Jesus continues the parable of the rich man's house manager who was slandered.
Luke 16:4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
Luke 16:4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’
I know what I will prepare when I change my position out of this house management, so that, they might accept me into those households of their own.
The word translated as "resolved" in KJV is correctly translated as "know" in the NIV. The word translated blandly as "do" primarily means "make" and here more accurately means "prepare”. The man is making or preparing for his future. The word translated as "put out" and "lose" in the passive form here means "to change position”. This is the only time Jesus uses it because it means exactly what is needed.
The verb "receive" (KJV) is more accurately translated as "welcome" (NIV), but it also means "accept”. The form is one of possibility, "they might accept me”. He could either be looking to be entertained at these houses, or, more likely, to be hired by one of them. The word translated as "their" is a special word meaning "their own" making being hired more likely.
We prepare our future by knowing how to please others.
I am(IW) resolved(WW) what to(WF) do, that, when I am put(CW) out of the stewardship, they may receive(CW) me into their(CW) (MW) houses.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "am" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "resolved" should be something more like "know”.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an infinitive but an active verb.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word that should usually be translated as "when”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "put”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "receive”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "theirs" doesn't precisely mean "theirs”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these/those/the" before "houses" is not shown in the English translation.
I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose(WW) my(WW) job(WW) here(IW), people(IW) will(WW) welcome me into their(CW) (MW) .’
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "lose" should be something more like "change”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "out of" after "lose" 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 "here" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "people" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "will" should be something more like "should”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "theirs" doesn't precisely mean "theirs”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these/those/the" before "houses" is not shown in the English translation.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
am -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
resolved -- (WW)"Resolved " 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. This word doesn't mean "resolved."
what -- The Greek word translated as "what" 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”.
to -- (WF) This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb. This is not an infinitive but an active 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. The form is the first-person future, "
that, -- The word translated as "that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that”, "when”, "in order that", "when” or "because”. As an adverb it is translated as "there" is an adverb "in that place”, "there”, "where" or "when”.
when -- The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since”. This is not the more common word for "when". Here, the condition is less certain to happen.
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.
put -- (CW) "Put" is a Greek verb that Jesus only uses here. This is not the simple word that means "put", which is this word's root. It has a prefix that means "with" or "among". It generally means to change positions of things. It is in the passive form where it can mean to "stand among" and "change one's position". The later is clearly the meaning because of the words that follow, which refer to a position. This is not the word usually translated as "put”.
out of -- The Greek preposition translated as "out of" means "out of" or "from". The word also means "beyond”, "on”, "in”, "since” or "by" based upon its context, but it indicates separation "from" something rather than being a part "of " it like "of" does. It is also used to describe the author or means "by" which something is done, especially with passive verbs.
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. mid)
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
may -- This helping verb "may" indicates that the verb indicates a possibility, the subjunctive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
receive -- (CW) "Receive" is a word, which, when applied to people as it does here, means "to welcome", "to grant access” or "to receive with hospitality”. This is not the word usually translated as "receive”.
me - "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.
into -- The word translated as "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as” (of measure or limit), "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object. Used with the Greek "from" it means "from...to”.
their -- (CW) "Theirs" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself”, "herself” and so on. When used in the possessive, it has the sense of "his own" or, in the plural, "their own”. This word doesn't precisely mean "theirs”.
missing "these/those/the" "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.
houses. -- The Greek word translated as "house," is any dwelling place but not exclusively a separate house. It means the household or clan that lives in the building as well. The English word "house" captures the idea of a "ruling family" so that works well for this word. The female form of the word has more the feel of "home”.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
know -- "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.
what -- The Greek word translated as "what" 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”.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
’ll -- This helping verb "will" indicates the verb is in the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English. - However, the verb could also be in the form of possibility, "might”.
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. The form is the first-person future, "
so that, - -- The word translated as "so that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that”, "when”, "in order that”, "when” or "because”. As an adverb it is translated as "there" is an adverb "in that place”, "there” "where” or "when”.
when -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since". This is not the more common word for "when”. Here, the condition is less certain to happen.
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.
lose -- (WW) "Lose" is a Greek verb that Jesus only uses here. It has a prefix that means "with" or "among". It generally means to change positions of things. It is in the passive form where it can mean to "stand among" and "change one's position". Here, it clearly means to "change one's position”. This word doesn't mean "lose”.
missing "out of" -- (MW) The untranslated word "of" means "out of" or "from". The word also means "beyond”, "on”, "in”, "since” or "by" based upon its context, but it indicates separation "from" something rather than being a part "of " it like "of" does. It is also used to describe the author or means "by" which something is done, especially with passive verbs.
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 , -- (WW) "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”.
here -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
people -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
will -- (WW) This helping verb indicates that the verb is the future tense, but it isn't. It is in the form of possibility so it needs a "should" or "might."
welcome -- "Receive" is a word, which, when applied to people as it does here, means "to welcome”, "to grant access” or "to receive with hospitality”. This is not the word usually translated as "receive”.
me - "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.
into -- The word translated as "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as” (of measure or limit), "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object. Used with the Greek "from" it means "from...to”.
their -- (CW) "Theirs" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself” and so on. When used in the possessive, it has the sense of "his own" or, in the plural, "their own". This word doesn't precisely mean "theirs”.
missing "these/those/the" "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.
houses. -- The Greek word translated as "house," is any dwelling place but not exclusively a separate house. It means the household or clan that lives in the building as well. The English word "house" captures the idea of a "ruling family" so that works well for this word. The female form of the word has more the feel of "home."
ἔγνων [62 verses] (verb 1st sg aor ind act) "I am resolved," is ginosko which means "to learn to know”, "to know by reflection or observation” and "to perceive”. -- "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.
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) "To 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”.
ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place”, "there”, "where”, "when”, but when beginning a phrase "so that”, "in order that”, "when” and "because”. It is used as an introduction to a command, where it isn't translated. Often is is better to translate it as "so that" instead of "because" to avoid confusion with another conjunction.
ὅταν [70 verses](adv/conj) "When" is from hotan, which means "whenever” (as a condition), and "since” (as a cause).
μετασταθῶ [1 verse](verb 1st sg aor subj pass) "I am put" is metahistemi, which means to "place in another way", "change", "remove from one place to another", "remove from oneself or from one's presence", and in passive to "stand among", and "change one's position".
ἐκ [121 verses] (prep) "From" is ek , which means 1) [of motion] "out of”, "from”, "by”, "away from”, 2) [of place] "beyond”, "outside of”, "beyond”; 3) [of succession] "after”, "from”; 4) [of rest] "on”, "in”; 5) [of time] "since”, "from”, "at”, "in”; 7) [of materials] "out of", "made from”; 7) cause, instrument, or means "by". It is also used to describe the author or means "by" which something is done, especially with passive verbs.-- The Greek preposition translated as "from" means "out of" or "from”. The word has a number of different meanings based upon its context, but it indicates separation "from" something rather than being a part "of “ it like "of" does. It is also used to describe the author or means "by" which something is done, especially with passive verbs.
τῆς [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”.
οἰκονομίας [3 verses](noun sg fem gen) "Stewardship" is oikonomia, which means "management of a household", "husbandry", "thrift", "regulation", "transaction", "contract" and "operation".
δέξωνταί [18 verses](verb 3rd pl aor subj mid) "They may receive" is dechomai, which means "welcome”, "accept” and "entertain" when applied to people and "take”, "accept” and "receive" when applied to things. -- (CW) "Receive" is a word, which, when applied to people as it does here, means "to welcome”, "to grant access”, or "to receive with hospitality”. This is not the word usually translated as "receive”. CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "receive."
με [49 verses](pron 1st sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which is the objective first-person, objective, singular pronoun that means "me”. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.-
εἰς [325 verses](prep) "Into" is eis, which means "into” (of place), "up to” (of time), "until” (of time), "in" (a position), "as much as” (of measure or limit), "as far as” (of measure or limit), "towards” (to express relation), "in regard to” (to express relation), "of an end or limit," and "for” (of purpose or object). With verbs of speaking, it is the person spoken "to”. With time, a limit "until” or a duration "for”, "throughout” or a date, "on”, "at”. Used with ek, it means "from...to”.
τοὺς [821 verses](noun pl masc 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”.
οἴκους [29 verses](noun pl masc acc) "House" is oikos, which means "house", "dwelling place”, "room”, "home”, "meeting hall”, "household goods”, "substance” and "ruling family”. It is any dwelling place but not exclusively a separate house.
ἑαυτῶν [75 verses](pro pl masc gen) "Theirs" 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”.
The word translated as "they may receive" also means "to accept".