Jesus continues the parable of the rich man's house manager who was slandered.
Luke 16:7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
Luke 16:7 Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “ ‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’
Afterwards he said to another "You yourself, however, how much do you owe?" That one, however, said, "A hundred bundles of wheat. He told him, "Get yours those documents and write eighty,"
The word translated as "measures" in the KJV is a different than the "measures" in Luke 16:6. It is another unique word based on a Hebrew dry measure of ten to eleven bushels. Though it shares much of the vocabulary from that verse. The NIV converts the numbers here to English measure. The word translated as "then" in both English versions is another unique word meaning "afterward”. The word translated as "four score" and "eight hundred" means "80”.
It is interesting that the discount here isn't as big as the previous verse, Luke 16:6, a discount, 20% versus 50%. Why? Three ideas 1) the oil represents much greater value than the wheat, 2) the wheat is a basic staple while the oil is a luxury, or 3) the house manager was seeking more benefit from the first (foremost) debtor than the second.
Any discount is good.
ἔπειτα ἑτέρῳ εἶπεν Σὺ δὲ πόσον ὀφείλεις;
After to another, he said "You yourself, however, how much do you owe?"
ὁ δὲ εἶπεν κατὸν κόρους σίτου: λέγει αὐτῷ
That one, however, said, "A hundred bundles of wheat. He told him,
Δέξαι σου τὰ γράμματα καὶ γράψον ὀγδοήκοντα
"Get yours those documents and write eighty,"
Then(CW) said he to another, And(WW) how much owest thou (MW)? And he(CW) said, An hundred measures(CW) of wheat. And(OS) he said(CW) unto him, Take thy (MW) bill(CW, WN), and write fourscore.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "then”.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but”.
- MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "yourself" after "you" for emphasis.
- 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.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "and" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This "said" is the not same Greek word translated earlier in the verse as "said”.
- 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.
Then(CW) he asked(WW) the(IW) second(WW), ‘And how much do you (MW) owe?’ “ ‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he(CW) replied(CW). “He told him, ‘Take your (MW) bill(CW, WN), and(WW) make(WW) it eight hundred.’
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "then”.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "asked" should be something more like "said”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "the" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "second" should be something more like "another”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- "Replied" is more specific than the word's more general meaning.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but”.
- MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "yourself" after "you" for emphasis.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "he”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "but" is not shown in the English translation.
- 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.
Then -- (CW) The "then" here is unique, not the Greek word that is translated as "then" in most of Jesus's words. This word means "thereupon", "thereafter", “afterward" and "then." The sense is clearly the "after" the previous action. This is not the word usually translated as "then”.
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.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
to -- 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.
another,-- The word translated as "another" means "one of two”, "other”, "another”, or "different”. It is an adjective used as a noun.
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”.
how much-- The adjective translated as "how much" means "of what quantity” [in distance], "how far” [of number], how far” [of time], "how long” [of value], "how much”, "how great”, "how many” and "how much”.
owest - The Greek word translated as "owest" has three related but different meanings. Jesus uses several of them at different times. The most common is "to owe”, "to be bound” and "to be obliged”. The next means "to strengthen" and “to enlarge,” and "to increase.”. The final one means "to help”, "to aid”, "to succor”, "to be of use or service”, "to enrich” and "to benefit”.
thou- The "you" here in the second-person pronoun in form of a singular subject. When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When it has a verb, the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, its explicit use repeats the idea of who is speaking, "you”. Saying "you yourself" captures this feeling in English.
missing "yourself" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "you yourself”.
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 another unique word for Jesus. It is not the "measures" of the previous verse. In Greek, it means "besom", "bundle" (of twigs), or "brooms", which works for sheaves of wheat. However could also be a Greek form of the Hebrew dry measure of ten to eleven bushels. 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.
wheat. - "Wheat" is from a word that means "grain”, "wheat”, "barley”, "food made from grain”, "bread” and, most generally, "food”.
And -- (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.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
said -- (CW) The word translated as "said" is the most common word that means "to say”, "to tell” and "to speak”, but it is not the same word translated as "said" earlier in the verse. It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself”.
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 -- "Take" is a word, which, when applied to people means "to welcome”, “to grant access” or "to receive with hospitality”. When applied to things, it means "take”, "accept” and "receive”.
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”.
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.
fourscore. -- The word translated as "four score" means "eighty". It is an uncommon word, only used by Jesus in one other Luke parable.
Then -- (CW) The "then" here is unique, not the Greek word that is translated as "then" in most of Jesus's words. This word means "thereupon", "thereafter", “afterward" and "then”. The sense is clearly "after" the previous action. This is not the word usually translated as "then”.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
asked- (WW) 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. This word doesn't mean "asked”.
the -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
second,--(WW) The word translated as "another" means "one of two", "other”, "another” or "different”. It is an adjective used as a noun. This word doesn't mean "second”.
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”.
how much-- The adjective translated as "how much" means "of what quantity” [in distance], "how far” [of number], “how far” [of time], "how long”, [of value] "how much”, "how great”, "how many” and "how much”.
do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English.
you - The "you" here in the second-person pronoun in form of a singular subject. When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When it has a verb, the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, its explicit use repeats the idea of who is speaking, "you." Saying "you yourself" captures this feeling in English.
missing "yourself" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "you yourself”.
owe - The Greek word translated as "owe" has three related but different meanings. Jesus uses several of them at different times. The most common is "to owe”, "to be bound” and "to be obliged”. The next means "to strengthen" and “to enlarge” and "to increase”. The final one means "to help”, "to aid”, "to succor”, "to be of use or service”, "to enrich” and "to benefit”.
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”.
“ ‘A -- 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.
thousand -- This is the number "a hundred”. However, the translators converted the Hebrew measure to an English measure, so "thousand" works.
bushels -- "Bushels" is another unique word for Jesus. In Greek, it means the "bundle" (of twigs), or "brooms", which works for sheaves of wheat. However could also be a Greek form of the Hebrew dry measure of ten to eleven bushels.
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.
wheat. - "Wheat" is from a word that means "grain", "wheat”, "barley”, "food made from grain”, "bread” and, most generally, "food”.
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.
He -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
told-- The word translated as "told" is the most common word that means "to say", "to tell” and "to speak”, but when used with an objective noun or pronoun, the sense is "say of" or "speak of”. It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself”.
him -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person, indirect object pronoun
Take -- "Take" is a word, which, when applied to people means "to welcome”, "to grant access” or "to receive with hospitality”. When applied to things, it means "take”, "accept” and "receive".
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.
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”.
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.
eight hundred. -- The word translated as "eight hundred" means "eighty". It is an uncommon word, only used by Jesus in one other Luke parable. It is converted here into bushels.
ἔπειτα [1 verse](adv) "Then" is ereita, which means "thereupon", "thereafter", “afterwards" and "then”.
ἑτέρῳ [21 verses] (adj sg masc dat) "To another" is heteros, which means "one or the other of two”, "the second”, "the secondary”, "the minor”, "other things” [of like kind], "another”, "different”, "other than”, "different from”, "other than should be" and "in another or a different way". As an adverb, it means "in one or the other way”, "differently”, "otherwise than should be”, "badly" and "wrongly”.
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.
Σὺ [36 verses](pron 2nd sg nom) "Thee/you" is su , which means "you" in the second-person pronoun in form of a singular subject.
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".
πόσον [19 verses] (adj sg masc acc) "How much" is posos, which means "of what quantity”, [in distance] "how far." [of number] “how far”, [of time] "how long”, [of value] "how much”, "how great”, "how many” and "how much”.
ὀφείλεις; [8 verses](verb 2nd sg pres ind act) "Owest" is opheleo, a Greek word with three related but different meanings. The most common is "to owe", "to be bound” and "to be obliged”. The next means "to strengthen" and to enlarge” and "to increase”. The final one means "to help”, "to aid”, "to succor”, "to be of use or service”, "to enrich” and "to benefit”.
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 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.
Ἑκατὸν [10 verses](numeral) "An hundredfold" is from hekaton, which is the number "a hundred”.
κόρους [1 verse](noun pl masc acc) "Measures" is koros, which is the Greek form of the Hebrew measure kor (כֹּר) the largest Hebrew dry measure (i.e, for wheat, meal etc.) about 10 to 11 bushels. It also means "bundle" (of twigs), or "brooms". It could also be from the Hebrew dry measure of ten to eleven bushels.
σίτου [8 verses](noun sg masc gen) "Wheat" is sitos, which means "grain”, "wheat”, "barley”, "food made from grain”, "bread” and, most generally, "food”.
λέγει [264 verses] (verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "He said" is lego, which means "to recount”, "to tell over”, "to say”, "to speak”, "to teach”, "to mean”, "boast of”, "tell of”, "recite”, nominate” and "command”. When used with an object it has the sense of "call by name”. It has a secondary meaning "pick out”, "choose for oneself”, "pick up”, "gather”, "count” and "recount”. A less common word that is spelled the same means "to lay", "to lay asleep" and "to lull asleep”. This word is more about making a statement than participating in a discussion. Translating it as "stated" might distinguish it better. When two accusative objects are used, the sense is "say of him this” or "call him this”. The form Jesus uses to describe his own speaking can be either indicative, "I say/tell" or subjunctive, "I should/could say/tell”.
αὐτῷ [106 verses](pron/adj sg masc/neut dat) "Him" 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 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.
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”.
γράψον [34 verses](verb 2nd sg aor imperat act) "Write" is grapho which means "to mark", "to express by written characters”l "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”.
ὀγδοήκοντα. [1 verse](numeral) "Four score" is ogdoēkonta, which is the Greek number eighty.