To his students after they ask him to increase their faith.
Luke 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
Luke 17:10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”
So, also you yourselves, when you perform all those things being appointed to you, say, "Because we are worthless bondsmen, we have done what we owed to do.
This verse is the punchline to Jesus response to the Apostle's request to increase their faith. It makes them self-deprecating.
The word translated in these last few verses as "servant" means "bondsmen" which in turn. means debt slaves, those paying off their debts through service. This becomes important here because Jesus says the apostles are doing what they owe as debt slaves.
The word translated as "commanded" and "told" doesn't mean that. It means "to be appointed”. The idea is that these tasks were assigned to him as servants.
The big question in every life: what service were we given life to perform?
So likewise(WW) ye, (MW) when ye shall(CW) have(WT) done all those things which(IW) are commanded(CW) you, say, (MW) We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which(IW) was our(WF) duty(WF) to do.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "likewise" should be something more like "and”.
- MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "yourselves" after "you" for emphasis.
- CW - Confusing Word - This "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- IW - Inserted Word -- The "which" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the word usually translated as "commanded”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "because" after "say" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The "which" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "our" is not a subject but an object.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "duty" is not a noun but a verb.
So you (MW) also, when you have(WT) done everything (MW) you(WF) were told(CW) to do, should(IW) say, (MW) ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only(IW) done (MW) our(WF) duty(WF).’
- MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "yourselves" after "you" for emphasis.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "those things" after "everything" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not a subject but an indirect object.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the word usually translated as "told”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "should" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "because" after "say" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "only" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these things" after "done" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "our" is not a subject but an object.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "duty" is not a noun but a verb.
So -- The word translated in KJV as "So” is in its adverbial form, so it means "in this manner”, "so”, "so much" or "so excessively”.
likewise -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "likewise" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis, "even", "also" and "just". This word doesn't mean "likewise”.
ye, -- The pronoun "you" is used explicitly as the subject of the sentence. When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When it is already part of the verb, its use here creates emphasis on the "you" as we might say "you yourselves”. It sometimes precedes a verbal adjective or infinitive where it is not part of the verb. It is plural.
missing "yourselves" ---- (MW) The pronoun is used here explicitly as the subject of the sentence. Since this information is already in the verb, the sense is repetitive as we say "you yourselves."
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.
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
shall -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.
have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
done -- The Greek word translated as "done” 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.
all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all”, "the whole”, "every" and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything". As an adverb, it means "in every way”, "on every side" and "altogether”.
those things-- The word translated as "those things” 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.
which -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.
are -- This helping verb "are" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
commanded --(CW) "Commanded" is from a Greek verb used for the first time by Jesus here. It means to "appoint", "ordain", "dispose", “arrange for oneself", "classify", and, in the passive, "to be appointed". It is in the passive. Again, the tense is not the past, but a form that means at any time. This is not the word translated as "commanded”.
you, -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you”, "for you", etc.
say, -- The word translated as "say" 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”.
missing "because" -- (MW) The untranslated word "because" 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”.
We -- This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb.
are -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. The word also means "to exist" where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
unprofitable -- The word translated as "unprofitable" means "useless”, "unprofitable”, esp. "unfit for war”, "helpless”, "foolish” and "without cause”.
servants: -- The noun translated as "servant" means "slave”. It is translated as "servant" to update the Bible.
we -- This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb.
have -- This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.
done -- 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.
that -- (WN)The word translated as "that" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this", "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he”, "she”, "it”, "which”, "what”, "who”, "whosoever”, "where”, "when”, "for which reason” and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things”.
which -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.
was -- This is from the past imperfect form of the verb.
our -- (WF) This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb. This is not a possessive but a subject.
duty - (WF) "Duty" are from a Greek verb that means "to owe”, "to have to pay" and "to account for”. This is not a noun but a verb.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following 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.
So -- The word translated in KJV as "thus" is in its adverbial form, so it means "in this manner”, "so”, "so much” or "so excessively”.
you , -- The pronoun "you" is used explicitly as the subject of the sentence. When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When it is already part of the verb, its use here creates emphasis on the "you" as we might say "you yourselves." It sometimes precedes a verbal adjective or infinitive where it is not part of the verb. It is plural.
also-- (WW) The Greek word translated as "also” is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis, "even”, "also” and "just”. This word doesn't mean "likewise”.
missing "yourselves" ---- (MW) The pronoun is used here explicitly as the subject of the sentence. Since this information is already in the verb, the sense is repetitive as we say "you yourselves”.
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.
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
done -- 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.
everything -- The word translated as "everything" is the Greek adjective meaning "all”, "the whole”, "every" and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything”. As an adverb, it means "in every way”, "on every side” and "altogether”.
missing "those things" -- (MW) The untranslated word "those things" 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.
you , -- (WF) The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you", "for you”, etc. This is not a subject but an indirect object.
were -- This helping verb "were " indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
told --(CW) "Told" is from a Greek verb used for the first time by Jesus here. It means to "appoint", "ordain", "dispose"", arrange for oneself", "classify", and, in the passive, " to be appointed". It is in the passive. Again, the tense is not the past, but a form that means at any time. This is not the word translated as "commanded”.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following 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.
should -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
say, -- The word translated as "I tell" 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”.
missing "because" -- (MW) The untranslated word "because" 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”.
We -- This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb.
are -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
unworthy -- The word translated as "unworthy" means "useless”, "unprofitable”, esp. "unfit for war”, "helpless”, "foolish" and "without cause”.
servants: -- The noun translated as "servant" means "slave”. It is translated as "servant" to update the Bible.
we -- This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb.
have -- This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.
only -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
done -- 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.
missing "these things" -- (MW) The untranslated word "these things" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this", "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he”, "she”, "it”, "which”, "what”, "who”, "whosoever”, "where”, "when”, "for which reason” and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things”.
our -- (WF) This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb. This is not a possessive but a subject.
duty - (WF) "Duty" are from a Greek verb that means "to owe”, "to have to pay” and "to account for”. This is not a noun but a verb.
οὕτως [54 verses](adv) "So" is houtos, an adverb that means "in this way”, "therefore”, "so much" ("for" w/gen.), "to such an extent”, "so very”, "so excessively” and "that is why”. With an imperative "just", "without more ado”. At beginning of a story, "once upon a time”.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "Likewise" 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”.
ὑμεῖς [92 verses](pron 2nd pl nom) "You" is hymeis, which is the plural nominative form of the second person, "you”.
ὅταν [70 verses](adv/conj) "When" is from hotan, which means "whenever” (as a condition) and "since” (as a cause)”.
ποιήσητε [168 verses](verb 2nd pl aor subj act) "Ye shall have done" 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”.
πάντα [212 verses] (adj pl neut acc) "All" is pas, which means "all”, "the whole”, "every”, "anyone”, "all kinds” and "anything”. In the adverbial form, it means "every way”, "on every side”, "in every way” and "altogether”.
τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut acc) "Those things"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”.
διαταχθέντα; [2 verses](part pl aor pass neut acc) "Were commanded" is diatasso, which means to "appoint", "ordain", "dispose”, “arrange for oneself", "classify", and, in the passive, "to be appointed".
ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of the pronoun of the second person in the indirect object form, "to you". As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed. With the "to be’, it acts as a possessive, "yours”.
λέγετε [264 verses](verb 2nd pl pres ind act) "You say" 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”.
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 that can be translated as both "because" and "that" in the same verse when answering two different types of questions.
Δοῦλοι [56 verses](noun pl masc nom) "Servants" is doulos, which means a "slave", a "born bondsman” or "one made a slave”.
ἀχρεῖοί [2 verses](adj pl masc nom) "Unprofitable" is achreios, which means "useless”, "unprofitable”, esp. "unfit for war”, "helpless”, "foolish” and "without cause”.
ἐσμεν, [614 verses] (verb 1st pl pres ind act) "Are" is eimi, which means "to be”, "to exist”, "to be the case”, of circumstance and events "to happen” and "is possible”. With the possessive (genitive) object, it means "is descended from”, "is the type of”, "belongs to”, "is made of”, "is a duty of”, "is at the mercy of” or " is dependent on”. With an indirect (dative) object, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed. "It is to him" becomes "it is his" or "he has it”. With the preposition,"into" (εἰς), the sense is "consist of”. When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are”.
ὃ [294 verses](pron sg neut acc) "That” is hos, which means "this”, "that”, "he”, "she”, "it”, "which”, "what”, "who”, "whosoever”, "where”, "when”, "for which reason” and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things”.
ὠφείλομεν [5 verses] ( verb 1st pl imperf ind act ) "Was our duty" is opheilô, which means "to owe”, "to have to pay”, "to be bound to render”, "to be bound”, "to be obliged” and "to account for”.
ποιῆσαι [168 verses] (verb aor inf 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”l "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”.
πεποιήκαμεν. [168 verses](verb 1st pl perf ind act) "We have done" 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”.