Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings

Spoken to: 

group

A crowd gathers, and Jesus addresses his followers.

KJV: 

Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

NIV : 

Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Nevertheless, five sparrows are exchanged for two quarters. And one from among them doesn't exist having been forgotten before the Divine. 

MY TAKE: 

Our existence depends on the Divine being aware of us.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

οὐχὶ                πέντε στρουθία πωλοῦνται             ἀσσαρίων δύο;
Nevertheless, five   sparrows  are exchanged for quarters.    two

καὶ  ἓν    ἐξ                  αὐτῶν οὐκ ἔστιν ἐπιλελησμένον ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ.
And one from among them exists, having been forgotten before the Divine. 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

Though phrased like a question in translation, there is nothing in the form of the Greek to indicate that it is a question. The word initially translated as "not" is a different form of the usual Greek negative of fact meaning something like "nevertheless," making this sound like the answer to a question.

The "farthing" and "penny" is  Greek name of a small coin of silver, one that was worth one-tenth of the standard coin (drachma worth 2/3 of denarius or 65 cents) used in the Greek world. It was worth about 6.5 cents so about the value of our nickel. It is in the possessive form, which in this situation can be used to describe an objective so "for".

The second "not" does not negate "one," but the verb "to be" translated as "is." The "is" doesn't indicate a passive "forgotten" (though "forgotten" is passive) because the verb "to be" isn't a helping verb, like it is in English. It is best to translate as "not exist" to eliminate this confusion.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

6
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" does not capture the specific meaning of the word, which is more extreme.
  • WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "no" doesn't appear here but negates the verb.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • WT -- Wrong Tense -- This verb is the past perfect tense, which requires a "have" before the verb.
  • WV --Wrong Voice - The verb here is translated as active but it is passive.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

9
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" does not capture the specific meaning of the word, which is more extreme.
  • WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "no" doesn't appear here but negates the verb.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This word doesn't precisely mean "penny," more like a quarter.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "yet" should be something more like "and."
  • WT -- Wrong Tense -- This verb is the past perfect tense, which requires a "have" before the verb.
  • WV --Wrong Voice - The verb here is translated as active but it is passive.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "by" should be something more like "brfore."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

Are -- This helping verb "are" indicates that the verb "sold" is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

not - (CW) - The word translated as "not" is a different form of the usual Greek negative of fact meaning "no truly," "assuredly not," "not however," "nevertheless," and "notwithstanding." This word can have a reversing effect, making a negative into a positive, with questions. Used in questions where an affirmative answer is expected. Used in answers where a "yes" must be supplied. Perhaps best translated as an "isn't it?" at the end of the sentence.  The fact that ancient Greek has no clear verb form for questions makes interpreting it difficult.

five -- This is the Greek word for the number five

sparrows  -- "Sparrows" is a word that is the diminutive of the word for "sparrow" so "tiny sparrow." These were sold at the temple as the least expensive animal sacrifices. It is also a metaphor for lechers.

sold -- "Sold" is a word that means "to sell" and "to exchange." When this word is applied to people (as it is metaphorically here), it means "to betray" or "to give up."

for -- This word "for"  comes from   the possessive form (genitive case) of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession. However, it can also mean "belonging to," "part of," "which is," "than" (in comparisons), or  "for," "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs.

two -- The "two" is the numeral, "two," which, like numbers in English, plays a lot of roles.

farthings, -- "Farthing" is the name of a coin of medium value, one that was worth one-tenth of the standard coin (drachma) used in the Greek world but four times more than the smallest coin. It is in the possessive case, which is the source of the "for."

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

not -- (WP) The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. The "no" doesn't belong here but before the verb.

one-- The Greek word translated as "one " means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single," and "one and the same."As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

of -- (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "out of" or "from." The word also means "beyond," "on," "in," "since," or "by" based upon its context, but it indicates separation "from" something rather than being a part "of "it like "of" does. It is also used to describe the author or means "by" which something is done, especially with passive verbs. 

them -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural in the genitive form. It is used as a possessive or the object of a verb or preposition.  As a preposition's object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. This pronoun follows the noun so "of theirs."

is  -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.  The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.

missing "having"  -- (WT) The helping vcrb, "have," is needed to show the past perfect tense of the verb.

missing "been"  -- (WV) The helping vcrb, "been," is needed to show the passive voice of the verb.

forgotten - - The "forgotten" verb here is used uniquely here. It means "to forget". It is in the form of an adjective, "forgetting". It is in a past tense so "forgotten."  It is not passive as translated in KJV but a form where the subject acts on itself. The tense is something completed in the past. We would say, "has forgotten itself". 

before   -- The Greek term translated as "before" is not used outside of Luke except once in John. It appears here for the first time in Jesus's words here. It means "in front of".

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.

God? -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

Are -- This helping verb "are" indicates that the verb "sold" is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

not - (CW) - The word translated as "not" is a different form of the usual Greek negative of fact meaning "no truly," "assuredly not," "not however," "nevertheless," and "notwithstanding." This word can have a reversing effect, making a negative into a positive, with questions. Used in questions where an affirmative answer is expected. Used in answers where a "yes" must be supplied. Perhaps best translated as an "isn't it?" at the end of the sentence.  The fact that ancient Greek has no clear verb form for questions makes interpreting it difficult.

five -- This is the Greek word for the number five

sparrows  -- "Sparrows" is a word that is the diminutive of the word for "sparrow" so "tiny sparrow." These were sold at the temple as the least expensive animal sacrifices. It is also a metaphor for lechers.

sold -- "Sold" is a word that means "to sell" and "to exchange." When this word is applied to people (as it is metaphorically here), it means "to betray" or "to give up."

for -- This word "for"  comes from   the possessive form (genitive case) of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession. However, it can also mean "belonging to," "part of," "which is," "than" (in comparisons), or  "for," "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs.

two -- The "two" is the numeral, "two," which, like numbers in English, plays a lot of roles.

pennies, -- (CW) "Pennies" is the name of a coin of medium value, one that was worth one-tenth of the standard coin (drachma) used in the Greek world but four times more than the smallest coin. This word doesn't precisely mean "penny," more like a quarter.

Yet -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "yet " is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." (WW)  This word doesn't mean "yet ."

not - (CW) - The word translated as "not" is a different form of the usual Greek negative of fact meaning "no truly," "assuredly not," "not however," "nevertheless," and "notwithstanding." This word can have a reversing effect, making a negative into a positive, with questions. Used in questions where an affirmative answer is expected. Used in answers where a "yes" must be supplied. Perhaps best translated as an "isn't it?" at the end of the sentence.  The fact that ancient Greek has no clear verb form for questions makes interpreting it difficult.

one-- The Greek word translated as "one " means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single," and "one and the same."As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

of -- (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "out of" or "from." The word also means "beyond," "on," "in," "since," or "by" based upon its context, but it indicates separation "from" something rather than being a part "of "it like "of" does. It is also used to describe the author or means "by" which something is done, especially with passive verbs. 

them -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural in the genitive form. It is used as a possessive or the object of a verb or preposition.  As a preposition's object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. This pronoun follows the noun so "of theirs."

is  -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.  The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.

missing "having"  -- (WT) The helping vcrb, "have," is needed to show the past perfect tense of the verb.

missing "been"  -- (WV) The helping vcrb, "been," is needed to show the passive voice of the verb.

forgotten - - The "forgotten" verb here is used uniquely here. It means "to forget". It is in the form of an adjective, "forgetting". It is in a past tense so "forgotten."  It is not passive as translated in KJV but a form where the subject acts on itself. The tense is something completed in the past. We would say, "has forgotten itself". 

by -- (WW) The Greek term translated as "by" is means "in front of".  This word doesn't mean "by." 

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.

God? -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

οὐχὶ [23 verses](adv) "Not" is ouchi, an adverb which means "no," "no truly," "assuredly not," "not however," "nevertheless," "notwithstanding," "yet," "still," "never yet," "for not," "indeed," "for surely not," "no,—certainly not," "for I don't suppose," and "for in no manner." Sometimes it is used to create negative questions where a positive answer is expected.

πέντε [12 verses](numeral) "Five" is from pente, the number five."Five" is pente, the number five.

στρουθία [4 verses](noun pl neut acc/nom) "Sparrows" is strouthion, which actually means a "tiny sparrows" from strouthos, the word for "sparrow." The word is also a metaphor for a "lecher" or "lewd fellow."

πωλεῖται; [12 verses] (verb 3rd pl pres ind mp) "Sold" is poleo, which means "to sell," "to exchange," "to barter," "to offer to sell," and "to retail." Metaphorically, it means to "give up" and "betray." In the passive, it means "to be sold," "to be offered for sale," and, of persons, "to be bought and sold," and " betrayed."

ἀσσαρίων [3 verses] (noun pl neut gen) "Farthings" is assarion, which was one-tenth of a drachma, which was the standard silver coin of Greece. This was a medium sized coin, like our nickel or dime.

δύο. [36 verses](numeral) "Two" is duo, which means the number "two," "a couple," and "a pair." -- The Greek word for "two" means "two" or a "couple."Often, it acts as an adjective, but without a noun to modify, so it takes on the role of a noun. The Greek word is "duo," which of course in English means "a pair of singers," or, more generally, any "pair." It uses joins the two people walking together as a pair or a couple.

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

ἓν [85 verses](noun sg neut nom) "One" is heis, which means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single," and "one and the same." This noun/adjective is irregular, having a number of forms depending on gender and case. It is always singular. 

ἐξ  [121 verses] (prep) "Of" is ek , which means 1) [of motion] "out of," "from," "by," "away from;" 2) [of place] "beyond," "outside of," "beyond;" 3) [of succession] "after," "from;" 4) [of rest] "on," "in," 5) [of time] "since," "from," "at," "in;" 7) [of materials] "out of," "made from;" 7) cause, instrument, or means "by." It is also used to describe the author or means "by" which something is done, especially with passive verbs.

αὐτῶν [86 verses](pron/adj pl masc/fem/neut gen) "Them" is auton, is the genitive case of the third-person, plural adjective that is used as a pronoun. The word also means "the same," "one's true self," and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord."

οὐκ [269 verses](adv) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences.  The negative, οὐ, denies, is absolute, and objective. . 

ἐστίν [614 verses] (3rd sg pres ind act) "Is" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen,"  and "is possible." With the possessive (genitive) object, it means "is descended from," "is the type of," "belongs to," "is made of," "is a duty of," "is at the mercy of," or " is dependent on." With an indirect (dative) object, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed.  "It is to him" becomes "it is his" or "he has it."  With the preposition,"into" (εἰς), the sense is "consist of." When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."

ἐπιλελησμένον [1 verse](part sg perf mp masc acc) "Forgotten" is epilanthanomaiwhich means "to forget".

ἐνώπιον [8 verses] (prep) "Before" is from enopionwhich means " facing" and "to the front".

τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  -

θεοῦ [144 verses](noun sg masc gen) "God" is theos, which means "God," "divine," and "Deity."

Related Verses: 

parallel comparison: 

This verse is very different from the Matthew version.

Front Page Date: 

Jun 16 2024