Red sky at night, sailors' delight.
Red sky at morning, sailors take warning.

One common variant is the following.

Red sky at night, shepherds' delight.
Red sky in the morning, shepherds' warning.

• Is the "sky" "red"?
• Is the "sky" "orange"?
• Does the "sky" appear as "fire"?

Members of the religious establishment come to "examine" Jesus in order to "trick" him. The word translated as "tempt" means to "examine" using knowledge which the person knows or believes to be true.

The ancient Greek word "πειράζω" ≈ "examine" and is often translated in the KJV (King James Version) as "tempt". The modern idea of the Greek "temptation" is that of an interview where one examines someone about things they know or believe they know.

This word is important here as Jesus will make a play on words of this Greek word.

More: Matthew 4:1-11 Examining evil temptations

This series of verses spans only four verses. The first of these has three words that are used in the two "red" "sky" verses that follow.

• "πειράζω" ≈ "examine" and is often translated in the KJV as "tempt".
• "σημεῖον" ≈ "mark, sign, omen, flag" and is related to the English word "semantic" as in "meaning" and the first part of the English word "semaphore".
• "οὑρανός" ≈ "sky, heaven".

The ancient Greek word "σῆμα" ≈ "mark, sign" and is the source of the English word "semaphore".

The modern Greek word "σημαία" (see-MEH-a) ≈ "flag".

The ancient Greek word "ἀποκρίνω" ≈ "separate, distinguish".

The Greek word for "answer" as in "answering a question" has the Greek word for "separate" as the second part. This word for "separate" is translated by the KJV as "judge".

More: Matthew 7:1-2 Here comes the judge, but just barley

The Greek word often means "late in the day" or "late in time" which could have the idea of "evening". English has the idea of "the eleventh hour".

The ancient Greek word "ὄψις" ≈ "view, sight, face, countenance" and is the source of English words such as "optical". A synonym is the ancient Greek word "πρόσοπον" ≈ "view, sight, face, countenance" which is used in the next verse.

A similar sounding word is the ancient Greek word "ὀψάριον" ≈ "small plate of food, fish" which is made up of two parts.

• The ancient Greek word "ὄψον" ≈ "delicacy".
• The ancient Greek suffix "άριον" ≈ "diminutive suffix"

This exact Greek spelling of "snakes" is used three times in the GNT (Greek New Testament), all by Jesus.

Aristotle uses some of the words in the "red sky" verses in the same sentence in his work Meteorology (English) or Meteorologica (Latin)

• "ἀτμὶς" ≈ "vapour" and is the source of the English word "atmosphere".
• "ξηρᾶς" ≈ "dry" and is the source of the English word "Xerox" (from a dry copy mechanism)

In this part of Meteorology, Aristotle discusses the formation of "halos" (in the sky). The word "halo" comes from the Greek word for a "threshing floor".

The ancient Greek word "πρωΐ" ≈ "early in the day, morning".

The Greek word "hypocrite" meant "acting" or "pretending". The KJV has "o ye hypocrites" which is not in some Greek manuscripts. Assume that the "hypocrites" was an addition to some Greek text. Does what Jesus say apply to our modern meaning of "hypocrite"? If so, the addition was added after that meaning was established (from a misunderstanding of Matthew 7). If it fits the GNT meaning of "acting" or "pretending", the addition was made before the meaning change happened.

More: An actor as a hypocrite is not real

There appears to be some play on words here by Jesus (in the Greek). Jesus does this often when speaking in front of the religious establishment, especially when common people are is present.

The ancient Greek word "πυρράζω" ≈ "redden". This word appears only in these two verses in Matthew in the GNT.

The ancient Greek word "πειράζω" ≈ "examine" and is often translated in the KJV as "tempt". The Greek meaning was one of "examination" where the examiner uses things the examinee believes to be true, often to deceive that examinee. The same happens in modern job interviews, though not (usually) with the goal of deception.

At the time, there was a small difference in the sound of the first vowels. Today, that difference has disappeared.

The ancient Greek word "πυρράζω" ≈ "redden".

The ancient Greek word "πειράζω" ≈ "examine" and is often translated in the KJV as "tempt". Today the Greek vowels "υ" and "ει" have merged to sound the same. It appears that they would have been close enough for the play on words to be understood. When making such a play on words, one usually makes the pronounced sound between the two different sounds.

More: Matthew 4:1-11 Examining evil temptations

More: Do not mention temptations nor attempt to be a pirate

The Greek for "foul weather" is elsewhere translated as "winter".

The ancient Greek word "χειμών" ≈ "winter, cold chill, winter storm". The figurative meaning is that of adversity or disaster or madness, especially as sent from the gods. Only here, in this verse, is the meaning "foul weather" in the GNT.

The ancient Greek word "στυγνός" ≈ "hatred, hostility, gloomy".

The usage in Mark is translated by the KJV as "sad" but, as elsewhere, the Latin influences the change from the original meaning.

More: The sorrowful annoyance of hairsplitting

Here are some important words.

• "στυγνός" ≈ "hatred, hostility, gloomy".
• "στυγνάζω" ≈ "look hostile, grim, gloomy".
• "ουρανός" ≈ "sky, heaven".
• "χειμών" ≈ "winter, cold chill, winter storm".

To extend the play on words, consider the following.

• "καιρών" ≈ "of the season".
• "χείρων" ≈ "of the hands" as in the "hands" doing the "signs", perhaps as nonverbal communication.

The "He answered and said unto them" is provided by Matthew as connecting text.

As translated by the KJV: (Jesus says)

• When it is evening, you say it will be fair weather for the sky is red.

Play on words paraphrase: (to those questioning him)

• In the evening (you snakes), you say it is good weather (through which) to examine heaven (Jesus).

Can the "In the morning" be taken as a reference to the "resurrection"?