Jesus continues the parable of the rich man's house manager who was slandered.
Luke 16:6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
Luke 16:6 ‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.
That one, however, said, "A hundred casks of oil." This one, however, said to him, "Get your letter and, placing it down, quickly write fifty."
First, rememeber that the manager is doing this for the "needy" debtors (see previous verse). The word translated as "bill" is plural and its meaning is less specific, something like "documents”. Though the verse mentions one number, it seems to be a total and probably a total with both what he borrowed plus the interest that he was expected to pay as well. The word translated as "sit down" also means "place down". It is in the form of a verbal adjective, "placing down quickly”. It could refer to the writing as well as sitting down. The urgency is in writing down the new number.
The different numbers in KJV and NIV are from the difference between the Judaic quantities and the English ones.
People have different measures for what is fair depending on their goals.
And(WW) he(CW) said, An hundred measures(CW) of oil. And(WW) he(CW) said unto him, Take(CW) thy (MW) bill(CW,WN), and sit(WF) down quickly, and write fifty.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "he”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- "measure's" translation is more general specific than the word's more specific meaning.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "he”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "take”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these/those/the" before "bill" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- "Bill's" translation is more specific than the word's more general meaning.
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "bill" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "sitting”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
(MW) ‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he(CW) replied(CW). (MW) “The manager(IW) told him, ‘Take(CW) your (MW) bill(CW,WN), sit down quickly, and make(WW) it four hundred and fifty.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "but"is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "he”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- "Replied" is more specific than the word's more general meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "but" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "manager" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "take”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these/those/the" before "bill" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- "Bill's" translation is more specific than the word's more general meaning.
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "bill" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "sitting”.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "make" should be something more like "write”.
And - (WW) The Greek word translated as "and" 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 "and”.
he -- (CW) The word translated as "he" 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 "he”.
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.
An -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
hundred - This is the number "a hundred”.
measures -- (CW) "Measures" is a Judaic measure of liquid of between eight and nine gallons. This is the only time Jesus uses it. In Greek it means "bush”, and other things. This translation is more general than the word's specific meaning.
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.
oil. - "Oil" is from a noun that means "olive oil", "anointing oil” and "any oily substance”.
And - (WW) The Greek word translated as "and" 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 "and”.
he -- (CW) The word translated as "he" 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 "he". CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "he”.
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 indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.
him, -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person, indirect object pronoun.
Take -- (CW) "Take" is a word that means "take”, "accept” and "receive" when applied to things. This is not the word usually translated as "take”.
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 "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.
bill, - - (CW,WN) "Bill" is not from the common word that means "writings" that is usually translated as "scripture”. This is Greek for "drawings", "a letter” (as in an alphabet), "diagrams", "documents" (especially to prove something) and "letters" (as in correspondence). This word is not singular but plural. This translation is more specific than the word's meaning.
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”.
sit . -- (WF) "Sit...down" is a Greek verb "to make sit down”, "to seat”, "to place”, "to sit”, "to post”, "to take seats”, "to convene”, "to appoint” and "to establish”. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "sitting”.
down - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.
quickly, -- "Quickly" is an adverb used for the first time here by Jesus that means "quickly” or "speedily”.
and -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
write -- "Write" is the Greek verb that means "to mark”, "to express by written characters”, "to write a letter", "to write down [a law]" and so on.
fifty.-- "Fifty" is the Greek numeral fifty.
missing "but" -- (MW) The untranslated word 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 "and”.
Nine -- This "nine" is from the conversion of the Judaic measure to English.
hundred - This is the number "a hundred."
gallons -- "Gallons" is from the Judaic measure of liquid of between eight and nine gallons to English. This is the only time Jesus uses this measure. In Greek it means "bush” and other things.
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.
oil. - "Oil" is from a noun that means "olive oil", "anointing oil" and "any oily substance”.
he -- (CW) The word translated as "he" 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 "he”.
replied, - (CW) The word translated as "replied" 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 translation is more specific than the word's meaning.
missing "but" -- (MW) The untranslated word 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 "and”.
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. This is not the word usually translated as "he”.
manager -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
told, - The word translated as "told" 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.
him, -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person, indirect object pronoun.
Take -- (CW) "Take" is a word that means "take”, "accept" and "receive" when applied to things. This is not the word usually translated as "take”.
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 "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.
bill, - - (CW,WN) "Bill" is not from the common word that means "writings" that is usually translated as "scripture”. This is Greek for "drawings", "a letter”(as in an alphabet), "diagrams”, "documents" (especially to prove something) and "letters" (as in correspondence). This word is not singular but plural. This translation is more specific than the word's meaning.
sit . -- (WF) "Sit...down" is a Greek verb "to make sit down", "to seat”, "to place”, "to sit", "to post”, "to take seats”, "to convene”, "to appoint” and "to establish”. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "sitting”.
down - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.
quickly, -- "Quickly" is an adverb used for the first time here by Jesus that means "quickly”,or "speedily”.
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".
make -- (WW) "Make" is the Greek verb that means "to mark”, "to express by written characters”, "to write a letter”, "to write down [a law]” and so on. This word doesn't mean "make”.
it - -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.
four hundred and -- These words were added to convert the Judaic measure to the English one.
fifty.-- "Fifty" is the Greek numeral fifty.
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "He" 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".
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "And" 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”.
εἶπεν [162 verses] (verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "I have called" 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.
Ἑκατὸν [10 verses](numeral) "An hundredfold" is from hekaton, which is the number "a hundred”.
βάτους [1 verse](noun pl fem acc) "Measures" is from batos, the Greek form of the Hebrew word baṯ, בַּת, a measure of liquid of between eight and nine gallons. It is also a Greek word batos, which means "bramble”. Greek words spelled the same also mean "blackberry" and "fish”.
ἐλαίου: [5 verses] (noun sg neut gen) "Of oil" is from elaion, which means "olive oil”, "anointing oil” and "any oily substance”.
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "He" 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”.
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "And" 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”. In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet”. After an interruption, "so then”.
εἶπεν [162 verses] (verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "I have called" 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”.
Δέξαι [18 verses](verb 2nd sg aor imperat mid) "Take" is dechomai, which means "welcome”, "accept" and "entertain" when applied to people, and "take”, "accept” and "receive" when applied to things.
σου [144 verses](pron 2nd sg gen) "Thy" is sou 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.
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”.
γράμματα [3 verses](noun pl neut acc) "Bill" is from gramma which is Greek for "drawings", "a letter” (as in an alphabet), "diagrams”, and "letters" (as in correspondence).
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”.
καθίσας (part sg aor act masc nom) "Sit down"[15 verses] (verb 2nd sg aor ind act) "Sit down" is kathizô, which means "to make sit down”, "to seat”, "to plac”," "to sit”, "to post”, "to take seats”, "to convene”, "to appoint”, "to establish”, "to put in a certain condition”, "to reside”, "to sink down”, "to run aground” [for ships], "to recline at meals" and "to settle”. From the Greek kata("down") hedraios ("to settle")
ταχέως [3 verses](adv) "Quickly" is tacheos, which means "quickly" or "speedily”.
γράψον [34 verses](verb 2nd sg aor imperat act) "Write" is grapho which means "to mark”. "to express by written characters”, "to write a letter”, "to write down” [a law], "to proscribe”, "to ordain”, "to write for oneself”, "to enroll oneself”, "to draw signs”, "to describe a figure”, "to brand” and "to indict”.
πεντήκοντα.[3 verses] (numeral indeclform) "Fifty" is from pentekonta, which means "fifty".
Since the house manager was spreading around his master's property to make a profit with it, he lent it an exorbitant rate, one which doubled the debt over whatever period of time involved in repaying it. This discount is returning to the master his property but not the service the manager was doing for him. He is demonstrating the value of his service.