How the Greek language confirms this better understanding of Mark 13:32.
God ordained for our English Bibles to depict Mark 13:32 the way it is, with Jesus saying “neither the Son, but the Father.” In the main article (Mark 13:32 Who Knows?), we looked at how the true understanding of Mark 13:32 is Biblically and reasonably valid with the English the way it is. But for those who want to more precisely know what the Greek has to say at this point, the following is provided:
The Greek term for “but” is “oy-me.” The Greek term “oy-me” can be translated into English as “if not,” just as much as it can be translated into English as “but.”
- In John 9:33, where Jesus heals the blind man, the term “oy-me” is translated into English as “If not.”
- In John 9:33, the term “if not” appears this way: “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing" thus adding to the deity of Christ.
Mark 13:32 could have just as Biblically and reasonably had its “oy-me” term translated as “if not.” If this had happened, the verse would have read, “neither the Son, if not the Father." Meaning, "I (Jesus) would not know either if it was not for the fact that the Father and I are One," etc. This perhaps would have made the correct understanding of Mark 13:32 easier, but God did not ordain for His word in Mark 13:32 to be translated in this manner.
We have a Biblical and prophetic understanding as to why God ordained for His word in Mark 13:32 to be preserved with the term “but,” rather than with the term “if not” though interchangeable (a future article). More importantly, we do know that when we are mindful of other relevant Scripture while we read Mark 13:32, we arrive at a Holy Spirit-endorsed understanding of Mark 13:32. An understanding that is faithful to what the word of God says about Jesus’ deity…and is faithful to a proper use of the English language.
