Jesus just began the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, an unusual story.
Luke 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luke 16:21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
And longing to be fed from that falling from the table of the rich one. Instead, even the dogs, showing up, licked those sores of his.
The English translation have the usual mistakes in translation using wrong words, tenses, and voices, but they lose very little in translation. However, we should note the dramatic story-telling. The first part of this verse describes the beggar's hunger dramatically, what fell from a table. The final graphic image is the dogs licking his sores or wounds is more dramatic than most of Jesus's story-telling. Adding to the realism of using a name for the beggar. The punchline is that it is the sores that are being licked.
Lazarus was ritually unclean and technically should have removed himself from among people and not begged from them but the rich man's gate may have been removed from his house. Those who were unclean were left food. Seeing him, the rich man could have done this, but under Jewish law, it is not a crime to ignore others.
Sometime we get to lick. Sometime, we get licked.
And desiring to be fed with(WW) [the crumbs(OS)] which(CW) fell(WF) from the rich man(IW)'s (MW) table: moreover the dogs came(WF) and licked his (MW) sores.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "with" should be something more like "from”.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "the crumbs" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "which”.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "falling”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "rich" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "man" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "coming”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these/those/the" before "sores" is not shown in the English translation.
and longing to eat(CW,WV) what(CW) fell(WF) from the man(IW)'s (MW) table. (MW) Even the dogs came(WF) and(IW) licked his (MW) sores.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "eat”.
- WV --Wrong Voice - The "verb" here is translated as active but it is passive.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "from" after "eat" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "what”.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "falling”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "rich" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "man" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "indeed" after "table" is not shown in the English translation
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "coming”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these/those/the" before "sores" is not shown in the English translation.
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”.
desiring -- "Desiring" is a Greek verb that means "to set one's heart upon", "to desire", "to covet” and "too long for”. The verb indicates heat and passion, but not sexual passion (see this article about the Greek root of this word meaning "chest") Jesus uses this word five times, always in reference to hunger and thirst except for here. This is a participle form.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
fed -- The Greek word translated in this version as "fed" means "to feed”, "to satisfy" with a close association with the physical satisfaction of eating. Jesus uses a bit of humor here, choosing a word that is usually applied to cattle, specifically the fattening of cattle. There is another potential take that may or may not work, that is, interpreting this as "get their fill”.
with --- (WW) The word translated as "with" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from". Referring to time, it means "from” and "after". This word doesn't mean "with”.
the crumbs -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as this in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.
which -- (CW) The word translated as "which" 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 the word usually translated as "which”.
fell --(WF) "Fell" is translated from a Greek word that means "to fall" and "to fall down". It is the root word for dozens of Greek terms involving moving from a higher state to a lower one. Like our word "to fall" it has a number of special meanings including "to fall into a given class”, "to prostrate”, "to fall from power”, "to perish”, and so on. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "falling”.
from --- ( The word translated as "from" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from”. It is not the word form usually translated as "of". Referring to time, it means "from” and "after”.
the -- 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.
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.
rich -- "Rich" is from an adjective that means "rich” and "opulent”. It very much has the sense of ostentatiously rich. Here, it is used with an article, "the rich" but unlike English the sense is not a group of people, which would be plural, not singular, but "one who is wealthy”.
man-- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
's -- The apostrophe "s" comes from the noun's genitive form. This case usually requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession for which an apostrophe "s".
table: -- "Table" is an uncommon noun for Jesus to use. It means "table", "dining-table", "eating-table", "money changer's table" and "grinding stone".
moreover -- The Greek word translated as "moreover" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead”, "but instead” or "rather". It is not the common word usually translated as "but”. It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise”. Jesus almost always uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this”, with a positive one, "instead this”.
the -- 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.
dogs- The Greek word translated as "dogs", means a "dog". As in many languages, it was also an insult. Specifically, it implied shamelessness in women and recklessness in men. This is an uncommon word for Jesus to use.
came --(WF) The word translated as "come" 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”.
and -- The word "and" is used as the conjunction "and" but it also is used to add emphasis, "even", "also” and "just”.
licked -- "Licked" is from a Greek verb that Jesus only uses here that means "lick up".
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”.
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.
sores. -- "Sores" is from a Greek noun that means "wound", "festering wound", "sore", and "ulcer". It is only used by Jesus in this verse.
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”.
longing -- "Desiring" is a Greek verb that means "to set one's heart upon", "to desire", "to covet” and "too long for”. The verb indicates heat and passion, but not sexual passion (see this article about the Greek root of this word meaning "chest") Jesus uses this word five times, always in reference to hunger and thirst except for here. This is a participle form.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
eat -- (CW,WV) The Greek word translated in this version as "fed" means "to feed”, "to satisfy" with a close association with the physical satisfaction of eating. Jesus uses a bit of humor here, choosing a word that is usually applied to cattle, specifically the fattening of cattle. There is another potential take that may or may not work, that is, interpreting this as "get their fill." This is not the word usually translated as "eat”. The verb here is translated as active but it is passive.
missing "from" -- (MW) The untranslated word "from" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from”. Referring to time, it means "from” and "after”. This word doesn't mean "with”.
what -- (CW) The word translated as "which" 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 the word usually translated as "what”.
fell --(WF) "Fell" is translated from a Greek word that means "to fall" and "to fall down". It is the root word for dozens of Greek terms involving moving from a higher state to a lower one. Like our word "to fall" it has a number of special meanings including "to fall into a given class”, "to prostrate”, "to fall from power”, "to perish” and so on. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "falling”.
from --- The word translated as "from" means "from" in both locations when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from”. It is not the word form usually translated as "of”. Referring to time, it means "from” and "after”.
the -- 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.
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.
rich -- "Rich" is from an adjective that means "rich” and "opulent”. It very much has the sense of ostentatiously rich. Here, it is used with an article, "the rich" but unlike English the sense is not a group of people, which would be plural, not singular, but "one who is wealthy”.
man-- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
's -- The apostrophe "s" comes from the noun's genitive form. This case usually requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession for which an apostrophe "s".
table: -- "Table" is an uncommon noun for Jesus to use. It means "table", "dining-table", "eating-table", "money changer's table" and "grinding stone".
missing "indeed" -- (MW) The untranslated word "indeed" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead", "but instead" or "rather”. It is not the common word usually translated as "but”. It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise”. Jesus almost always uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this”, with a positive one, "instead this”.
Even -- The word "even” is used as the conjunction "and”, but it also is used to add emphasis, "even”, "also" and "just”.
the -- 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.
dogs- The Greek word translated as "dogs", means a "dog". As in many languages, it was also an insult. Specifically, it implied shamelessness in women and recklessness in men. This is an uncommon word for Jesus to use.
came --(WF) The word translated as "come" 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”.
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.
licked his sores.
licked -- "Licked" is from a Greek verb that Jesus only uses here that means "lick up".
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”.
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.
sores. -- "Sores" is from a Greek noun that means "wound", "festering wound", "sore" and "ulcer". It is only used by Jesus in this verse.
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”.
ἐπιθυμῶν [5 verses](part sg pres act masc nom) "Desiring" is epithymeo, which means "to set one's heart upon", "to desire", "to covet” and "to long for". The root of this word is thymos, (θυμός), which is the seat of passion and heat. The prefix means "upon”.
χορτασθῆναι [6 verses](verb aor inf pass) "To be fed" is from chortazo, which means "feed", "fatten" and "to eat their fill". It is a term most commonly used for cattle. - -- The Greek word translated in this version as "filled" also means "to satisfy" with a close association with the physical satisfaction of eating. Jesus uses a bit of humor here, choosing a word that is usually applied to cattle, specifically the fattening of cattle. There is another potential take that may or may not work, that is, interpreting this as "get their fill”.
ἀπὸ [190 verses](prep) "From" is apo, a preposition of separation which means "from" or "away from" from when referring to place or motion, "from" or "after" when referring to time, "from" as an origin or cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done. Referring to time, it means "from” and "after”. Usually takes the genitive object. As a prefix, means "asunder”, "completing”, "ceasing”, "back again” and "by way of abuse”.
τῶν [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "Which" 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”.
πιπτόντων [36 verses](part pl pres act masc gen) "Fell"" is pipto, which means "to fall”, "to fall down”, "to be cast down”, "fall upon”, "intersect” (geometry), "meet”, "pass through”, "fall violently upon”, "attack”, "fall in battle”, "sink”{in water), "fall short” i.e. “fail”, "fall out of”, "lose a thing”, "escape from”, "fall asleep”, "to be accessible to perception”, "to fall” (between her feet, i.e. to be born), "to let fall” [dice), "turn out”, and "fall under” (belong to a class).
ἀπὸ [190 verses](prep) "From" is apo, a preposition of separation which means "from" or "away from" from when referring to place or motion, "from" or "after" when referring to time, "from" as an origin or cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done. Referring to time, it means "from” and "after”. Usually takes the genitive object. As a prefix, means "asunder”,"completing”, "ceasing”,"back again”, and "by way of abuse”.
τῆς [821 verses](article sg fem gen) "The" 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”.
τραπέζης [5 verses](noun sg fem gen) "Table" is trapeza, which means "table", "dining-table", "eating-table", "money changer's table" and "grinding stone".
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”.
πλουσίου: [11 verses](adj sg masc gen) "Rich man's" is from plousios, which means "rich" and "opulent”. It very much has the sense of ostentatiously rich.
ἀλλὰ [154 verses](adv) "Moreover is alla, which means "instead”, "otherwise”, "but”, "still”, "at least”, "except”, "yet”, “nevertheless”, "rather”, "moreover” and "nay”. Followed by οὐ, the sense is "still" and "at least”. Followed by γὰρ. the sense is "but really" and "certainly”. Following an εἰ μὴ, clause the sense is "if not" some word , related to time, "at least still”, and without the reference to time, "at least".
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”.
οἱ [821 verses](article pl masc/fem nom) "The" 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”.
κύνες [2 verses]](noun pl masc/fem nom) "Dogs" is from kyon, which means "dog", "bitch", "shepherds' dogs", "watch-dogs”, a word of reproach to denote shamelessness or audacity (in women); recklessness (in men), and offensive people generally (compared to yapping dogs), a positive metaphor for people implying, watch-dog or guardian, servants, agents or watchers, and "the ace” (the worst throw at dice).
ἐρχόμενοι [198 verses] (part pl pres mp masc nom) "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.
ἐπέλειχον [1 verse](verb 3rd pl imperf ind act) "Licked" is apoleichō, which means "lick up".
τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut 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 word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones”.
ἕλκη [1 verse]](noun pl neut acc) "Sores" is helkos, which means "wound", "festering wound", "sore" and "ulcer".
αὐτοῦ [142 verses](adv/adj sg masc gen) "His" is autou, which is 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.