Acts 9:5

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

He said, "Who are You, Lord?" The Lord replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Εἶπεν δέ, Τίς εἶ, Κύριε; Ὁ δὲ Κύριος εἶπεν, Ἐγώ εἰμι Ἰησοῦς ὃν σὺ διώκεις: σκληρόν σοι πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζειν.

Transliteration

And he eipen, Who ei, Kyrie? And the Kyrios eipen, Egō eimi Iēsous whom you diōkeis: sklēron for you pros kentra laktizein.

Grammar Details

• *eipen*: aorist, active, 3rd singular - said/spoke
• *ei*: present, active, 2nd singular - you are
• *Kyrie*: vocative, masculine, singular - Lord/Sir/Master
• *Kyrios*: nominative, masculine, singular - Lord/Master
• *Egō eimi*: present, active, 1st singular - I am
• *Iēsous*: nominative, masculine, singular - Jesus
• *diōkeis*: present, active, 2nd singular - you are persecuting
• *sklēron*: nominative, neuter, singular - hard/difficult
• *pros kentra*: preposition + accusative, neuter, plural - against goads/spurs
• *laktizein*: present infinitive, active - to kick

Word Meanings

• *Kyrie*: Lord/Sir/Master
• *Egō eimi*: I am/I exist
• *diōkeis*: persecute/pursue/chase after
• *sklēron*: hard/difficult/painful/harsh
• *kentra*: goads/spurs/sharp points (used for prodding animals)
• *laktizein*: to kick/strike with heel

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And he said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting: it is hard for you to kick against the goads.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he [said], I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And he sayde what arte thou LORde? And the LORde sayd I am Iesus whom thou persecutest it shalbe harde for ye to kycke agaynst ye pricke.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  He sayde: LORDE, who art thou? The LORDE sayde: I am Iesus, who thou persecutest. It shalbe harde for ye to kycke agaynst the prycke.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And he sayd, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord sayd, I am Iesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kicke against pricks.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And he sayde: Who art thou Lorde? And the Lorde said: I am Iesus who thou persecutest, It is harde for thee to kicke agaynst the prickes.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, ‹I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:› [it is] ‹hard for thee to kick against the pricks.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  He said, "Who are you, Lord?" The Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.{TR adds "It's hard for you to kick against the goads."}

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And he said, `Who art thou, Lord?' and the Lord said, `I am Jesus whom thou dost persecute; hard for thee at the pricks to kick;'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he `said', I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he [said], I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are attacking:

• World English Bible (2000)

  He said, "Who are you, Lord?" The Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  So he said,“Who are you, Lord?” He replied,“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting!

Referenced Verses

• Deut 32:15 : 15 But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; you grew fat, thick, and bloated. Then he forsook the God who made him and treated with contempt the Rock of his salvation.
• 1 Sam 3:4-9 : 4 Then the Lord called to Samuel, and he answered, "Here I am!" 5 Samuel ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So Samuel went and lay down again. 6 The Lord called Samuel again. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call, my son. Go back and lie down." 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The Lord called Samuel a third time, and he got up and went to Eli, saying, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli said to Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came, stood there, and called as he had before: "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
• Job 9:4 : 4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted Him and remained unharmed?
• Job 40:9-9 : 9 Do you have an arm like God's, and can your voice thunder like His? 10 Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor.
• Ps 2:12 : 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your way, for His wrath can flare up quickly. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
• Isa 45:9 : 9 Woe to those who strive with their Maker, like a piece of pottery among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’?
• Acts 5:39 : 39 'But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop it. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.' They were persuaded by him.
• Acts 26:9 : 9 Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
• 1 Cor 10:22 : 22 Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He is?
• 1 Tim 1:13 : 13 Even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.