Jesus is asked by a certain ruler, "Good teacher can you tell me what good I can do to have eternal life."
Luke 18:20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
Luke 18:20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.
The commandment you have seen: you shouldn't commit adultery, you shouldn't murder, you shouldn't cheat , you shouldn't give false testimony, revere that father of yours and that mother.
The verb translated as "know" means "have seen." In Greek, what people have seen, they "know" in the same sense as we say, "I see," when we understand something. The negative verbs in these "commandments" are not in the form of "commands" that is, the Greek imperative. They are in the form of possibility, actions that "should" happen.
Jesus uses the word translated as "adultery" most often to describe the faithlessness of divorcing a spouse. The broader concept of the time was that "adultery" is anything that is corrupting, as we might say "adulterating." However, the concept was also more specific than that. It focuses on activities that violate vows. The central vow in human relationships is the marriage vow. Violating such vows betrays the one to whom the vow is made and corrupts the person breaking it. In Jewish law, unmarried women could not commit adultery. A vow is required. Using this idea, Jesus connects adultery with the destruction of trust, faithlessness, rather than sex. Therefore, the word is also used to refer to idolatry. Idolatry violates a vow to God.
Today, the commandments are hidden from children.
τὰς ἐντολὰς οἶδας “Μὴ μοιχεύσῃς, Μὴ φονεύσῃς, Μὴ κλέψῃς,
The commandment you have seen: n't you should commit adultery, n't you should murder, n't you should cheat ,
Μὴ ψευδομαρτυρήσῃς, Τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα.”
n't you should give false testimony, revere that father of yours and that mother.
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy (MW) father and thy(WW) mother.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "father" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "thy" should be something more like "the."
You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your (MW) father and (MW) mother.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "father" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "mother" is not shown in the English translation.
Thou -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
knowest -- The verb translated as "know " means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive." In the past perfect tense, used here, it means "to know," and that sense of knowing gives this word a sense of seeing and understanding.
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.
commandments, -- The word translated as "commandments" has the sense of a direct "order" or "command" given by someone as opposed to a body of law or tradition in society. Jesus uses it to refer to the written Law, his lessons, and the commands given by someone in authority.
Do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English.
not -- The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. It applies to will, feeling, and thought.
commit adultery, -- The word translated as "commit adultery" means to"corrupt a woman." In the Greek Old Testament, this word was used to refer to being faithless to the Divine. Jesus uses the word translated as "adultery" most often to describe the faithlessness of divorcing a spouse. The broader concept of the time was that "adultery" is anything that is corrupting, as we might say "adulterating." However, the concept is more specific than that. It focuses on activities that violate vows. The central vow in human relationships is the marriage vow. Violating such vows betrays the one to whom the vow is made and corrupts the person breaking it. In Jewish law, unmarried women could not commit adultery. A vow is required. Using this idea, Jesus connects adultery with the destruction of trust, faithlessness, rather than sex. Therefore, the word is also used to refer to idolatry. Idolatry violates a vow to God.
Do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English.
not -- The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. It applies to will, feeling, and thought.
kill, -- "Kill" is the Greek word for "murder," and killing a way the stains the murder with blood.
Do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English.
not -- The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. It applies to will, feeling, and thought.
steal, - "Steal" is from a verb that means "to steal," "to cheat," and "to do secretly or treacherously."
Do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English.
not -- The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. It applies to will, feeling, and thought.
bear false witness, -- "Bear false witness" is from a verb that means "to be a false witness," "to bear false witness." -
Honour - "Honour" is the Greek verb which means "to revere," "to honor," and "to value." This word is the one used in the commandment, "honor your father and mother." In the original Hebrew, it is from kabad, which means "to be heavy," "to be rich," and "to be honored."Though the Greek word doesn't have the same sense of "weight" as the Hebrew word that this quote is taken from, weight is often connected in Greek with value. In a commodity-based society, value and weight were the same. We say that we give "weight" to arguments in the same sense that the ancients would give "weight" to the rules of a leader or a God.
thy -- The "thy" here is the singular, possessive (genitive) form the second-person pronoun, "yours." When it follows the noun, "of yours."
missing "the/this" -- (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.
father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.
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."
thy -- (WW) The "thy" 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. This word doesn't mean "thy."
mother. -- "Mother" is the common Greek word for "mother" and "grandmothers," but it also means "the source" of something.
You -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
know -- The verb translated as "know " means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive." In the past perfect tense, it means "to know," and that sense of knowing gives this word a sense of seeing and understanding.
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.
commandments, -- The word translated as "commandments" has the sense of a direct "order" or "command" given by someone as opposed to a body of law or tradition in society. Jesus uses it to refer to the written Law, his lessons, and the commands given by someone in authority.
Do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English.
not -- The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. It applies to will, feeling, and thought.
commit adultery, -- The word translated as "commit adultery" means to"corrupt a woman." In the Greek Old Testament, this word was used to refer to being faithless to the Divine. Jesus uses the word translated as "adultery" most often to describe the faithlessness of divorcing a spouse. The broader concept of the time was that "adultery" is anything that is corrupting, as we might say "adulterating." However, the concept is more specific than that. It focuses on activities that violate vows. The central vow in human relationships is the marriage vow. Violating such vows betrays the one to whom the vow is made and corrupts the person breaking it. In Jewish law, unmarried women could not commit adultery. A vow is required. Using this idea, Jesus connects adultery with the destruction of trust, faithlessness, rather than sex. Therefore, the word is also used to refer to idolatry. Idolatry violates a vow to God.
Do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English.
not -- The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. It applies to will, feeling, and thought.
murder, -- "Murder" is the Greek word for "murder," and killing a way the stains the murder with blood.
Do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English.
not -- The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. It applies to will, feeling, and thought.
steal, - "Steal" is from a verb that means "to steal," "to cheat," and "to do secretly or treacherously."
Do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English.
not -- The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. It applies to will, feeling, and thought.
give false testimony, -- "Give false testimony" is from a verb that means "to be a false witness," "to bear false witness." -
Honor - "Honor" is the Greek verb which means "to revere," "to honor," and "to value." This word is the one used in the commandment, "honor your father and mother." In the original Hebrew, it is from kabad, which means "to be heavy," "to be rich," and "to be honored."Though the Greek word doesn't have the same sense of "weight" as the Hebrew word that this quote is taken from, weight is often connected in Greek with value. In a commodity-based society, value and weight were the same. We say that we give "weight" to arguments in the same sense that the ancients would give "weight" to the rules of a leader or a God.
thy -- The "thy" here is the singular, possessive (genitive) form the second-person pronoun, "yours." When it follows the noun, "of yours."
missing "the/this" -- (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.
father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.
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."
missing "the/this" -- (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.
mother.-- "Mother" is the common Greek word for "mother" and "grandmothers," but it also means "the source" of something.
τὰς [821 verses](article pl fem acc) "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 a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
ἐντολὰς [23 verses](noun pl fem acc) "Commandments" is entole which means "injunction," "order," and "command."
οἶδας [166 verses]( verb 2nd sg perf ind act ) "Thou knowest" is eido which means "to see," "to examine," "to perceive," "to behold," "to know how to do," "to see with the mind's eye," and "to know."
Μὴ [447 verses](conj) "Not" is me , which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." The negative, μή, rejects, is relative, and subjective. It is used with verbs of subjective action: thinking, feeling, seeing, etc. It is used in imperative and subjunctive clauses because both express opinions. With pres. or aor. subjunctive, it is used in a warning or statement of fear, "take care." The combination of ἵνα μή means "lest." The combination of ὅτι μή, means "except." Used before tis with an imperative to express a will or wish for something in independent sentences and, with subjunctives, to express prohibitions. It is used with infinitives that express a purpose. When used with verbs of physical action, its sense is that "not wanting" or "thinking" something, not that it isn't done or thought. With these verbs, the sense is rejecting the action, rather than simply not doing it. With the verb "to be," the sense is "doesn't seem." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. Used with an imperative to express a will or wish. Used in negative conditional "when/if/whoever" clauses. With "have," the sense is "lacks" or "wants."
μοιχεύσῃς, [10 verses] (verb 2nd sg aor subj act ) "Do...commit adultery" is moicheuo, which means "commit adultery with a woman, " "to debauch a woman," and generally, "to commit adultery with anyone." It is a metaphor for "worshiping idolatrously." There are two versions of this Greek verb. This is the more common version used by Luke and the largest number of times by Matthew. John never uses any form of this word. Both versions are common in Greek. The biblical translations conflate them, so I have to check the Greek to see which is used. --
Μὴ [447 verses](conj) "Not" is me , which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." The negative, μή, rejects, is relative, and subjective. It is used with verbs of subjective action: thinking, feeling, seeing, etc. It is used in imperative and subjunctive clauses because both express opinions. With pres. or aor. subjunctive, it is used in a warning or statement of fear, "take care." The combination of ἵνα μή means "lest." The combination of ὅτι μή, means "except." Used before tis with an imperative to express a will or wish for something in independent sentences and, with subjunctives, to express prohibitions. It is used with infinitives that express a purpose. When used with verbs of physical action, its sense is that "not wanting" or "thinking" something, not that it isn't done or thought. With these verbs, the sense is rejecting the action, rather than simply not doing it. With the verb "to be," the sense is "doesn't seem." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. Used with an imperative to express a will or wish. Used in negative conditional "when/if/whoever" clauses. With "have," the sense is "lacks" or "wants."
φονεύσῃς, [6 verses](verb 2nd sg aor subj act) "Do...kill" is phoneuo. which means "to kill," "to murder," "to be slain [passive], and "to stain with blood."
Μὴ [447 verses](conj) "Not" is me , which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." The negative, μή, rejects, is relative, and subjective. It is used with verbs of subjective action: thinking, feeling, seeing, etc. It is used in imperative and subjunctive clauses because both express opinions. With pres. or aor. subjunctive, it is used in a warning or statement of fear, "take care." The combination of ἵνα μή means "lest." The combination of ὅτι μή, means "except." Used before tis with an imperative to express a will or wish for something in independent sentences and, with subjunctives, to express prohibitions. It is used with infinitives that express a purpose. When used with verbs of physical action, its sense is that "not wanting" or "thinking" something, not that it isn't done or thought. With these verbs, the sense is rejecting the action, rather than simply not doing it. With the verb "to be," the sense is "doesn't seem." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. Used with an imperative to express a will or wish. Used in negative conditional "when/if/whoever" clauses. With "have," the sense is "lacks" or "wants."
κλέψῃς, [6 verses](verb 2nd sg aor subj act) "Do...steal" " is klepto, which means "to steal," "to cheat," "to spirit away," "to conceal," "to keep secret," "to do secretly," "to seize or occupy secretly," "to bring about secretly," and "to do secretly or treacherously."
Μὴ [447 verses](conj) "Not" is me , which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." The negative, μή, rejects, is relative, and subjective. It is used with verbs of subjective action: thinking, feeling, seeing, etc. It is used in imperative and subjunctive clauses because both express opinions. With pres. or aor. subjunctive, it is used in a warning or statement of fear, "take care." The combination of ἵνα μή means "lest." The combination of ὅτι μή, means "except." Used before tis with an imperative to express a will or wish for something in independent sentences and, with subjunctives, to express prohibitions. It is used with infinitives that express a purpose. When used with verbs of physical action, its sense is that "not wanting" or "thinking" something, not that it isn't done or thought. With these verbs, the sense is rejecting the action, rather than simply not doing it. With the verb "to be," the sense is "doesn't seem." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. Used with an imperative to express a will or wish. Used in negative conditional "when/if/whoever" clauses. With "have," the sense is "lacks" or "wants."
ψευδομαρτυρήσῃς, [3 verses](verb 2nd sg aor subj act) "Do...bear false witness" "Thou shalt...bear false witness" is from pseudomartureo, which means "to bear false witness."
Τίμα [12 verses] (verb 2nd sg pres imperat act) "Honor"is timao , which means "to revere," "to honor," and "to value." This word is the one used in the commandment, "honor your father and mother." In the original Hebrew, it is from kabad, which means "to be heavy," "to be rich," and "to be honored."
τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc 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 a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
πατέρα [191 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Father" is pater, which means "father," "grandfather," "author," "parent," and "forefathers."
σου [150 verses] (pron sg masc gen) "Thy" is from sou, the possessive (genitive) form of the second-person, singular pronoun. 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.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "Although" 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." Εἰ καὶ means "although."
τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem 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 a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --
μητέρα. [27 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Mother" is meter, which means "mother," "grandmother," "mother hen," "source," and "origin."
The similar verses in Matthew and Mark (Mark 10:19, Matthew 19:17, :18, :19) all follow the verses on letting children come to him. This is unlikely to have happened twice in this way. This version and Mark are nearly identical except for one additional command in Mark. Matthew has a different beginning as part of the previous verse and its verb forms are different.