Mark 2:18

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting: and they come and say unto him, Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ ἦσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ Ἰωάννου καὶ οἱ τῶν Φαρισαίων νηστεύοντες: καὶ ἔρχονται καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ, Διὰ τί οἱ μαθηταὶ Ἰωάννου καὶ οἱ τῶν Φαρισαίων νηστεύουσιν, οἱ δὲ σοὶ μαθηταὶ οὐ νηστεύουσιν;

Transliteration

And ēsan the mathētai of Iōannou and those of the Pharisaiōn nēsteuontes: and they erchontai and legousin to him, Why the mathētai of Iōannou and those of the Pharisaiōn nēsteuousin, but the your mathētai not nēsteuousin?

Grammar Details

• *ēsan*: imperfect active indicative, 3rd plural - they were
• *mathētai*: nominative, masculine, plural - disciples
• *Iōannou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of John
• *Pharisaiōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - of Pharisees
• *nēsteuontes*: present active participle, nominative, masculine, plural - fasting
• *erchontai*: present middle indicative, 3rd plural - they come
• *legousin*: present active indicative, 3rd plural - they say
• *nēsteuousin*: present active indicative, 3rd plural - they fast

Word Meanings

• *mathētai*: disciples/students/followers
• *Iōannou*: of John (the Baptist)
• *Pharisaiōn*: of Pharisees (religious sect)
• *nēsteuontes*: fasting/abstaining from food
• *erchontai*: come/approach
• *nēsteuousin*: fast/abstain from food

Referenced Verses

• Matt 6:16 : 16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
• Matt 6:18 : 18 that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall recompense thee.
• Luke 18:12 : 12 I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get.
• Matt 9:14-17 : 14 Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast. 16 And no man putteth a piece of undressed cloth upon an old garment; for that which should fill it up taketh from the garment, and a worse rent is made. 17 Neither do [men] put new wine into old wine-skins: else the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins perish: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins, and both are preserved.
• Matt 23:5 : 5 But all their works they do to be seen of men: for they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders [of] [their] [garments],
• Luke 5:33-39 : 33 And they said unto him, The disciples of John fast often, and make supplications; {G2532} likewise also the [disciples] of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink. 34 And Jesus said unto them, Can ye make the sons of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come; and when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then will they fast in those days. 36 And he spake also a parable unto them: No man rendeth a piece from a new garment and putteth it upon an old garment; {G1487} else he will rend the new, and also the piece {G575} from the new will not agree with the old. 37 And no man putteth new wine into old wine-skins; else the new wine will burst the skins, and itself will be spilled, and the skins will perish. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wine-skins. 39 And no man having drunk old [wine] {G2112} desireth new; for he saith, The old is good.
• Rom 10:3 : 3 For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, {G1343} they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.