KJV: I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
YLT: 'Fire I came to cast to the earth, and what will I if already it was kindled?
Darby: I have come to cast a fire on the earth; and what will I if already it has been kindled?
ASV: I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what do I desire, if it is already kindled?
Πῦρ | Fire |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: πῦρ Sense: fire. |
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ἦλθον | I came |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular Root: ἔρχομαι Sense: to come. |
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βαλεῖν | to cast |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active Root: βάλλω Sense: to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls. |
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ἐπὶ | upon |
Parse: Preposition Root: ἐπί Sense: upon, on, at, by, before. |
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γῆν | earth |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: γῆ Sense: arable land. |
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τί | how |
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: τίς Sense: who, which, what. |
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θέλω | I wish |
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular Root: θέλω Sense: to will, have in mind, intend. |
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ἤδη | already |
Parse: Adverb Root: ἤδη Sense: now, already. |
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ἀνήφθη | it be kindled |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἀνάπτω Sense: to light up, kindle. |
Greek Commentary for Luke 12:49
Suddenly Jesus lets the volcano in his own heart burst forth. The fire was already burning. “Christ came to set the world on fire, and the conflagration had already begun” (Plummer). The very passion in Christ‘s heart would set his friends on fire and his foes in opposition as we have just seen (Luke 11:53.). It is like the saying of Jesus that he came to bring not peace, but a sword, to bring cleavage among men (Matthew 10:34-36). [source]
It is not clear what this passage means. Probably τι ti is be taken in the sense of “how” How I wish. Then ει ei can be taken as equal to οτι hoti How I wish that it were already kindled. Ανηπτη Anēphthē is first aorist passive of αναπτω anaptō to set fire to, to kindle, to make blaze. Probably Luke means the conflagration to come by his death on the Cross for he changes the figure and refers to that more plainly. [source]
A spiritual impulse which shall result in the divisions described in the following verses. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 12:49
Literally, “of his taking up.” It is an old word (from Hippocrates on), but here alone in the N.T. It is derived from αναλαμβανω analambanō (the verb used of the Ascension, Acts 1:2, Acts 1:11, Acts 1:22; 1 Timothy 3:16) and refers here to the Ascension of Jesus after His Resurrection. Not only in John‘s Gospel (John 17:5) does Jesus reveal a yearning for a return to the Father, but it is in the mind of Christ here as evidently at the Transfiguration (Luke 9:31) and later in Luke 12:49.He steadfastly set his face (αυτος το προσωπον εστηρισεν autos to prosōpon estērisen). Note emphatic αυτος autos he himself, with fixedness of purpose in the face of difficulty and danger. This look on Christ‘s face as he went to his doom is noted later in Mark 10:32. It is a Hebraistic idiom (nine times in Ezekiel), this use of face here, but the verb (effective aorist active) is an old one from στηριζω stērizō (from στηριγχ stērigx a support), to set fast, to fix.To go to Jerusalem Genitive infinitive of purpose. Luke three times mentions Christ making his way to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51; Luke 13:22; Luke 17:11) and John mentions three journeys to Jerusalem during the later ministry (John 7:10; John 11:17; John 12:1). It is natural to take these journeys to be the same in each of these Gospels. Luke does not make definite location of each incident and John merely supplements here and there. But in a broad general way they seem to correspond. [source]
Imperfect active of παρεχω parechō with αν ̇an instead of ον ̇on as ειχαν eichan in Mark 8:7 (Robertson, Grammar, p. 339). It was their habit on this occasion, Luke means, they kept on showing. No common kindness (ου την τυχουσαν πιλαντρωπιαν ou tēn tuchousan philanthrōpian). The old word πιλαντρωπια philanthrōpia (πιλος philos αντρωπος anthrōpos), love of mankind, occurs in the N.T. only here and Titus 3:4 (adverb in Acts 27:3). See note on Acts 19:11 for this use of ου την τυχουσαν ou tēn tuchousan “not the kindness that happens every day.” They were not “wreckers” to take advantage of the calamity. They kindled a fire The only N.T. example and Acts 28:3 of the old word πυρα pura (from πυρ pur fire), a pile of burning fuel (sticks). First aorist active participle of απτω haptō to set fire to, to kindle. Cf. αναπτω anaptō in Luke 12:49. Received us all (προσελαβοντο παντας ημας proselabonto pantas hēmās). Second aorist middle (indirect indicative of προσλαμβανω proslambanō They took us all to themselves (cf. Acts 18:26). The present Second perfect active participle (intransitive) of επιστημι ephistēmi “the rain that stood upon them” (the pouring rain). Only in Luke and Paul in N.T. [source]
The only N.T. example and Acts 28:3 of the old word πυρα pura (from πυρ pur fire), a pile of burning fuel (sticks). First aorist active participle of απτω haptō to set fire to, to kindle. Cf. αναπτω anaptō in Luke 12:49. Received us all (προσελαβοντο παντας ημας proselabonto pantas hēmās). Second aorist middle (indirect indicative of προσλαμβανω proslambanō They took us all to themselves (cf. Acts 18:26). The present Second perfect active participle (intransitive) of επιστημι ephistēmi “the rain that stood upon them” (the pouring rain). Only in Luke and Paul in N.T. [source]
Since he is the inspirer of prayer, and the bestower of all gifts of grace on the Church. Comp. Ephesians 4:30. The operation of the Spirit is set forth under the image of fire in Matthew 3:11; Luke 12:49; Acts 2:3, Acts 2:4. The reference here is to the work of the Spirit generally, and not specially to his inspiration of prayer or prophecy. [source]
N.T.olxx, (Genesis 45:27; Luke href="/desk/?q=lu+12:49&sr=1">Luke 12:49; James 3:5. It is not necessary to assume that Timothy's zeal had become cold. [source]
Old compound to remind (1 Corinthians 4:17; 2 Corinthians 7:15). That thou stir up (σε αναζωπυρειν se anazōpurein). Present active infinitive of αναζωπυρεω anazōpureō old double compound (ανα ana and ζωπυρον zōpuron live coal, ζωος zōos and πυρ pur then the bellows for kindling), to rekindle, to stir into flame, to keep blazing (continuous action, present time), only here in N.T. See note on 1 Thessalonians 5:19 for the figure of fire concerning the Holy Spirit. See αναπτω anaptō in Luke 12:49. The gift of God See note on 1 Timothy 4:14. Here Paul says μου mou (my), there he mentions the presbytery. Paul felt a deep personal interest in Timothy. See note on 1 Corinthians 7:7; Romans 6:23; Romans 11:29 for the gift of God. [source]
Present active infinitive of αναζωπυρεω anazōpureō old double compound (ανα ana and ζωπυρον zōpuron live coal, ζωος zōos and πυρ pur then the bellows for kindling), to rekindle, to stir into flame, to keep blazing (continuous action, present time), only here in N.T. See note on 1 Thessalonians 5:19 for the figure of fire concerning the Holy Spirit. See αναπτω anaptō in Luke 12:49. [source]
Present active indicative of αυχεω aucheō old verb, here only in N.T. The best MSS. here separate μεγαλα megala from αυχεω aucheō though μεγαλαυχεω megalaucheō does occur in Aeschylus, Plato, etc. Μεγαλα Megala is in contrast with μικρον mikron much - how small The same relative form for two indirect questions together, “What-sized fire kindles what-sized forest?” For double interrogatives see Mark 15:24. The verb αναπτω anaptei is present active indicative of υλην anaptō to set fire to, to kindle (Luke 12:49, only other N.T. example except some MSS. in Acts 28:2). αναπτει Hulēn is accusative case, object of anaptei and occurs here only in N.T., though old word for forest, wood. Forest fires were common in ancient times as now, and were usually caused by small sparks carelessly thrown. [source]
See Ezekiel 10:2; Luke 12:49. [source]
He drops back to the narrative use of the first aorist active indicative of γεμιζω gemizō the fire Second aorist active indicative of βαλλω ballō See Genesis 19:24 (Sodom); Ezekiel 10:2 and Christ‘s bold metaphor in Luke 12:49. See this use of βαλλω ballō also in Revelation 8:7; Revelation 12:4, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 12:13; Revelation 14:19.Followed Came to pass naturally after the casting of fire on the earth. Same three elements in Revelation 4:5, but in different order (lightnings, voices, thunders), lightning naturally preceding thunder as some MSS. have it here. Perhaps πωναι phōnai the voices of the storm (wind, etc.). [source]
Second aorist active indicative of βαλλω ballō See Genesis 19:24 (Sodom); Ezekiel 10:2 and Christ‘s bold metaphor in Luke 12:49. See this use of βαλλω ballō also in Revelation 8:7; Revelation 12:4, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 12:13; Revelation 14:19. [source]