The parable of the unjust judge.
Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luke 18:7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
But should the Divine never bring about this satisfaction for those chosen of his those crying out to him day and night? Also, does he persevere patiently over them?
This is where the Greek lack of an interrogatory verb form confuses the meaning. As a statement, this verse says one thing the God might new give satisfaction to those crying out to him. As an ironic question, which is likely from the context, it ask the opposite a rhetorical question: "Should the Divine never bring about satisfaction?". The "shall" in the KJV is misleading. This verse does not say that God will give satisfaction. It specifically says that he "should" or "might," that is, that there is a possibility.
Again, the English translation make so many missteps in translation that it is hard to cover everything lost. The KJV makes this all about vengeance, which is close to the meaning of the Greek word, but the NIV captures the spirit better with "bring about justice" though "justice" is a mistranslation as well. The word means "vengeance" but also "satisfaction." With the verb used, ignored in the KJV, it means "to give satisfaction."
Both translations miss the point of the final statement. It simple asks the rhetorical question, "Do he patiently persevere over them?"
My hope is that the Divine is very patient with me.
And(WW) shall(CW) not(CW) (MW) God (MW) (MW) avenge(WF) his own(IW) (MW) elect(UW), which(CW) cry(WF) day and night unto him, though(WW) he bear long with(CW) them?
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but."
- CW - Confusing Word - This "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "make" after "Gd" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "avenge" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "avenge" is not a verb but a noun.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "own" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "elect" is not shown in the English translation.
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "elect" means "chosen." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "which."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "crying."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "though" should be something more like "and."
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "with."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "will" should be something more like "should."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "justice" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "justice."
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "who."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "crying."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" after "night" is not shown in the English translation.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "keep" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "on" after "putting" is not shown in the English translation.
And -- 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."
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.
not -- (CW) The "not" here is both of the Greek negatives used together. Greek has two negatives, one objective, one subjective. The use of both together is more extreme, like saying, "never" or literally, "you cannot really think." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
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.
God-- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." When used by Jesus and in the Septuagint to mean "God, it is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." The definite article identifies it as specific. When a definite article does not introduce it, it refers more generally to "divinity," the nature of God.
missing "produce" -- (MW) The untranslated word "make" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action.
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.
avenge -- (WF) This word means "vengeance," and "satisfaction." This is not the Greek verb we saw earlier in this story, but the noun. It means "vengeance" but with the verb "make" used, "to produce satisfaction." This is not a verb but a noun.
his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English. The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his." - In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there."
own -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. The phrase "his own" is usually used to translate the reflexive pronoun.
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.
elect, -- (CW) "Elect" is translated from a Greek word that means "picked out," "select," "choice," and "pure." It is translated elsewhere as "the elect." Our English word "elect" is adapted from Biblical Greek through Latin.
which -- (CW) The word translated as "which" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. This is not the word usually translated as "which."
cry -- (WF) "Cry" is from a verb that means "to cry out" or "the shout out." It is used by Jesus uniquely in this verse. It is in the form of an adjective, "crying out" introduced by an article, "those crying out." However, it is in a possessive form, which, when used with time (day and night) has the sense of "during," so the sense is "during these crying out unto him day and night." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "crying ."
day -- The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime."
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."
night -- "Night" is the noun that means "night," "midnight," and is a metaphor for darkness. --
unto -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
him "-- The word translated as "him" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person, indirect object pronoun.
though -- The Greek word translated as "though" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." This word doesn't mean "though."
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
bear long - "Bear long" is from a Greek verb that "to be long-suffering," "to persevere," and "to bear patiently." It means literally "remote anger," so patience is a matter of putting off anger.
with -- The word translated as "with" means "on," "over," "upon," "for," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of." This is not the word usually translated as "with."
them? -- The word translated as "them" or "to them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural as an indirect object of the verb or the object of a preposition.
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."
will -- (WW) This helping verb indicates that the verb is the future tense, but it isn't. It is in the form of possibility so it needs a "should" or "might." WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "will" should be something more like "should."
not -- (CW) The "not" here is both of the Greek negatives used together. Greek has two negatives, one objective, one subjective. The use of both together is more extreme, like saying, "never" or literally, "you cannot really think." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
will -- (WW) This helping verb indicates that the verb is the future tense, but it isn't. It is in the form of possibility so it needs a "should" or "might."
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.
God-- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." When used by Jesus and in the Septuagint to mean "God, it is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." The definite article identifies it as specific. When a definite article does not introduce it, it refers more generally to "divinity," the nature of God.
bring about -- The word "bring about" has the primary meaning of "making" or "producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action.
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.
justice -- (CW) This word translated as "justice" means "vengeance," and "satisfaction." This is not the word usually translated as "justice."
for -- This word "for" 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.
his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English. The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his." - In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there."
ones -- The "ones" 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. Without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
chosen, -- "Chosen" is translated from a Greek word that means "picked out," "select," "choice," and "pure." It is translated elsewhere as "the elect." Our English word "elect" is adapted from Biblical Greek through Latin.
who -- (CW) The word translated as "who" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. This is not the word usually translated as "who."
cry out -- (WF) "Cry out" is from a verb that means "to cry out" or "the shout out." It is used by Jesus uniquely in this verse. It is in the form of an adjective, "crying out" introduced by an article, "those crying out." However, it is in a possessive form, which, when used with time (day and night) has the sense of "during," so the sense is "during these crying out unto him day and night." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "crying ."
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
him "-- The word translated as "him" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person, indirect object pronoun.
day -- The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time," in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime."
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."
night -- "Night" is the noun that means "night," "midnight," and is a metaphor for darkness. --
missing "and" -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." This word doesn't mean "though."
Will -- (WT) This helping verb "will" indicates the future tense, but the verb is not the future.
he putting them off?
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
keep -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
putting - "Putting..off" is from a Greek verb that "to be long-suffering," "to persevere," and "to bear patiently." It means literally "remote anger," so patience is a matter of putting off anger.
missing "on" -- (MW) The untranslated word "on" means "on," "over," "upon," "for," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of." This is not the word usually translated as "with."
them? -- The word translated as "them" or "to them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural as an indirect object of the verb or the object of a preposition.
off.
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) 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." --
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"). In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then."
θεὸς [144 verses](noun sg masc nom) "God" is theos, which means "God," "divine," and "Deity."
οὐ μὴ [39 verses](partic) "Never" is ou me, the two forms of Greek negative used together. Ou is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. Mê (me) is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." As οὐ (ou) negates fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective.
ποιήσῃ [168 verses](verb 3rd sg aor subj act ) Untranslated 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."
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." -- 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. MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "avenge" is not shown in the English translation.
ἐκδίκησιν [3 verses]( noun sg fem acc ) "Avenge" is ekdikēsis, which means "avenging," "vengence," and "satisfaction"as in "give satisfaction."
τῶν [821 verses](article pl 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." --
ἐκλεκτῶν [8 verses](adj pl masc acc) "Elect" i is eklektos, which means "picked out," "select," "choice," and "pure." The adjective is from is eklektoo, the verb form meaning "to be separated," or "to be purified."
αὐτοῦ [142 verses](adv/adj sg masc gen) "Him" is autou, which means is the singular adjective used as the genitive pronoun, which is used as a possessive form or the object of prepositions and sometimes verbs as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there." This form is often used as the object of a preposition, him." This form of an object of a preposition 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. Though the form is masculine, it refers to masculine words, not people. The masculine form is used to refer to people in general, not just men.
τῶν (article pl masc gen) "Which" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
βοώντων [1 verse](part pl pres act masc gen) "Cry" is from boao, which means to "cry aloud," "shout," "roar," and similar ideas.
αὐτῷ [106 verses](pron/adj sg masc/neut dat) "Him" is 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."
ἡμέρας [96 verses]( ( noun sg fem gen ) "Day" is hemera, which, as a noun, means "day" "a state or time of life," "a time (poetic)," "day break" and "day time." It is also and also has a second meaning, of "quiet," "tame (animals)," "cultivated (crops)," and "civilized (people)."
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."
νυκτός, [11 verses] ( noun sg fem gen) "Night" is from nyx, which means "night," "midnight," and is a metaphor for darkness.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "Though" 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."
μακροθυμεῖ [3 verses] ( verb 3rd sg pres ind act ) "He bear long" is makrothymeo, which means "to be long-suffering," "to persevere," "to be slow (to help)," and "to bear patiently."
ἐπ᾽ [138 verses](prep) "On" is from epi , which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," "for," and "against." With a noun in the possessive, genitive, it means "upon," "on" but not necessarily of Place, "by (of persons)," "deep (with numbers)," "in the presence of," "towards," "in the time of," and "over (referring to a person of authority)." With a noun indirect object, dative, it means of place: "upon," "on," or "over," of people: "against (in a hostile sense)," regarding a situation: "towards" or "in reference to," of an accumulation: "upon," "after," "addition to," and "besides," of position: "after," "behind," "in dependence upon," and "in the power of," of time: "by," and "after," and. in a causal sense: "of the occasion or cause," "for" a person, an end, or purpose," "on condition that," and "for" (a price). With the objective noun, an accusative, it means of place: "upon or on to a height," "up to," "as far as," "a little way," "a little," "towards," "to," in hostile sense: "against," of extension: "over," "over (a space)," of time: "for," "during," "up to" or "till," in a causal sense: "of (the object)," for (this purpose)," "as regards,"after," "according to," and "by (this cause)." With verbs of perceiving, observing, and judging, it means "in the case of."
αὐτοῖς [55 verses](pron/adj pl masc dat) "Them" is autois, .the dative, plural case of the third-person, plural 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." A dative object of a preposition implies no movement but in a fixed position.