρεν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ αὐτοῦ (sowed in his field) rather than ἔβαλεν εἰς κῆπον ἑαυτοῦ (sowed in his garden). Am I straining gnats, I wondered, trying to distinguish between two interchangeable words: αὐτοῦ and ἑαυτοῦ?

Mark wrote (Mark 4:30-32 ESV):

And he said, “With what14 can we compare the kingdom of God, or what15 parable shall we use16 for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest17 of all the seeds18 on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants (τῶν λαχάνων) and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

In Mark’s account there was no mention of a man or a garden beyond τῶν λαχάνων (ESV: the garden plants), just a general description of an event: ὃς ὅταν σπαρῇ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς (ESV: which, when sown on the ground). He (and Matthew, for that matter) seemed more focused on the contrast of a tiny seed to a tree with large branches. Of course, I began to take that contrast more personally than I recall before, puzzling over Luke’s man who sowed that tiny seed in the “garden of himself.”

“If you’re really out there, I really want to know you,”19 was a tiny seed. I voiced the words in prayer, but they didn’t originate with me. I had no clue I was asking for eternal life as Jesus understood it. Even as that tiny seed began to grow into an insatiable appetite for the Bible, even as I labored to set the Gospels to music, I was too dull-witted to make the connection. Only when I sang the words for a more literate friend, and he commented on them,20 did I begin to understand—this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent21—as Jesus’ definition of eternal life.

Over the past forty-five years that knowledge of the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom [He has] sent has grown considerably. From time to time I get a flash of the whole, but that vision is too immense for me to hold on to for very long. Most of the time I wander around in Him as He leads me through the Bible, focusing on details like why Luke used ἑαυτοῦ rather than αὐτοῦ, marveling at the connections that are made, like so many branches of a tree: for “‘In him we live and move and have our being.’”22

Jesus seemed distressed when Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us” (John 14:8-11 ESV).

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long,23 and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How24 can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works [Table]. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe25 on account of the works themselves.

So, Luke’s choice of the word ἑαυτοῦ refocused my attention. Jesus wasn’t talking about mustard seeds, or fields, or trees, or even nesting birds specifically, but the kingdom of God (or the kingdom of heaven). Even more to the point, He described that kingdom’s formation and growth from a tiny seed within an individual: εἰς κῆπον ἑαυτοῦ: literally, “into [the] garden of himself.”

Though, I’m skipping ahead a bit, Paul chose ἑαυτοῦ to describe God’s kingdom (1 Thessalonians 2:11, 12 ESV):

For you know how, like a father with his (ἑαυτοῦ) children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own (ἑαυτοῦ) kingdom and glory [Table].

The Greek words translated into his own kingdom were εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ βασιλείαν, literally, “into the of himself kingdom” or “into the kingdom of himself.” Abide in me, and I in you, Jesus said. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.26 And He promised (John 15:7, 8 ESV):

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples [Table].

And Paul wrote (2 Corinthians 5:16-21 ESV):

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though27 we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come [Table]. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [Table]; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God [Table].

The Greek verb translated we might become was γενώμεθα, a form of γίνομαι in the subjunctive mood:

The subjunctive mood indicates probability or objective possibility. The action of the verb will possibly happen, depending on certain objective factors or circumstances. It is oftentimes used in conditional statements (i.e. ‘If…then…’ clauses) or in purpose clauses. However if the subjunctive mood is used in a purpose or result clause, then the action should not be thought of as a possible result, but should be viewed as a definite outcome that will happen as a result of another stated action.

The Greek conjunction translated so that was ἵνα. This is a purpose clause and “should be viewed as a definite outcome that will happen.” The most important words effecting that outcome are ἐν αὐτῷ, in him: not on our own or by our own efforts, not apart from Him, but in Him. Abiding, remaining, staying in Him causes the seed of his word to grow into the kingdom of God in the garden of ourselves.

I’ll continue with this in another essay. The tables mentioned above follow.

αὐτοῦ Occurrences

ἑαυτοῦ Occurrences

Total

Accusative Phrase

Total

Accusative Phrase

New Testament 1428 136 47 21
Matthew 267 90 2 0
Mark 163 46 0 0
Luke 249 72 12 6

Occurrences of αὐτοῦ preceding or following a phrase in the accusative case in Matthew

Reference NET Parallel Greek ESV
Matthew 1:2 τὸν Ἰούδαν καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ Judah and his brothers
Matthew 1:11 τὸν Ἰεχονίαν καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ Jechoniah and his brothers
Matthew 1:21 καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν you shall call his name Jesus
αὐτὸς γὰρ σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν for he will save his people from their sins
Matthew 1:23 καλέσουσιν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἐμμανουήλ they shall call his name Immanuel
Matthew 1:24 παρέλαβεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ he took his wife
Matthew 1:25 ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν he called his name Jesus
Matthew 2:2 εἴδομεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀστέρα For we saw his star
Matthew 2:13 παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ take the child and his mother
Matthew 2:14 παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ took the child and his mother
Matthew 2:20 παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ take the child and his mother
Matthew 2:21 παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ took the child and his mother
Matthew 3:3 εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ make his paths straight
Matthew 3:4 ὁ Ἰωάννης εἶχεν τὸ ἔνδυμα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τριχῶν καμήλου John wore a garment of camel’s hair
καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ and a leather belt around his waist
Matthew 3:7 ἰδὼν δὲ πολλοὺς τῶν Φαρισαίων καὶ Σαδδουκαίων ἐρχομένους ἐπὶ τὸ βάπτισμα |αὐτοῦ| But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism
Matthew 3:12 καὶ διακαθαριεῖ τὴν ἅλωνα αὐτοῦ and he will clear his threshing floor
καὶ συνάξει τὸν σῖτον αὐτοῦ and gather his wheat
Matthew 4:18 καὶ Ἀνδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ and Andrew his brother
Matthew 4:21 καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ and John his brother
Matthew 5:2 καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ And he opened his mouth
Matthew 5:31 ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ Whoever divorces his wife
Matthew 5:32 πᾶς ὁ ἀπολύων τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ everyone who divorces his wife
Matthew 5:45 ὅτι τὸν ἥλιον αὐτοῦ ἀνατέλλει ἐπὶ πονηροὺς For he makes his sun rise on the evil
Matthew 6:27 προσθεῖναι ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν αὐτοῦ πῆχυν ἕνα add a single hour to his span of life
Matthew 6:33 καὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ and his righteousness
Matthew 7:24 ὅστις ᾠκοδόμησεν αὐτοῦ τὴν οἰκίαν ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν who built his house on the rock
Matthew 7:26 ὅστις ᾠκοδόμησεν αὐτοῦ τὴν οἰκίαν ἐπὶ τὴν ἄμμον who built his house on the sand
Matthew 8:14 εἶδεν τὴν πενθερὰν αὐτοῦ βεβλημένην καὶ πυρέσσουσαν he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.
Matthew 9:7 ἐγερθεὶς ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ he rose and went home.
Matthew 9:16 αἴρει γὰρ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱματίου for the patch tears away from the garment
Matthew 9:38 ἐκβάλῃ ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν θερισμὸν αὐτοῦ to send out laborers into his harvest
Matthew 10:24 οὐδὲ δοῦλος ὑπὲρ τὸν κύριον αὐτοῦ nor a servant above his master
Matthew 10:38 ὃς οὐ λαμβάνει τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ whoever does not take his cross
Matthew 10:39 ὁ εὑρὼν τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἀπολέσει αὐτήν Whoever finds his life will lose it
ὁ ἀπολέσας τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ εὑρήσει αὐτήν whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:42 οὐ μὴ ἀπολέσῃ τὸν μισθὸν αὐτοῦ he will by no means lose his reward.
Matthew 12:19 οὐδὲ ἀκούσει τις ἐν ταῖς πλατείαις τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets
Matthew 12:29 καὶ τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἁρπάσαι and plunder his goods
καὶ τότε τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ διαρπάσει Then indeed he may plunder his house.
Matthew 12:33 Ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον καλὸν καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ καλόν Either make the tree good and its fruit good
ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον σαπρὸν καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ σαπρόν or make the tree bad and its fruit bad
Matthew 12:49 καὶ ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα |αὐτοῦ| And stretching out his hand
ἐπὶ τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ εἶπεν toward his disciples, he said
Matthew 13:41 ἀποστελεῖ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ The Son of Man will send his angels
Matthew 13:54 καὶ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν πατρίδα αὐτοῦ and coming to his hometown
Matthew 15:6 οὐ μὴ τιμήσει τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ he need not honor his father
Matthew 15:32 Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς προσκαλεσάμενος τοὺς μαθητὰς (NA28: Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς προσκαλεσάμενος τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ) Then Jesus called his disciples to him
Matthew 16:13 ἠρώτα τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ he asked his disciples
Matthew 16:24 ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ take up his cross
Matthew 16:25 ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι ἀπολέσει αὐτήν For whoever would save his life will lose it
ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ εὑρήσει αὐτήν but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it
Matthew 16:27 καὶ τότε ἀποδώσει ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὴν πρᾶξιν αὐτοῦ and then he will repay each person according to what he has done
Matthew 17:1 καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ and John his brother
Matthew 17:27 καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ and when you open its mouth
Matthew 18:6 συμφέρει αὐτῷ ἵνα κρεμασθῇ μύλος ὀνικὸς περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck
Matthew 19:3 εἰ ἔξεστιν ἀπολῦσαι τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife
Matthew 19:9 ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ whoever divorces his wife
Matthew 20:1 μισθώσασθαι ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ to hire laborers for his vineyard
Matthew 20:2 ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ he sent them into his vineyard.
Matthew 20:28 καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ and to give his life
Matthew 21:34 ἀπέστειλεν τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ he sent his servants
λαβεῖν τοὺς καρποὺς αὐτοῦ to get his fruit
Matthew 21:35 καὶ λαβόντες οἱ γεωργοὶ τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ And the tenants took his servants
Matthew 21:37 ὕστερον δὲ ἀπέστειλεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ Finally he sent his son to them
Matthew 21:38 καὶ σχῶμεν τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ and have his inheritance
Matthew 21:45 Καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι τὰς παραβολὰς αὐτοῦ When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables
Matthew 22:3 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ and sent his servants
Matthew 22:5 ὃς δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμπορίαν αὐτοῦ another to his business
Matthew 22:6 οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ κρατήσαντες τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ while the rest seized his servants
Matthew 22:7 καὶ πέμψας τὰ στρατεύματα αὐτοῦ and he sent his troops
Matthew 22:24 ἐπιγαμβρεύσει ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ his brother must marry the widow
Matthew 22:25 ἀφῆκεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ left his wife to his brother
Matthew 24:18 ἆραι τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ to take his cloak
Matthew 24:31 καὶ ἀποστελεῖ τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ And he will send out his angels
καὶ ἐπισυνάξουσιν τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς αὐτοῦ and they will gather his elect
Matthew 24:43 καὶ οὐκ ἂν εἴασεν διορυχθῆναι τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ and would not have let his house be broken into
Matthew 24:49 καὶ ἄρξηται τύπτειν τοὺς συνδούλους αὐτοῦ and begins to beat his fellow servants
Matthew 24:51 καὶ τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ὑποκριτ …and put him with the hypocrites. In that place…
Matthew 25:14 καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοῖς τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ and entrusted to them his property
Matthew 26:51 ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα ἀπέσπασεν τὴν μάχαιραν αὐτοῦ stretched out his hand and drew his sword
ἀφεῖλεν αὐτοῦ τὸ ὠτίον and cut off his ear
Matthew 26:65 τότε ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς διέρρηξεν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ Then the high priest tore his robes
Matthew 26:67 Τότε ἐνέπτυσαν εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ Then they spit in his face
Matthew 27:30 καὶ ἔτυπτον εἰς τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ and struck him on the head
Matthew 27:31 καὶ ἐνέδυσαν αὐτὸν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ and put his own clothes on him
Matthew 27:32 ἵνα ἄρῃ τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ to carry his cross
Matthew 27:35 διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ they divided his garments
Matthew 27:37 ἐπέθηκαν ἐπάνω τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ τὴν αἰτίαν αὐτοῦ over his head they put the charge against him
Matthew 27:53 καὶ ἐξελθόντες ἐκ τῶν μνημείων μετὰ τὴν ἔγερσιν αὐτοῦ and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection

Occurrences of αὐτοῦ preceding or following a phrase in the accusative case in Mark

Reference NET Parallel Greek ESV
Mark 1:3 εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ make his paths straight
Mark 1:6 ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ a leather belt around his waist
Mark 1:19 Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ John his brother
Mark 1:41 ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ he stretched out his hand
Mark 3:27 τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ διαρπάσαι and plunder his goods
καὶ τότε τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ διαρπάσει Then indeed he may plunder his house.
Mark 4:32 ὥστε δύνασθαι ὑπὸ τὴν σκιὰν αὐτοῦ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατασκηνοῦν so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade
Mark 5:22 πίπτει πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ he fell at his feet
Mark 6:1 καὶ ἔρχεται εἰς τὴν πατρίδα αὐτοῦ and came to his hometown
Mark 6:14 φανερὸν γὰρ ἐγένετο τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ for Jesus’ name had become known
Mark 6:27 ἐνέγκαι τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ to bring John’s head
Mark 6:28 καὶ ἤνεγκεν τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πίνακι and brought his head on a platter
Mark 6:29 ἦλθον καὶ ἦραν τὸ πτῶμα αὐτοῦ they came and took his body
Mark 6:41 καὶ ἐδίδου τοῖς μαθηταῖς (NA28: καὶ ἐδίδου τοῖς μαθηταῖς [αὐτοῦ]) and gave them to the disciples
Mark 6:45 εὐθὺς ἠνάγκασεν τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὸ πλοῖον Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat
Mark 7:19 ὅτι οὐκ εἰσπορεύεται αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν καρδίαν since it enters not his heart
Mark 7:25 ἐλθοῦσα προσέπεσεν πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ and came and fell down at his feet
Mark 7:33 ἔβαλεν τοὺς δακτύλους αὐτοῦ he put his fingers
εἰς τὰ ὦτα αὐτοῦ into his ears
Mark 8:23 καὶ πτύσας εἰς τὰ ὄμματα αὐτοῦ and when he had spit on his eyes
Mark 8:25 εἶτα πάλιν |ἐπέθηκεν| τὰς χεῖρας ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again
Mark 8:26 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτὸν εἰς οἶκον αὐτοῦ And he sent him to his home
Mark 8:27 καὶ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ἐπηρώτα τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ And on the way he asked his disciples
Mark 8:33 ὁ δὲ ἐπιστραφεὶς καὶ ἰδὼν τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ But turning and seeing his disciples
Mark 8:34 καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι and take up his cross and follow me
Mark 8:35 ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν |αὐτοῦ| σῶσαι For whoever would save his life
ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσει τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ but whoever loses his life
Mark 8:36 καὶ ζημιωθῆναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ and forfeit his soul
Mark 9:21 καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ And Jesus asked his father
Mark 9:31 ἐδίδασκεν γὰρ τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ for he was teaching his disciples
Mark 9:41 οὐ μὴ ἀπολέσῃ τὸν μισθὸν αὐτοῦ will by no means lose his reward
Mark 9:42 περίκειται μύλος ὀνικὸς περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ a great millstone were hung around his neck
Mark 10:7 ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ Therefore a man shall leave his father
Mark 10:11 ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ Whoever divorces his wife
Mark 10:45 καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν and to give his life as a ransom for many
Mark 10:50 ὁ δὲ ἀποβαλὼν τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ And throwing off his cloak
Mark 12:43 καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ And he called his disciples
Mark 13:16 ἆραι τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ to take his cloak
Mark 13:27 καὶ ἐπισυνάξει τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς [αὐτοῦ] and gather his elect
Mark 13:34 ἀφεὶς τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ when he leaves home
ἑκάστῳ τὸ ἔργον αὐτοῦ each with his work
Mark 14:47 καὶ ἀφεῖλεν αὐτοῦ τὸ ὠτάριον and cut off his ear
Mark 14:65 καὶ περικαλύπτειν αὐτοῦ τὸ πρόσωπον and to cover his face
Mark 15:19 καὶ ἔτυπτον αὐτοῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν And they were striking his head
Mark 15:21 ἄρῃ τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ to carry his cross
Mark 15:24 καὶ διαμερίζονται τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ and divided his garments

Occurrences of αὐτοῦ preceding or following a phrase in the accusative case in Luke

Reference

NET Parallel Greek

ESV
Luke 1:13 καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννην and you shall call his name John.
Luke 1:23 ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ he went to his home.
Luke 1:31 καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν and you shall call his name Jesus.
Luke 1:49 καὶ ἅγιον τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ and holy is his name.
Luke 1:58 ὅτι ἐμεγάλυνεν κύριος τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτῆς that the Lord had shown great mercy to her
Luke 1:64 ἀνεῴχθη δὲ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ παραχρῆμα And immediately his mouth was opened
Luke 2:21 καὶ ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς he was called Jesus
Luke 2:34 καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Μαριὰμ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ and said to Mary his mother
Luke 3:4 εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ make his paths straight.
Luke 3:17 διακαθᾶραι τὴν ἅλωνα αὐτοῦ to clear his threshing floor
καὶ συναγαγεῖν τὸν σῖτον εἰς τὴν ἀποθήκην αὐτοῦ and to gather the wheat into his barn
Luke 5:25 ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ δοξάζων τὸν θεόν and went home, glorifying God
Luke 5:30 πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ at his disciples
Luke 6:13 προσεφώνησεν τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ he called his disciples
Luke 6:14 καὶ Ἀνδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ and Andrew his brother
Luke 6:20 Καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπάρας τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ And he lifted up his eyes
εἰς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἔλεγεν on his disciples, and said:
Luke 6:45 ἐκ γὰρ περισσεύματος καρδίας λαλεῖ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks
Luke 7:1 Ἐπειδὴ ἐπλήρωσεν πάντα τὰ ρήματα αὐτοῦ After he had finished all his sayings
Luke 7:3 ἐλθὼν διασώσῃ τὸν δοῦλον αὐτοῦ to come and heal his servant
Luke 7:16 καὶ ὅτι ἐπεσκέψατο ὁ θεὸς τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ and “God has visited his people!”
Luke 7:38 καὶ στᾶσα ὀπίσω παρὰ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ and standing behind him at his feet
βρέχειν τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ to wet his feet
καὶ κατεφίλει τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ and kissed his feet
Luke 8:5 ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρων τοῦ σπεῖραι τὸν σπόρον αὐτοῦ A sower went out to sow his seed.
Luke 8:41 παρεκάλει αὐτὸν εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ he implored him to come to his house
Luke 9:14 εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ And he said to his disciples
Luke 9:23 καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ and take up his cross
Luke 9:24 ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι For whoever would save his life
ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ but whoever loses his life
Luke 9:31 ἔλεγον τὴν ἔξοδον αὐτοῦ and spoke of his departure
Luke 9:32 εἶδον τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ they saw his glory
Luke 9:43 εἶπεν πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ Jesus said to his disciples
Luke 10:2 ἐργάτας ἐκβάλῃ εἰς τὸν θερισμὸν αὐτοῦ to send out laborers into his harvest
Luke 10:34 καὶ προσελθὼν κατέδησεν τὰ τραύματα αὐτοῦ He went to him and bound up his wounds
Luke 10:39 ἤκουεν τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ and listened to his teaching
Luke 11:1 καθὼς καὶ Ἰωάννης ἐδίδαξεν τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ as John taught his disciples
Luke 11:8 διὰ τὸ εἶναι φίλον αὐτοῦ because he is his friend
διά γε τὴν ἀναίδειαν αὐτοῦ yet because of his impudence
Luke 11:22 τὴν πανοπλίαν αὐτοῦ αἴρει he takes away his armor
καὶ τὰ σκῦλα αὐτοῦ διαδίδωσιν and divides his spoil
Luke 12:1 ἤρξατο λέγειν πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ πρῶτον he began to say to his disciples first
Luke 12:22 Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς [αὐτοῦ] And he said to his disciples
Luke 12:25 δύναται ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν αὐτοῦ προσθεῖναι πῆχυν can add a single hour to his span of life
Luke 12:31 πλὴν ζητεῖτε τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ Instead, seek his kingdom
Luke 12:39 οὐκ |ἂν| ἀφῆκεν διορυχθῆναι τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ he would not have left his house to be broken into
Luke 12:47 ἢ ποιήσας πρὸς τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ or act according to his will
Luke 13:15 ἕκαστος ὑμῶν τῷ σαββάτῳ οὐ λύει τὸν βοῦν αὐτοῦ Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox
Luke 14:17 ἀπέστειλεν τὸν δοῦλον αὐτοῦ he sent his servant
Luke 15:5 ἐπιτίθησιν ἐπὶ τοὺς ὤμους αὐτοῦ χαίρων he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
Luke 15:13 καὶ ἐκεῖ διεσκόρπισεν τὴν οὐσίαν αὐτοῦ and there he squandered his property
Luke 15:15 καὶ ἔπεμψεν αὐτὸν εἰς τοὺς ἀγροὺς αὐτοῦ who sent him into his fields
Luke 15:20 καὶ δραμὼν ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ and ran and embraced him
Luke 15:22 εἶπεν δὲ ὁ πατὴρ πρὸς τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ But the father said to his servants
καὶ δότε δακτύλιον εἰς τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ and put a ring on his hand
Luke 16:1 διασκορπίζων τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ was wasting his possessions
Luke 16:18 Πᾶς ὁ ἀπολύων τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ Everyone who divorces his wife
Luke 16:20 πρὸς τὸν πυλῶνα αὐτοῦ at his gate
Luke 16:21 ἀλλὰ καὶ οἱ κύνες ἐρχόμενοι ἐπέλειχον τὰ ἕλκη αὐτοῦ Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luke 16:23 καὶ ἐν τῷ ᾅδῃ ἐπάρας τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ and in Hades…he lifted up his eyes
Luke 17:2 εἰ λίθος μυλικὸς περίκειται περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ if a millstone were hung around his neck
Luke 17:16 καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον παρὰ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet
Luke 17:33 ὃς ἐὰν ζητήσῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ περιποιήσασθαι Whoever seeks to preserve his life
Luke 18:13 ἀλλ᾿ ἔτυπτεν τὸ στῆθος |αὐτοῦ| but beat his breast
Luke 18:14 κατέβη οὗτος δεδικαιωμένος εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ this man went down to his house
Luke 22:36 καὶ ὁ μὴ ἔχων πωλησάτω τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀγορασάτω μάχαιραν And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.
Luke 22:50 καὶ ἀφεῖλεν τὸ οὖς αὐτοῦ τὸ δεξιόν and cut off his right ear
Luke 23:34 διαμεριζόμενοι δὲ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ ἔβαλον |κλήρους| And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Luke 23:55 καὶ ὡς ἐτέθη τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ and how his body was laid
Luke 24:23 καὶ μὴ εὑροῦσαι τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ and when they did not find his body
Luke 24:26 καὶ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ and enter into his glory
Luke 24:50 καὶ ἐπάρας τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ and lifting up his hands

Occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ in a phrase in the accusative case

Reference NET Parallel Greek ESV
Luke 2:3 εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ πόλιν to his own town
Luke 11:21 φυλάσσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ αὐλήν guards his own palace
Luke 14:26 μισεῖ τὸν πατέρα ἑαυτοῦ hate his own father
καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν ἑαυτοῦ And…his own life
Luke 14:27 βαστάζει τὸν σταυρὸν ἑαυτοῦ bear his own cross
Luke 15:20 ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα ἑαυτοῦ came to his father
Luke 24:27 τὰ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ the things concerning himself
Romans 4:19 κατενόησεν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα he considered his own body
Romans 5:8 συνίστησιν δὲ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἀγάπην But…shows his love
Romans 8:3 τὸν ἑαυτοῦ υἱὸν πέμψας sending his own Son
1 Corinthians 7:2 ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα ἐχέτω each man should have his own wife
1 Corinthians 7:37 τηρεῖν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον to keep her as his betrothed
1 Corinthians 7:38 ὁ γαμίζων τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον he who marries his betrothed
1 Corinthians 10:24 μηδεὶς τὸ ἑαυτοῦ ζητείτω Let no one seek his own good
1 Corinthians 10:29 συνείδησιν δὲ λέγω οὐχὶ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ I do not mean your conscience
Ephesians 5:28 ὁ ἀγαπῶν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα ἑαυτὸν ἀγαπᾷ He who loves his wife loves himself.
Ephesians 5:29 Οὐδεὶς γάρ ποτε τὴν ἑαυτοῦ σάρκα ἐμίσησεν For no one ever hated his own flesh
Ephesians 5:33 ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα οὕτως ἀγαπάτω ὡς ἑαυτόν let each one of you love his wife as himself
1 Thessalonians 2:12 τοῦ καλοῦντος ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ βασιλείαν who calls you into his own kingdom
1 Thessalonians 4:4 εἰδέναι ἕκαστον ὑμῶν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σκεῦος κτᾶσθαι ἐν ἁγιασμῷ that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness
Revelation 10:7 ὡς εὐηγγέλισεν τοὺς ἑαυτοῦ δούλους τοὺς προφήτας just as he announced to his servants the prophets

Tables comparing Matthew 7:24; 22:24; 1:24; 22:25; Mark 14:65; 10:11; Luke 2:3-5; Matthew 12:29; Luke 11:26; 13:18, 19; Mark 4:30, 31; John 14:9; 14:11 and 2 Corinthians 5:16 in the NET and KJV follow.

Matthew 7:24 (NET)

Matthew 7:24 (KJV)

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Matthew 7:24 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 7:24 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 7:24 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Πᾶς οὖν ὅστις ἀκούει μου τοὺς λόγους |τούτους| καὶ ποιεῖ αὐτούς, ὁμοιωθήσεται ἀνδρὶ φρονίμῳ, ὅστις ᾠκοδόμησεν αὐτοῦ τὴν οἰκίαν ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν πας ουν οστις ακουει μου τους λογους τουτους και ποιει αυτους ομοιωσω αυτον ανδρι φρονιμω οστις ωκοδομησεν την οικιαν αυτου επι την πετραν πας ουν οστις ακουει μου τους λογους τουτους και ποιει αυτους ομοιωσω αυτον ανδρι φρονιμω οστις ωκοδομησεν την οικιαν αυτου επι την πετραν

Matthew 22:24 (NET)

Matthew 22:24 (KJV)

“Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and father children for his brother.’ Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Matthew 22:24 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 22:24 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 22:24 (Byzantine Majority Text)

λέγοντες· διδάσκαλε, Μωϋσῆς εἶπεν· ἐάν τις ἀποθάνῃ μὴ ἔχων τέκνα, ἐπιγαμβρεύσει ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀναστήσει σπέρμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ λεγοντες διδασκαλε μωσης ειπεν εαν τις αποθανη μη εχων τεκνα επιγαμβρευσει ο αδελφος αυτου την γυναικα αυτου και αναστησει σπερμα τω αδελφω αυτου λεγοντες διδασκαλε μωσης ειπεν εαν τις αποθανη μη εχων τεκνα επιγαμβρευσει ο αδελφος αυτου την γυναικα αυτου και αναστησει σπερμα τω αδελφω αυτου

Matthew 1:24 (NET)

Matthew 1:24 (KJV)

When Joseph awoke from sleep he did what the angel of the Lord told him. He took his wife, Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

Matthew 1:24 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 1:24 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 1:24 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐγερθεὶς δὲ |ὁ| Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου ἐποίησεν ὡς προσέταξεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου καὶ παρέλαβεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ διεγερθεις δε ο ιωσηφ απο του υπνου εποιησεν ως προσεταξεν αυτω ο αγγελος κυριου και παρελαβεν την γυναικα αυτου διεγερθεις δε ο ιωσηφ απο του υπνου εποιησεν ως προσεταξεν αυτω ο αγγελος κυριου και παρελαβεν την γυναικα αυτου

Matthew 22:25 (NET)

Matthew 22:25 (KJV)

Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children he left his wife to his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

Matthew 22:25 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 22:25 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 22:25 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἦσαν δὲ παρ᾿ ἡμῖν ἑπτὰ ἀδελφοί· καὶ ὁ πρῶτος γήμας ἐτελεύτησεν, καὶ μὴ ἔχων σπέρμα ἀφῆκεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ ησαν δε παρ ημιν επτα αδελφοι και ο πρωτος γαμησας ετελευτησεν και μη εχων σπερμα αφηκεν την γυναικα αυτου τω αδελφω αυτου ησαν δε παρ ημιν επτα αδελφοι και ο πρωτος γαμησας ετελευτησεν και μη εχων σπερμα αφηκεν την γυναικα αυτου τω αδελφω αυτου

Mark 14:65 (NET)

Mark 14:65 (KJV)

Then some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him, and to strike him with their fists, saying, “Prophesy!” The guards also took him and beat him. And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

Mark 14:65 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 14:65 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 14:65 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ ἤρξαντο τινες ἐμπτύειν αὐτῷ καὶ περικαλύπτειν αὐτοῦ τὸ πρόσωπον καὶ κολαφίζειν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγειν αὐτῷ· προφήτευσον, καὶ οἱ ὑπηρέται ραπίσμασιν αὐτὸν ἔλαβον και ηρξαντο τινες εμπτυειν αυτω και περικαλυπτειν το προσωπον αυτου και κολαφιζειν αυτον και λεγειν αυτω προφητευσον και οι υπηρεται ραπισμασιν αυτον εβαλλον και ηρξαντο τινες εμπτυειν αυτω και περικαλυπτειν το προσωπον αυτου και κολαφιζειν αυτον και λεγειν αυτω προφητευσον και οι υπηρεται ραπισμασιν αυτον εβαλλον

Mark 10:11 (NET)

Mark 10:11 (KJV)

So he told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

Mark 10:11 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 10:11 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 10:11 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ γαμήσῃ ἄλλην μοιχᾶται ἐπ᾿ αὐτήν και λεγει αυτοις ος εαν απολυση την γυναικα αυτου και γαμηση αλλην μοιχαται επ αυτην και λεγει αυτοις ος εαν απολυση την γυναικα αυτου και γαμηση αλλην μοιχαται επ αυτην

Luke 2:3-5 (NET)

Luke 2:3-5 (KJV)

Everyone went to his own town to be registered. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

Luke 2:3 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 2:3 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 2:3 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἐπορεύοντο πάντες ἀπογράφεσθαι, ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ πόλιν και επορευοντο παντες απογραφεσθαι εκαστος εις την ιδιαν πολιν και επορευοντο παντες απογραφεσθαι εκαστος εις την ιδιαν πολιν
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

Luke 2:4 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 2:4 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 2:4 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἀνέβη δὲ καὶ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐκ πόλεως Ναζαρὲθ εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν εἰς πόλιν Δαυὶδ ἥτις καλεῖται Βηθλέεμ, διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐξ οἴκου καὶ πατριᾶς Δαυίδ ανεβη δε και ιωσηφ απο της γαλιλαιας εκ πολεως ναζαρετ εις την ιουδαιαν εις πολιν δαβιδ ητις καλειται βηθλεεμ δια το ειναι αυτον εξ οικου και πατριας δαβιδ ανεβη δε και ιωσηφ απο της γαλιλαιας εκ πολεως ναζαρετ εις την ιουδαιαν εις πολιν δαυιδ ητις καλειται βηθλεεμ δια το ειναι αυτον εξ οικου και πατριας δαυιδ
He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Luke 2:5 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 2:5 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 2:5 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἀπογράψασθαι σὺν Μαριὰμ τῇ ἐμνηστευμένῃ αὐτῷ, οὔσῃ ἐγκύῳ απογραψασθαι συν μαριαμ τη μεμνηστευμενη αυτω γυναικι ουση εγκυω απογραψασθαι συν μαριαμ τη μεμνηστευμενη αυτω γυναικι ουση εγκυω

Matthew 12:29 (NET)

Matthew 12:29 (KJV)

How else can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can thoroughly plunder the house. Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

Matthew 12:29 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 12:29 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 12:29 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἢ πῶς δύναται τις εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ ἰσχυροῦ καὶ τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἁρπάσαι, ἐὰν μὴ πρῶτον δήσῃ τὸν ἰσχυρόν; καὶ τότε τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ διαρπάσει η πως δυναται τις εισελθειν εις την οικιαν του ισχυρου και τα σκευη αυτου διαρπασαι εαν μη πρωτον δηση τον ισχυρον και τοτε την οικιαν αυτου διαρπασει η πως δυναται τις εισελθειν εις την οικιαν του ισχυρου και τα σκευη αυτου διαρπασαι εαν μη πρωτον δηση τον ισχυρον και τοτε την οικιαν αυτου διαρπασει

Luke 11:26 (NET)

Luke 11:26 (KJV)

Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first.” Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Luke 11:26 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 11:26 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 11:26 (Byzantine Majority Text)

τότε πορεύεται καὶ παραλαμβάνει ἕτερα πνεύματα πονηρότερα ἑαυτοῦ ἑπτὰ καὶ εἰσελθόντα κατοικεῖ ἐκεῖ· καὶ γίνεται τὰ ἔσχατα τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκείνου χείρονα τῶν πρώτων τοτε πορευεται και παραλαμβανει επτα ετερα πνευματα πονηροτερα εαυτου και εισελθοντα κατοικει εκει και γινεται τα εσχατα του ανθρωπου εκεινου χειρονα των πρωτων τοτε πορευεται και παραλαμβανει επτα ετερα πνευματα πονηροτερα εαυτου και ελθοντα κατοικει εκει και γινεται τα εσχατα του ανθρωπου εκεινου χειρονα των πρωτων

Luke 13:18, 19 (NET)

Luke 13:18, 19 (KJV)

Thus Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what should I compare it? Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

Luke 13:18 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 13:18 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 13:18 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἔλεγεν οὖν· τίνι ὁμοία ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τίνι ὁμοιώσω αὐτήν ελεγεν δε τινι ομοια εστιν η βασιλεια του θεου και τινι ομοιωσω αυτην ελεγεν δε τινι ομοια εστιν η βασιλεια του θεου και τινι ομοιωσω αυτην
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the wild birds nested in its branches.” It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

Luke 13:19 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 13:19 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 13:19 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁμοία ἐστὶν κόκκῳ σινάπεως, ὃν λαβὼν ἄνθρωπος ἔβαλεν εἰς κῆπον ἑαυτοῦ, καὶ ἠύξησεν καὶ ἐγένετο εἰς δένδρον, καὶ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατεσκήνωσεν ἐν τοῖς κλάδοις αὐτοῦ ομοια εστιν κοκκω σιναπεως ον λαβων ανθρωπος εβαλεν εις κηπον εαυτου και ηυξησεν και εγενετο εις δενδρον μεγα και τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατεσκηνωσεν εν τοις κλαδοις αυτου ομοια εστιν κοκκω σιναπεως ον λαβων ανθρωπος εβαλεν εις κηπον εαυτου και ηυξησεν και εγενετο εις δενδρον μεγα και τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατεσκηνωσεν εν τοις κλαδοις αυτου

Mark 4:30, 31 (NET)

Mark 4:30, 31 (KJV)

He also asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to present it? And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

Mark 4:30 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:30 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:30 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ ἔλεγεν· πῶς ὁμοιώσωμεν τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ ἢ ἐν τίνι αὐτὴν παραβολῇ θῶμεν και ελεγεν τινι ομοιωσωμεν την βασιλειαν του θεου η εν ποια παραβολη παραβαλωμεν αυτην και ελεγεν τινι ομοιωσωμεν την βασιλειαν του θεου η εν ποια παραβολη παραβαλωμεν αυτην
It is like a mustard seed that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground— It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

Mark 4:31 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:31 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:31 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὡς κόκκῳ σινάπεως, ὃς ὅταν σπαρῇ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, μικρότερον ὂν πάντων τῶν σπερμάτων τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ως κοκκω σιναπεως ος οταν σπαρη επι της γης μικροτερος παντων των σπερματων εστιν των επι της γης ως κοκκον σιναπεως ος οταν σπαρη επι της γης μικροτερος παντων των σπερματων εστιν των επι της γης

John 14:9 (NET)

John 14:9 (KJV)

Jesus replied, “Have I been with you for so long and yet you have not known me, Philip? The person who has seen me has seen the Father! How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

John 14:9 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 14:9 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 14:9 (Byzantine Majority Text)

λέγει αὐτῷ |ὁ| Ἰησοῦς· |τοσούτῳ χρόνῳ| μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν εἰμι καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωκας με, Φίλιππε; ὁ ἑωρακὼς ἐμὲ ἑώρακεν τὸν πατέρα· πῶς σὺ λέγεις· δεῖξον ἡμῖν τὸν πατέρα λεγει αυτω ο ιησους τοσουτον χρονον μεθ υμων ειμι και ουκ εγνωκας με φιλιππε ο εωρακως εμε εωρακεν τον πατερα και πως συ λεγεις δειξον ημιν τον πατερα λεγει αυτω ο ιησους τοσουτον χρονον μεθ υμων ειμι και ουκ εγνωκας με φιλιππε ο εωρακως εμε εωρακεν τον πατερα και πως συ λεγεις δειξον ημιν τον πατερα

John 14:11 (NET)

John 14:11 (KJV)

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me, but if you do not believe me, believe because of the miraculous deeds themselves. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

John 14:11 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 14:11 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 14:11 (Byzantine Majority Text)

πιστεύετε μοι ὅτι ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ πατρὶ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἐν ἐμοί· εἰ δὲ μή, διὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτὰ πιστεύετε πιστευετε μοι οτι εγω εν τω πατρι και ο πατηρ εν εμοι ει δε μη δια τα εργα αυτα πιστευετε μοι πιστευετε μοι οτι εγω εν τω πατρι και ο πατηρ εν εμοι ει δε μη δια τα εργα αυτα πιστευετε μοι

2 Corinthians 5:16 (NET)

2 Corinthians 5:16 (KJV)

So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

2 Corinthians 5:16 (NET Parallel Greek)

2 Corinthians 5:16 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

2 Corinthians 5:16 (Byzantine Majority Text)

῞Ωστε ἡμεῖς ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν οὐδένα οἴδαμεν κατὰ σάρκα· εἰ καὶ ἐγνώκαμεν κατὰ σάρκα Χριστόν, ἀλλὰ νῦν οὐκέτι γινώσκομεν ωστε ημεις απο του νυν ουδενα οιδαμεν κατα σαρκα ει δε και εγνωκαμεν κατα σαρκα χριστον αλλα νυν ουκετι γινωσκομεν ωστε ημεις απο του νυν ουδενα οιδαμεν κατα σαρκα ει δε και εγνωκαμεν κατα σαρκα χριστον αλλα νυν ουκετι γινωσκομεν

1 1 Corinthians 7:36 (ESV)

2 1 Corinthians 7:37, 38 (ESV) Table

8 Matthew 12:29a (ESV) and Mark 3:27a (ESV) Table

9 Matthew 12:29b (ESV) and Mark 3:27b (ESV) Table

10 Luke 11:24a (ESV)

12 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὖν (NET: Then) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: Then).

13 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μεγα (KJV: great) following tree. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

14 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πῶς (NET: To what) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τινι (KJV: Whereunto).

16 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had θῶμεν (NET: to present) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had παραβαλωμεν (KJV: shall we compare).

18 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εστιν (KJV: that be) following seeds. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

21 John 17:3 (ESV)

22 Acts 17:28a (ESV)

24 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: and) at the beginning of this clause. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

25 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μοι (KJV: me) following believe. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

26 John 15:4 (ESV) Table

27 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἰ καὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ει δε και (KJV: yea, though).

The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 7

This is a continuation of my consideration of God’s love for Satan revealed in the book of Job.  I left off when יהוה (Yᵊhōvâ) authorized the experiment testing Satan’s hypothesis:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Job 1:12 (Tanakh/KJV) Table Job 1:12 (NET) Job 1:12 (NETS) Table

Job 1:12 (Elpenor English)

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.  So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. So the Lord said to Satan, “All right then, everything he has is in your power.  Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!”  So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Then the Lord said to the salnderer, “Look, all that he has I am giving into your power, but do not touch him.”  So the slanderer went out from the Lord. Then the Lord said to the devil, Behold, I give into thine hand all that he has, but touch not himself.  So the devil went out from the presence of the Lord.

Though I considered glossing over the next few verses, it seems relevant now to carefully consider Satan’s power if and only if the Lord removes the hedge He has made around Job’s household and all that he has: Have you not made a hedge (śûḵ, שׁכת) around him and his household and all that he has on every side?[1]

Now the day came when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and a messenger came to Job, saying, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them, and the Sabeans swooped down and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword!  And I—only I alone—escaped to tell you!”[2]

To the unbeliever this could seem like coincidence even as someone paying heed to the scripture recognizes it as Satan’s power.  Satan had complained about Job’s prosperity and the hedge the Lord had made around it, gotten leave to take that prosperity away, and then it began to happen.  Persuading unscrupulous people—who may have been lusting after Job’s oxen and donkeys already—that this was the opportune moment to strike seems a bit like Satan 101.  What happened next might be thought of as Satan 201:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Job 1:16 (Tanakh/KJV) Job 1:16 (NET) Job 1:16 (NETS)

Job 1:16 (Elpenor English)

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God (אֱלֹהִ֗ים) is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While this one was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said, “The fire of God (‘ĕlōhîm, אלהים) has fallen from heaven and has burned up the sheep and the servants—it has consumed them!  And I—only I alone—escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, a further messenger came and said to Iob, “Fire fell from the sky and burned up the sheep, and it likewise consumed the shepherds, and when I alone escaped, I came to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another messenger, and said to Job, Fire has fallen from heaven, and burnt up the sheep, and devoured the shepherds like wise; and I having escaped alone am come to tell thee.

I don’t know if אֱלֹהִ֗ים (‘ĕlōhîm), of God (Tanakh, KJV, NET), was ignored by the rabbis who translated the Septuagint or added by the Masoretes.  While I assume that The fire of Godfrom heaven or Firefrom the sky was lightning, a lightning strike (though there is nothing in the text compelling me to limit it to one lightning strike) killing 7,000 sheep and their shepherds is beyond my personal experience.  I try to keep an open mind to the possibility that The fire of Godfrom heaven or Firefrom the sky that killed 7,000 sheep and their shepherds was a phenomenon I haven’t seen..

The point here, I think, is that The fire of Godfrom heaven or Firefrom the sky that killed 7,000 sheep and their shepherds was under Satan’s control, if and only if God allowed it.  That if and only if becomes extremely interesting when considering the story of Elijah and the priests of Baal (1 Kings 18:21-24 NET).

Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision?  If the Lord is the true God, then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!”  But the people did not say a word.  Elijah said to them: “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal.[3]  Let them bring us two bulls.  Let them choose one of the bulls for themselves, cut it up into pieces, and place it on the wood.  But they must not set it on fire.  I will do the same to the other bull and place it on the wood.  But I will not set it on fire.  Then you will invoke the name of your god, and I will invoke the name of the Lord.  The god who responds with fire will demonstrate that he is the true God.”  All the people responded, “This will be a fair test.”

Here I find another hypothesis and a proposed test for that hypothesis.  Elijah’s hypothesis was, The god who responds with fire will demonstrate that he is the true God.[4]  The test for his hypothesis was that the bull that burst spontaneously into flame, his or theirs, designated which God, יהוה (Yᵊhōvâ) or Baal, is the true God.  As a scientific experiment this one clearly lacks some controls relative to Satan’s experiment with Job.

The priests of Baal called on him from morning until evening without result (1 Kings 18:25-29).  Then Elijah built an altar and called on יהוה (1 Kings 18:36b-39 NET).

“O Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, prove (yāḏaʿ, יודע; Septuagint: γνώτωσαν, a form of γινώσκω) today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.  Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know (yāḏaʿ, וידעו; Septuagint: γνώτω, another form of γινώσκω) that you, O Lord, are the true God and that you are winning back their allegiance.”  Then fire from the Lord fell from the sky.  It consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, and the dirt, and licked up the water in the trench.  When all the people saw this, they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, “The Lord is the true God!  The Lord is the true God!”

It was an impressive demonstration.  Elijah’s hypothesis—The god who responds with fire will demonstrate that he is the true God—was not falsified.  The logical structure of the scientific method is designed to falsify hypotheses.  It doesn’t prove anything except, perhaps, that the effect in question is not due to chance.  The test of Elijah’s hypothesis was designed well enough to demonstrate that fire falling from a cloudless sky in the midst of a drought hitting either of two targets at any time near the prayer of the prophets was probably not a random event.

The controls for this particular experiment were: 1) the specified targets for the fire from the sky, the two sacrifices; and 2) the timing of fire falling from the sky, after the prayer of the prophets of Baal or after the prayer of Elijah.  But Elijah himself mentioned a variable his test did not control for (I Kings 18:27 NET).

At noon Elijah mocked [the prophets of Baal], “Yell louder!  After all, he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or perhaps he stepped out for a moment or has taken a trip.  Perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened.”

So, did יהוה (Yᵊhōvâ) send fire from the sky on time and on target, or was it Baal, late and off target?  Elijah’s test can’t tell us, especially since he changed the conditions mid-experiment (1 Kings 18:32b, 33b-35).

Around the altar he made a trench large enough to contain two seahs of seed.…Then he said, “Fill four water jars and pour the water on the offering and the wood.”  When they had done so, he said, “Do it again.”  So they did it again.  Then he said, “Do it a third time.”  So they did it a third time.  The water flowed down all sides of the altar and filled the trench.

If “fire from the sky” was lightning or shared some of the electrical properties of lightning, did Elijah cheat by making his sacrifice a better conductor of electricity than that of the prophets of Baal?  The simplest way to improve the rigor of Elijah’s experiment is to repeat it a second time with the conditions reversed:[5] Let Elijah go first and let the prophets of Baal water down their sacrifice before Elijah prays.  But who—other than a prophet of יהוה (Yᵊhōvâ), hearing and obeying his voice—would propose such a test even once, much less twice?

Fortunately, faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.[6]  The believer ascertains the identity of the One who caused fire to fall from the sky from the written word of God.  And here both the Masoretic text and Septuagint agree; the fire was from Yᵊhōvâ (יְהֹוָ֗ה), translated παρὰ Κυρίου (a form of κύριος) in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
1 Kings 18:38 (Tanakh/KJV) 1 Kings 18:38 (NET) 3 Reigns 18:38 (NETS)

3 Kings 18:38 (Elpenor English)

Then the fire of the LORD (יְהֹוָ֗ה) fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. Then fire from the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) fell from the sky.  It consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, and the dirt, and licked up the water in the trench. And fire from the Lord (παρὰ κυρίου) fell from heaven and consumed the whole burnt offering and the firewood and the water that was in the thaala and the stones, and the fire licked up the dust. Then fire fell from the Lord (παρὰ Κυρίου) out of heaven, and devoured the whole-burnt-offerings, and the wood and the water that was in the trench, and the fire licked up the stones and the earth.

My purpose here was to consider this story in the light of the knowledge that Satan does in fact have the power to call fire down from the sky if and only if Yᵊhōvâ (יְהֹוָה) gives him leave to exercise that power.  Faith gives me new insight into this story I might miss as an outsider analyzing it as a scientific experiment.  Without getting too involved in the question whether Baal was another name for Satan or another entity under Satan’s control, through faith I feel fairly confident assuming that Yᵊhōvâ (יְהֹוָה) did not give Satan leave to interfere with the demonstration of Elijah’s authority to speak on Yᵊhōvâ’s behalf.  Elijah prayed: let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.[7]

But[8] no one is able[9] to enter a strong man’s house and steal his property unless he first ties up the strong man, Jesus told the experts in the law.  Then he can thoroughly plunder[10] his house.[11]  There was no need to command Elijah to water down the sacrifice of the prophets of Baal because Yᵊhōvâ knew He hadn’t given Satan leave to call down fire from the sky (1 Kings 18:25, 26, 28 NET).

Elijah told the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls for yourselves and go first, for you are the majority.  Invoke the name of your god, but do not light a fire.”  So they took a bull, as he had suggested, and prepared it.  They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us.”  But there was no sound and no answer.  They jumped around on the altar they had made.…they yelled louder and, in accordance with their prescribed ritual, mutilated themselves with swords and spears until their bodies were covered with blood.

 

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
1 Kings 18:29 (Tanakh/KJV) 1 Kings 18:29 (NET) 3 Reigns 18:29 (NETS)

3 Kings 18:29 (Elpenor English)

And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. Throughout the afternoon they were in an ecstatic frenzy, but there was no sound, no answer, and no response. and they were acting the prophet until evening came.  And it happened, as it was the time for the sacrifice to ascend and there was no voice, that Eliou the Thesbite spoke to the prophets of the offenses, saying, “Stand aside for the present, and I will do my whole burnt offering,” and they stood aside and departed. And they prophesied until the evening came; and it came to pass as it was the time of the offering of the sacrifice, that Eliu the Thesbite spoke to the prophets of the abominations, saying, Stand by for the present, and I will offer my sacrifice.  And they stood aside and departed.

The purpose of a lightning rod is not to call down lightning from the sky, though that might arguably be its effect at times.  The purpose of a lightning rod is to offer a direct path to ground, protecting, insulating the house and its occupants from the harmful effects of a lightning strike.  Through faith I can see these things as circumstantial evidence that fire from the sky was lightning (or something sharing the electrical properties of lightning), and that Yᵊhōvâ protected those whose hearts would be turned back to Him (not to mention all the other bystanders) by telling his prophet Elijah to drench the sacrifice with water.  Hear me, O LORD, Elijah prayed, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.[12]

I don’t study the Bible because I have some deep interest in ancient Jewish history or even the Jewish or Christian religions.  I study the Bible with the Holy Spirit to knowthe only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He] sent,[13] to enjoy what Jesus called eternal life ( αἰώνιος ζωὴ) here and now.  As I follow Jesus through the Scriptures I not only gain insight into the mind of יְהֹוָה (Yᵊhōvâ) as He commanded Elijah to prepare his sacrifice, I gain insight into the mind and life of Christ.

Jesus didn’t fantasize as a boy about binding strong men and plundering their houses.  He didn’t grow up and apply that fantasy to Him or his Father.  I tell you the solemn truth, Jesus said, the Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing.  For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.[14]  He saw his Father bind Satan in some of the very same Scriptures He leads me through now, as He studied with the Holy Spirit as a boy.  When He promised his disciples that when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth,[15] He simply recounted his own experience growing up.

I’ll pick this up in another essay.

Tables comparing Job 1:13; 1:14; 1:15; 1:16; 1 Kings 18:21; 18:22; 18:23; 18:24; 18:36; 18:37; 18:38; 18:39; 18:27; 18:32; 18:33; 18:34; 18:35; 18:25; 18:26; 18:28 and 18:29 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Job 1:13; 1:14; 1:15; 1:16; 1 Kings (3 Reigns, 3 Kings) 18:21; 18:22; 18:23; 18:24; 18:36; 18:37; 18:38; 18:39; 18:27; 18:32; 18:33; 18:34; 18:35; 18:25; 18:26; 18:28 and 18:29 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing Mark 3:27 in the NET and KJV follow.

Job 1:13 (Tanakh)

Job 1:13 (KJV)

Job 1:13 (NET)

And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: Now the day came when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
Job 1:13 (Septuagint BLB) Job 1:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἦν ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη οἱ υἱοὶ Ιωβ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτοῦ ἔπινον οἶνον ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτῶν τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου Καὶ ἦν ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη, οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ιὼβ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτοῦ ἔπινον οἶνον ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτῶν τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου
Job 1:13 (NETS) Job 1:13 (English Elpenor)
So it was, when it was the set day, Iob’s sons and daughters were drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house. And it came to pass on a certain day, that Job᾿s sons and his daughters were drinking wine in the house of their elder brother.
Job 1:14 (Tanakh) Job 1:14 (KJV) Job 1:14 (NET)
And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: and a messenger came to Job, saying, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them,
Job 1:14 (Septuagint BLB) Job 1:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος ἦλθεν πρὸς Ιωβ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὰ ζεύγη τῶν βοῶν ἠροτρία καὶ αἱ θήλειαι ὄνοι ἐβόσκοντο ἐχόμεναι αὐτῶν καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος ἦλθε πρὸς ᾿Ιὼβ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· τὰ ζεύγη τῶν βοῶν ἠροτρία, καὶ αἱ θήλειαι ὄνοι ἐβόσκοντο ἐχόμεναι αὐτῶν,
Job 1:14 (NETS) Job 1:14 (English Elpenor)
And, look, a messenger came to Iob and said to him, “The yokes of oxen were plowing, and the she-donkeys were feeding beside them, And, behold, there came a messenger to Job, and said to him, The yokes of oxen were ploughing, and the she-asses were feeding near them;
Job 1:15 (Tanakh) Job 1:15 (KJV) Job 1:15 (NET)
And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. and the Sabeans swooped down and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword!  And I—only I alone—escaped to tell you!”
Job 1:15 (Septuagint BLB) Job 1:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐλθόντες οἱ αἰχμαλωτεύοντες ᾐχμαλώτευσαν αὐτὰς καὶ τοὺς παῗδας ἀπέκτειναν ἐν μαχαίραις σωθεὶς δὲ ἐγὼ μόνος ἦλθον τοῦ ἀπαγγεῗλαί σοι καὶ ἐλθόντες οἱ αἰχμαλωτεύοντες ᾐχμαλώτευσαν αὐτὰς καὶ τοὺς παῖδας ἀπέκτειναν ἐν μαχαίραις· σωθεὶς δὲ ἐγὼ μόνος ἦλθον τοῦ ἀπαγγεῖλαί σοι
Job 1:15 (NETS) Job 1:15 (English Elpenor)
and marauders came and carried them off, and they killed the servants with daggers, but when I alone escaped, I came to tell you.” and the spoilers came and took them for a prey, and slew the servants with the sword; and I having escaped alone am come to tell thee.
Job 1:16 (Tanakh) Job 1:16 (KJV) Job 1:16 (NET)
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While this one was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said, “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and has burned up the sheep and the servants—it has consumed them!  And I—only I alone—escaped to tell you!”
Job 1:16 (Septuagint BLB) Job 1:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔτι τούτου λαλοῦντος ἦλθεν ἕτερος ἄγγελος καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Ιωβ πῦρ ἔπεσεν ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ κατέκαυσεν τὰ πρόβατα καὶ τοὺς ποιμένας κατέφαγεν ὁμοίως καὶ σωθεὶς ἐγὼ μόνος ἦλθον τοῦ ἀπαγγεῗλαί σοι ἔτι τούτου λαλοῦντος, ἦλθεν ἕτερος ἄγγελος καὶ εἶπε πρὸς ᾿Ιώβ· πῦρ ἔπεσεν ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ κατέκαυσε τὰ πρόβατα καὶ τοὺς ποιμένας κατέφαγεν ὁμοίως· σωθεὶς δὲ ἐγὼ μόνος ἦλθον τοῦ ἀπαγγεῖλαί σοι
Job 1:16 (NETS) Job 1:16 (English Elpenor)
While he was still speaking, a further messenger came and said to Iob, “Fire fell from the sky and burned up the sheep, and it likewise consumed the shepherds, and when I alone escaped, I came to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another messenger, and said to Job, Fire has fallen from heaven, and burnt up the sheep, and devoured the shepherds like wise; and I having escaped alone am come to tell thee.
1 Kings 18:21 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:21 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:21 (NET)
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.  And the people answered him not a word. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.  And the people answered him not a word. Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision?  If the Lord is the true God, then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!”  But the people did not say a word.
1 Kings 18:21 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ προσήγαγεν Ηλιου πρὸς πάντας καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῗς Ηλιου ἕως πότε ὑμεῗς χωλανεῗτε ἐπ᾽ ἀμφοτέραις ταῗς ἰγνύαις εἰ ἔστιν κύριος ὁ θεός πορεύεσθε ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ εἰ δὲ ὁ Βααλ αὐτός πορεύεσθε ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ λαὸς λόγον καὶ προσήγαγεν ᾿Ηλιοὺ πρὸς πάντας, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ᾿Ηλιού· ἕως πότε ὑμεῖς χωλανεῖτε ἐπ᾿ ἀμφοτέραις ταῖς ἰγνύαις; εἰ ἔστι Κύριος ὁ Θεός, πορεύεσθε ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ· εἰ δὲ ὁ Βάαλ, πορεύεσθε ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ. καὶ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ λαὸς λόγον
3 Reigns 18:21 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:21 (English Elpenor)
And Eliou came near to all, and Eliou said to them, “How long will you go limping on both legs?  If the Lord is God, go after him, but if Baal is he, go after him.”  And the people did not answer a word. And Eliu drew near to them all: and Eliu said to them, How long wilt ye halt on both feet? if the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, follow him.  And the people answered not a word.
1 Kings 18:22 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:22 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:22 (NET)
Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Elijah said to them: “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal.
1 Kings 18:22 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν Ηλιου πρὸς τὸν λαόν ἐγὼ ὑπολέλειμμαι προφήτης τοῦ κυρίου μονώτατος καὶ οἱ προφῆται τοῦ Βααλ τετρακόσιοι καὶ πεντήκοντα ἄνδρες καὶ οἱ προφῆται τοῦ ἄλσους τετρακόσιοι καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ηλιοὺ πρὸς τὸν λαόν· ἐγὼ ὑπολέλειμμαι προφήτης τοῦ Κυρίου μονώτατος, καὶ οἱ προφῆται τοῦ Βάαλ τετρακόσιοι καὶ πεντήκοντα ἄνδρες, καὶ οἱ προφῆται τοῦ ἄλσους τετρακόσιοι
3 Reigns 18:22 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:22 (English Elpenor)
And Eliou said to the people, “I all alone am left over as a prophet of the Lord, and Baal’s prophets number four hundred fifty men, and the prophets of the grove, four hundred. And Eliu said to the people, I am left, the only one prophet of the Lord; and the prophets of Baal [are] four hundred and fifty men, and the prophets of the groves four hundred.
1 Kings 18:23 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:23 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:23 (NET)
Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: Let them bring us two bulls.  Let them choose one of the bulls for themselves, cut it up into pieces, and place it on the wood.  But they must not set it on fire.  I will do the same to the other bull and place it on the wood.  But I will not set it on fire.
1 Kings 18:23 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)
δότωσαν ἡμῗν δύο βόας καὶ ἐκλεξάσθωσαν ἑαυτοῗς τὸν ἕνα καὶ μελισάτωσαν καὶ ἐπιθέτωσαν ἐπὶ τῶν ξύλων καὶ πῦρ μὴ ἐπιθέτωσαν καὶ ἐγὼ ποιήσω τὸν βοῦν τὸν ἄλλον καὶ πῦρ οὐ μὴ ἐπιθῶ δότωσαν ἡμῖν δύο βόας, καὶ ἐκλεξάσθωσαν ἑαυτοῖς τὸν ἕνα καὶ μελισάτωσαν καὶ ἐπιθέτωσαν ἐπὶ τῶν ξύλων καὶ πῦρ μὴ ἐπιθέτωσαν, καὶ ἐγὼ ποιήσω τὸν βοῦν τὸν ἄλλον, καὶ πῦρ οὐ μὴ ἐπιθῶ
3 Reigns 18:23 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:23 (English Elpenor)
Let them give us two bulls, and let them choose the one for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, and let them put on no fire, and I will do the other bull and will put on no fire. Let them give us two oxen, and let them choose one for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire [on] the wood: and I will dress the other bullock, and put on no fire.
1 Kings 18:24 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:24 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:24 (NET)
And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God.  And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God.  And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. Then you will invoke the name of your god, and I will invoke the name of the Lord.  The god who responds with fire will demonstrate that he is the true God.”  All the people responded, “This will be a fair test.”
1 Kings 18:24 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ βοᾶτε ἐν ὀνόματι θεῶν ὑμῶν καὶ ἐγὼ ἐπικαλέσομαι ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ μου καὶ ἔσται ὁ θεός ὃς ἐὰν ἐπακούσῃ ἐν πυρί οὗτος θεός καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς καὶ εἶπον καλὸν τὸ ῥῆμα ὃ ἐλάλησας καὶ βοᾶτε ἐν ὀνόματι θεῶν ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐγὼ ἐπικαλέσομαι ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ μου, καὶ ἔσται ὁ θεὸς ὃς ἐὰν ἐπακούσῃ ἐν πυρί, οὗτος Θεός. καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς καὶ εἶπον· καλὸν τὸ ρῆμα, ὃ ἐλάλησας
3 Reigns 18:24 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:24 (English Elpenor)
And shout in the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord, my God, and it will be, the god who answers by fire, he is God.”  And all the people answered and said, “The word which you spoke is good!” And do ye call loudly on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord my God, and it shall come to pass that the God who shall answer by fire, he [is] God.  And all the people answered and said, The word which thou hast spoken [is] good.
1 Kings 18:36 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:36 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:36 (NET)
And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. When it was time for the evening offering, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and prayed: “O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.
1 Kings 18:36 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:36 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀνεβόησεν Ηλιου εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ εἶπεν κύριε ὁ θεὸς Αβρααμ καὶ Ισαακ καὶ Ισραηλ ἐπάκουσόν μου κύριε ἐπάκουσόν μου σήμερον ἐν πυρί καὶ γνώτωσαν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς οὗτος ὅτι σὺ εἶ κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ κἀγὼ δοῦλός σου καὶ διὰ σὲ πεποίηκα τὰ ἔργα ταῦτα καὶ ἀνεβόησεν ᾿Ηλιοὺ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ εἶπε· Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ῾Αβραὰμ καὶ ᾿Ισαὰκ καὶ ᾿Ισραήλ, ἐπάκουσόν μου, Κύριε, ἐπάκουσόν μου σήμερον ἐν πυρί, καὶ γνώτωσαν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς οὗτος ὅτι σὺ εἶ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἐγὼ δοῦλός σου καὶ διὰ σὲ πεποίηκα τὰ ἔργα ταῦτα
3 Reigns 18:36 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:36 (English Elpenor)
And Eliou cried aloud to heaven and said, “O Lord, God of Abraam and Isaak and Israel, heed me, heed me today with fire, and let all this people know that you are Lord, God of Israel, and I am your slave, and I have done these works on your account. And Eliu cried aloud to the heaven, and said, Lord God of Abraam, and Isaac, and Israel, answer me, O Lord, answer me this day by fire, and let all this people know that thou art the Lord, the God of Israel, and I [am] thy servant, and for thy sake I have wrought these works.
1 Kings 18:37 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:37 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:37 (NET)
Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are the true God and that you are winning back their allegiance.”
1 Kings 18:37 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:37 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐπάκουσόν μου κύριε ἐπάκουσόν μου ἐν πυρί καὶ γνώτω ὁ λαὸς οὗτος ὅτι σὺ εἶ κύριος ὁ θεὸς καὶ σὺ ἔστρεψας τὴν καρδίαν τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου ὀπίσω ἐπάκουσόν μου, Κύριε, ἐπάκουσόν μου ἐν πυρί, καὶ γνώτω ὁ λαὸς οὗτος, ὅτι σὺ εἶ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς καὶ σὺ ἔστρεψας τὴν καρδίαν τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου ὀπίσω
3 Reigns 18:37 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:37 (English Elpenor)
Heed me, O Lord, heed me with fire, and let this people know that you are Lord God and that you turned the heart of this people back.” Hear me, O Lord, hear me, and let this people know that thou art the Lord God, and thou hast turned back the heart of this people.
1 Kings 18:38 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:38 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:38 (NET)
Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. Then fire from the Lord fell from the sky.  It consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, and the dirt, and licked up the water in the trench.
1 Kings 18:38 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:38 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔπεσεν πῦρ παρὰ κυρίου ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ κατέφαγεν τὸ ὁλοκαύτωμα καὶ τὰς σχίδακας καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ἐν τῇ θααλα καὶ τοὺς λίθους καὶ τὸν χοῦν ἐξέλιξεν τὸ πῦρ καὶ ἔπεσε πῦρ παρὰ Κυρίου ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ κατέφαγε τὰ ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ τὰς σχίδακας καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ, καὶ τοὺς λίθους καὶ τὸν χοῦν ἐξέλειξε τὸ πῦρ
3 Reigns 18:38 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:38 (English Elpenor)
And fire from the Lord fell from heaven and consumed the whole burnt offering and the firewood and the water that was in the thaala and the stones, and the fire licked up the dust. Then fire fell from the Lord out of heaven, and devoured the whole-burnt-offerings, and the wood and the water that was in the trench, and the fire licked up the stones and the earth.
1 Kings 18:39 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:39 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:39 (NET)
And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. When all the people saw this, they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, “The Lord is the true God!  The Lord is the true God!”
1 Kings 18:39 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:39 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔπεσεν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπον ἀληθῶς κύριός ἐστιν ὁ θεός αὐτὸς ὁ θεός καὶ ἔπεσε πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπον· ἀληθῶς Κύριος ὁ Θεός, αὐτὸς ὁ Θεός
3 Reigns 18:39 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:39 (English Elpenor)
And all the people fell on their face and said, “Truly the Lord is God; he is God.” And all the people fell upon their faces, and said, Truly the Lord [is] God; he [is] God.
1 Kings 18:27 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:27 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:27 (NET)
And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. At noon Elijah mocked them, “Yell louder!  After all, he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or perhaps he stepped out for a moment or has taken a trip.  Perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened.”
1 Kings 18:27 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:27 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐγένετο μεσημβρίᾳ καὶ ἐμυκτήρισεν αὐτοὺς Ηλιου ὁ Θεσβίτης καὶ εἶπεν ἐπικαλεῗσθε ἐν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ὅτι θεός ἐστιν ὅτι ἀδολεσχία αὐτῷ ἐστιν καὶ ἅμα μήποτε χρηματίζει αὐτός ἢ μήποτε καθεύδει αὐτός καὶ ἐξαναστήσεται καὶ ἐγένετο μεσημβρία καὶ ἐμυκτήρισεν αὐτοὺς ᾿Ηλιοὺ ὁ Θεσβίτης καὶ εἶπεν· ἐπικαλεῖσθε ἐν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, ὅτι θεός ἐστιν, ὅτι ἀδολεσχία αὐτῷ ἐστι, καὶ ἅμα μή ποτε χρηματίζει αὐτός, ἢ μή ποτε καθεύδει αὐτός, καὶ ἐξαναστήσεται
3 Reigns 18:27 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:27 (English Elpenor)
And it happened at noon that Eliou the Thesbite mocked them and said, “Call in a loud voice!  For he is a god, for prating occupies him, and at the same time he is perhaps giving an oracle, or perhaps he is asleep and will get up.” And it was noon, and Eliu the Thesbite mocked them, and said, Call with a loud voice, for he is a god; for he is meditating, or else perhaps he is engaged in business, or perhaps he is asleep, and is to be awaked.
1 Kings 18:32 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:32 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:32 (NET)
And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. With the stones he constructed an altar for the Lord. Around the altar he made a trench large enough to contain two seahs of seed.
1 Kings 18:32 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:32 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν τοὺς λίθους ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου καὶ ἰάσατο τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ κατεσκαμμένον καὶ ἐποίησεν θααλα χωροῦσαν δύο μετρητὰς σπέρματος κυκλόθεν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε τοὺς λίθους ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου καὶ ἰάσατο τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ κατεσκαμμένον, καὶ ἐποίησε θάλασσαν χωροῦσαν δύο μετρητὰς σπέρματος κυκλόθεν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου
3 Reigns 18:32 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:32 (English Elpenor)
and he built the stones in the name of the Lord and repaired the altar that had been thrown down and made a thaala around the altar, holding two measures of seed. And he built up the stones in the name of the Lord, and repaired the altar that had been broken down; and he made a trench that would hold two measures of seed round about the altar.
1 Kings 18:33 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:33 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:33 (NET)
And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. He arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood.  Then he said, “Fill four water jars and pour the water on the offering and the wood.”
1 Kings 18:33 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:33 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐστοίβασεν τὰς σχίδακας ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον ὃ ἐποίησεν καὶ ἐμέλισεν τὸ ὁλοκαύτωμα καὶ ἐπέθηκεν ἐπὶ τὰς σχίδακας καὶ ἐστοίβασεν ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον καὶ ἐστοίβασε τὰς σχίδακας ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον, ὃ ἐποίησε, καὶ ἐμέλισε τὸ ὁλοκαύτωμα καὶ ἐπέθηκεν ἐπὶ τὰς σχίδακας καὶ ἐστοίβασεν ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον καὶ εἶπε· λάβετέ μοι τέσσαρας ὑδρίας ὕδατος καὶ ἐπιχέετε ἐπὶ τὸ ὁλοκαύτωμα καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς σχίδακας· καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως
3 Reigns 18:33 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:33 (English Elpenor)
And he piled up the firewood on the altar that he made and cut the whole burnt offering in pieces and laid it on the firewood and piled it on the altar. And he piled the cleft wood on the altar which he [had] made, and divided the whole-burnt-offering, and laid [it] on the wood, and laid [it] in order on the altar, and said, Fetch me four pitchers of water, and pour [it] on the whole-burnt-offering, and on the wood.  And they did so.
1 Kings 18:34 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:34 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:34 (NET)
And he said, Do it the second time.  And they did it the second time.  And he said, Do it the third time.  And they did it the third time. And he said, Do it the second time.  And they did it the second time.  And he said, Do it the third time.  And they did it the third time. When they had done so, he said, “Do it again.”  So they did it again.  Then he said, “Do it a third time.”  So they did it a third time.
1 Kings 18:34 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:34 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν λάβετέ μοι τέσσαρας ὑδρίας ὕδατος καὶ ἐπιχέετε ἐπὶ τὸ ὁλοκαύτωμα καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς σχίδακας καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως καὶ εἶπεν δευτερώσατε καὶ ἐδευτέρωσαν καὶ εἶπεν τρισσώσατε καὶ ἐτρίσσευσαν καὶ εἶπε· δευτερώσατε· καὶ ἐδευτέρωσαν. καὶ εἶπε· τρισσώσατε· καὶ ἐτρίσσευσαν
3 Reigns 18:34 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:34 (English Elpenor)
And he said, “Take for me four jars of water, and pour it on the whole burnt offering and on the firewood,” and they did so.  And he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time.  And he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. And he said, Do it the second time.  And they did it the second time.  And he said, Do it the third time.  And they did it the third time.
1 Kings 18:35 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:35 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:35 (NET)
And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. The water flowed down all sides of the altar and filled the trench.
1 Kings 18:35 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:35 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ διεπορεύετο τὸ ὕδωρ κύκλῳ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου καὶ τὴν θααλα ἔπλησαν ὕδατος καὶ διεπορεύετο τὸ ὕδωρ κύκλῳ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου, καὶ τὴν θάλασσαν ἔπλησαν ὕδατος
3 Reigns 18:35 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:35 (English Elpenor)
And the water ran all around the altar, and filled the thaala with water. And the water ran round about the altar, and they filled the trench with water.
1 Kings 18:25 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:25 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:25 (NET)
And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. Elijah told the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls for yourselves and go first, for you are the majority.  Invoke the name of your god, but do not light a fire.”
1 Kings 18:25 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν Ηλιου τοῗς προφήταις τῆς αἰσχύνης ἐκλέξασθε ἑαυτοῗς τὸν μόσχον τὸν ἕνα καὶ ποιήσατε πρῶτοι ὅτι πολλοὶ ὑμεῗς καὶ ἐπικαλέσασθε ἐν ὀνόματι θεοῦ ὑμῶν καὶ πῦρ μὴ ἐπιθῆτε καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ηλιοὺ τοῖς προφήταις τῆς αἰσχύνης· ἐκλέξασθε ἑαυτοῖς τὸν μόσχον τὸν ἕνα καὶ ποιήσατε πρῶτοι, ὅτι πολλοὶ ὑμεῖς, καὶ ἐπικαλέσασθε ἐν ὀνόματι θεοῦ ὑμῶν καὶ πῦρ μὴ ἐπιθῆτε
3 Reigns 18:25 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:25 (English Elpenor)
And Eliou said to the prophets of shame, “Choose for yourselves the one bull calf, and do it first, for you are many, and call on the name of your god, and put on no fire.” And Eliu said to the prophets of shame, Choose to yourselves one calf, and dress it first, for ye [are] many; and call ye on the name of your god; but apply no fire.
1 Kings 18:26 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:26 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:26 (NET)
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us.  But there was no voice, nor any that answered.  And they leaped upon the altar which was made. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us.  But there was no voice, nor any that answered.  And they leaped upon the altar which was made. So they took a bull, as he had suggested, and prepared it.  They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us.”  But there was no sound and no answer.  They jumped around on the altar they had made.
1 Kings 18:26 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:26 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔλαβον τὸν μόσχον καὶ ἐποίησαν καὶ ἐπεκαλοῦντο ἐν ὀνόματι τοῦ Βααλ ἐκ πρωίθεν ἕως μεσημβρίας καὶ εἶπον ἐπάκουσον ἡμῶν ὁ Βααλ ἐπάκουσον ἡμῶν καὶ οὐκ ἦν φωνὴ καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἀκρόασις καὶ διέτρεχον ἐπὶ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου οὗ ἐποίησαν καὶ ἔλαβον τὸν μόσχον καὶ ἐποίησαν καὶ ἐπεκαλοῦντο ἐν ὀνόματι τοῦ Βάαλ ἐκ πρωΐθεν ἕως μεσημβρίας καὶ εἶπον· ἐπάκουσον ἡμῶν, ὁ Βάαλ, ἐπάκουσον ἡμῶν· καὶ οὐκ ἦν φωνὴ καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἀκρόασις· καὶ διέτρεχον ἐπὶ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου, οὗ ἐποίησαν
3 Reigns 18:26 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:26 (English Elpenor)
And they took the bull calf and did it and were calling on the name of Baal from morning until noon and said, “Hear us, O Baal, hear us!”  And there was no voice, and there was no hearing, and they ran about on the altar that they made. And they took the calf and drest it, and called on the name of Baal from morning till noon, and said, hear us, O Baal, hear us.  And there was no voice, neither was there hearing, and they ran up and down on the altar which they [had] made.
1 Kings 18:28 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:28 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:28 (NET)
And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. So they yelled louder and, in accordance with their prescribed ritual, mutilated themselves with swords and spears until their bodies were covered with blood.
1 Kings 18:28 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:28 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπεκαλοῦντο ἐν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ κατετέμνοντο κατὰ τὸν ἐθισμὸν αὐτῶν ἐν μαχαίραις καὶ σειρομάσταις ἕως ἐκχύσεως αἵματος ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς καὶ ἐπεκαλοῦντο ἐν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ κατετέμνοντο κατὰ τὸν ἐθισμὸν αὐτῶν ἐν μαχαίραις καὶ σειρομάσταις ἕως ἐκχύσεως αἵματος ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς
3 Reigns 18:28 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:28 (English Elpenor)
And they were calling in a loud voice and, as was their custom, they were cutting themselves with daggers and lances until the blood gushed out over them, And they cried with a loud voice, and cut themselves according to their custom with knives and lancets until the blood gushed out upon them.
1 Kings 18:29 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 18:29 (KJV) 1 Kings 18:29 (NET)
And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. Throughout the afternoon they were in an ecstatic frenzy, but there was no sound, no answer, and no response.
1 Kings 18:29 (Septuagint BLB) 3 Kings 18:29 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπροφήτευον ἕως οὗ παρῆλθεν τὸ δειλινόν καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ὁ καιρὸς τοῦ ἀναβῆναι τὴν θυσίαν καὶ οὐκ ἦν φωνή καὶ ἐλάλησεν Ηλιου ὁ Θεσβίτης πρὸς τοὺς προφήτας τῶν προσοχθισμάτων λέγων μετάστητε ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν καὶ ἐγὼ ποιήσω τὸ ὁλοκαύτωμά μου καὶ μετέστησαν καὶ ἀπῆλθον καὶ ἐπροφήτευον ἕως οὗ παρῆλθε τὸ δειλινόν. καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ὁ καιρὸς τοῦ ἀναβῆναι τὴν θυσίαν καὶ οὐκ ἦν φωνή. καὶ ἐλάλησεν ᾿Ηλιοὺ ὁ Θεσβίτης πρὸς τοὺς προφήτας τῶν προσοχθισμάτων λέγων· μετάστητε ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν, καὶ ἐγὼ ποιήσω τὸ ὁλοκαύτωμά μου. καὶ μετέστησαν, καὶ ἀπῆλθον
3 Reigns 18:29 (NETS) 3 Kings 18:29 (English Elpenor)
and they were acting the prophet until evening came.  And it happened, as it was the time for the sacrifice to ascend and there was no voice, that Eliou the Thesbite spoke to the prophets of the offenses, saying, “Stand aside for the present, and I will do my whole burnt offering,” and they stood aside and departed. And they prophesied until the evening came; and it came to pass as it was the time of the offering of the sacrifice, that Eliu the Thesbite spoke to the prophets of the abominations, saying, Stand by for the present, and I will offer my sacrifice. And they stood aside and departed.
Mark 3:27 (NET) Mark 3:27 (KJV)
But no one is able to enter a strong man’s house and steal his property unless he first ties up the strong man.  Then he can thoroughly plunder his house. No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἀλλ᾿ οὐ δύναται οὐδεὶς εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ ἰσχυροῦ εἰσελθὼν τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ διαρπάσαι, ἐὰν μὴ πρῶτον τὸν ἰσχυρὸν δήσῃ, καὶ τότε τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ διαρπάσει ου δυναται ουδεις τα σκευη του ισχυρου εισελθων εις την οικιαν αυτου διαρπασαι εαν μη πρωτον τον ισχυρον δηση και τοτε την οικιαν αυτου διαρπασει ουδεις δυναται τα σκευη του ισχυρου εισελθων εις την οικιαν αυτου διαρπασαι εαν μη πρωτον τον ισχυρον δηση και τοτε την οικιαν αυτου διαρπαση

[1] Job 1:10a (NET) Table

[2] Job 1:13-15 (NET)

[3] The Septuagint had καὶ οἱ προφῆται τοῦ ἄλσους τετρακόσιοι (NETS: and the prophets of the grove, four hundred) following here.

[4] 1 Kings 18:24b (NET)

[5] This is what Gideon did with the fleece (Judges 6:36-40) when he was uncertain of God’s intent.

[6] Romans 10:17 (ESV) Table

[7] 1 Kings 18:36b (Tanakh, KJV)

[8] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀλλ᾿ here.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[9] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had the negative particle οὐ preceding is able (KJV: can) and οὐδεὶς (NET: no one; KJV: No man) following, where the Byzantine Majority Text simply had οὐδεὶς preceding.

[10] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had διαρπάσει, where the Byzantine Majority Text had διαρπαση.

[11] Mark 3:27 (NET)

[12] 1 Kings 18:37 (Tanakh/KJV)

[13] John 17:3b (NET)

[14] John 5:19 (NET) Table

[15] John 16:13a (NET) Table