- *G1308 *13 διαφέρω (dee-af-er'-o) : from G1223 and G5342; to bear through, i.e. (literally) transport; usually to bear apart, i.e. (objectively) to toss about (figuratively, report); subjectively, to "differ", or (by implication) surpass:--be better, carry, differ from, drive up and down, be (more) excellent, make matter, publish, be of more value.
- διαφερετε *4
- Matthew 6:26 ... feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
- Matthew 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
- Luke 12:7 ... Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
- Luke 12:24 ... how much more are ye better than the fowls?
- διαφερει *4
- Matthew 12:12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore ...
- 1 Corinthians 15:41 ... of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
- Galatians 2:6 ... (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God ...
- Galatians 4:1 ... he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though ...
- διαφεροντα *2
- Romans 2:18 ... his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
- Philippians 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere ...
- διενεγκη
- Mark 11:16 ... suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
- διεφερετο
- Acts 13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
- διαφερομενων
- Acts 27:27 ... night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about ...
7. Verses
Let us look at the verses in the
GNT and
LXX (Septuagint) that use the Greek word for
"carry through" or
"difference".
The verses translated by the
KJV as "
better" will be saved for last - which is always in the Gospels and as spoken by Jesus.
8. Acts
Paul an a voyage talks of being
"carried through" the storms.
Acts 27:27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; [kjv]
ως δε τεσσαρεσκαιδεκατη νυξ εγενετο διαφερομενων ημων εν τω αδρια κατα μεσον της νυκτος υπενοουν οι ναυται προσαγειν τινα αυτοις χωραν [gnt]
The "
driven up and down" might be phrased as "
carried through".
9. Acts 27:27
KJV: But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;
Greek: ως δε τεσσαρεσκαιδεκατη νυξ εγενετο διαφερομενων ημων εν τω αδρια κατα μεσον της νυκτος υπενοουν οι ναυται προσαγειν τινα αυτοις χωραν
10. Romans
Romans 2:18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; [kjv]
και γινωσκεις το θελημα και δοκιμαζεις τα διαφεροντα κατηχουμενος εκ του νομου [gnt]
The
"things that are more excellent" might be phrased as
"things that are different" or
"things that carry through" with the implication that these things are "
better" from the point of view of Paul.
11. Romans 2:18
KJV: And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
Greek: και γινωσκεις το θελημα και δοκιμαζεις τα διαφεροντα κατηχουμενος εκ του νομου
12. Stars
13. 1 Corinthians 15:41
KJV: There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
Greek: αλλη δοξα ηλιου και αλλη δοξα σεληνης και αλλη δοξα αστερων αστηρ γαρ αστερος διαφερει εν δοξη
14. Genesis 1:16
KJV: And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
Hebrew: ויעש אלהים את שני המארת הגדלים את המאור הגדל לממשלת היום ואת המאור הקטן לממשלת הלילה ואת הכוכבים׃
Greek: και εποιησεν ο θεος τους δυο φωστηρας τους μεγαλους τον φωστηρα τον μεγαν εις αρχας της ημερας και τον φωστηρα τον ελασσω εις αρχας της νυκτος και τους αστερας
15. Paul
In Galatians, Paul says that it "
makes" no
"difference".
Galatians 2:6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person: ) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: [kjv]
απο δε των δοκουντων ειναι τι οποιοι ποτε ησαν ουδεν μοι διαφερει προσωπον ο θεος ανθρωπου ου λαμβανει εμοι γαρ οι δοκουντες ουδεν προσανεθεντο [gnt]
The Greek word for "
person" here comes from the words "
before" and "
view" as what is before one's view as in the face (or mask) that represents a person.
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Details are left as a future topic.
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16. Galatians 2:6
KJV: But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person: ) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
Greek: απο δε των δοκουντων ειναι τι οποιοι ποτε ησαν ουδεν μοι διαφερει προσωπον ο θεος ανθρωπου ου λαμβανει εμοι γαρ οι δοκουντες ουδεν προσανεθεντο
17. Child and servant
In Galatians 4:1, the translation is
"different" and
not "
better" (or something else).
Galatians 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; [kjv]
λεγω δε εφ οσον χρονον ο κληρονομος νηπιος εστιν ουδεν διαφερει δουλου κυριος παντων ων [gnt]
18. Galatians 4:1
KJV: Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Greek: λεγω δε εφ οσον χρονον ο κληρονομος νηπιος εστιν ουδεν διαφερει δουλου κυριος παντων ων
19. Philippians
In Philippians Paul appears to say the things that are
"different" or
"make a difference" and not "
excellent" though that might be inferred from context.
Philippians 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; [kjv]
εις το δοκιμαζειν υμας τα διαφεροντα ινα ητε ειλικρινεις και απροσκοποι εις ημεραν χριστου [gnt]
1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. [kjv]
πεπληρωμενοι καρπον δικαιοσυνης τον δια ιησου χριστου εις δοξαν και επαινον θεου [gnt]
20. Philippians 1:10
KJV: That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
Greek: εις το δοκιμαζειν υμας τα διαφεροντα ινα ητε ειλικρινεις και απροσκοποι εις ημεραν χριστου
21. Philippians 1:11
KJV: Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Greek: πεπληρωμενοι καρπων καρπον δικαιοσυνης των τον δια ιησου χριστου εις δοξαν και επαινον θεου
22. Kings
Proverbs 20:2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. [kjv]
ου διαφερει απειλη βασιλεως θυμου λεοντος ο δε παροξυνων αυτον αμαρτανει εις την εαυτου ψυχην [lxx]
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul. [bs3]
In the
LXX, the "
fear" of a king appears to be the "
threat" of a king
"carrying through" after one has provoked the king.
23. Proverbs 20:2
KJV: The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
Hebrew: נהם ככפיר אימת מלך מתעברו חוטא נפשו׃
Greek: ου διαφερει απειλη βασιλεως θυμου λεοντος ο δε παροξυνων αυτον αμαρτανει εις την εαυτου ψυχην
Brenton: The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
24. Late sleepers
25. Proverbs 27:14
KJV: He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
Hebrew: מברך רעהו בקול גדול בבקר השכים קללה תחשב לו׃
Greek: ος αν ευλογη φιλον το πρωι μεγαλη τη φωνη καταρωμενου ουδεν διαφερειν δοξει
Brenton: Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses him.
26. Early to bed
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. Benjamin Franklin (American scientist, inventor, philosopher, statesman)
27. Saying
Remember the saying, "
the early worm gets eaten by the bird".
Actually the saying is "
The early bird gets the worm".
The full saying is "
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!".
That is, the first mouse gets eaten by the cat. A Biblical parody of this (source unknown) is "
Blessed is the second mouse for he shall inherit the cheese."
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. [kjv]
28. Matthew 5:5
KJV: Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Greek: μακαριοι οι πραεις οτι αυτοι κληρονομησουσιν την γην
29. Daniel 7:3 Beasts in Daniel
Daniel 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. [kjv]
και τεσσαρα θηρια μεγαλα ανεβαινον εκ της θαλασσης διαφεροντα αλληλων [lxx]
And there came up four great beasts out of the sea, differing from one another. [bs3]
In the vision of Daniel 7:3, Daniel sees four
"different" beasts. They are not necessarily "
better" than one another.
30. Daniel 7:3
KJV: And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
Hebrew: וארבע חיון רברבן סלקן מן ימא שנין דא מן דא׃
Greek: και τεσσαρα θηρια μεγαλα ανεβαινον εκ της θαλασσης διαφεροντα αλληλων
Brenton: And there came up four great beasts out of the sea, differing from one another.
31. Better verses
The following verses that have the Greek word for "
carry through" or "
difference" are translated by the
KJV as "
better".
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [kjv]
εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας και ο πατηρ υμων ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα ουχ υμεις μαλλον διαφερετε αυτων [gnt]
Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? [kjv]
κατανοησατε τους κορακας οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν οις ουκ εστιν ταμειον ουδε αποθηκη και ο θεος τρεφει αυτους ποσω μαλλον υμεις διαφερετε των πετεινων [gnt]
32. Better value
Matthew 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. [kjv]
μη ουν φοβεισθε πολλων στρουθιων διαφερετε υμεις [gnt]
12:12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. [kjv]
ποσω ουν διαφερει ανθρωπος προβατου ωστε εξεστιν τοις σαββασιν καλως ποιειν [gnt]
The animal rights advocates such as
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) might not like the
KJV translation of these verses where humans are "
better" or of more "
value" than the birds or animals.
33. Matthew 6:26
KJV: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Greek: εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας και ο πατηρ υμων ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα ουχ υμεις μαλλον διαφερετε αυτων
34. Luke 12:24
KJV: Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
Greek: κατανοησατε τους κορακας οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν οις ουκ εστιν ταμειον ουδε αποθηκη και ο θεος τρεφει αυτους ποσω μαλλον υμεις διαφερετε των πετεινων
35. Matthew 10:31
KJV: Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Greek: μη ουν φοβηθητε φοβεισθε πολλων στρουθιων διαφερετε υμεις
36. Matthew 12:12
KJV: How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
Greek: ποσω ουν διαφερει ανθρωπος προβατου ωστε εξεστιν τοις σαββασιν καλως ποιειν
37. Hairs are numbered
Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. [kjv]
The hairs of our head are numbered. For some men, there are not that many hairs to count
38. Hairs on a head
Matthew 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. [kjv]
μητε εν τη κεφαλη σου ομοσης οτι ου δυνασαι μιαν τριχα λευκην ποιησαι η μελαιναν [gnt]
10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. [kjv]
υμων δε και αι τριχες της κεφαλης πασαι ηριθμημεναι εισιν [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"τρίχα" ≈ "(single) hair" while
"τρίχας" ≈ "hairs" from
"θρίξ" ≈ "hair" and is the source of English (technical, medical, etc.) words starting with
"tricho".
There are many jokes and comments about this verse by those who do not have many hairs. Might this digression be "
hairsplitting"? Or "
split ends". Not a football player position as a "
split end".
The verse in Matthew 5:36 and 10:30 that both use the Greek word for
"hair", which might have another meaning (as a
code word) where both are true.
39. Hairs on a head revisited
Matthew 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. [kjv]
10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. [kjv]
As a secondary meaning, Jesus is the
"head" of the "
church" of "
believers".
Let us
paraphrase both verses using this insight and using a "
person" (or "
believer") as a
"hair". That is, use the
code word meanings.
- Matthew 5:36: Do not swear by Jesus because you cannot make/judge/separate one believer/person as 'white' or 'black'. (or "narrow gate" or "wide area" or "heaven" or "hell", etc.).
- Matthew 10:30: But the very believers/persons of Jesus are all numbered.
[one cookie rule]
40. Hairs and believers
41. Hairs and believers
Is "
one believer" you?
This secondary meanings of both verses are an equivocation used not to deceive but to conceal.
Might this provide some insight into the secondary meaning of "
white" and "
black" which in the Greek have other meanings as "
shades" of color or sound? Here are some possibilities.
- "distinct" or "indistinct"
- "clear" or "dim"
- "saved" or "not saved"
- "narrow gate" or "wide area"
- "sheep" or (kid) "goats"
42. Luke 12:7
KJV: But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Greek: αλλα και αι τριχες της κεφαλης υμων πασαι ηριθμηνται μη ουν φοβεισθε πολλων στρουθιων διαφερετε
43. Greek for rather
44. Latin
45. Strongs - rather
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [kjv]
εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας και ο πατηρ υμων ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα ουχ υμεις μαλλον διαφερετε αυτων [gnt]
In many places in the GNT (Greek New Testament), the Greek verb for "difference" as in "making a difference" is translated as "better".
Matthew 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. [kjv]
μη ουν φοβεισθε πολλων στρουθιων διαφερετε υμεις [gnt]
12:12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. [kjv]
ποσω ουν διαφερει ανθρωπος προβατου ωστε εξεστιν τοις σαββασιν καλως ποιειν [gnt]
The ancient Greek word "διαφέρω" ≈ "carried through, different" with a sense of a "different" way or type as in it "makes a difference".
1 Corinthians 15:41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. [kjv]
αλλη δοξα ηλιου και αλλη δοξα σεληνης και αλλη δοξα αστερων αστηρ γαρ αστερος διαφερει εν δοξη [gnt]
The stars are "different". One star is not "better" than another star. The creation of the stars is declared in Genesis.
Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. [kjv]
και εποιησεν ο θεος τους δυο φωστηρας τους μεγαλους τον φωστηρα τον μεγαν εις αρχας της ημερας και τον φωστηρα τον ελασσω εις αρχας της νυκτος και τους αστερας [lxx]
Proverbs 27:14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. [kjv]
ος αν ευλογη φιλον το πρωι μεγαλη τη φωνη καταρωμενου ουδεν διαφερειν δοξει [lxx]
Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses him. [bs3]
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [kjv]
εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας και ο πατηρ υμων ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα ουχ υμεις μαλλον διαφερετε αυτων [gnt]