Luke 14:5 Which of you shall have an ass or an ox

Spoken to
The Pharisees

At the house of a Pharisee a man shows up with dropsy, and Jesus is asking if it is lawful to heal.

KJV

Luke 14:5 Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

NIV

Luke 14:5 “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?”

LISTENERS HEARD

Will a son of any of you, or an ox, fall into a reservoir? And will you not immediately pull him up by yourself on the day of the Sabbath? 

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The humor is strengthened over earlier versions of this verse. In the first sentence a son is equated to an ox and the verb is the future tense, "will fall." The question is not "which of you," but "will a son of any of you, or an ox, fall into a well?" If it was not a question, it would be a prediction of the future by a prophet. You can't see the difference between a son or an ox. It is hard to imagine an ox falling into a "well"  (or anyone pulling him out) so "reservoir" works best here.

The second sentence is also the future tense, "will you not pull him up?" The "pull up" is the middle voice, so the sense is "by yourself".

MY TAKE

The Sabbath is a good day to pull people from the water.

GREEK ORDER

Τίνος   ὑμῶν       υἱὸς     βοῦς εἰς      φρέαρ     πεσεῖται, καὶ οὐκ εὐθέως         ἀνασπάσει                       αὐτὸν  
of any of you, A son  or an ox, into a reservoir will fall  and not  immediately will pull up by yourself  him

ἐν ἡμέρᾳ    τοῦ σαββάτου;
on a day of the Sabbath? 
 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
6

Which of you shall have(IW) an ass(OS) or an ox fallen(WF) into a pit(CW), and will not straightway pull(WV) him out(CW) on the sabbath day?

  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "have" doesn't exist in the source.
  • OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "ass" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This is not a participle, "fallen" but an active verb "fall."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "pit."
  • WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for yourself" or a "yourself" as an object.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "out."
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
8

If(IW) one(WW) of you has(IW) a child or an ox that(IW) (WTwill) falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull(WV) it out(CW)?”

 

  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "if" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "one" should be something more like "any."
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "has" doesn't exist in the source.
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "that" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WT -- Wrong Tense -- This verb is the future tense, which requires a "will" before the verb, "fall".
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "and"  after "day" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for yourself" or a "yourself" as an object.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "out."
EACH WORD of KJV

Which -- The Greek word translated as "any" in the singular means "anyone", "someone",  "something" and "anything". The same forms are used both for the masculine and feminine, so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone", "some", "they" and "those". Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who", "what", "which" or even "why".

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.

you -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the possessive (genitive) case. This pronoun follows the noun so the possessive "of yours". When it precedes a definite article before the word it modifies, the sense may be "yours" or "part of you."

shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

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

an -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

ass -- (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. Today's source has "son." The word translated as "son" is the Greek word for "son", "scion", "heir" or "descendant". Like most male words, it can be used in the plural as a generic term for both sexes when they are descendants of someone. It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations.  More about it in this article.  

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."

an -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

ox -- The word translated as "ox" means "bull" or "ox". It is an uncommon word. 

fallen -- -- (WF) "Fallen" 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 is not a participle, but an active verb "fall”. This is the middle voice but the verb "fall" assumes we do it to yourselves.

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."

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

pit, -- (CW) The Greek word, used by Jesus only here, translated as "a pit" means "an artificial well" or "reservoir".  It is a completely different word than the word used in Matthew, which means a "pit" or "well" but comes from the word for "deep". This is not the word usually translated as "pit."

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

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

not  -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no", "not", or"no truly". It makes a negative statement of fact. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. 

straightway -- "Straightway" is  an adverb, it means "straight", "simple", "straightway", forthwith", "immediately", "directly" and "at once".

pull   -- The Greek verb translated as "pull" is also used uniquely by Jesus here. It means  to "draw", "draw a ship upon land", "pull up", "draw back", "tear up", and "pull down".  It is different than the common word Jesus uses in Matthew translated as "lift up". 

missing "yourself"-- (WV) A phrase is necessary because the form of the previous verb is a middle voice, which means that the subject is to act on "yourself", "for yourself" or "by yourself".

him -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, singular, masculine as a direct object of a verb or preposition. 

out - (CW) This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix. However, the prefix means "up" not out.

on -- 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".

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. 

sabbath -- The word translated as the "the Sabbath day" is the Greek version of the Hebrew word "shabbat" meaning "rest" or "day of rest." 

day? -- The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time" in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime."

EACH WORD of NIV

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

one -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "one " in the singular means "anyone", "someone",  "something" and "anything". The same forms are used both for the masculine and feminine, so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone", "some", "they", and "those". Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who", "what", "which" or even "why". This word doesn't mean "one". 

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.

you -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the possessive (genitive) case. This pronoun follows the noun so the possessive "of yours". When it precedes a definite article before the word it modifies, the sense may be "yours" or "part of you".

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

has

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

child -- The word translated as "son" is the Greek word for "son," "scion," "heir," or "descendant." Like most male words, it can be used in the plural as a generic term for both sexes when they are descendants of someone. It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations.  More about it in this article. 

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."

an -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

ox -- The word translated as "ox" means "bull" or "ox". It is an uncommon word. 

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

missing "will"  -- (WT) The helping vcrb, "will”. is needed to show the future tense of the verb.

fall --,"Falls" 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 is not a participle, but an active verb "fall."

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."

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

well , -- The Greek word, used by Jesus only here, translated as "a pit" means "an artificial well" or "reservoir". Metaphorically, it means "a brink" or "a large wine-cup". It is a completely different word than the word used in Matthew, which means a "pit" or "well" but comes from the word for "deep". 

on -- 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."

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. 

sabbath -- The word translated as the "the Sabbath day" is the Greek version of the Hebrew word "shabbat" meaning "rest" or "day of rest".

day? -- The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time" in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime".

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

 immediately -- "Immediately" is  an adverb, it means "straight", "simple", "straightway", forthwith," "immediately", "directly" and "at once".

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

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

not  -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no", "not", or "no truly". It makes a negative statement of fact. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. 

pull   -- The Greek verb translated as "pull" is also used uniquely by Jesus here. It means  to "draw", "draw a ship upon land","pull up", "draw back", "tear up", and "pull down".  It is different than the common word Jesus uses in Matthew translated as "lift up".

it -- The word translated as "it" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, singular, masculine as a direct object of a verb or preposition. 

out - (CW) This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix. However, the prefix means "up" not out.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

Τίνος [252 verses](pron sg gen) "Which" is tis, which can mean "someone”, "something“, "anything," "some sort", "some sort of", "each", "any", "the individual", "such" and so on. In a question, it can mean "who", "why" or "what". Plural, "who are" is τίνες.ἐόντες.  It has specific meanings with certain prepositions, διὰ τί; for what reason? ἐκ τίνος; from what cause? ἐς τί; "to what point?"  to "what end? τί ὅτι "why it is that,"

ὑμῶν [168 verses](pron 2nd pl gen) "Your/you" is humon, the plural possessive form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you". It is either a possessive pronoun or the object of a preposition. As an object of a preposition, the genitive indicates movement away or a position away from something.

υἱὸς [158 verses](noun sg masc nom​) "Son" is huios, which means a "son" and more generally to refer to any descendant, of any generation. It can refer to male sons or descendants of both sexes, but not purely female descendants. It can and often does refer to adults who are not "children".  When it refers to "sons" specifically, it should be translated that way, but when it can be applied to both sexes, the less familiar "descendant" is better than "children", especially since this word can refer to adults. It is often a reference to the role of "heir", but Jesus uses another word that specifically means "heir." Jesus also used it metaphorically to describe those who follow a way of thought or set of beliefs that descend from an individual.

[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 adjectives implying a comparison.

βοῦς [3 verses](noun sg masc nom) "Ox" which means " bullock", "bull", "ox", metaph. of any "dam" or "mother".

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."

φρέαρ [1 verse](noun sg neut acc) "A pit" is from phrear, which means "an artificial well", "tank", "cistern", and "reservoir". Metaphorically, it means "a brink" or "a large wine-cup".

πεσεῖται, [36 verses](verb 3rd sg fut ind mid) "Fall" 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)".

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",

οὐκ [269 verses](adv) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences.  The negative, οὐ, denies, is absolute, and objective.

εὐθέως [16 verses](adverb) "Straightaway" is from eutheoswhich as an adverb, it means "straight", "simple", "straightway", forthwith", "immediately", "directly," and "at once".

ἀνασπάσει [1 verse](verb 2nd sg fut ind mid) "Pull" is anaspao, which means "draw", "draw a ship up on land", “pull up", "draw back", "tear up", and "pull down".

αὐτὸν [124 verses](pron/adj sg masc acc) "Him" is auton, is the masculine, accusative case of the third-person, singular adjective that is used as a pronoun. Masculine pronouns can refer to things as well as people, so it can be it."  The word also means "the same”, and "of one's own accord".  An accusative object of a preposition indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement. Event may show the amount of time.  However, masculine pronouns refer to masculine nouns, not just masculine people so this word can mean "it" as well as "he". As a preposition's object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement. Events may show the amount of time.

ἐν [413 verses](prep) "On" 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". 

ἡμέρᾳ  [96 verses] (noun sg fem dat) "Day" is hemera, which, as a noun, means "day", "a state or time of life", "a time (poetic)", "day break" and "day time". It is also and also has a second meaning of "quiet”, "tame (animals)", "cultivated (crops)" and "civilized (people)”.

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 a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."  

σαββάτου;  [17 verses] (noun sg masc gen)  "Sabbath" is from sabbaton, which means "Sabbath", "seven days of week" and "first day of week".

Wordplay

There is a funny comparison between a son and an ox here. 

The "pit" is metaphorically a wine-cup. 

Front Page Date