Jesus continues the morals of the rich man's house manager who was slandered.
Luke 16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
Luke 16:12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
And since you didn't become trustworthy in something of another, who will give to you something of your own?
The beginning "if" primarily means "if", but it needs a specific form of verb meaning something that "might" or "could" happen. When used with a verb of something actually happening, it means "since”.
The key word "become" is mistranslated as "been". This "being faithful" completed in the past. This misses the point. We "become" faithful over time. We try to become trustworthy over time.
Another key word is translated as "that" and "property”. It can be used as "that" but it never is translated accurately as "property." The word means "something”, so, the "something of another" and "something of your own." It could mean property or simple money.
People do not give to those they don't trust.
And if(CW) ye have(WT) not been(WW) faithful in that [which is(IP)] another man's(IW), who shall give you that [which is(IP)] your own?
- CW --Confusing Word -- This word doesn't mean "if" with this form of verb.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "been" should be something more like "become”.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "which is" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "man's" doesn't exist in the source.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "which is" doesn't exist in the source.
And if(CW) you have(WT) not been(WW) trustworthy with someone else’s property(WW), who will give you property(WW) of your own?
- CW --Confusing Word -- This word doesn't mean "if" with this form of verb.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "been" should be something more like "become”.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "property" should be something more like "something”.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "property" should be something more like "something”.
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis, "even”, "also” and "just”.
if -- (CW) The "if" here is used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect and direct questions, "whether”. It also means "if ever" and "whenever”. When used in an "if" clause, the verb is the subjunctive form of possibility. When citing a fact the sense is more "whether”, "since" or "as sure as”. The verb is not subjunctive, which means it is citing a fact. This word doesn't mean "if" with this form of verb.
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
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.
been -- (WW) The word translated as "ye have...been" 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”. Sometimes,"arises" works best when the subject comes into being. 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”.
faithful -- The word translated as "faithful" means "trusting" and "trustworthy”.
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”.
that - The Greek word translated as "that" 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”.
which is -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
another -- "Another" is not a noun but an adjective meaning "belonging to another", "foreign”, "strange”, "hostile”, "unfavorably disposed” and "alien”. The root of the word is "others”. The verb from the same root means "being ill-disposed”. When applied to ideas, the sense is "outlandish”.
man's, -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
who -- The Greek word translated as "who" 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”. - Jesus often uses the root word as an adjective describing a high-status people as "somebodies."
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.
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”.
you -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you”, "for you”, etc.
that - The Greek word translated as "that" 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”.
which is -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
your own? - The term translated as "your own" is not the common pronoun, but a special term that refers to a group of people, "your people”, "your goods” and "your household”. Jesus uses it only three times in the Gospels. It is not the common pronoun usually translated as "your”.
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and”, but it also is used to add emphasis, "even", "also" and "just”.
if -- (CW) The "if" here is used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect and direct questions, "whether”. It also means "if ever" and "whenever”. When used in an "if" clause, the verb is the subjunctive form of possibility. When citing a fact the sense is more "whether”, "since" or "as sure as”. The verb is not subjunctive, which means it is citing a fact. This word doesn't mean "if" with this form of verb.
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
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.
been -- (WW) The word translated as "ye have...been" 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”. Sometimes, "arises" works best when the subject comes into being. 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”.
trustworthy -- The word translated as "faithful" means "trusting" and "trustworthy”.
with -- 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”.
someone else’s -- "Someone else’s" is not a noun but an adjective meaning "belonging to another”, "foreign”, "strange”, "hostile”, "unfavorably disposed” and "alien”. The root of the word is "others”. The verb from the same root means "being ill-disposed”. When applied to ideas, the sense is "outlandish”.
property-- (WW) The Greek word translated as "property" 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”.
who -- The Greek word translated as "who" 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”. - Jesus often uses the root word as an adjective describing a high-status people as "somebodies”.
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.
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”.
you -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you”, "for you”, etc.
property-- (WW) The Greek word translated as "property" 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.
your own? - The term translated as "your own" is not the common pronoun, but a special term that refers to a group of people, "your people”, "your goods" and "your household”. Jesus uses it only three times in the Gospels. It is not the common pronoun usually translated as "your”.
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”. In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also”. After words implying sameness "as”.
εἰ [90 verses](conj) "If" is ei, which is the particle used to express conditions "if" (with the indicative, implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect and direct questions, "whether”. It also means "if ever”, "in case” and "whenever”. In citing a fact, it can mean "as sure as" or "since”. It is combined with various conjunctions to create derivative conditions. When appearing as εἰ δὲ (literally, "if however") the sense is "if this...then that”. The construction εἰ δὲ μή . . means "otherwise”. The construction εἰ οὖν has the sense of "if so". However, it is also used to express a wish. After verbs of wonder, delight, indignation, disappointment, contentment, and similar emotions, it is used instead of ὅτι, to express the object of the feeling in a hypothetical form, "that" with the indicative (not subjunctive). After ὅτι, it introduces a quotation where we use quotation marks. With the future tense, it is used for emphasis, a warning, or an intention. When this word is paired with the conjunction translated as "but" or "however”, the structure works like an "if then" statement in English. With verbs of desire and emotion and the indicative in the second clause, the sense is "that”. With an imperative, it is used to express a wish. The sense is "I wish that”. With the future tense indicative, it is used for emphasis, a warning, or an intention. The emphasis clause is after the main statement.
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 [252 verses](pron sg dat) "That" [252 verses](pron sg dat) "That" is tis, which can mean "someone”, "something”, "any one”, "everyone”, "they” [indefinite], "many a one”, "whoever”, "anyone”, "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”.
ἀλλοτρίῳ [3 verses](adj sg masc/neut dat) "Another" is allotrios, which means "belonging to another”, "stranger", "foreign”, "hostile”, "alien”, "unfavorably disposed”, "abnormal” and "foreign to the purpose” and "strange”.
πιστοὶ [11 verses](adj pl masc nom) "Faithful" is pistos means "believing”, "trustful”, "obedient”, "genuine”, "deserving belief”, "credible”, "unmistakable”, "believing”, "relying on”, "obedient" and "loyal”.
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.
ἐγένεσθε, [117 verses] (verb 2nd pl aor ind mid) "Ye have...been"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.
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”.
ἡμέτερον [4 verses](adj sg neut nom/acc ) "That which is your own" is hymeteros, which means "your", "yours”, “your goods” and "your house”.
τίς [252 verses] (pro sg masc nom) "Who" is tis, which can mean "someone”, "something”, "any one”, "everyone”, "they” [indefinite], "many a one”, "whoever”, "anyone”, "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?”.
δώσει [147 verses](verb 3rd sg fut ind act) "Shall give" is didomi, which means "to give", "to grant”, "to hand over”, "appoint”, "establish” and "to describe”. It is almost always translated as some form of "give."
ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin, the plural form of the pronoun of the second person in the indirect object form, "to you”. As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed. With the "to be", it acts as a possessive, "yours”.
There is a clear play on words in the first phrase, saying one thing then changing it into its opposite by adding a negative phrase at the end. This is only possible because the adjective "faithful" and the verb "to trust" used in an "if" statement have the same exact form.