Luke 15:12​ And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods

Spoken to
audience

After the analogies of the lost sheep and lost coin, Jesus continues the analogy of the prodigal son

KJV

Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

NIV

Luke 15:12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

LISTENERS HEARD

And the younger of them said to that father, "Father, hand over that share of the property belonging to me." So, that one allocated to them that livelihood."

LOST IN TRANSLATION

Unlike many of Jesus's analogies, there are two unusual words here. This verse contains a clue to the most mysterious of Christ's words, (see this article) a word he invented in the Lord's Prayer, which isn't even translated in the version we pray in English. In this verse, we see the root of that word translated misleadingly translated as "goods" and more correctly as "estate." This root is only used in two verses. There is also a unique word translated as divided" that means to "take apart", "cleave in twain", "divide", "dispense",  and "allocate". 

The division is made between both brothers when we expect it to be just him, but any division leave a portion which is the other brothers. 

 

MY TAKE

When we are very young, all we know to do is want.

GREEK ORDER

καὶ   εἶπεν   νεώτερος αὐτῶν      τῷ   πατρί    Πάτερ, δός            μοι     τὸ  ἐπιβάλλον  μέρος     τῆς οὐσίας:  
And  said  the younger  of them to that father, "Father, hand over  to me that  belonging share of the property."

           δὲ   διεῖλεν    αὐτοῖς  τὸν βίον.
that one So allocated to them that livelihood." 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
8

And the younger of them said to his(WW) father, Father, give me the portion of (MWthe) goods(CW) that(IW) falleth [to me(IW)]. And(OS) he(WW) divided unto them his(WW) living.

  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "his" should be something more like "the”.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "these/those/the"  before "goods" is not shown in the English translation. 
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not one of the common words usually translated as "goods”.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The "that" doesn't exist in the source.
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "to me" doesn't exist in the source.
  • OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "behold" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "he" should be something more like "the one”.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "his" should be something more like "the”.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
9

(MWand) The younger one (WW,WF) said to his(WW) father, "Father, give me my (WW, WF) share of the estate [belonging to me(IP2)- that(IW) falleth [to me(IW)]. And(OS) he(WW) divided unto them that living.

 

  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "and"  is not shown in the English translation. 
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "one" should be something more like "them”.
  •  WF -- Wrong Form -  This word is an indirect object not a subject. 
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "his" should be something more like "the”.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "my" should be something more like "the”.
  •  WF -- Wrong Form -  This is not a pronoun but a definite article, "the”.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "these/those/the"  before "estate" is not shown in the English translation. 
  • MP - Missing Phrase - The phrase "belonging to me"  exists in the source. This is counted as 2 translation issues, not 1.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "he" should be something more like "the one”.
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.

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. 

younger  -- "Younger" is the adjective that means "young”, "youthful”, "suited to a youth”, "new”, "fresh”. It is in a comparative form.

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.

them -- The word translated as "them " is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural in the genitive form. It is used as a possessive or the object of a verb or preposition.  As a preposition's object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. This pronoun follows the noun so "of theirs”.

said, - The word translated as "speak" means "to say" and "to speak". It is one of the two most common words translated "speak”, "say" and "tell”, but it has more a sense of addressing and proclaiming.

to -- 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.

his  -- (WW) The word translated as "his" 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.  This word doesn't mean "his."  

father,  -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers”. It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

Father,  -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers". It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

give -- The verb translated as "give" means "to give", "to grant”, "to hand over”, "appoint”, "establish” and "to describe”. It is almost always translated as some form of "give”.

me -- The "me" is in the indirect object form of the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me”, "for me” and "by me”.

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. 

share -- "Share " is a noun that  means "share", "portion", "lot", "destiny", "heritage", "one's turn", “the part one takes”, "proportion”, and "part" (as an opposite of whole). In Magic, it means "a material thing by which a connection is established between the person to be acted upon and the supernatural agent", Its root is a form of the verb "to exist". 

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. 

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. 

goods -- (CW) "Goods" is from a word that means "that which is one's own”, "one's substance” and "property”. Perhaps a half dozen other Greek words are also translated to "goods" in English, but this parable is the only time this word is used. This is not one of the common words usually translated as "goods." 

that -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle. 

falleth -- The word translated as "fall" means literally to" throw against, before, by or on”, but it has a large variety of specific uses. It implication is that the patching is not well done, but just thrown on. See this article about a related word.

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

And   -- (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. 

 he -- (WW)  This word doesn't mean "he”.

divided -- "Divided" is a verb that means to "take apart", "cleave in twain", "divide", "dispense", "distinguish”, "determine", "decide", and "allocate". 

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.

them  -- The word translated as "them" or "to them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural as an indirect object of the verb or the object of a preposition.

his  -- (WW) The word translated as "his" 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.  This word doesn't mean "his”.

living. --  "Living" is a noun that means "mode of life", "livelihood", "means of living", "the world we live in", "a biography," and "caste”.

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.

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. 

younger -- "Younger" is the adjective that means "young”, "youthful", "suited to a youth”, "new” and "fresh”.

one -- (WW, WF) The word translated as "them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural in the genitive form. It is used as a possessive or the object of a verb or preposition.  As a preposition's object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. This pronoun follows the noun so "of theirs”. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "one”.

said, - The word translated as "speak" means "to say" and "to speak”. It is one of the two most common words translated "speak”, "say" and "tell”, but it has more a sense of addressing and proclaiming.

to -- 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.

his  -- (WW) The word translated as "his" 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.  This word doesn't mean "his."  

father,  -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers”. It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

Father,  -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers”. It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

give -- The verb translated as "give" means "to give”, "to grant”, "to hand over”, "appoint”, "establish” and "to describe”. It is almost always translated as some form of "give”.

me -- The "me" is in the indirect object form of the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me”, "for me” and "by me”.

my -- (WW, WF) The word translated as "my" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural in the genitive form. It is used as a possessive or the object of a verb or preposition.   

share-- "Share" is a noun that  means "share", "portion", "lot", "destiny", "heritage", "one's turn”, “the part one takes”, "proportion” and "part" (as an opposite of whole). In Magic, it means "a material thing by which a connection is established between the person to be acted upon and the supernatural agent". Its root is a form of the verb "to exist". Perhaps a half dozen other Greek words are also translated to "goods" in English, but this parable is the only time this word is used. 

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. 

estate -- "Estate" is from a word that means "that which is one's own”, "one's substance” and "property”.

missing "belonging to me"  -- -- (MP) The words here aren't translated with their correct meanings and forms. 

that -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle. 

falleth -- The word translated as "fall" means literally “to throw against, before, by or on," but it has a large variety of specific uses. It implication is that the patching is not well done, but just thrown on. See this article about a related word.

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

So — 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. 

 he -- (WW)  This word doesn't mean "he”.

allocated -- "Allocated " is a verb that means to "take apart", "cleave in twain", "divide", "dispense", "distinguish , "determine", "decide" and "allocate". 

to -- 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.

them  -- The word translated as "them" or "to them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural as an indirect object of the verb or the object of a preposition.

that --  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.  This word doesn't mean "his”.

livelihood. --  "Livelihood" is a noun that means "mode of life", "livelihood", "means of living", "the world we live in", "a biography," and "caste”.

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”.

εἶπεν [162 verses]  (verb 3rd sg aor ind act ) "Said" is eipon, which means "to speak”, "to say", "to recite”, "to address", "to mention", "to name”, "to proclaim","to plead”, "to promise” and "to offer”.  This is the second most common word Jesus uses for this idea. The other word is used more for discussion. Perhaps translating it consistently as "tell" would work. 

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

νεώτερος [8 verses] (adj sg masc nom comp) "The younger"  is neos, which means "young”, "youthful”, "suited to a youth”, "new”, "fresh" and as an adverb of time, "lately”, "just now”, "anew" and "afresh”. 

αὐτῶν [86 verses](adj pl masc gen) "Of them" is auton, is the genitive case of the third-person, plural adjective that is used as a pronoun. The word also means "the same" "one's true self” and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord”.

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

 πατρί [191 verses] (noun sg masc dat) "Father" is pater, which means "father”, "grandfather”, "author”, "parent” and "forefathers”.

Πάτερ, ( [191 verses] (noun sg masc voc) "Father" is pater, which means "father”, "grandfather”, "author”, "parent” and "forefathers”. -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers”. It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

δός [147 verses](verb 2nd sg aor imperat act) "Give" is didomi, which means "to give", "to grant”, "to hand over”, "appoint”, "establish” and "to describe”.

μοι  [96 verses](pron 1st sg masc/fem dat) "Me" is moi (emoi) , which can be the object of some prepositions and as the object of a verb means "to me" "for me" and "by me”. An indirect object of a preposition, it implies no movement, but in a fixed position. 

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

ἐπιβάλλον   [5 verses] (part sg pres act neut acc) "Falleth" is epiballo, which means to "throw or cast upon”. "lay on”, " affix (a seal, add)”, "contribute”, "place next in order”, "let grow”, "let loose”, "throw oneself upon”, "go straight towards”, "follow”, "come next”, "belong to”, "fall to the share of",  "shut to”, "close", "to overlap (in logic)" and in the passive to "lie upon”, "be put upon” and "be set over”.

μέρος [5 verses](noun sg neut nom/acc) "Portion" is meros, which means "share", "portion", "lot", "destiny", "heritage", "one's turn," the part one takes," "proportion," and "part" (as an opposite of whole). 

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”.

οὐσίας: [2 verses] [2 verses](noun sg fem gen) "Of goods"  is ousiawhich means "that which is one's own”, "one's substance", "property”, "substance”, "essence”, "true nature”, "substantiality” and in magic, "a material thing by which a connection is established between the person to be acted upon and the supernatural agent”.

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

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").  When used with a conditional starting a clause, the sense is "if/when...then”. When used with a particle meaning "indeed" the sense is "on one hand...on the other hand”. In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet”. After an interruption, "so then”.

διεῖλεν [1 verse](verb 3rd sg aor ind act ) "Divided" is diaireowhich means to "take apart", "cleave in twain", "divide", "dispense", "distinguish , "determine", "decide", and "allocate". -- "Divided" is a verb that means to "take apart", "cleave in twain", "divide", "dispense", "distinguish”, "determine", "decide", and "allocate". 

αὐτοῖς[55 verses]( (adj pl masc dat)  "Unto them"  is the dative case of the third-person, plural adjective that is used as a pronoun. The word also means "the same”, "one's true self” and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord”. A dative object of a preposition implies no movement but in a fixed position.

τὸν   [821 verses](article sg masc acc)  "His" 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”.

βίον. [5 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Living" is bios, which means "mode of life", "livelihood”, "means of living”, "the world we live in”, "a biography” and "caste”.

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