Greedy Pharisees deride Jesus after parables of unjust steward.
Luke 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
Luke 16:17 It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
Easier, however, it is [having] the sky and the earth to pass by than the practice's one tittle to fall.
The word translated as "heaven" means "sky" but it is unusual in that it is singular. Jesus usually refers to the plural "skies." See this article. This may means that only one of those "skies" that Jesus references i the earth's.The word translated as "pass/disappear" means to "pass by," "surpass," and, of time, to "pass." Jesus, however, seems to use it as we use "pass" to mean "pass away," but that was not the common usage at the time.
The "tittle/one stroke of the pen" means the "apostrophe" in Greek, but there was no punctuation at the time. The word meant a "horn" and in writing, a curved lines. In Hebrew, this curved lines were made hanging above the line like quotation marks. So, the punchline here is the last verb that means "to fall" so the image is those quotation marks falling down in the text to the baseline of the other letters.
The text of the law will survive the destruction of earth.
And(WW) it is easier for(IW) (MW) heaven(CW) and (MW) earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail(CW).
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but."
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "for" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "heaven" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The word, "heaven," is a religious concept, but this word just means "sky."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "earth" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "fall" doesn't precisely mean "fail."
(MW) It is easier for(IW) (MW) heaven(CW) and (MW) earth to disappear(WW) than for(IW) [the least stroke of a pen(PP)] to drop out of the Law(WF).
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "but" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "for" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "heaven" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The word, "heaven," is a religious concept, but this word just means "sky."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "earth" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "disappear" should be something more like "pass."
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "for" doesn't exist in the source.
- PP -- Paraphrase - The phrase "apostrophe" exists in the source but "least stroke of a pen" doesn't.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an object of the verb but a possessive modifying "least stroke."
And-- (WW)The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "yet," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. This word doesn't mean "and."
it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
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.
easier -- The word translated as "easier" is a compound word. It means "easy" and "easy work." It is an uncommon word, appearing only seven times in the NT and only five times in the rest of ancient Greek literature. The prefix here means "good" or "better" because the word is comparative. The root word primarily means "beating" or "fatigue". Its root meaning is a "better beating" or "better fatigue."
for -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word 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," and "those"). See this article for more.
heaven - (CW) The word translated as "heaven" means simply the "sky," but it can also mean the "climate," or the "universe." It was used to indicate the realm of higher concepts such as ideals and values. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article. "Heaven" was not a religious concept the people had at the time.
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." earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word 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," and "those"). See this article for more.
earth -- The word translated as "earth" means "ground," "land," "country," and "dirt." Translated as "earth," it refers to the physical planet, not society, which Jesus describes as the world. See this article for more on these words.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
pass,-- The word "pass " is from a verb that means one thing going by another, one thing surpassing by another, so "to be superior," or the "passing" the time. It also has the sense of arriving to a place and to "pass" a test.
than -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi" or the adverb meaning "in truth."
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.
tittle -- "Tittle" is from the Greek form of the apostrophe, a "horn" protruding from anything. The word "one" precedes this word.
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.
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.
law -- The Greek word translated as "law" describes the social norms, which can be from "tradition," "common practice," or the "laws." Jesus uses it to refer to the first five books of the OT written by Moses. He did not use it to refer to civil or Roman law. See this article.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
fail. -- (CW) "Fail" is translated from a Greek word that means "to fall" and "to fall down." It is the root word for dozens of Greek terms involving moving from a higher state to a lower one. Like our word "to fall" it has a number of special meanings including "to fall into a given class," "to prostrate," "to fall from power," "to perish," and so on. This word doesn't precisely mean "fail."
missing "but" -- (MW) The untranslated word "but" means "but," "yet," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. This word doesn't mean "and."
It -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
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.
easier -- The word translated as "easier" is a compound word. It means "easy" and "easy work." It is an uncommon word, appearing only seven times in the NT and only five times in the rest of ancient Greek literature. The prefix here means "good" or "better" because the word is comparative. The root word primarily means "beating" or "fatigue". Its root meaning is a "better beating" or "better fatigue."
for -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word 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," and "those"). See this article for more.
heaven - (CW) The word translated as "heaven" means simply the "sky," but it can also mean the "climate," or the "universe." It was used to indicate the realm of higher concepts such as ideals and values. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article. "Heaven" was not a religious concept the people had at the time.
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." earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word 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," and "those"). See this article for more.
earth -- The word translated as "earth" means "ground," "land," "country," and "dirt." Translated as "earth," it refers to the physical planet, not society, which Jesus describes as the world. See this article for more on these words.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
disappear ,-- (WW) The word "disappear " is from a verb that means one thing going by another, one thing surpassing by another, so "to be superior," or the "passing" the time. It also has the sense of arriving to a place and to "pass" a test. This word doesn't mean "disappear ." WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "disappear" should be something more like "pass."
than -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi" or the adverb meaning "in truth."
for -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
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.
least stroke of a pen -- (PP) "Least stroke of a pen" is from the Greek form of the apostrophe and a "horn" protruding from anything. The Greek words meaning "apostrophe" here are not translated but instead their assumed meaning is paraphrased into different words.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
drop out . -- "Drop out ." is translated from a Greek word that means "to fall" and "to fall down." It is the root word for dozens of Greek terms involving moving from a higher state to a lower one. Like our word "to fall" it has a number of special meanings including "to fall into a given class," "to prostrate," "to fall from power," "to perish," and so on.
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.
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.
Law -- (WF) The Greek word translated as "law" describes the social norms, which can be from "tradition," "common practice," or the "laws." Jesus uses it to refer to the first five books of the OT written by Moses. He did not use it to refer to civil or Roman law. See this article. This is not an object of the verb but a possessive modifying "least stroke."
Εὐκοπώτερον [7 verses](adj sg neut nom/acc comp) "Easier" is eukopo, which is a comparative form of "easy" and "easy work." It is a compound eu, the word for "well", "thoroughly", "competently", "fortunately," and "happily." and kopos, which means "striking", "beating", "toil and trouble", "fatigue," and "work." Its root meaning is a "good beating" or "good fatigue." The modern Greek word meaning "easy" closest is eukolos, where the later part, kolos, means "cool".
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is de which means "but," "yet," "however," and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of an indirect cause ("so") and a condition ("if"). In an "if" (εἰ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then." In a series begun by men, it means "on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then." It can also be an explanation of cause ("so") and a condition ("if"). In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then."
ἐστίν [614 verses] (3rd sg pres ind act) "It 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."
τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc) Untranslated 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 a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --
οὐρανὸν [111 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Heaven" is the Greek ouranos, which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky," "heaven as the seat of the gods," "the sky," "the universe," and "the climate."
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."
τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem acc) Untranslated 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 a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --
γῆν [59 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Earth" is ge, which means "the element of earth," "land (country)," "arable land," "the ground," and "the world" as the opposite of the sky. Like our English word "earth," it means both dirt and the planet.
παρελθεῖν [5 verses](verb aor inf act) "To pass" is parerchomai, which means "go by," "pass by," "outstrip" (in speed), "to be superior," "pass away," "outwit," "past events" (in time), "disregard," "pass unnoticed," and "pass without heeding."
ἢ [92 verses](conj/adv) "Or" is e, which is a particle used as a disjunctive, "either," "or," , or as a comparative, "than" or "rather than." It is (explam) also an exclamation, "hi!" and an adverb,(adv) meaning "in truth" and "of a surety." It is used with comparative forms of adjective or with positive adjective implying a comparison.
τοῦ [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 a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
νόμου [16 verses] (noun sg masc gen) "The law"is nomos, which means "anything assigned," "a usage," "custom," "law," "ordinance," or "that which is a habitual practice." It is the basis of the English words "norm" and "normal."
μίαν [85 verses](adj sg fem acc) "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.
κερέαν {κεραίαν}[2 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Tittle" is from keraia, which means "the horn of an animal", "the antenna of crustaceans", "a bow", "an instrument for blowing", "a drinking horn", "horn points [for writing instruments]", "objects shaped like horns", "the wing [of an army]", "branch of a river", "corps of men", "sailyard", "mountain peak," and "anything made of horn." The small apostrophe like mark to distinguish numbers from letters in Greek is horn-shaped and therefore called a keraia.
πεσεῖν. (verb aor inf act) "To fail" [36 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "It fell" is pipto, which means "to fall," "to fall down," "to be cast down," "fall upon," "intersect (geometry)," "meet," "pass through," "fall violently upon," "attack," "fall in battle," "sink{in water)," "fall short i.e. fail," " fall out of," "lose a thing," "escape from," "fall asleep," "to be accessible to perception," "to fall (between her feet, i.e. to be born)," "to let fall[dice)," "turn out," and "fall under (belong to a class)."