To his students after they ask him to increase their faith.
Luke 17:7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
Luke 17:7 Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’?
Anyone, however, out of you all, having a bondman, plowing or herding, who entering out of the field, will you say to him for yourself, "Being superior, right away recline?"
The setup here is that the word translated as "say" is the middle voice, something said for the benefit of the speaker. This misleads the listener about what is about to be said. But the humor is missed because the key word is mistranslated as "go" (KJV) and "come along." The word actually means "being superior." This is the central point of the verse, that the man is treating the servant as superior, by asking him to immediately "recline." The recline is the second punchline, emphasizing the "superior."
The servant is superior to the one being served because he or she has something to offer.
But which of(CW) you, having a servant plowing or feeding(CW) cattle, will say(WV) unto him [by and by(WW)], when(IW) he is(IW) come(CW,WF) from the field, Go(CW,WF) and(IW) sit down [to meat(IW)]?
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "by and by" should be something more like "straightway”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "feed”.
- WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for yourself" or a "yourself" as an object.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "when" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "is" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "go”. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "passing by."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "entering”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "come”. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "entering”.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "being superior”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "to meat" doesn't exist in the source.
Suppose(WW) one(WW) of(CW) you has(WF) a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say(WV) to the(WW) servant(IW) when(IW) he come(WF) in from the field, ‘Come(WW,WF) along now(CW) and(IW) sit down [to eat(IW)]?
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "suppose " should be something more like "but”.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "one" should be something more like "any”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "having”.
- WV -- Wrong Voice -- This verb is a middle voice, which requires a "by/for yourself" or a "yourself" as an object.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "the" should be something more like "him”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "servant" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "when" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "entering”,
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "come along" should be something more like "being superior”.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "being superior”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "now”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "to eat" doesn't exist in the source.
But -- 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.
which - 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”.
of -- (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "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.
you, -- The word translated as "you/your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the possessive (genitive) case. A genitive object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. The time sense of a genitive object is that the event occurred within a specified time.This pronoun follows the noun so the possessive "of yours". When it precedes a definite article before the word it modifies, the sense may be "yours" or "part of you”.
having -- The word translated as "having" means to "have", "possess”, "bear”, "to indulge in”, "keep close”, "hold in”, "to have due to one" or "keep" and many specific uses.
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.
servant -- The noun translated as "servant" means "slave". It is translated as "servant" to update the Bible.
plowing -- "Plowing" is a Greek verb used by Jesus only here that means to "plough" and "till".
or -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi!" or the adverb meaning "in truth”.
feeding cattle -- (CW) "Feeding" is an uncommon Greek word, first used by Jesus here that means to "herd", "tend", "act as a shepherd", "tend flock", "guide", and "govern". It does not mean "feed". Jesus commonly uses the word for feeding cattle in other verses, but not here. This is not the word usually translated as "feed”.
will -- 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.
say - The word translated as "say" 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.
missing "yourself"-- (WV) A phrase is necessary because the form of the previous verb is a middle voice, which means that the subject is to act on "yourself”, "for yourself" or "by 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.
by and by, -- (WW) "By and by" is an adverb, it means "straight", "simple”, "straightway”, forthwith”, "immediately”, "directly” and "at once”. This word doesn't mean "by and by”.
when -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
he -- The word translated as "he" 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”.
is -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
come -- (CW, WF)"Come" is a word that means "enter”, "go or come into" of an accuse "come into court” and has the double meaning of "coming into one's mind”. This is not the word usually translated as "come”.
from -- The Greek preposition translated as "from" 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.
field, -- "Field" is from the common noun that means "field”, "lands” or "countryside”.
Go -- (CW, WF) The word "go" is from a verb that means one thing going by another, one thing surpassing by another, so "to be superior," or the "passing" the time. It also has the sense of arriving to a place and to "pass" a test. This is not the word usually translated as "go”. The whole point is that he is treating the servant as "being superior”.
and -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
sit down -- The active verb translated as "sit down" means to "fall back", "give ground", "lifeless", of style, of a plan "to be given up", and "recline" at meals. It is a play on words, meaning both "recline" at the mean and "retreat".
to meat? -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
Suppose -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "suppose " 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 "suppose”.
one - (WW)The Greek word translated as "one" 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”. This word doesn't mean "one”.
of -- (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "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.
you, -- The word translated as "you/your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the possessive (genitive) case. A genitive object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. The time sense of a genitive object is that the event occurred within a specified time.This pronoun follows the noun so the possessive "of yours”. When it precedes a definite article before the word it modifies, the sense may be "yours" or "part of you".
has -- (WF) The word translated as "has" means to "have”, "possess”, "bear”, "to indulge in”, "keep close”, "hold in”, "to have due to one" or "keep" and many specific uses. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "having”.
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.
servant -- The noun translated as "servant" means "slave”. It is translated as "servant" to update the Bible.
plowing -- "Plowing" is a Greek verb used by Jesus only here that means to "plough" and "till”.
or -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi!” or the adverb meaning "in truth”.
looking after the sheep.-- "Looking after the sheep" is an uncommon Greek word, first used by Jesus here that means to "herd", "tend", "act as a shepherd", "tend flock", "guide" and "govern". It does not mean "feed". Jesus commonly uses the word for feeding cattle in other verses, but not here.
Will -- 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.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
say - The word translated as "say" 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 -- 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.
the -- (WW) The word translated as "the" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person, indirect object pronoun. This word doesn't mean "the”.
servant -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
when -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
he -- The word translated as "he" 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”.
comes in -- (WF)"Come in" is a word that means "enter", "go or come into", of an accuse "come into court” and has the double meaning of "coming into one's mind”.
from -- The Greek preposition translated as "from" 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.
field, -- "Field" is from the common noun that means "field”, "lands” or "countryside”.
Come along -- (WW, WF) The word "come along" is from a verb that means one thing going by another, one thing surpassing by another, so "to be superior” or the "passing" the time. It also has the sense of arriving to a place and to "pass" a test. This word doesn't mean "come" and has no relationship to the above "come”. The whole point is that he is treating the servant as "being superior”.
now -- (CW) The word translated as "now" means "straight”, "simple”, "straightway”, forthwith”, "immediately”, "directly” and "at once”. This word doesn't mean "by and by". This is not the word usually translated as "now”.
and -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
sit down -- The active verb translated as "sit down" means to "fall back", "give ground", "lifeless", of style, of a plan "to be given up" and "recline" at meals. It is a play on words, meaning both "recline" at a meal and "retreat”.
to eat’ -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
Τίς [252 verses] (pro sg masc/fem nom) "Which" 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".-- 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”.
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").
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.
ὑμῶν [168 verses](pron 2nd pl gen) "Your/you" is humon, the plural possessive form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you”. It is either a possessive pronoun or the object of a preposition. As an object of a preposition, the genitive indicates movement away or a position away from something.
δοῦλον [56 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Servant" is doulos, which means a "slave", a "born bondsman”, or "one made a slave”.
ἔχων [181 verses](part sg pres act masc acc) "Have" is echo, which means "to have”, "to hold”, "to possess”, "to keep”, "to have charge of”, "to have due to one”, "to maintain”, "to indulge in”, "to hold fast”, "to hold in”, "to bear”, "to carry”, "to keep close”, "to keep safe" and "to have means to do”. In aorist, it can mean "acquire” or "get". The main sense when it has an object is "to have" or "to hold”. In reference to habits or states, it means "indulge in". With a gen. object, "to keep back" or "withhold" a thing. When its object is an infinitive verb, it means "to have the means or power” or "to be able" not "it must" as in English. This verb isn't used to form past tenses as the helper verb does in English.Nor does it have the sense of "must" when used with infinitives.
ἀροτριῶντα [1 verse](part sg pres act masc acc) "Plowing" is arotriaō, which means to "plough" and "till".
ἢ [92 verses](conj/adv) "Or" is e, which is a particle used as a disjunctive, "either” "or” or as a comparative, "than" or "rather than”. It is (explam) also an exclamation, "hi!" and an adverb,(adv) meaning "in truth" and "of a surety”. It is used with comparative forms of adjective or with positive adjective implying a comparison.
ποιμαίνοντα, [1 verse]( part sg pres act masc acc ) "Feeding cattle" is poimainō, which means to "herd", "tend", "act as a shepherd", "tend flock", "guide" and "govern".
ὃς [294 verses] ( pron sg masc nom) "He" 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”.
εἰσελθόντι [68 verses]( part sg aor act masc dat ) "Is come" is eiserchomai which means both "to go into”, "to come in”, "to enter”, "to enter an office”, "to enter a charge”, (as in court) and "to come into one's mind”.
ἐκ [121 verses] (prep) "From" is ek, which means 1) [of motion] "out of”l "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.
τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc dat) "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”.
ἀγροῦ [22 verses](noun sg masc dat) "Field" is agros, which means "field", "lands" or "country”.
ἐρεῖ [162 verses](verb 2nd sg fut ind mid) "Will say" 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 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”.
Εὐθέως [16 verses](adv) "By and by" is from eutheos, which as an adverb, it means "straight”, "simple”, "straightway”, forthwith”, "immediately”, "directly” and "at once”.
παρελθὼν [5 verses] (part sg aor act masc nom ) "Go" is parerchomai, which means "go by”, "pass by”, "outstrip" (in speed), "to be superior”, "pass away”, "outwit”, "past events" (in time), "disregard”, "pass unnoticed” and "pass without heeding”.
ἀνάπεσε, [3 verses]( verb 2nd sg aor imperat act) is anapipto, which means to "fall back", "give ground", "lifeless", of style, of a plan "to be given up", and "recline" at meals.
This verse continues Jesus's response to the Apostles asking him to increase their faith. It is a humorous response explaining why the Apostles cannot command a tree to uproot itself. In this analogy, the apostles and the tree are the bondsman, whose place is to serve others. The verse is filled with so many verbs used as adjectives, that the language itself is humorous.