After the analogies of the lost sheep and lost coin, Jesus continues the analogy of the prodigal son.
Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luke 15:17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
But coming to himself, he said, "How many hired laborers of that father of mine abound in bread? I myself, however? I destroy myself with hunger here.
This verse has a strong emphasis on "self" that is lost in translation. (See this article.)The phrase "coming to himself" has the sense of "coming to his senses”, but doesn't use those words. The rest of the verse uses expressive language that is toned down. The verb translated as "has enough" and "has to spare" means, when applied to people, "abound in," that is, have to overflowing. The "I" here is the pronoun, which emphasizes it as "I myself". The last verb is the punchline. Translated as "perish"(KJV) and as "to death"(NIV), its form can be translated as the middle voice, "destroy myself." The man realizes that he has done this to himself.
We bring many troubles down on our own heads, but do we come to our senses?
And(WW) when(IW) he came(WF) to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my (MWthe) father's have bread enough [and to spare(IP2)] and(WW) I (MWmyself) perish with hunger! (MWhere)
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "when" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "came" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "coming”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "father" is not shown in the English translation.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "and to spare" doesn't exist in the source. This is counted as 2 translation issues, not 1.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "myself" after "I" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "here" after "hunger" is not shown in the English translation.
(MWbut) “When(IW) he came(WF) to [his senses(WW)], he said, ‘How many of my (MWthe) father’s hired servants have food(WW) to spare, and(WW) here I (MWmyself) am starving to death(WF)!
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "but" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "when" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "came" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "coming”.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "his senses" should be something more like "himself”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "father" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "food" should be something more like "bread”.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "myself" after "I" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an indirect object but a middle passive verb.
And -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "and" 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. This word doesn't mean "and”.
when -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. There is no accusative for an accusative absolute.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
came -- (WF) The word translated as "came" primarily means "to start out" but Jesus usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come" or "go", but it is more like our phrase "being underway”. Technically, it is in the middle voice meaning the subject acts on himself. In English, this is assumed in our words "come" and "go." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "coming”.
to -- 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”.
himself, -- "Himself" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself”, "herself” and so on. When used in the possessive, it has the sense of "his own”.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
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.
How many - The adjective translated as "how many" means "of what quantity”, [in distance] "how far”, [of number] how far”, [of time] "how long”, [of value] "how much”, "how great”, "how many” and "how much”.
hired servants -- "Hired servants" is an uncommon noun used only in this story. It means "salaried", "hired", "hired laborer", "servant" and "mercenary".
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.
my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my”, "me” and "mine". Usually follows the noun so, "of mine”.
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.
father's -- "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.
have -- "The verb "have...enough" means "to be over and above”, "to go beyond", "to abound in”, "to be superior” and, in a negative sense, "to be superfluous”.
bread -- The word translated as "bread" means "small loaf or cake of bread". It is more like a slice of bread today. It describes a thin 1/2 inch thick round or an oblong loaf of wheat bread, meant to be torn into pieces and not cut. It was closer to a flour tortilla or a piece of pan than a loaf of bread. "Bread" is one of Christ's most basic symbols, representing temporary physical nourishment as contrasted with permanent spiritual nourishment.
enough - This completes the meaning of the verb.
and to spare -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
and -- (WW) 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. This word doesn't mean "and”.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
missing "myself" -- (MW) The pronoun "I" is used here. When the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, this pronoun accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English. The subject pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself”. When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed.
perish -- The word translated as "perish" means to "destroy" or "demolish" and means "perish" in the passive. However, it can also mean to "lose" things. Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from”. It is often used in the middle voice to describe people losing or destroying themselves. The form can be either passive of the middle voice, "I destroy myself”.
with -- This word "to" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with”, "in”, "of”, "as”, "by”, "for”, "at” or "on" depending on the context.
hunger! -- "Hunger" is the Greek word for "hunger" and "famine".
missing "here" -- (MW) The untranslated word "here" means in manner, "in this way”, referring to the manner, or "here”, referring to place.
missing "but" -- (MW) The untranslated word "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. This word doesn't mean "and”.
When -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. There is no accusative for an accusative absolute.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
came -- (WF) The word translated as "came" primarily means "to start out" but Jesus usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start", "come” or "go”, but it is more like our phrase "being underway”. Technically, it is in the middle voice meaning the subject acts on himself. In English, this is assumed in our words "come" and "go". Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "coming”.
to -- 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”.
his senses, -- (WW) "His senses" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself” and so on. " When used in the possessive, it has the sense of "his own”. This word doesn't mean "his senses”.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
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.
How many - The adjective translated as "how many" means "of what quantity”, [in distance] "how far”, [of number] “how far", [of time] "how long”, [of value] "how much”, "how great”, "how many" and "how much”.
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.
my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my", "me” and "mine”. Usually follows the noun so, "of mine”.
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.
father's -- "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.
hired servants -- "Hired servants" is an uncommon noun used only in this story. It means "salaried", "hired", "hired laborer", "servant", and "mercenary".
have -- "The verb "have...enough" means "to be over and above”, "to go beyond”, "to abound in”, "to be superior” and, in a negative sense, "to be superfluous”.
food -- (WW) The word translated as "bread" means "small loaf or cake of bread”. It is more like a slice of bread today. It describes a thin 1/2 inch thick round or an oblong loaf of wheat bread, meant to be torn into pieces and not cut. It was closer to a flour tortilla or a piece of pan than a loaf of bread. "Bread" is one of Christ's most basic symbols, representing temporary physical nourishment as contrasted with permanent spiritual nourishment. This word doesn't mean "food" generally.
to spare - This completes the meaning of the verb.
and -- (WW) 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. This word doesn't mean "and”.
here -- This is from an adverb, "here”, that means in manner, "in this way”, referring to the manner, or "here", referring to place.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
missing "myself" -- (MW) The pronoun "I" is used here. When the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, this pronoun accentuates who is speaking "I”. Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English. The subject pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself”. When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed.
am -- -- This helping verb "am" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
starving -- "Starving" is the Greek word for "hunger” and "famine”.
to death!-- (WF) The verb translated as "death" means to "destroy" or "demolish" and means "perish" in the passive. This is not an indirect object but a middle passive verb. The form can be either passive or the middle voice, "I destroy myself”.
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”.
ἑαυτὸν [75 verses] (adj sg masc acc) "Himself" is heautou, is a reflexive pronoun that means "himself”, "herself”, "itself”, "themselves” and "ourselves”, It is not the common pronoun meaning simply "he”, "she”, "them”, etc. In the genitive form, it has the sense of "his own”.
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".
ἐλθὼν [198 verses](part sg aor act masc nom) "He came" is erchomai, which means "to start”, "to set out”, "to come”, "to go” and any kind of motion. It means both "to go" on a journey and "to arrive" at a place.
ἔφη [162 verses] (verb 3rd sg imperf ind act) "He 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.
Πόσοι [19 verses](adj pl masc nom) "How many" is posos, which means "of what quantity”, [in distance] "how far”, [of number] “how far”, [of time] "how long”, [of value] "how much”, "how great”, "how many” and "how much”.
μίσθιοι [3 verses](adj pl masc nom) "Hired servants" is misthios, which means "salaried", "hired", "hired laborer", "servant", and "mercenary".
τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc 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”.
πατρός [191 verses] (noun sg masc gen) "The Father" is pater, which means "father”, "grandfather”, "author”, "parent” and "forefathers."
μου [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "My" is from mou (emou), which means "me" and "mine”. It is in a possessive (genitive) form. As a genitive of a preposition here, it implies movement away from something or a position away from something else.
περισσεύονται [8 verses] (verb 3rd pl pres ind mp) "Have enough and spare" is perisseuo which means "to be over and above”, "to go beyond”, "to abound in”, "to be superior” and, in a negative sense, "to be superfluous”.
ἄρτων, [32 verses](noun pl masc gen) "Bread" is artos, which means specifically a "cake of whole wheat bread” and generally "loaf” and "bread”.
ἐγὼ [162 verses](pron 1st sg masc nom) "I" is ego, which is the first-person singular pronoun meaning "I”. It also means "I at least”, "for my part”, "indeed” and “for myself”.
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”.
λιμῷ [6 verse] (noun sg masc/fem dat) "With hunger" is limos, which means "hunger”, "famine” and "a hungry wrench”.
ὧδε [29 verses] (adv) Untranslated is hode, the demonstrative adverb that means in manner, "in this wise”, "thus”, "so very”, "so exceedingly”, of Place, "hither” and "here”.
ἀπόλλυμαι: [43 verses](verb 1st sg pres ind mp) "Perish" is apollymi, which means "to demolish", "to lay waste”, "to lose" things, "to perish”, "to die”, "to cease to exist" and "to be undone". Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from". The passive, "to be lost" is formed by the middle voice.