Greek Verse:

Literal Alternative:

And another said, "A yoke of oxen, I have bought. Five! And I take myself to evaluate them. I ask you, have me begged off.

Hidden Meaning:

The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, in a series, is best translated as "not only...but also."

The word translated as "another" means "one of two", "other," or "different." It is an adjective used as a noun.

"Said" is from the Greek verb that means "to say" and "to speak" also. However, it has less a sense of teaching and more a sense of addressing and proclaiming.

"I have bought" is an uncommon verb that means "to occupy a marketplace", "to buy in the market," and "to buy for oneself."

"Five" is the number five.

"Yoke" is from a Greek noun that means yoke of beasts, pair or team of mules, oxen or horses", a "carriage drawn by a yoke of beasts", "a chariot", "pair or couple" of any things, and the "mouthpiece of a double flute".

The word translated as "of oxen" means "bull" or "ox". It is an uncommon word.

The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, in a series, is best translated as "not only...but also."

The Greek verb translated as "I go" isn't the most common verb translated as "go" in the NT but it is often translated that way. This word means "to lead over", "depart," and "to carry over." This word, however, uniquely means both "to pursue a course" and "to depart from life." Since it is in a form that acts on itself, the sense is "I take myself".

The Greek verb translated as "to prove" means "to assay", "to test", "approve for political office", and "pass as fit for office". This is the core of the double meaning here, the play between "test" and "approve for office", the first applied to the weather, the second to Jesus himself. This is the first time this word is used by Jesus and it is only used twice. A different word for "discern" is used in Matthew 16:3. The word for "time" follows this verb, completing the wordplay, but in English translation the "face" phrase that comes before separates the two words.

The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as pronouns in English. The word means "the same" when used as an adjective.

"I pray" means "to ask" or "to question". It is not the word normally translated as "pray" in the NT. The form is "I ask".

The "thee" here is singular as an object.

The word translated as "have" means "to possess" or "to keep". The sense here is "hold" in the sense of holding someone responsible.

Vocabulary:

καὶ (conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."

ἕτερος (adj sg masc nom) "Another" is heteros, which means "one or the other of two", "the second", "the secondary", "the minor", "other things [of like kind]", "another", "different," "other than", "different from", "other than should be," and "in another or a different way." As an adverb, it means "in one or the other way", "differently", "otherwise than should be", "badly," and "wrongly." -

Ζεύγη [unique](noun pl neut acc ) "Yoke" is zeugos, which means yoke of beasts, pair or team of mules, oxen or horses", a "carriage drawn by a yoke of beasts", "a chariot", "pair or couple" of any things, and the "mouthpiece of a double flute".

καὶ (conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."

δοκιμάσαι [uncommon](verb pres inf act) "To prove" is from dokimazo, which means "to assay", "to test", "to prove for ones self", "put a person to the test", "approve", "sanction", "approve for political office", and "pass as fit for office". --

αὐτά: (adj pl neut acc) "Them" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself", "yourself", "himself", "herself", "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him", "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as pronouns in English. The word means "the same" when used as an adjective.