After the analogies of the lost sheep and lost coin and the prodigal son, Jesus starts the parable of the rich man's house manager who was slandered.
Luke 16:2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
Luke 16:2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’
And crying to him, he said to him, "What from here do I hear about you? Deliver an explanation of this house management of yours. Because you don't have the power still to manage."
The word translated so blandly as "called" and incorrectly as "called in" means "crying out”. It is an exciting word, a verb describing the cries of animals. This guy is upset. The word translated as "this" describing what was heard means "from here”, that is, the place where the slander came from. The word translated as "account" is the word usually mistranslated as "word”, logos. It means "explanation”. It implies truth.
But, the problem here is explained in the last verse where the rich man pronounces sentence without hearing the explanation. Telling that manager that he has taken away his power.
Listen for the explanation.
And he called(WF) him, and(IW) said unto him, How(CW) [is it that(IP)] I hear this of(CW) thee? give(CW) an(WW) account(CW) of thy (MW) stewardship; for thou mayest(CW,WV)) be(WF) no longer steward.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "calling”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "how”.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "is it that" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "give”.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "an" should be something more like "this”.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "account" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "stewardship" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "may" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence. The verb here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.
- WV --Wrong Voice - The verb "may" is translated as active but it is passive either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves. This is not an active verb, but an infinitive.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "be" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to be”.
So(WW) he called(WF) him in(IW) and(IW) asked(CW) him, ‘What is(IW) this I hear about you? Give(CW)an(WW) account(CW) of (MW)your management, because you can(CW,WV))-not be(WF) manager any longer.’
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "so" should be something more like "and”.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "calling”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "in" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "asked”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "this" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "give”.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "an" should be something more like "this”.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "account" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "manager" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence. The verb here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.
- WV --Wrong Voice - The verb "can" is translated as active but it is passive either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves. This is not an active verb, but an infinitive.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "be" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to be”.
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”.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
called - -- (WF) The word translated as "crow" simply means "to utter cries". It means the cries of animals, but it also refers specifically to someone calling another name. Jesus uses it both for the voice of people and the calls of animals. It is not the common word that means "called”. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "calling”.
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.
and -- (IW) These is no "and" here. It is added because the previous participle was changed from an adjective form to an active verb in translation.
said - The word translated as "said" 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.
unto -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.
him, -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person, indirect object pronoun.How is it that I hear this of thee?
How -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "how" 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”. This is not the word usually translated as "how”.
is it that -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
hear -- "Hear" is from a Greek verb that means "to hear”, "to hear of” and "to listen". It has the same sense as the English not only of listening but of understanding. It also means "to listen" and "to understand", but amusingly, it also means "to be silent”.
this -- The word translated as "this" means "from here" "from there" or "this/that thing/person here/there." As a pronoun by itself, it means "this here" but it can be shortened to just "this”. The Bible usually translates it as the adjective "this" when it appears after words modifying them, which is confusing because the definite article, with which it is often used before the word, also can mean "this." It works better as "here", which is how Jesus usually uses it, but it can also mean "there”. It often comes after the noun, emphasizing it, "this thing here”.
of - (CW) The Greek word translated as "of" means "around" when referring to a place, but in referring to a subject, it means "about”, "concerning”, "on account of” and "in regard to”. This is the way Jesus usually uses it. It is not the word form usually translated as "of”.
thee? -- The word translated as "your" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours”.
give -- (CW) "Are delivered" is a compound verb that means "to give back", "to give over” and "to transmit”. It literally means "to give from”. The form is singular, "it has been given over”. an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. This is not the word usually translated as "give”.
an -- (WW) 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. This word doesn't mean "an”.
account -- (CW) "Account" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation” or "reasoning”. but it has many, many specific meanings from "deliberation”, "question”, "subject matter”, "narrative” and so on. It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology”. Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. However, when applied to people, it means "repute" or "reputation." More about this word in this article. In English, we would say "logic", "concept” or "reasoning" to describe it but it also means the communication of various types, so "message" often works. "Teaching" might work but it is unrelated to the common words for "to teach”, "teacher” and "student" that all have the same root.
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.
thy -- The word translated as "your" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours”.
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.
stewardship; -- "Stewardship" is a Greek noun that means "management of a household", "husbandry", "thrift", "regulation", "transaction", "contract" and "operation". This is the female form of the noun "steward", referring to the discipline rather than the person.
for --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why". "For" is better because another common word is also used for "because”.
thou -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
mayest -- (CW, WV) The word translated as "may" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. In English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. See this article.
be -- (WF) "Be...a steward" is the Greek verb that means to "manage as a house-steward", "order" and "regulate". It is the verb form of the word translated as "steward" and "stewardship". This is the only time Jesus uses this word. This is not an active verb but an infinitive.
no -- 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.
longer - "Longer" is an adverb that means "yet" (with future) and "still" (w/present), "already", "longer", "no longer" (with a negative), "still" and "besides".
steward. - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.
So-- (WW)The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and”, but it also is used to add emphasis, "even”, "also” and "just". This word doesn't mean "so”.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
called - -- (WF) The word translated as "crow" simply means "to utter cries”. It means the cries of animals, but it also refers specifically to someone calling another name. Jesus uses it both for the voice of people and the calls of animals. It is not the common word that means "called”. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "calling”.
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.
and -- (IW) These is no "and" here. It is added because the previous participle was changed from an adjective form to an active verb in translation.
in -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
asked - (CW) The word translated as "asked" 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. This is not the word usually translated as "asked”.
him, -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person, indirect object pronoun. How is it that I hear this of thee?
What -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "how" 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”. This is not the word usually translated as "how”.
is -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. IW - Inserted Word-- The "this" doesn't exist in the source.
this -- The word translated as "this" means "from here", "from there" or "this/that thing/person here/there." As a pronoun by itself, it means "this here" but it can be shortened to just "this". The Bible usually translates it as the adjective "this" when it appears after words modifying them, which is confusing because the definite article, with which it is often used before the word, also can mean "this”. It works better as "here”, which is how Jesus usually uses it, but it can also mean "there". It often comes after the noun, emphasizing it, "this thing here”.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
hear - -- "Hear" is from a Greek verb that means "to hear”, "to hear of” and "to listen". It has the same sense as the English not only of listening but of understanding. It also means "to listen" and "to understand”, but amusingly, it also means "to be silent”.
this -- The word translated as "this" means "from here", "from there" or "this/that thing/person here/there." As a pronoun by itself, it means "this here" but it can be shortened to just "this”. The Bible usually translates it as the adjective "this" when it appears after words modifying them, which is confusing because the definite article, with which it is often used before the word, also can mean "this”. It works better as "here”, which is how Jesus usually uses it, but it can also mean "there”. It often comes after the noun, emphasizing it, "this thing here”.
about - The Greek word translated as "about" means "around" when referring to a place, but in referring to a subject, it means "about”, "concerning”, "on account of” and "in regard to". This is the way Jesus usually uses it. It is not the word form usually translated as "of”.
you? -- The word translated as "your" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours”.
give -- (CW) "Are delivered" is a compound verb that means "to give back", "to give over” and "to transmit". It literally means "to give from". The form is singular, "it has been given over”, an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. This is not the word usually translated as "give”.
an -- (WW) 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. This word doesn't mean "an”.
account -- (CW) "Account" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation” or "reasoning”, but it has many, many specific meanings from "deliberation”, "question”, "subject matter”, "narrative” and so on. It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. However, when applied to people, it means "repute" or "reputation”. More about this word in this article. In English, we would say "logic”, "concept”, or "reasoning" to describe it but it also means the communication of various types, so "message" often works. "Teaching" might work but it is unrelated to the common words for "to teach”, "teacher” and "student", that all have the same root.
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 -- The word translated as "your" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours”.
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.
management; -- "Management" is a Greek noun that means "management of a household", "husbandry", "thrift", "regulation", "transaction", "contract" and "operation". This is the female form of the noun "steward", referring to the discipline rather than the person.
because --The word translated as "because " introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why”. "For" is better because another common word is also used for "because”.
you -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
because you cannot be manager any longer.’
can -- (CW, WV) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. In English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. See this article.
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.
be -- (WF) "Be...a steward" is the Greek verb that means to "manage as a house-steward", "order" and "regulate". It is the verb form of the word translated as "steward" and "stewardship". This is the only time Jesus uses this word. This is not an active verb but an infinitive.
manager . - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.
any longer - "Longer" is an adverb that means "yet" (with future) and "still" (w/present), "already", "longer", "no longer" (with a negative), "still" and "besides".
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”.
φωνήσας [10 verses](part sg aor act masc nom ) "He called" is phoneo which means "to produce a sound or tone”, "to speak loudly or clearly" (of men), "uttering cries" (of animals), "affirm" (in court), "call by name", "command”, and "speak of”. -- The word translated as "crow" simply means "to utter cries”. It means the cries of animals, but it also refers specifically to someone calling another name. Jesus uses it both for the voice of people and the calls of animals. It is not the common word that means "called”.
αὐτὸν [124 verses](pron/adj sg masc acc) "Him/It" 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.
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.
αὐτῷ [106 verses](pron/adj sg masc/neut dat) "Him" is is auto, the dative case of the third-person, singular 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”. The form is the third person, plural as an indirect object of the verb or the object of a preposition. When used as a noun, it is preceded by a definite article, and it means "the same”. A dative object of a preposition implies no movement but in a fixed position. With the "to be”, it acts as a possessive, "his”.
Τί [252 verses](pro sg neut acc) "What" 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?”.
τοῦτο [154 verses](adj sg neut acc) "This" is toutos, (touto, toutou)which means "from here”, "from there”, "this [thing] there" or "that [person] here". In the neuter plural form, it is often used as the object of the verb to means "these things”.
ἀκούω [95 verses](verb 1st sg pres ind act) "Is it that I hear" is akouo, which means "hear of”, "hear tell of”, "what one actually hears”, "know by hearsay”, "listen to”, "give ear to”, "hear and understand” and "understand”. The accusative object is the person/thing heard about, while the genitive is the person/thing heard from. However, two genitives can be used with the sense of "hear of a thing from a person”.
περὶ [73 verses](prep) "Of" is peri, which means "round about (Place)", "around”, "about”, "concerning”, "on account of”, "in regard to”, "before", "above”, "beyond” and "all around”. With the genitive, "round about" of place, "for" or "about" something, with verbs of knowing, "about" and "concerning”, "before or "beyond" of superiority With the dative, "round about" of clothes, "around" in holding, "for" or "about" a struggle, "on account of" and "by reason of" a cause. With the accusative, "around" in movement, caring and generally of relationships "about”, "about" of time. As an adverb "around”, "about”, also, "near, by” and "exceedingly" in relationships.
σου [144 verses](pron 2nd sg gen) "Thee" sou is the genitive form of the second-person, singular pronoun that means "of you" and "your". As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
ἀπόδος [22 verses](verb 2nd sg aor imperat act) "Give" is apodidomi which means "to give back”, "to restore” and "to deliver”. It has the economic sense of "to sell" or "to give something for one's own profit”. It begins with apo the preposition of separation and origin, the idea of "from" in English, -didômi which means "to give", "to grant”, "to hand over” and "to describe”.
τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc) (WW) "An" 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”.
λόγον [80 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Account" is logos, which means "word", "computation", "relation”, "explanation”, "law”, "subject matter” (talked about), "question”, "rule of conduct”, "continuous statement”, "tradition”, "discussion”, "reckoning”, "reputation" (when applied to people) and "value”.
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”.
οἰκονομίας [3 verses](noun sg fem gen) "Stewardship" is oikonomia, which means "management of a household", "husbandry", "thrift", "regulation", "transaction", "contract", and "operation".
σου [144 verses](pron 2nd sg gen) "Thy" is sou is the genitive form of the second-person, singular pronoun that means "of you" and "your”. As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
οὐ [269 verses](adv) "No" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The negative, οὐ, denies, is absolute, and objective.
γὰρ [205 verses](partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for,”, "since” and "as”. In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what”.
δύνῃ [61 verses](verb 2nd sg pres ind mp) "Thou mayest" is the verb, dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities”, "to be able” and "to be strong enough”.
ἔτι [18 verses](adv) "Longer" is eti, which means "yet" and "still" (with the Present), "already" (with the Past), "yet" and "longer" (with the Future), "no longer" (with a negative), and "still" and "besides" (of degree).
οἰκονομεῖν. [1 verse](verb pres inf act) "Be...a steward" is oikonomoe, which means "manage as a house-steward", "order", and "regulate".