Luke 19:31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? t

KJV: 

Luke 19:31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

And if anyone you might question, "By what are you untying in this way,? Say, "Because the master him a need has."

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

This verse is a good example of how different Biblical translations follow the KJV whenever possible but not absolutely. The "thus" in this verse much more likely belongs to the question, not in the instructions about the answer. However, most translations add words to the Greek of change its meaning rather than move it from the KJV position. However, the "shall you say" here is incorrectly translated in the KJV into the future tense. This is corrected in about half the versions I looked at.

The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".

The Greek word meaning "if might" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".

The Greek word translated as "any man" in the singular means "anyone", "someone," and "anything." In the plural, it means "some", "they," and "those."

"Ask" is a verb that means "to ask" or "to question".  It is not the word normally translated as "pray" in the NT. The form is "I ask". The form is act singular. The "you" here is its object, not an indirect object.

The "you" here is plural, indicating  a group of Christ's listeners as the object. 

The "why" is two Greek words meaning "by what" but they work like our "for what". The word translated as "by" means "through," in the midst of," or "by (a cause)." The word translated as "what" means primarily "anything" or "anyone," but Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who", "what", or even "why". 

do ye loose The word translated as "do ye loose" means to "unbind"and means "to annul" a law. It is the same word Christ uses to refer to "breaking" commandments.

There is no "him" in the Greek.

The word translated in KJV as "thus" is in its adverbial form, so it means "in this manner" or "in this way." This phrase seems more likely to belong as part of the question.

"Shall ye say" is from the Greek verb that means "to say" and "to speak" also. It is most likely a command, but it is not in the future tense as translated.

There is no "unto him" in the Greek we use today. This was in the Latin Vulgate version.

The word translated as "because" introduces a statement of fact or cause.

The word translated as "the Lord" means "lord", "master of the house," and "head of the family." It is the specific terms for the master of slaves or servants, but it was a common term of respect both for those in authority and who were honored. It was the term people used to address Christ, even though he had no formal authority. Today, we would say "boss" or "chief".

The word translated as "hath" means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do",  "to have due to one", or "keep" and many specific uses. This verb isn't used to form past tenses as it is in English. 

The word translated as "need" means "need" and "poverty," but it also means "familiarity" and "intimacy."

The word translated as "of him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.  The "of" comes from the possessive form.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

καὶ (conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." 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."

ἐάν (conj) "If" is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (might), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event.

τις (pron sg masc nom) "Any man" is tis which can mean "someone", "any one", "everyone", "they [indefinite]", "many a one", "whoever", "anyone", "anything", "some sort", "some sort of", "each", "any", "the individual", "such," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who", "why," or "what." -

ὑμᾶς (pron 2nd pl acc) "You" is humas which is the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."

ἐρωτᾷ ( verb 3rd sg pres subj act ) "Asks" is from erotaowhich means "to ask" or "to question." - "I pray" means "to ask" or "to question".  It is not the word normally translated as "pray" in the NT. The form is "I ask". 

Διὰ (prep) "Why" is dia (with tis below) which means "through", "in the midst of", "in a line (movement)", "throughout (time)", "by (causal)", "among," and "between."

τί ( irreg sg neut acc ) "Why" is tis (with dia above) which can mean "someone", "any one", "everyone", "they [indefinite]", "many a one", "whoever", "anyone", "anything", "some sort", "some sort of", "each", "any", "the individual", "such," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who", "why," or "what."

λύετε; ( verb 2nd pl pres ind act ) "Do ye loose" is lyo, (luo) which means "loosen", "unbind", "unfasten", "unyoke", "unharness", "release", "deliver", "give up", "dissolve", "break up", "undo", "destroy", "repeal", "annul", "break", "solve", "fulfill", "atone for", "fulfill," and "pay."

οὕτως (adv) "Thus" is houtos, which as an adverb, it means "in this way", "therefore", "so much", "to such an extent," and "that is why."

ἐρεῖτε ( verb 2nd pl pres imperat act ) "Shall ye say" is eipon, which means "to speak", "to say", "to recite", "to address", "to mention", "to name", "to proclaim", "to plead", "to promise," and "to offer." --

ὅτι (adv/conj) "Because" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that", "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what", "because", "since," and "wherefore." --

κύριος (noun sg masc nom) "Lord" is kyrios (kurios), which means "having power", "being in authority" and "being in possession of." It also means "lord", "master of the house," and "head of the family."

αὐτοῦ (adj sg masc gen) "Of him" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself", "yourself", "himself", "herself", "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him", "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it  means "just here" or "exactly there."

χρείαν  ( noun sg fem acc ) "Need of" is chreia (chreia ), which means "need", "want", "poverty", "a request of a necessity", "business", "military service", "a business affair", "employment", "familiarity", "intimacy," and "maxim."

ἔχει. ( verb 3rd sg pres ind act ) "Hath" is echo, which means "to have", "to hold", "to possess", "to keep", "to have charge of", "to have due to one", "to maintain", "to hold fast", "to bear", "to carry", "to keep close", "to keep safe," and "to have means to do."

Related Verses: 

Front Page Date: 

Nov 22 2018