Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell,

Spoken to
audience

After saying that those the suffer tragedies are not worse "sinners" than others, that we are all the same.

KJV

Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

NIV

Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?

LISTENERS HEARD

Or those eighteen there upon whom the tower in that Siloam fell and killed them. Do you imagine that they themselves became loan debtors compared with all those men, the ones inhabiting Jerusalem." 

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The worse crime here is translating a word means "loan debtors" as "sinners" and guilty. This changes the entire meaning of the verse. Jesus is equating those who make mistakes with those who own a debt. God is cast as a debt-collector who dropped a toward in them for punishment. This is a humorous exaggeration.

Another key word here is a preposition that means "compared with" that modifies "all these men." It is translated as "above" in the KJV and ignored in the NIV. Jesus is comparing these debtors to everyone else in Jerusalme who didn't get a building dropped on them.

MY TAKE

We all owe the Divine more than we can repay.

GREEK ORDER

  ἐκεῖνοι οἱ      δέκα ὀκτὼ ἐφ᾽     οὓς    ἔπεσεν πύργος  ἐν τῷ Σιλωὰμ   καὶ ἀπέκτεινεν αὐτούς,
Or there    those eighteen    upon whom fell       the tower in  that Siloam and killed         them.
δοκεῖτε                ὅτι  αὐτοὶ           ὀφειλέται      ἐγένοντο       παρὰ               πάντας τοὺς  ἀνθρώπους
Do you imagine  that themselves  loan debtors they became compared with all       those men,

τοὺς       κατοικοῦντας Ἰερουσαλήμ;
the ones inhabiting      Jerusalem." 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
10

Or those(CW) (MWthe) eighteen, upon whom the tower in (MWthis) Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they (MWthemselves) were(CW) sinners(WW)  above all (MWthe) men that(CW) dwelt(WF)  in(IW) Jerusalem?

  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "those" is the common word that should be translated as "here" or "there."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word " "these/those/the" before "eighteen" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "Shiloam" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "themselves" after "they" for emphasis.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "were" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "sinner" should be something more like "loan debtors."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- "That" is not the conjunction that creates a dependent clause.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "these/those/the" before "men" is not shown in the English translation. 
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "dwelling."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "in" doesn't exist in the source.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
21

Or those(CW) (MWthe) eighteen (MWand) (MWthem) who(IW) died(WW) when(IW) the tower in (MWthis) Siloam fell on them(CW)—do you think they (MWthemselves) were(CW) more(IW) guilty than(IW) (MWbeyond) all the others(WW) living in(IW) Jerusalem?

 

  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "those" is the common word that should be translated as "here" or "there."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word " "these/those/the" before "eighteen" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "and "  after "word" is not shown in the English translation. 
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "them"  after "died" is not shown in the English translation. 
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "who" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "died" should be something more like "destroyed."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "when" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "Shiloam" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "them."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "that"  after "think" is not shown in the English translation. 
  • MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "themselves" after "they" for emphasis.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "were" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "more" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "guilty" should be something more like "loan debtors."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "than" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "beyond"  after "than" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- "That" is not the conjunction that creates a dependent clause.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "others" should be something more like "men."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word " "these/those/the" before "living" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "dwelling."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "in" doesn't exist in the source.
EACH WORD of KJV

Or -- "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."

those -- (CW) The word translated as "that" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." So it means "there," "here," or "then." Used a pronoun, the sense is "that one there" or "this one here." "

missing "these/those/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.

eight- -- "Eight" is from a number that means "eight". 

-teen  --  "Teen" is the Greek word for the numeral "ten."

, upon -- The word translated as "upon" means "on," "over," "upon," "for,"  "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of."

whom -- The word translated as "whom" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things."

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. 

tower -- "The tower" is from a noun that means "tower," and "tower of defense."

in   -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "on," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time),  or "among"  with an indirect-object form object.  About time, it means "during the time," "in the time," "within," and "in." With the direct object form, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."

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.

Siloam   - "Siloam" is a Hebrew word, which means "sent."

fell, -- "Fell" 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.

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

slew -- "Slew" is translated from a Greek word that means "slaughter" more than just "kill" because the base word means "slay." The Greek source has the sense of "kill off," that is, "killing" in a more thorough way. When we talk about "slaughtering" someone, we use it to mean destroying their reputation, the strength of their spirit and ideas as well as physically killing them. This is more the sense here. The word "destroy" also works, but a similar word from a different root meaning "kill" works better as "destroy,"

them, -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English in the form of a plural object of a verb or preposition.

think -- The word translated as "think" doesn't mean think as much as it means "expect" or "imagine."

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

that -- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," "seeing that," "that," and "wherefore." Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because" in statements that seem like an answer to a question because of the change of context. It means "because" when answering a "why" question and "that" when explaining a "what" question. Another common word is used for "for."

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

missing "themselves" -- (MW)   "Themselves" is the nominative case of the third-person, plural adjective that means "themselves," "ourselves,""yourselves," "the same," "one's true self," and "the soul" as opposed to the body. While other forms of this word are used as pronouns, this form is used for emphasis, since the subject pronoun is part of the verb. Without a verb, the sense is "they are."

were -- (CW) The word translated as "were" means "to become," that is, to enter into a new state. When applied to events, this word means "to happen," "to occur," or "take place." For things, it can be "to be produced." When the participle takes a predicate, the sense is "coming into" something. The form of the verb's object can indicate the time or to whom it "happens." This is not the specific meaning of the word in this situation.

sinners - (WW)  This word doesn't mean "sinner." The word translated as "sinner" means a  "loan debtor." Perhaps a sapIt was used in the Greek Old Testament to translate a Hebrew word that means "poor."  

above -- The Greek preposition translated as "above" has many meanings, many of which depend on the case of its object.  In this case it means "compared with."

all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way," "on every side," and "altogether."

missing "these/those/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. 

men - The Greek word for "men" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples." 

that -- (CW) The word translated as "that" 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.  It is not the conjunction that creates a dependent clause.

dwelt - - The word translated as "dwelt" is a verb which means "to settle in", "colonize", "to administer," and "govern." The verb is singular. So what entered as a group it now united. This is not the verb usually translated as "dwell" or "abide" in the KJV of Christ's words. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "dwelling."

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

Jerusalem? -- The word "Jerusalem" denotes the city or its inhabitants. Two different forms of this word appear in the NT. It is only used once in Mark, but not in Jesus's words. It isn't used at all in John. It appears three times in  Jesus's words in Matthew. This version is used most heavily in Luke, mostly in his narration, but a few times in Jesus's words.

EACH WORD of NIV

Or -- "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."

those -- (CW) The word translated as "that" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." So it means "there," "here," or "then." Used a pronoun, the sense is "that one there" or "this one here." "

missing "these/those/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.

eight- -- "Eight" is from a number that means "eight". 

-teen  --  "Teen" is the Greek word for the numeral "ten."

missing "and "  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis.

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

died -- (WW) "Died" is translated from a Greek word that means "slaughter" more than just "kill" because the base word means "slay." The Greek source has the sense of "kill off," that is, "killing" in a more thorough way. When we talk about "slaughtering" someone, we use it to mean destroying their reputation, the strength of their spirit and ideas as well as physically killing them. This is more the sense here. The word "destroy" also works, but a similar word from a different root meaning "kill" works better as "destroy," It isn't passive.

missing "them"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English in the form of a plural object of a verb or preposition.

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

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. 

tower -- "The tower" is from a noun that means "tower," and "tower of defense."

in   -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "on," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time),  or "among"  with an indirect-object form object.  About time, it means "during the time," "in the time," "within," and "in." With the direct object form, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."

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.

Siloam   - "Siloam" is a Hebrew word, which means "sent."

fell, -- "Fell" 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.

on -- The word translated as "on" means "on," "over," "upon," "for,"  "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of."

them -- (CW) The word translated as "them" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things." This is not the word usually translated as "them."

—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.

think -- The word translated as "think" doesn't mean think as much as it means "expect" or "imagine."

missing "that"  -- (MW) The untranslated word   "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," "seeing that," "that," and "wherefore." Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because" in statements that seem like an answer to a question because of the change of context. It means "because" when answering a "why" question and "that" when explaining a "what" question. Another common word is used for "for."

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

missing "themselves" -- (MW)   "Themselves" is the nominative case of the third-person, plural adjective that means "themselves," "ourselves,""yourselves," "the same," "one's true self," and "the soul" as opposed to the body. While other forms of this word are used as pronouns, this form is used for emphasis, since the subject pronoun is part of the verb. Without a verb, the sense is "they are."

were -- (CW) The word translated as "were" means "to become," that is, to enter into a new state. When applied to events, this word means "to happen," "to occur," or "take place." For things, it can be "to be produced." When the participle takes a predicate, the sense is "coming into" something. The form of the verb's object can indicate the time or to whom it "happens." This is not the specific meaning of the word in this situation.

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

guilty - (WW)  This word doesn't mean "guilty." The word translated as "guilty" means a  "loan debtor." Perhaps a sapIt was used in the Greek Old Testament to translate a Hebrew word that means "poor."  

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

missing "compared with"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "compared with" has many meanings, many of which depend on the case of its object. In this case it means "compared with."

all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way," "on every side," and "altogether."

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. 

others - (WW)  This word doesn't mean "others."  The Greek word for "others " means "men," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples." 

that -- (CW) The word translated as "that" 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.  It is not the conjunction that creates a dependent clause.

missing "these/those/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.

living - - The word translated as "dwelt" is a verb which means "to settle in", "colonize", "to administer," and "govern." The verb is singular. So what entered as a group it now united. This is not the verb usually translated as "dwell" or "abide" in the KJV of Christ's words. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "dwelling."

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

Jerusalem? -- The word "Jerusalem" denotes the city or its inhabitants. Two different forms of this word appear in the NT. It is only used once in Mark, but not in Jesus's words. It isn't used at all in John. It appears three times in  Jesus's words in Matthew. This version is used most heavily in Luke, mostly in his narration, but a few times in Jesus's words.

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COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

[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.

ἐκεῖνοι  [107 verses](adj pl masc nom) "That" is ekeinos, which refers to that which has gone immediately before and  means "the person there," "that person," "that thing," and "the nearer." However, when οὗτος and ἐκεῖνος refer to two things ἐκεῖνος, prop. belongs to the more remote, "the latter" in time, place, or thought, οὗτος belongs to the more remote, "the latter" in time, "further" in place, or thought, οὗτος to "the nearer" and "sooner. " With certain preposition, it has a specific meaning:ἐξ ἐκείνου from that time, κατ᾽ ἐκεῖνα in that place, there, μετ᾽ ἐκεῖνα afterwards.

οἱ [821 verses](article pl masc nom)  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."

δέκα [11 verses](numeral ) "Teen" is from deka, which means the number ten. -- "Ten" is the Greek word for the numeral "ten."

ὀκτὼ [2 verses] (numeral) "Eight" is from okto, which means the number "eight".

ἐπὶ [138 verses](prep) "Upon" is from epi, which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," "for," and "against." With a noun in the possessive, genitive, it means "upon," "on" but not necessarily of Place, "by (of persons)," "deep (with numbers)," "in the presence of," "towards," "in the time of," and "over (referring to a person of authority)." With a noun indirect object, dative, it means of place: "upon," "on," or "over," of people: "against (in a hostile sense)," regarding a situation: "towards" or "in reference to," of an accumulation: "upon," "after," "addition to," and "besides," of position: "after," "behind," "in dependence upon," and "in the power of," of time: "by," and "after," and. in a causal sense: "of the occasion or cause," "for" a person, an end, or purpose," "on condition that," and "for" (a price).  With the objective noun, an accusative, it means of place: "upon or on to a height," "up to," "as far as," "a little way," "a little," "towards," "to," in hostile sense: "against," of extension: "over," "over (a space)," of time: "for," "during," "up to" or "till," in a causal sense: "of (the object)," for (this purpose)," "as regards," "according to," and "by (this cause)." With verbs of perceiving, observing, and judging, it means "in the case of."

οὓς [294 verses](pron pl masc acc) "Whom" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," " "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things."

ἔπεσεν  [36 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "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)."

 [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."

πύργος [4 verses] (noun sg masc nom) "Tower" is from pyrgos, which means "tower", "tower of defense", "movable tower (for storming towns," and "a dice cup."

ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with its usual indirect (dative) object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during,"  and "with." With a direct (accusative) object, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during."

τῷ [821 verses](article sg masc dat)  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."

Σιλωὰμ  [3 verses](Hebrew Word noun sg masc dat)  "Siloam" is from Siloam, which is not a Greek word, but a Hebrew word שִׁלֹחַ which means "sent." Also appears as "Shiloa" in Isa 8:6. John translates it as the Greek past participle, (part sg perf mp masc nom) -apostello, which means "the one who has been sent off," or "the one who has been sent away."  In the other two references by Jesus, it refers not to the pool but a tower, which may have been over it.

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."

ἀπέκτεινεν [31 verses] (verb 3rd sg imperf ind act ) "Slew" is apokteino, which means "to kill," and "to slay." It combines the word for "to slay" (-kteino) with the proposition, apo, indicating separation, meaning "from" or "away from." but it is a stronger form than the normal verb -kteino. It is more like our "slaughter." It is in the form of a present participle, "slaughtering" acting as a noun ("those destroying").

αὐτοὺς [62 verses](pron pl masc acc) "Them"  is autous, in the form of the plural, masculine pronoun "them" in the form of a direct object.  An accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement. Event may show the amount of time. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.

δοκεῖτε [17 verses](verb 2nd pl pres ind act) "Think ye" is dokeo, which means "expect," "suppose," "imagine," "have an opinion," "seem," "seem good," and "to be reputed."

ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "That" 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." This is the same word can be translated as both "because" and "that" in the same verse when answering two different types of questions.

αὐτοὶ [32 verses](pron/adj pl masc nom) "They" is autoi. the nominative case of the third-person, plural adjective that means "themselves," "ourselves," "yourselves," "the same," "one's true self," and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord."  While other forms of this word are used as pronouns, this form is used for emphasis, since the subject pronoun is part of the verb. -- they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

ὀφειλέται [2 verses] (noun pl masc nom) "Sinners" is from chreopheiletes, which means "loan debtor". The root word is from debtor (opheiletes), with a prefix (κιχράω), that is used in the Septuagint ,1Sa 1:28,  to translated the Hebrew word for "lene."In one verse of the Septuagint, Pro 29:13, where it is used with the word translated here as "creditor," this word is used to translate the Hebrew rûš (רוּשׁ), which means "the poor."

ἐγένοντο [117 verses](verb 3rd pl aor ind mid) "Were" is ginomai, which means "to become," "to come into being," "to happen," of things "to be produced," of events "happen," (passive) "take place," "come to pass," "to be engaged in," math "to be multiplied into," "become one of," "turn into." It means changing into a new state of being. When the participle takes a predicate, the sense is "coming into" something. This verb also has a number of special meanings with different prepositions. It is the complementary opposite of the verb "to be" (eimi) which indicates existence in the same state. A genitive object indicates the time during which it "happens" or a date on which it "falls." A dative object indicates to whom it happens.

παρὰ  [45 verses](prep) "With" is para, has many meanings, which depend on the case of its object and the sense of the verb. With the genitive, the sense is always motion, "from the side of," "from beside," "issuing from", and generally "from." With the dative, the sense is always static, "by the side of," "near," "in the presence of," and "before." With the accusative, its has a number of specialized meanings depending on the character of the verb, with coming/going "near," "beside," with placing "side-by-side," as a metaphor, "like" or "as a parody of, of comparison, "compared with" and many more including "along", "past", "beyond", "parallel (geometry)", "precisely at the moment of (time)," and "throughout (time)." With a possessive form, the sense is motion, "from the side of," "from beside," and generally "from." With an indirect object form, the sense is static, "beside," "by the side of," "near," and "before." With the direct object, its has a number of specialized meanings depending on the character of the verb, with coming/going "near," "beside," with placing "side-by-side," as a metaphor, "like" or "as a parody of, of comparison, "compared with" and many more. -- The Greek preposition translated as "from" has many meanings, many of which depend on the case of its object.

πάντας [212 verses](adj pl masc acc) "All" is pas, which means "all," "the whole," "every," "anyone," "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way," "on every side," "in every way," and "altogether."

τοὺς [821 verses](article pl 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." 

ἀνθρώπους  [209 verses](noun pl masc acc) "Men" is anthropos, which is "man," and, in plural, "mankind." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate. Used as a form of address, it is a bit contemptuous, "sir."

τοὺς [821 verses](article pl masc acc)  "That" 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." 

κατοικοῦντας [4 verses] (part pl pres act masc acc) "Dwell" is katoikeô, which means "to settle in", "colonize", "to administer," and "govern."

Ἰερουσαλήμ;  [15 verses](Aramaic noun) "Jerusalem" is Ierousalēmwhich is a form of word that denotes the city or its inhabitants. Two different forms, this form and Hierosolyma, appear in the NT.

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