Jesus continues the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector praying.
Luke 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luke 18:12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
I fast twice during the week. I take a tenth from everything, as much as I acquire.
This word translated as "give tithes" and "give a tenth" appears only in the Gospels and an uncommon one for Jesus. It reverses the meaning of the normal word that means "to take a tenth" by adding the word "from" to it as a prefix. The sense is, "I take a tenth from [myself]."
Both translations miss a keyword meaning "as much as" after "all." The final phrase is "as much as I acquire." The "all" is better translated here as "everything."
Taking from yourself is not quite the same as giving to another.
I fast twice in the week, I [give tithes(CW)] of(IW) all that(CW) I possess(CW).
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "give tithes" doesn't precisely mean "give tithes."
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "of" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "that" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "possess."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "a" should be something more like "the."
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "of" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "as much as" after "all" is not shown in the English translation.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
fast - The term translated as "fast" specifically means a religious fast. It also means "to abstain from" when it has a genitive object.
twice -- "Twice" is a Greek word that means "twice" or "doubly"
in -- This word "in" 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. However, it can also mean "belonging to," "part of," "which is," "than" (in comparisons), or "for," "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs. In reference to time, it could instead be translated as "during," "at," or "within."
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.
week, -- The word translated as the "week" is the Greek version of the Hebrew word sabbaton, which means "Sabbath," "seven days of week," and "first day of week."
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
give tithes - (CW) This word is translated as "give tithes." It appears only in the Gospels and an uncommon one for Jesus. It reverses the meaning of the normal word that means "to take a tenth" by adding the word "from" to it as a prefix. The sense is, "I take a tenth from [myself]." This word doesn't precisely mean "give tithes"
of -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
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."
that -- (CW) The adjective translated as "that" means "as many," "how many," "how much," "as much as," "as great as,"how great," "as far as," "how far," and "only so far as."and similar ideas of comparison.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
possess. -- (CW) The term translated as "possess" means "to acquire," but specifically for yourself. It also means "to possess" in the sense of having something stored in opposition to having it in hand. This is not the word usually translated as "possess."
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
fast - The term translated as "fast" specifically means a religious fast. It also means "to abstain from" when it has a genitive object.
twice -- "Twice" is a Greek word that means "twice" or "doubly"
a -- (WW) The word translated as "a" 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 "a."
week, -- The word translated as the "week" is the Greek version of the Hebrew word sabbaton, which means "Sabbath," "seven days of week," and "first day of week."
and -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
give a tenth - This word is translated as "give a tenth." It appears only in the Gospels and an uncommon one for Jesus. It reverses the meaning of the normal word that means "to take a tenth" by adding the word "from" to it as a prefix. The sense is, "I take a tenth from [myself]."
of -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
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."
missing "as much as" -- (MW) The untranslated word "that" means "as many," "how many," "how much," "as much as," "as great as,"how great," "as far as," "how far," and "only so far as."and similar ideas of comparison.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
get. -- The term translated as "get" means "to acquire," but specifically for yourself. It also means "to possess" in the sense of having something stored in opposition to having it in hand.
νηστεύω [10 verses] ( verb 1st sg pres ind act ) "Fast" is nesteuo, which means "fast" and "to abstain from."
δὶς [3 verses](adv) "Twice" is dis, which means "twice" or "doubly."
τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen) "A" 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."
σαββάτου, [17 verses] (noun sg masc gen) "Week" is from sabbaton, which means "Sabbath," "seven days of week," and "first day of week."
ἀποδεκατεύω [3 verses]( verb 1st sg pres ind act ) "I give tithe" is apodekatoo, which means to "tithe," "to take a tenth of," or "to pay a tithe." It is only used in the NT and is a combination of two Greek words "apo" ("from") and "dekatoo," ("to take a tenth").
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."
ὅσα [28 verses] ( adj pl neut acc ) "That" is hosos, which means "as many," "how many," "how much," "as much as," "as great as,"how great," "as far as," "how far," and "only so far as."
κτῶμαι. [3 verses] (verb 1st sg pres ind mp contr ) "I possess" is ktaomai, which means to "acquire," "get specifically for oneself," "procure for oneself," "win," "bring upon oneself (of consequences)," and "have in store (opposite of echo, "having in hand").