Jesus continues the parable of the rich man's house manager who was slandered.
Luke 16:3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
Luke 16:3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg—
That house manager said, however, "What will I prepare? Because that master of mine robs the house management from me? I am not strong enough to dig. I am ashamed to beg.
This verse is easier in the context of a man wrongly fired for a slander. The word translated as "do" more accurately means "prepare”. The word translated here as "take away" means "robbed”, which is a description that justifies his later action. The punchline is "I am ashamed" also means "I make myself ugly," which describes what beggars did to beg and what being fired does to the reputation of the manager.
Young men have strength for labor, old man need management positions of trust.
εἶπεν δὲ ἐν ἑαυτῷ ὁ οἰκονόμος Τί ποιήσω
said, however, within himself, that house manager, "What am I going to prepare?
ὅτι ὁ κύριός μου ἀφαιρεῖται τὴν οἰκονομίαν ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ
Because that master of mine stole the house management from me?
; σκάπτειν οὐκ ἰσχύω, ἐπαιτεῖν αἰσχύνομαι:
To dig, not I am powerful enough. To beg , I am ashamed
Then(WW) the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my (MW) lord taketh(CW) away from me the stewardship: I can(WW)-not dig(WF); to beg I am ashamed.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "then" should be something more like "but”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "lord" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This word doesn't mean "taking away" in this situation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "can" should be something more like "am not strong”.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to dig”.
“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now(IW)? (MW) My (MW) master is taking(CW,WF) away my(WW) job(WW) (MW). I’m not strong enough to dig, and(IW) I’m ashamed to beg—
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "now" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "for" after "now" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "master" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This word doesn't mean "taking away" in this situation.
- WF -- This is not a participle, a verbal adjective, but an active verb "takes”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "from me" after "away" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "my" should be something more like "the”.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "job" should be something more like "stewardship”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
Then -- (WW)The Greek word translated as "but" means "but”, "yet”, "however” and "on the other hand”. It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. This word doesn't mean "then”.
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.
steward -- "Steward" means "one who manages a household", "house-steward", generally, "manager”, "administrator”.
said - The word translated as "speak" means "to say" and "to speak." It is one of the two most common words translated "speak”, "say" and "tell”. but it has more a sense of addressing and proclaiming.
within -- The word translated as "within" 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”.
himself,-- "Himself" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself”, "herself" and so on. " When used in the possessive, it has the sense of "his own”.
What - The Greek word translated as "any" 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.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
do? -- The Greek word translated as "do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action. In English, "do" is also frequently a helper verb. This Greek word is not used as broadly.
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”.
my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my”, "me" and "mine”. Usually follows the noun so, "of mine”.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the”, which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this”, "that”, "these” and "those"). See this article for more.
lord -- The word translated as "lord" means "lord”, "master of the house” and "head of the family”. It is the specific term for the master of slaves or servants, but it was a common term of respect both for those in authority and who were honored. It was the term people used to address Christ, even though he had no formal authority. Today, we would say "boss" or "chief." For the sake of consistency, this should be the Greek word translated as "master”.
taketh away-- (CW) "Take away" is another uncommon Greek word, which means to "take away from", "set aside", "exclude" and "to be robbed or deprived of a thing”. This word doesn't mean "take away" in this situation because it is passive.
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”.
me -- "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my", "me” and "mine”. Usually follows the noun so, "of mine”.
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.
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.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
can --- (WW) The word translated as "can" is a verb that means "to be strong", "to be able” or "to have powerful”. It is the present plural participle of verb, used as the sentence's subject. This word doesn't mean "can”.
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.
dig; -- (WF) The verb translated as "dig" means to "dig", "delve" and "cultivate by digging". This is not an active verb but an infinitive.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
beg -- "To beg" is a word that Jesus uses only here. It means "ask besides", "ask for more", "beg as a mendicant" and "to demand".
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
am -- This helping verb "am" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.-- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
ashamed. -- "Ashamed" is another verb Jesus only uses here. It means "make ugly, "disfigure", "dishonor", "tarnish, "to be ashamed" and "feel shame".
Then -- (WW)The Greek word translated as "but" means "but”, "yet”, "however” and "on the other hand”. It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. This word doesn't mean "then”.
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.
manager -- "Manager " means "one who manages a household", "house-steward", generally, "manager," "administrator."
said - The word translated as "speak" means "to say" and "to speak”. It is one of the two most common words translated "speak”, "say" and "tell”, but it has more a sense of addressing and proclaiming.
to -- The word translated as "to" 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”.
himself,-- "Himself" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself”, "herself” and so on. When used in the possessive, it has the sense of "his own”.
What - The Greek word translated as "any" 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.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
do? -- The Greek word translated as "do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action. In English, "do" is also frequently a helper verb. This Greek word is not used as broadly.
now -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
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”.
my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my”, "me” and "mine". Usually follows the noun so, "of mine”.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the”, which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this”, "that”, "these” and "those"). See this article for more.
master -- The word translated as "master " means "lord”, "master of the house”, and "head of the family”. It is the specific term for the master of slaves or servants, but it was a common term of respect both for those in authority and who were honored. It was the term people used to address Christ, even though he had no formal authority. Today, we would say "boss" or "chief." For the sake of consistency, this should be the Greek word translated as "master."
is-- This helping verb "is" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
taking away-- (CW, WF) "Taking away" is another uncommon Greek word, which means to "take away from", "set aside", "exclude" and "to be robbed or deprived of a thing”. This word doesn't mean "take away" in this situation because it is passive. This is not a participle, a verbal adjective, but an active verb "takes."
missing "from me" -- (MW) The words "from me" are missing. The 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”. It is not the word form usually translated as "of”. Referring to time, it means "from" and "after”. "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my”, "me" and "mine”. Usually follows the noun so, "of mine”.
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”.
my -- (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 "my”.
job: -- "Job" 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. This word doesn't mean "job”.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
am -- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb.
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.
strong ---the word translated as "strong" is a verb that means "to be strong", "to be able” or "to have powerful". It is the present plural participle of verb, used as the sentence's subject.
enough -- There is no word "enough" here in the Greek source but it is implied by the verb.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
dig; -- The verb translated as "dig" means to "dig", "delve" and "cultivate by digging". This is not one of the common words usually translated as "word”.
and -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
am -- This helping verb "am" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.-- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
ashamed. -- "Ashamed" is another verb Jesus only uses here. It means "make ugly”, "disfigure", "dishonor", "tarnish”, "to be ashamed", and "feel shame".
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
beg -- "To beg" is a word that Jesus uses only here. It means "ask besides”, “ask for more", "beg as a mendicant" and "to demand".
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.
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is de which means "but”, "yet”, "however” and "on the other hand”. It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of an indirect cause ("so") and a condition ("if"). In an "if" (εἰ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then”. In a series begun by men, it means "on the other hand”. In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet”. After an interruption, "so then". It can also be an explanation of cause ("so") and a condition ("if"). When used with a conditional starting a clause, the sense is "if/when...then”. When used with a particle meaning "indeed" the sense is "on one hand...on the other hand”. In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet”. After an interruption, "so then”.
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”.
ἑαυτῷ [75 verses]((adj sg masc dat) "Himself" is heautou, is a reflexive pronoun that means "himself”, "herself”, "itself", "themselves” and "ourselves”. It is not the common pronoun meaning simply "he”, "she”, "them”, etc. In the genitive form, it has the sense of "his own”.
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc 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”.
οἰκονόμος, [5 verse](noun sg masc nom) "Steward is oikonomos, which means "one who manages a household", "house-steward", generally, "manager," "administrator."
Τί [252 verses] (pro sg neut nom/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?”.
ποιήσω [168 verses] (verb 1st sg fut ind act) "Shall I do" is poieo, which means "to make”, "to produce", "to create”, "to bring into existence”, "to bring about”, "to cause”, "to perform”, "to render”, "to consider”, "to prepare”, "to make ready” and "to do”. The accusative object is what is made. Double accusative is to do something to someone. When it has a genitive object, it means "made from”. When it doesn't have an object, the verb is translated as "perform" or simply "do”. When used with an accusative infinitive, it means to "cause" or "bring about”. A dative object means "made with". With the preposition "into" (eis) it means "made into”.
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.
ὁ [821 verses](article 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 word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones”.
κύριός [92 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Lord" is kyrios, which means "having power”, "being in authority" and "being in possession of”. It also means "lord", "master of the house" and "head of the family”. It is the specific term for the master of slaves or servants, but it was a common term of respect both for those in authority and who were honored. It was the term people used to address Jesus, even though he had no formal authority. It was also the term used for the name of God in the Old Testament. Today, we would say "boss" or "chief." For the sake of consistency, this should be the Greek word translated as "master" for humans and "Lord" for the Old Testament usage.
μου [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "My" is from mou (emou), which means "me" and "mine”. It is in a possessive (genitive) form. As a genitive of a preposition here, it implies movement away from something or a position away from something else.
ἀφαιρεῖται [2 verses](verb 3rd sg pres ind mp) "Taketh away" is from aphaireo, which means to "take away from", "set aside", "exclude", "separate", "prevent", "hinder from" doing, and, in the passive, "to be robbed or deprived of a thing”.
τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem acc) "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”.
οἰκονομίαν [3 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Stewardship" is oikonomia, which means "management of a household", "husbandry", "thrift", "regulation", "transaction", "contract" and "operation".
ἀπ᾽ [190 verses](prep) "From" is apo, a preposition of separation which means "from" or "away 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”.
ἐμοῦ; [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "Me" is from mou (emou), which means "me” and "mine”. It is in a possessive (genitive) form. As a genitive of a preposition here, it implies movement away from something or a position away from something else.
σκάπτειν [3 verses](verb pres inf act) "Dig" is from skapto, which means "dig", "delve", " dig about" and "cultivate by digging".
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.
ἰσχύω [8 verses], (1st sg pres ind act ) "I can" is ischyo, which means "to be strong", "to be powerful", "to prevail", "to be worth” and "to be equivalent to”.
ἐπαιτεῖν [1 verse](verb pres inf act) "To beg" is epaiteo, which means "ask besides", "ask for more", "beg as a mendicant" and "to demand".
αἰσχύνομαι: [1 verse](verb 1st sg pres ind mp) "I am ashamed" is aischyno, which means "make ugly, "disfigure", "dishonor", "tarnish, "to be ashamed" and "feel shame".
The KJV makes the steward seem lazy and proud at the end of this verse. However, if we accept that the accusations against him were false (Luke 16:1), we can translate the words here, two of which are unique to this verse, much more positively. Many uncommon words here as well.