Luke 15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country;

Spoken to
audience

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

KJV

Luke 15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

NIV

Luke 15:15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.

LISTENERS HEARD

And going, he was glued to one of the citizens of that country there. And he sent him into those fields of his to feed pigs. 

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The Greek makes it fairly clear that the son in the story didn't go to work by his own choice, but that he was forced into the service of another because he could not support himself but the term used, "glued onto" is a humorous one. The sense is like we used the word "being stuck somewhere”. This verse in the KJV combines this verse of the Greek with the first part of the next Greek verse. The words used here for "glued on" and "citizen" are both uncommon so they were likely chosen for their specific meanings. This may indicate that the citizens had special rights over outsiders. 

MY TAKE

We sometimes get stuck somewhere because of our bad decisions.

GREEK ORDER

καὶ  πορευθεὶς ἐκολλήθη       ἑνὶ           τῶν πολιτῶν      τῆς χώρας ἐκείνης,
And going,       he was glued to one of the  citizens    of that country there. 

And he sent   him     into those fields    of his       to feed pigs. 
καὶ  ἔπεμψεν αὐτὸν εἰς    τοὺς  ἀγροὺς    αὐτοῦ βόσκειν  χοίρους:...
 

And he went and(IW) joined himself(WF) to (MWone) a(WW) citizen of that(CW) (MWthat) country; and he sent him into his  (MWthose)  fields to feed swine.

  • IW - Inserted Word -- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WV  --Wrong Voice - The verb not the middle voice. 
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "one"  after "to" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "a" should be something more like "the”.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This is not a subject but  a possessive, "of the citizens”.
  • WN  --Wrong Number- The word "citizens" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "that" is the common word that should be translated as "here" or "there”.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "country" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word"these/those/the" before "fields" is not shown in the English translation

So he went and(IW) hired(WW) himself(WF)out  to (MWone) a(WW) citizen of that(CW) (MWthat) country; who(WW) sent him to  (MWthose)fields to feed pigs.

  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "so" should be something more like "and”.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "hired" should be something more like "glued”.
  • WV  --Wrong Voice - The verb not the middle voice.
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "out" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "one"  after "to" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "a" should be something more like "the”.
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This is not a subject but a possessive, "of the citizens”.
  • WN  --Wrong Number- The word "citizen" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "that" is the common word that should be translated as "here" or "there”.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "country" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "who" should be something more like "and”.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "these/those/the" before "fields" is not shown in the English translation
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.

 he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

went -- The word translated as "went," means, in the passive, used here, to "go”, "march”, "depart” and "proceed". It is almost always translated as "go" in the NT but Jesus uses it to mean "depart”. This word uniquely means "to pursue a course" and "to depart from life”. Jesus also uses it for a play on words referring to its "depart from life" meaning. 

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

joined  - "Joined" is from a verb that means "to glue to or on”, "to join (two substances)”, "unite" and "to be stuck to" or "to be glued to”.

himself -- (WV) This indicates that the previous verb is in a middle voice requiring some form of "self" as the object. 

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.

missing "one"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single”, and "one and the same”. As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

a -- (WW) The word translated as "a" 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 "a”.

citizen -  (WF, WN)"Citizens" is from a Greek noun that means "citizen" and "freeman”. It is plural, not singular as part of the phrase "one of the citizens”. This is the first time it is used by Jesus in the Gospels. The Greek word is the source of our word for "politics”. This is not a subject but a possessive. This word is not singular but plural. 

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.

that  -- (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 as a pronoun, the sense is "that one there" or "this one here”.

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. 

 country;  - "Country" is a word that means "space”, "place”, "spot”, "the position”, "the proper place for a thing or person”, "land” and "landed estate”. It is a metaphor for "station”, "place" or "position" in society.

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

 he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

sent -- "Sent" is from a Greek verb that means "send”, "send forth”, "send away”, "conduct” and "escort". This is the second most common word Jesus uses that is translated as "send out," but this one doesn't have the prefix that has the sense of "out”.

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. 

into -- The word translated as "into" 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”.

his - The word translated as "his" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English.  The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his”. - In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there”.

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. 

fields-- "Fields" is from the common noun that means "field”, "lands” or "countryside”.

to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.

feed -- "Feed" is a verb that means to "feed”, "tend”, generally, "feed”, "nourish" of cattle, "feed” and "graze”.

swine. - The Greek word translated as "swine" primarily means "sow," but it was also used as a Greek slang term for the female sexual parts. Of course, the pig was an unclean animal among the Jews and we may assume was used by them as a derogatory term. It is introduced by an article so "the sows”.

EACH WORD of NIV

 hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.

So -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "so" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis. This word doesn't mean "so”. 

 he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

went -- The word translated as "went”, means, in the passive, used here, to "go”, "march”. "depart” and "proceed”, It is almost always translated as "go" in the NT but Jesus uses it to mean "depart". This word uniquely means "to pursue a course" and "to depart from life”. Jesus also uses it for a play on words referring to its "depart from life" meaning. 

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

hired -  (WW) "Hired" is from a verb that means "to glue to or on”, "to join (two substances)”, "unite" and "to be stuck to" or "to be glued to”.  This word doesn't mean "hired”.  

himself -- (WV) This indicates that the previous verb is in a middle voice requiring some form of "self" as the object. 

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

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.

missing "one"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same”. As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

a -- (WW) The word translated as "a" 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 "a”.

citizen -  (WF, WN)"Citizens" is from a Greek noun that means "citizen" and "freeman". It is plural, not singular as part of the phrase "one of the citizens”.This is the first time it is used by Jesus in the Gospels. The Greek word is the source of our word for "politics”. This is not a subject but a possessive. This word is not singular but plural. 

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.

that  -- (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 as a pronoun, the sense is "that one there" or "this one here”.

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. 

 country;  - "Country" is a word that means "space”, "place”, "spot”, "the position”, "the proper place for a thing or person”, "land” and "landed estate”. It is a metaphor for "station”, "place" or "position”, in society.

who --  (WW)  The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and”, but it also is used to add emphasis.  This word doesn't mean "who”.

sent -- "Sent" is from a Greek verb that means "send”, "send forth”, "send away”, "conduct” and "escort". This is the second most common word Jesus uses that is translated as "send out”, but this one doesn't have the prefix that has the sense of "out”.

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. 

to -- The word translated as "into" 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”.

his - The word translated as "his" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English.  The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his”. - In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there." 

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. 

fields-- "Fields" is from the common noun that means "field”, "lands” or "countryside”.

to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.

feed -- "Feed" is a verb that means to "feed”, "tend”, generally, "feed”, "nourish” of cattle, "feed" and "graze."

pigs. - The Greek word translated as "pigs" primarily means "sow," but it was also used as a Greek slang term for the female sexual parts. Of course, the pig was an unclean animal among the Jews and we may assume was used by them as a derogatory term. It is introduced by an article so "the sow”.

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”.

πορευθεὶς [54 verses](part sg aor pass masc nom) "Went"  is poreuomai (poreuo) which means , in the active voice, "make to go”, "carry”, "convey” and "bring”. In the passive, it means to "go", "march”, "depart” and "proceed". It is almost always translated as "go" in the NT. Jesus uses it to mean "depart”. He sometimes uses it in situations where its "depart from life" meaning comes into play. 

ἐκολλήθη [2 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind pass) "Joined"  is kollao which means to "glue”, "cement”, "mend (a broken vessel)”, "join (substance to another)”, generally, "join fast together”, "unite” and in the passive, to "cleave to”, and "is indissolubly bound to”.  - "Cleave" is from a verb that means "to glue to or on”, "to join (two substances)”, "unite" and "to be stuck to" or "to be glued to”. It is in the future tense.

ἑνὶ [85 verses](noun sg masc dat ) "a" is heis, which means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single”, and "one and the same”. This noun/adjective is irregular, having a number of forms depending on gender and case. It is always singular.  

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

πολιτῶν [2 verses](noun pl masc gen) "Citizens" is polites, which means "citizen" and "freeman”.

τῆς [821 verses](article sg fem gen)  [821 verses](article sg masc nom)  "A" 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". See this article for more. 

χώρας  [8 verses](noun sg fem gen) "Country" is from chora, which means "space”. "the spot in a room where a thing is", "place”, "spot”, "the position”, "the proper place for a thing or person”, "land” and "landed estate”. It is a metaphor for "station", "place" or "position”, in society. 

ἐκείνης, [107 verses](adj sg fem gen) "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.

From next verse of Greek:

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”.

ἔπεμψεν [39 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind act ) "He sent" is pempo, which means "send", "send forth”, "send away”, "conduct" and "escort”.

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. 

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”.

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

ἀγροὺς [22 verses] (noun pl masc acc) "Fields" is agros, which means "field", "lands” or "country”.

αὐτοῦ [142 verses](adv/adj sg masc gen) "His/" is autou, which means the singular adjective used as the genitive pronoun, which is used as a possessive form or the object of prepositions and sometimes verbs as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord". In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there". This form is often used as the object of a preposition, “him”.This form of an object of a preposition means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. The time sense of a genitive object is that the event occurred within a specified time. Though the form is masculine, it refers to masculine words, not people.  The masculine form is used to refer to people in general, not just men.

βόσκειν [4 verses](verb pres inf act ) "Feed" is bosko, which means to "feed”, "tend”, generally, "feed”, "nourish”, of cattle, "feed”, and "graze”,

 χοίρους[3 verses](noun pl masc/fem gen ) "Swine" is choiros, which means "sow", "young pig", "porker", "swine”, and slang for the female sex organ.  - The Greek word translated as "swine" primarily means "sow", but it was also used as a Greek slang term for the female sexual parts. Of course, the pig was an unclean animal among the Jews and we may assume was used by them as a derogatory term. It is introduced by an article so "the sows".

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