Luke 21:9

Ὅταν δὲ ἀκούσητε πολέμους καὶ ἀκαταστασίας, μὴ πτοηθῆτε· δεῖ γὰρ ταῦτα γενέσθαι πρῶτον, ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ εὐθέως τὸ τέλος.

RBT Greek Interlinear:

Strongs 3752; hotan; ὅταν; when; Conj

Strongs 1161; de; δὲ; and; Conj

Strongs 191; akousēte; ἀκούσητε; you shall hear; V-ASA-2P

Strongs 4171; polemous; πολέμους; wars; N-AMP

Strongs 2532; kai; καὶ; and; Conj

Strongs 181; akatastasias; ἀκαταστασίας; political/social disorder; N-AFP

Strongs 3361; mē; μὴ; not; Adv

Strongs 4422; ptoēthēte; πτοηθῆτε; be fluttered/startled; V-ASP-2P

Strongs 1163; dei; δεῖ; must; V-PIA-3S

Strongs 1063; gar; γὰρ; for; Conj

Strongs 3778; tauta; ταῦτα; these ones; DPro-ANP

Strongs 1096; genesthai; γενέσθαι; to become; V-ANM

Strongs 4412; prōton; πρῶτον; first; Adv-S/Adj-N/M

Strongs 235; all’; ἀλλ’; but; Conj

Strongs 3756; ouk; οὐκ; not; Adv

Strongs 2112; eutheōs; εὐθέως; straightly; Adv

Strongs 3588; to; τὸ; the; Art-NNS

Strongs 5056; telos; τέλος; aim; N-NNS

RBT Translation:

And when you might hear of wars and of political chaos, do not be fluttered/panicked, for these things must become first, but not immediately the End-Aim."

Core meanings of πτοέω / πτοιέω:

A. Literal / physical sense

• Humans: φρένες ἐπτοίηθεν (Od. 22.298) → “his mind was terrified”
• Animals: ἐπτοημένας δεινοῖς δράκουσιν (Eur. El. 1255) → “terrified by fearsome serpents”
• Political/social panic: πτοηθεὶς ἐπὶ τοῖς ἠγγελμένοις (Polybius 31.11.4) → “dismayed by the news”
• LXX Exod. 19.16; Ev. Luc. 21.9, 24.37 → crowds frightened by divine or apocalyptic events

B. Metaphorical / emotional sense

• To flutter, excite, agitate passions:
  • τό μοι καρδίαν ἐπτόαισεν (Sapph. 2.6) → “my heart fluttered”
  • τὴν δὲ φρένας ἐπτοίησεν Κύπρις (A.R. 1.1232) → “Aphrodite stirred his mind”
• Passively: to be emotionally agitated, distraught, or passionate:
  • ἐπτοημένοι φρένας (A. Pr. 856) → “their minds were in turmoil”
  • μεθ’ ὁμήλικας ἐπτοίηται (Hes. Op. 447) → “he gapes like one distraught with his peers”

C. Broader / political implications

• Used by Plutarch, Polybius, Lucian to describe agitation of groups or individuals in crises, riots, or wartime panic:
  • τῇ γνώμῃ πρὸς τὸν πόλεμον (Plu. Sull. 7) → “distraught in mind regarding war”
  • πτοηθεὶς / ἐπτοημένος → panic, fear, or excitement disrupting social/political order

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
And when ye hear of wars and tumults, be not terrified: for these must first be; but the end not immediately.

LITV Translation:
And when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be afraid. For these things must first occur, but the end is not at once.