Greedy Pharisees deride Jesus after parables of unjust steward.
Luke 16:15 Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Luke 16:15 You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.
You yourselves are the ones holding yourselves right in front of these people. But the Divine knows those hearts of yours. Because that upraised by people [is] sickness in front of the Divine.
The preposition translated in the phrases "before/in the eyes of people" and "before God/in God's sight" are the same. It means "in front of." The two opposing words, "highly esteemed/value" and "abomination/detestable" appear next to each other. Both are used by Jesus only here. The first word is an adjective "high" and "upraised" though it can be used as an adverb "highly." The second word is a noun and only appears in the NT here and in the Greek OT forty-three time. In the KJV it is translated as "abomination".
There is not "i" in that last part of this verse. It is added because there is a subject, "what" and an adjective and noun it is equated to, "upraised" and "sickness", so the verb "to be" is assumed.
Society has always elevated one form of sickness or another.
Ὑμεῖς ἐστὲ οἱ δικαιοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀνθρώπων,
You yourselves are the ones holding right yourselves in front of these people.
ὁ δὲ θεὸς γινώσκει τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν: ὅτι τὸ ἐν ἀνθρώποις ὑψηλὸν
the But Divine knows those hearts of yours. Because that by people upraised
βδέλυγμα ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ.
[is] sickness in front of the Divine.
Ye (MW) are they which(IW) justify(WF) yourselves before (MW) men; but God knoweth your (MW) hearts: for that which(IW) is highly esteemed(IW) among(CW) men is abomination in [the sight of(CW)] (MW) God.
- MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "yourselves" after "you" for emphasis.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "which" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "justifying."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these/those/the" before "men" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these/those/the" before "hearts" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "which" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "esteemed doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "by" doesn't precisely mean "among."
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "in the sight " doesn't precisely mean "in the sight ."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
You (MW) are the ones who(IW) justify(WF) yourselves [in the eyes of(PP)] (MW) others, but God knows your (MW) hearts. (MW) What(CW) (MW) people value(IW) highly is detestable in (MW) God’s sight.
- MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "yourselves" after "you" for emphasis.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "who" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "justifying."
- PP -- Paraphrase - The phrase "in front of" exists in the source but "in the eyes of others" don't.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these/those/the" before "others" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these/those/the" before "hearts" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "for" after "hearts" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not one of the common words usually translated as "what."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "by" after "what" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "value" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "by" doesn't precisely mean "among."
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "in...sight " doesn't precisely mean "in the sight ."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
Ye -- The pronoun "you" is used explicitly as the subject of the sentence. When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When it is already part of the verb, its use here creates emphasis on the "you" as we might say "you yourselves." It sometimes precedes a verbal adjective or infinitive where it is not part of the verb. It is plural.
missing "yourselves" ---- (MW) The pronoun is used here explicitly as the subject of the sentence. Since this information is already in the verb, the sense is repetitive as we say "you yourselves."
are -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
they -- (CW) The word translated as "they" 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.
which -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
justify - (WF) "Justify" is from an uncommon Greek verb that means "to set right," "to claim or hold as a right," and "to do a man justice." However, it also means "to chastise" and "to punish." In the passive form that is used here, it means "to have right done to one." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "justifying."
yourselves -- "Yourselves " is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself," "herself," and so on. " When used in the possessive, it has the sense of "his own."
before -- The Greek term translated as "before" is not used outside of Luke except once in John. It appears here for the first time in Jesus's words here. It means "in front of".
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.
men - The Greek word for "men" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples."
but -- 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.
God -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." When used by Jesus and in the Septuagint to mean "God, it is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." The definite article identifies it as specific. When a definite article does not introduce it, it refers more generally to "divinity," the nature of God.
knoweth -- "Know" is a verb that means "to learn to know,""to know," "to recognize," "make known," "to know carnally," and "to learn." The idea of "learn" seems to translate this word better so it isn't confused with the verb meaning "have seen" which is also used to mean "know." This verb is more versatile because it can be used in more tenses.
your -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the possessive (genitive) case. A genitive object 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.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."
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.
hearts: -- "Heart" is the Greek word that means "heart" both the physical organ and as the seat of emotions, which we discuss in this article here. Jesus and the Septuagint use a singular "heart" when referring to a group of people. This is a singular noun but the "of yours" is plural.
for - The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," "seeing that," "that," and "wherefore." Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because" in statements that seem like an answer to a question because of the change of context. It means "because" when answering a "why" question and "that" when explaining a "what" question. Another common word is used for "for."
that -- 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.
which -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
is -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
highly -- The Greek adjective translated as "highly esteemed" means "high, "lofty", "stately", "proud", "up raised" and "mighty". It is only used by Jesus here in the Gospels. Everywhere else it is used to refer to the height of a mountain.
esteemed -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
among -- (CW) This word "among" 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. This word doesn't precisely mean "among."
men - The Greek word for "man" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples."
is -- There is no verb "is" here in the Greek source but it is implied by the noun in the form of a subject having no verb associated with it.
abomination -- "Abomination" is translated from a Greek word appears first in Septuagint, the Greek OT, but it doesn't appear elsewhere in Greek writings, except, of course, in the NT and religious writing after Christ. It is translated consistently as "abomination," but a related noun means "sickness", "nausea," "filth," and "nastiness." The verb form means "to feel loathing for food", "to make a stink," and "to make loathsome." The most common word of this root word is the adjective that means "disgusting" and "loathsome."
in the sight -- (CW) The Greek term translated as "before" is not used outside of Luke except once in John. It appears here for the first time in Jesus's words here. It means "in front of". This word doesn't precisely mean "law."
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.
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.
God.-- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." When used by Jesus and in the Septuagint to mean "God, it is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." The definite article identifies it as specific. When a definite article does not introduce it, it refers more generally to "divinity," the nature of God.
You -- The pronoun "you" is used explicitly as the subject of the sentence. When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When it is already part of the verb, its use here creates emphasis on the "you" as we might say "you yourselves." It sometimes precedes a verbal adjective or infinitive where it is not part of the verb. It is plural.
missing "yourselves" ---- (MW) The pronoun is used here explicitly as the subject of the sentence. Since this information is already in the verb, the sense is repetitive as we say "you yourselves."
are -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
the ones -- 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.
who -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
justify - (WF)"Justify" is from an uncommon Greek verb that means "to set right," "to claim or hold as a right," and "to do a man justice." However, it also means "to chastise" and "to punish." In the passive form that is used here, it means "to have right done to one." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "justifying."
yourselves -- "Yourselves " is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself," "herself," and so on. " When used in the possessive, it has the sense of "his own."
in the eyes of -- (PP) The Greek term translated as "in the eyes of others" is not used outside of Luke except once in John. It appears here for the first time in Jesus's words here. It means "in front of". The Greek words meaning "in the eyes of others" here are not translated but instead their assumed meaning is paraphrased of a different words.
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.
others - The Greek word for "others" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples."
but -- 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.
God -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." When used by Jesus and in the Septuagint to mean "God, it is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." The definite article identifies it as specific. When a definite article does not introduce it, it refers more generally to "divinity," the nature of God.
knows -- "Know" is a verb that means "to learn to know,""to know," "to recognize," "make known," "to know carnally," and "to learn." The idea of "learn" seems to translate this word better so it isn't confused with the verb meaning "have seen" which is also used to mean "know." This verb is more versatile because it can be used in more tenses.
your -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the possessive (genitive) case. A genitive object 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.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."
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.
hearts: -- "Heart" is the Greek word that means "heart" both the physical organ and as the seat of emotions, which we discuss in this article here. Jesus and the Septuagint use a singular "heart" when referring to a group of people. This is a singular noun but the "of yours" is plural.
missing "for" -- (MW) The untranslated word "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," "seeing that," "that," and "wherefore." Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because" in statements that seem like an answer to a question because of the change of context. It means "because" when answering a "why" question and "that" when explaining a "what" question. Another common word is used for "for."
What -- (CW)The word translated as "what" 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 is not one of the common words usually translated as "what."
missing "by" -- (MW) The untranslated word "by" 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.
people - The Greek word for "people" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples."
value -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
highly -- The Greek adjective translated as "highly " means "high, "lofty", "stately", "proud", "up raised" and "mighty". It is only used by Jesus here in the Gospels. Everywhere else it is used to refer to the height of a mountain.
is -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
detestable -- "Detestable" is translated from a Greek word appears first in Septuagint, the Greek OT, but it doesn't appear elsewhere in Greek writings, except, of course, in the NT and religious writing after Christ. It is translated consistently as "abomination" in the NT, but a related noun means "sickness", "nausea," "filth," and "nastiness." The verb form means "to feel loathing for food", "to make a stink," and "to make loathsome." The most common word of this root word is the adjective that means "disgusting" and "loathsome."
in -- (CW) The Greek term translated as "in...sight" is not used outside of Luke except once in John. It appears here for the first time in Jesus's words here. It means "in front of". This word doesn't precisely mean "law."
God’s .
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.
God's.-- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." When used by Jesus and in the Septuagint to mean "God, it is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." The definite article identifies it as specific. When a definite article does not introduce it, it refers more generally to "divinity," the nature of God.
sight - This completes the meaning of the preposition.
ὑμεῖς [92 verses](pron 2nd pl nom) "You" is hymeis, which is the plural nominative form of the second person, "you."
ἐστὲ [614 verses] (verb 2nd pl pres ind act) "Are" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen," and "is possible." With the possessive (genitive) object, it means "is descended from," "is the type of," "belongs to," "is made of," "is a duty of," "is at the mercy of," or " is dependent on." With an indirect (dative) object, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed. "It is to him" becomes "it is his" or "he has it." With the preposition,"into" (εἰς), the sense is "consist of." When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."
οἱ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "They" 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."
δικαιοῦντες [4 verses] (part pl pres act masc nom ) "They which justify"is from dikaioo, which means to "set right," "hold or deem right," "proved," "tested," "claim or demand as a right," "that which is ordained," "pronounce judgment," "chastise," "punish," and, in the passive, "have right done one."
ἑαυτοὺς 75 verses](adj pl masc acc) "Yourselves" [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."
ἐνώπιον [8 verses] (prep) "Before" is from enopion, which means " facing" and "to the front".
τῶν [821 verses](article pl 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 a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --
ἀνθρώπων,[209 verses] (noun pl masc gen) "Men" is anthropos, which is "man," and, in plural, "mankind." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate. Used as a form of address, it is a bit contemptuous, "sir."
τῶν [821 verses](noun 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 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"). In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then."
θεὸς [144 verses](noun sg masc nom) "God" is theos, which means "God," "divine," and "Deity."
γινώσκει [62 verses] is ginosko which means "to learn to know," "to know by reflection or observation," and "to perceive."
τὰς [821 verses](article pl fem acc) 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 a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --
καρδίας [37 verses] (noun pl fem acc ) "Hearts" is kardia, which means "heart (the physical organ)," "the seat of emotions (especially passion, rage, and anger)," "inclination," "desire," "purpose," "mind," "the pith (in wood), and "the deep (of the sea)."
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.
ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "for" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore." This is the same word can be translated as both "because" and "that" in the same verse when answering two different types of questions. -
τὸ [821 verses] (article sg neut nom/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 a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
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." -
ἀνθρώποις (noun pl masc dat) "Men" [209 verses](noun sg masc nom) "Man" is anthropos, which is "man," and, in plural, "mankind." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate. Used as a form of address, it is a bit contemptuous, "sir."
ὑψηλὸν [1 verse](adj sg neut nom/acc) "Highly esteemed" is hypsēlos, which means "high, "lofty", "upraised" and "mighty". and metaphorically as a adverb "stately", "proud",
βδέλυγμα [(noun sg neut nom/acc)"Abomination" is from bdelugma , which is translated"abomination," but this word appears only in the NT. A related word, bdelugmia, means "sickness", "nausea," "filth," and "nastiness." The verb form, bdelussomai, means "to feel loathing for food", "to make stink," and "to make loathsome." The most common word of this base is the adjective, bdeluros, which means "disgusting" and "loathsome." It is used forty-three time in the Old Testament. In Dan 12:11, the Hebrew word is shiqquwts, which means "detestable things", "idol", "impure clothing," and "flesh of victims." The root, shaqats, means "to contaminate," and "to pollute."
ἐνώπιον [8 verses] (prep) "Before" is from enopion, which means " facing" and "to the front".
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 a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --
θεοῦ [144 verses](noun sg masc gen) "God" is theos, which means "God," "divine," and "Deity."