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

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Jesus sends two disciples for a colt.

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.

NIV

Luke 19:31 If anyone asks you, "‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”.

LISTENERS HEARD

And when someone questions you, "Why do you untie in this way? "Say, "Because the master has a need for him."

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The "if" is closer in meaning to "when" and the "any man/anyone" to "somebody" The sense is that Jesus knew someone would question them. The "thus" in the KJV is left our of the more modern NIV translation. The word means "in this way".

 

MY TAKE

What our master needs, we try to provide. 

GREEK ORDER

 

καὶ   ἐάν    τις           ὑμᾶς ἐρωτᾷ        Διὰ  τί      λύετε;           οὕτως         ἐρεῖτε ὅτι          κύριος   αὐτοῦ χρείαν ἔχει.
And when someone you    question , "By   what do you untie in this way? Say, " Because the master him     a need has."

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
3

And if(CW) any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall(WT) ye say [unto him(OS)], Because the Lord hath need of him.

  •  CW - Confusing Word -- The "if" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • WT --Wrong Tense - The tense of this verb is not the future tense.
  • OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "unto him" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.

 

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5
(MW) If(CW) anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it? (MW) ’ say,(MW)  ‘The Lord (MW) needs it.’ ”
  •  MW - Missing Word -- The word "and"  at the beginning of the sentence is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "if" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "in this way"  after "it" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "Because" after "say" is not shown in the English translation."because" introduces a statement of fact or cause.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "has" after "Lord" is not shown in the English translation. 
EACH WORD of KJV

And  - 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".

if  - (CW) "If" is from a word meaning "when" because it indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone.  It can be used after a demonstrative pronoun to mean "that possibly", "whosoever" or "whatsoever". This is not the simple "if".

any man -- 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 -- "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 active singular. The "you" here is its object, not an indirect object.

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

Why -- 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 -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English.

you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

loose  -- "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.

him -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.

thus  -- 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 -- (WT) This "shall" indicates the future tense, but this tense of this verb is the present. 

say -- "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.

unto him  -- -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as this in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used. 

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

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the", which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") than the English "the". See this article for more. 

Lord -- The word translated as "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".

hath -- 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. 

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

of -- This word "of"  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.

him -- 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.

EACH WORD of NIV

missing "And"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "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".

if  - (CW) "If" is from a word meaning "when" because it indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone.  It can be used after a demonstrative pronoun to mean "that possibly", "whosoever" or "whatsoever". This is not the simple "if".

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

asks -- "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 active singular. The "you" here is its object, not an indirect object.

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

Why -- 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". 

are --- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb. It is used here to form the present, progressive tense, which doesn't exist in Greek but which can smooth the flow of English sentences.

you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

untying -- "Untying" 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.

it-- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.

missing "in this way"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "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 -- (WT) This "shall" indicates the future tense, but this tense of this verb is the present. 

say -- "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.

missing "Because"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "because" introduces a statement of fact or cause.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the", which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") than the English "the". See this article for more. 

Lord -- The word translated as "Lord" means "lord", "master of the house" and "head of the family". It is the specific term 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".

missing "has"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "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. 

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

it -- 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 (possibly), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event. This is how we use the word "when". It can be used after a demonstrative pronoun hos or hostis meaning "that possibly",  "whosoever" or "whatsoever".

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". 

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".

 [821 verses](article sg masc nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones".  

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".

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