Luke 16:9 ...Make to yourselves friends of the mammon

Spoken to
audience

Jesus continues the parable of the rich man's house manager who was slandered. 

KJV

Luke 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

NIV

Luke 16:9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

LISTENERS HEARD

And I myself tell you: make yourselves friends for yourselves for the mammon of this wrongdoing. Because, when you are abandoned, they might welcome you themselves into the perpetual pavilions. 

LOST IN TRANSLATION

In this verse, the Jesus explains the moral of his story, but modern translators will have none of it. How many words must they change and leave out to make Jesus acceptable to them? Rather than discuss them all, it is easier to discuss the Greek than the translations.

The big problem is that they want their "everlasting habitations" and "eternal dwellings" to mean heaven. It doesn't. The word doesn't mean "eternal" (see this article), and the uncommon word translated here as "dwellings" doesn't mean that. This is both the humorous punchline and a truth that the translators didn't like or, perhaps, didn't understand. 

Jesus first says to make friends for ourselves of the mammon, a foreign word of that refers to wealth or property. Here it is clearly what we call "ill-gotten gains" because it comes from wrongdoing. All wealth doesn't come from wrongdoing but Jesus seems to use mammon to refer to that which does. 

It can only be these wealthy friends who invite us when we are abandoned. There are no other plural words as a predicate for "they may welcome”. Where are they welcoming us to? "Perpetual pavilions”. The truth is that the wealthy always have extra rooms. Jesus makes the specific choice of the word meaning "pavilions" which are not only areas to sleep but areas of entertainment as well. Another truth is that, just like the poor will always be with us, we will always have the wealthy with their diversions with us as well. 

MY TAKE

If I had any friends, I wouldn't mind if they were wealthy.

GREEK ORDER

 

Καὶ   ἐγὼ      ὑμῖν λέγω, ἑαυτοῖς           ποιήσατε φίλους 
And I myself you tell     for yourselves  make       friends 

ἐκ       τοῦ μαμωνᾶ       τῆς   ἀδικίας            iνα         ὅταν ἐκλίπῃ 
out of the mammon   of that wrongdoing. Because, when you are abandoned, 

δέξωνται                                      ὑμᾶς εἰς  τὰς αἰωνίους σκηνάς.
they might welcome themselves you   into the perpetual pavilions. 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
10

 And I (MW) say unto you, Make to(CW) yourselves friends of(CW) the mammon of (MW) unrighteousness; that, when ye fail(WV), they may receive(CW) you into everlasting(CW) (MW) habitations(CW).

  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "myself"  after "I" is not shown in the English translation. 
  •  CW --Confusing Word -- This word doesn't mean "to" in this situation.
  •  CW --Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "unrighteousness" is not shown in the English translation. 
  •  WV --Wrong Voice - The "fail" here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "receive”.
  • WV -- Wrong Voice --This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for themselves" or a "themselves" as an object.
  •  CW - Confusing Word -- The "everlasting" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "habitations" is not shown in the English translation. 
  •  CW --Confusing Word -- "Habitations" is more general than the word's specific meaning. 
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
15
(MW) I (MW) tell you, use(WW) (MW) (MW) worldly(WW) (MW) wealth to gain(IW) friends for yourselves, so that when [it is gone(PP)], you(WF) will(WW) be(WV) welcomed into eternal(CW) (MW) dwellings(CW).
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "and"  before "I" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "myself"  after "I" is not shown in the English translation. 
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "use" should be something more like "make”.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "out of"  after "use" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" after "use" is not shown in the English translation.
  •  MW - Missing Word -- The word "the"  before "worldly" is not shown in the English translation. 
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "worldly" should be something more like "wrongdoing”.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the"  after "worldly" is not shown in the English translation. 
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "to gain " doesn't exist in the source.
  • PP -- Paraphrase - The phrase "you are abandoned"  exists in the source, but "it is gone" doesn't. 
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This "you" is not a subject but an indirect object. 
  • WW  - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "will" should be something more like "should”.
  •  WV  --Wrong Voice - The verb "welcomed" is not passive but in the middle voice, which requires the concept of "yourselves" as its object.
  • WV -- Wrong Voice --This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for themselves" or a "themselves" as an object.
  •  CW - Confusing Word -- The  word "eternal" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "dwellings" is not shown in the English translation. 
  •  CW --Confusing Word -- "Dwellings" is more general  than the word's specific meaning. 
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, "even”, "also” and "just”.

 I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb. 

missing "myself" -- (MW)  The pronoun "I" is used here.  When the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, this pronoun accentuates who is speaking "I”. Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English. The subject pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself”. When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed.

say -- The word translated as "I say" is the most common word that means "to say”, "to tell” and "to speak”, but when used with an objective noun or pronoun, the sense is "say of" or "speak of”.    It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself”.

unto -- This word "to" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.

you, -- -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you”, "for you”, etc.

Make -- The Greek word translated as "make" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action.  In English, "do" is also frequently a helper verb. This Greek word is not used as broadly.

to --(CW) This word "to" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with”, "in”, "of”, "as”, "by”, "for”, "at” or "on" depending on the context. This word doesn't mean "to" in this situation. 

yourselves  -- "Yourselves" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself”, "herself” and so on. When used in the possessive, it has the sense of "his own”.

friends -- "Friends" is an adjective means "loved", "beloved”, "dear”, "kith and kin”, "nearest and dearest”, "friends" and (of things) "welcome" and "pleasant". It is an adjective used as a noun. In English, we would say "loved one”.

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.  

 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. 

mammon  --  "Mammon" is not from any Greek word, but it is a foreign word that is written in Greek letters. As such, usually, it should not be translated but written out in English letters. The KJV follows this practice, other biblical versions do not.  There is some debate about both its source and its meaning.  The Aramaic source words mean "wealth" and "money," but Jesus readily uses the Greek words for wealth and money or a personification of them, like a pagan god.  From the context in which he uses it, Jesus often seems to used it to refer to ill-gotten gains, that is, plunder or loot.

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.

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. 

unrighteousness; -- The Greek noun translated as "unrighteousness” means "wrongdoing", "injustice", "a wrongful act” and "offense”. It is also an uncommon verb for Jesus to use, appearing a couple of times in Luke. A different word meaning "lawless" is used in Matthew. 

that, -- The word translated as "that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause  "that”, "when”, "in order that", "when” or "because”. As an adverb it is translated as "there" as an adverb "in that place”, "there”, "where” or "when”.

when  -- The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since”. This is not the more common word for "when". Here, the condition is less certain to happen. 

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

fail, -- (WF) "Fail" is a verb that Jesus only uses twice. It has been translated as to "leave out", "pass over", "forsake", "desert", "abandon", "fail one", [of the moon] "eclipse", "faint", "leave off", "cease", "be wanting", "be left", "remain” or "depart”. The verb here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.

they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

may -- This helping verb "may" indicates that the verb indicates a possibility, the subjunctive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

receive  --  (CW,WV) "Receive" is a word, which, when applied to people means "to welcome”, "to grant access”, or "to receive with hospitality”. When applied to things, it means "take," "accept," and "receive". This is not the word usually translated as "receive”.

you -- The "you" here is the second-person, plural pronoun in the form of an object of the action or preposition.

missing "themselves" -- (WV)  The middle voice of the verb indicates that the subject does something to, for, or by themselves. 

into  -- The word translated as "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position),  "as much as” (of measure or limit), "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object. Used with the Greek "from" it means "from...to”.

everlasting -- (CW) "Everlasting" is an adjective based on the word that means "age" or "eon." It has the sense of "perpetual" or "ageless”. It doesn't really mean "eternal” or "everlasting" as we used those words today.  See this article.

 missing "the"  -- -- (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. 

habitations.  --  (CW) "Habitations" means "tent", "booth", "home of a stage", "acting", "unreality" and "entertainment in a tent”. A word that Jesus only uses here is translated as "habitation" (and "dwelling" or "home" in other NT translations).  This translation is more general than the word's specific meaning.

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, "even", "also” and "just”.

 I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb. 

missing "myself" -- (MW)  The pronoun "I" is used here.  When the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, this pronoun accentuates who is speaking "I”. Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English. The subject pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself”. When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed.

tell -- The word translated as "I tell" is the most common word that means "to say”. "to tell” and "to speak”, but when used with an objective noun or pronoun, the sense is "say of" or "speak of”. It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself”.

you, -- -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you", "for you”, etc.

use -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "make" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action. In English, "do" is also frequently a helper verb. This Greek word is not used as broadly. This word doesn't mean "use”.

missing "out of"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "out 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.  

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. 

worldly  -- (WW) The Greek noun translated as "unrighteousness” means "wrongdoing", "injustice", "a wrongful act”, and "offense”. It is also an uncommon verb for Jesus to use. This word doesn't mean "worldly”.

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

wealth -- "Wealth" is not from any Greek word, but it is a word that is untranslated from the Greek letters of the sources. There is some debate about both its source and its meaning.  The Aramaic source words mean "wealth" and "money," but Jesus readily uses the Greek words for wealth and for money, both generally and specifically.  From the context in which he uses it, he seems to use it to refer to ill-gotten gains, that is, plunder or loot.

to gain -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.

friends -- "Friends" is an adjective means "loved”, "beloved”, "dear”, "kith and kin”, "nearest and dearest", "friends” and (of things) "welcome" and "pleasant”. It is an adjective used as a noun. In English, we would say "loved one”.

for --This word "for" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with”, "in”, "of”, "as”, "by”, "for”, "at”, or "on" depending on the context. 

yourselves  -- "Yourselves" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself”, "herself”, and so on. When used in the possessive, it has the sense of "his own”.

so that  -- The word translated as "so that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that”, "when”, "in order that", "when”, or "because”.

when  -- The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since”. This is not the more common word for "when". Here, the condition is less certain to happen. 

it is gone,  -- (PP) The Greek  words meaning "you are abandoned" here are not translated but instead their assumed meaning is paraphrased into different words."You are abandoned" is a verb that Jesus only uses twice. It has been translated as to "leave out", "pass over", "forsake", "desert", "abandon", "fail one”, [of the moon] "eclipse", "faint", "leave off", "cease", "be wanting", "be left", "remain” or "depart”. It is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.

you -- (WF) The "you" here is the second-person, plural pronoun in the form of an object of the action or preposition. This is not a subject but an indirect object. 

will -- (WW) This helping verb indicates that the verb is the future tense, but it isn't. It is in the form of possibility so it needs a "should" or "might”.

be -- (WV) This helping verb "be" seems to indicate that the verb is passive but it isn't. It is a verb form that indicates the subject is acting on itself. 

welcomed --  "Welcomed" is a word, which, when applied to people means "to welcome”, "to grant access" or "to receive with hospitality”. When applied to things, it means "take”, "accept” and "receive". This is not the word usually translated as "receive”.

into  -- The word translated as "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as” (of measure or limit), "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object. Used with the Greek "from" it means "from...to”.

eternal -- (CW) "Eternal " is an adjective based on the word that means "age" or "eon”. It has the sense of "perpetual" or "ageless". It doesn't really means "eternal or "everlasting" as we used those words today.  See this article.

 missing "the"  -- -- (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. 

dwellings.  --  (CW) "Dwellings" means "tent", "booth", "home of a stage", "acting", "unreality” and "entertainment in a tent". A word that Jesus only uses here is translated as "habitation" (and "dwelling" or "home" in other NT translations).  This translation is more general  than the word's specific meaning. 

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

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”.

ἐγὼ [162 verses](pron 1st sg masc nom) "I" is ego, which is the first-person singular pronoun meaning "I". It also means "I at least”, "for my part”, "indeed” and “for myself”.

ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of the pronoun of the second person in the indirect object form, "to you”. As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed. With the "to be”, it acts as a possessive, "yours”.

λέγω, [264 verses] (verb 1st sg pres ind act) "Say"  is lego, which means "to recount", "to tell over”, "to say”, "to speak”, "to teach”, "to mean”, "boast of”, "tell of”, "recite”, nominate" and "command”. When used with an object is has the sense of "call by name". It has a secondary meaning "pick out”, "choose for oneself”, "pick up”, "gather”, "count” and "recount". A less common word that is spelled the same means "to lay", "to lay asleep" and "to lull asleep”. This word is more about making a statement than participating in a discussion. Translating it as "stated" might distinguish it better. When two accusative objects are used, the sense is  "say of him this”, or "call him this”. The form Jesus uses to describe his own speaking can be either indicative, "I say/tell" or subjunctive, "I should/could say/tell”.

ἑαυτοῖς  [75 verses](adj pl masc dat)  "To yourselves" is heautou, is a reflexive pronoun that means "himself”, "herself”, "itself", "themselves” and "ourselves”. It is not the common pronoun meaning simply "he”, "she”, "them”, etc. In the genitive form, it has the sense of "his own”.

ποιήσατε [168 verses](2nd pl aor imperat act) "Make"  is poieo, which means "to make", "to produce”, "to create”, "to bring into existence”, "to bring about”, "to cause”, "to perform”, "to render”, "to consider”, "to prepare”, "to make ready” and "to do”. The accusative object is what is made. Double accusative is to do something to someone. When it has a genitive object, it means "made from”. When it doesn't have an object, the verb is translated as  "perform" or simply "do”. When used with an accusative infinitive, it means to "cause" or "bring about". A dative object means "made with". With the preposition "into" (eis) it means "made into”. 

φίλους [17 verses](adj pl masc acc) "Friends" is from philos, which as an adjective means "loved", "beloved”, "dear”, "kith and kin”, "nearest and dearest”, "friends" and (of things) "welcome" and "pleasant”. 

ἐκ  [121 verses] (prep) "From" 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.-- The Greek preposition translated as "from" means "out of" or "from”. The word has a number of different meanings 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. 

τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen)  "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”.

μαμωνᾶ . [4 verses] (noun sg masc gen) "Mammon" is from mamonas, which is not from any Greek word. There is some debate about both its source and its meaning. The most accepted view is that it is from Aramaic mamona, "riches" or "wealth”, probably from Hebrew mamon, "security", "that which is trusted” or "deposit" or Hebrew matmon, "treasure”. The term comes possibly from Akkardian "mimmu" meaning "property”. It has also been suggested that mammon was the name of a Syriac god of wealth.

τῆς [821 verses](article sg  fem gen)  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 word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones”.

ἀδικίας [5 verses](noun sg fem gen) "Of unrighteousness"  is from adikia, which means "wrongdoing", "injustice", "a wrongful act” and "offense”. 

ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place”, "there”, "where", "when”, but when beginning a phrase "so that”, "in order that”, "when” and "because”. It is used as an introduction to a command, where it isn't translated. Often is is better to translate it as "so that" instead of "because" to avoid confusion with another conjunction.

ὅταν [70 verses](adv/conj) "When" is from hotan, which means "whenever” (as a condition), and "since” (as a cause).

ἐκλίπῃ [2 verses](verb 2nd sg aor subj mp) "Ye fail" is from ekleipo which means "leave out", "pass over", "forsake", "desert", "abandon", "fail one", [of the moon] "eclipse", "faint", "leave off", "cease", "be wanting", "be left", "remain” or "depart”. 

δέξωνται [18 verses]( 3rd pl aor subj mid) "They may receive"  is dechomai, which means "welcome”, "accept” and "entertain" when applied to people and "take”, "accept” and "receive" when applied to things.

ὑμᾶς [210 verses](pron 2nd pl acc) "You" is humas which is the plural objective form of the second-person pronoun, "you”. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement. 

εἰς [325 verses](prep) "Into" is eis, which means "into” (of place), "up to” (of time), "until” (of time), "in" (a position),  "as much as” (of measure or limit), "as far as” (of measure or limit), "towards” (to express relation), "in regard to” (to express relation), "of an end or limit" and "for (of purpose or object)". With verbs of speaking, it is the person spoken "to”. With time, a limit "until”, or a duration "for", "throughout”, or a date, "on”, "at”. Used with ek, it means "from...to”.

τὰς [821 verses](article pl 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 word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones”.  -- missing "the/this"

αἰωνίους  [23 verses] (adj pl fem acc) "Everlasting"  is aionios, which means "lasting for an age", "perpetual” and "eternal”. From "aion" which is used in the bible to mean an "age”.

σκηνάς [1 verse] (noun sg fem gen)  "Habitations" is from skene, which means "tent", "booth", "home of a stage", "acting", "unreality” and "entertainment in a tent”.

Wordplay

The words translated as "everlasting habitation" has a double meaning of "this era's pavilions", that is, dining and entertainment areas,  as a "perpetual stage."  

Front Page Date