Jesus tells a parable of the vine-dressers to the crowd.
Luke 20:13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.
Luke 20:13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’
He said, however, that master of the vineyard, "What will I do? I will send that son of mine, the one loved. Perhaps, they will be turned around by that one there.
The word translated as "beloved" and "whom I love" means "one with whom one must be content" and is used to describe children. It is a funny word that Jesus only uses twice. In the Septuagint, it is used to translate a Hebrew word that means "beloved."
The final word, translated as "reverenced" and "respect" can carry those ideas, but the form is passive and the word primarily means "to be turned around". The sense is that the vine-dressers will be turned about by the son.
We must all be content with our children and our parents.
Then(WW) said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my (MW) beloved (MW) son: [it may be(WW,WF)] they will reverence(WW,WF) him(CW) when(IW) [they see him(OS)].
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated then"and" should be something more like "but",
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "beloved" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "son" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "it may be " should be something more like "possibly".
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "it may be" is not a verb but an adverb.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "reverence" should be something more like "be turned around".
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "reverence" is not a active verb but a passive one.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "him" should be "this person there".
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "when" doesn't exist in the source.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "they see him" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated then"and" should be something more like "but".
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "son" is not shown in the English translation.
- PP -- Paraphrase - The phrase "the beloved" exists in the source but "whom I love"; doesn't.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "respect" should be something more like "be turned around".
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "respect" is not a active verb but a passive one.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "him" should be "this person there".
Then -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "then" means "but", "however" and "on the other hand". Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. This word doesn't mean "then".
said -- "Said" is from the Greek verb that means "to say" and "to speak" also.
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.
lord -- The word translated as "the lord" is the same word that is often translated as "Lord" or "the Lord" in the NT. It also means "lord", "master of the house" and "head of the family". It is the specific term for the master of slaves or servants, but it was a common term of respect both for those in authority and who were honored. It was the term people used to address Christ, even though he had no formal authority. Today, we would say "boss" or "chief".
of -- This word "of" 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.
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.
vineyard -- "Vineyard" is from the genitive form of the noun that means simply "vineyard".
What -- The word translated as "what" means primarily "anything" or "anyone", but Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who", "what" or even "why".
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. A "might" or "should" could work here or nothing at all in an "if/when/whoever" clause which implies a possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the 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. It is not as broad a word as the English "do", which covers all actions, productive or not. The form of the word is more likely that of possibility than the future tense.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. A "might" or "should" could work here or nothing at all in an "if/when/whoever" clause which implies a possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
send -- "Send " is from a Greek verb that means "send", "send forth", "send away", "conduct" and "escort". The form again could be the future but it is more likely that of possibility.
my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my", "me" and "mine". Usually follows the noun so, "of mine".
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.
beloved -- "Beloved" is an uncommon adjective for Jesus to use that means which means "that with one must be content" when specifically applied to only children, "to be acquiesced in" (the choice of least evils, "one must be content", "desirable" (of things), and "beloved" (of people). It is an adjective form of one of the words the NT translates as "love" but it has the sense of welcome. We only see this word here and in the parallel in Mark. This word follows "son" and is preceded by its own article so that either it or the following word (see below) are treated as a noun.
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.
son -- The word translated as "son" more generally means "child" or "children". It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations. Jesus also used it metaphorically to describe those who follow a way of thought or set of beliefs that descend from an individual. More about it in this article.
it may be -- (WW, WF) As an adverb, the Greek word means "equally", "in like manner", "equally", “fairly", "equitably", "probably" and "perhaps".
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. A "might" or "should" could work here or nothing at all in an "if/when/whoever" clause which implies a possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
reverence -- (WW,WF) The word translated as "reverence" primarily means to "turn around". In the passive used here, it has a sense of feeling misgivings about what you are doing. It also means to respect or reverence, but with a sense of changing behavior. This word doesn't mean "reverence". This is not an active verb but a passive one.
him -- (CW) The word translated as "him" means "from here", "from there" or "this/that thing/person here/there." As a pronoun by itself, it means "this here" but it can be shortened to just "this". The Bible usually translates it as the adjective "this" when it appears after words modifying them, which is confusing because the definite article, with which it is often used before the word, also can mean "this". It works better as "here", which is how Jesus usually uses it, but it can also mean "there". It often comes after the noun, emphasizing it, "this thing here".
when -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
they see him. -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as this in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.
Then -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "then" means "but", "however" and "on the other hand". Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. This word doesn't mean "then".
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.
owner -- The word translated as "owner" is the same word that is often translated as "Lord" or "the Lord" in the NT. It also means "lord", "master of the house" and "head of the family". It is the specific term for the master of slaves or servants, but it was a common term of respect both for those in authority and who were honored. It was the term people used to address Christ, even though he had no formal authority. Today, we would say "boss" or "chief".
of -- This word "of" 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.
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.
vineyard -- "Vineyard" is from the genitive form of the noun that means simply "vineyard".
said -- "Said" is from the Greek verb that means "to say" and "to speak" also.
What -- The word translated as "what" means primarily "anything" or "anyone", but Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who", "what" or even "why".
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. A "might" or "should" could work here or nothing at all in an "if/when/whoever" clause which implies a possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the 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. It is not as broad a word as the English "do", which covers all actions, productive or not. The form of the word is more likely that of possibility than the future tense".
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. A "might" or "should" could work here or nothing at all in an "if/when/whoever" clause which implies a possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
send -- "Send " is from a Greek verb that means "send", "send forth", "send away", "conduct" and "escort". The form again could be the future but it is more likely that of possibility.
my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my", "me" and "mine". Usually follows the noun so, "of mine".
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.
son -- The word translated as "son" more generally means "child" or "children". It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations. Jesus also used it metaphorically to describe those who follow a way of thought or set of beliefs that descend from an individual. More about it in this article.
whom I love; -- (PP) The Greek words meaning "the beloved" here are not translated but instead their assumed meaning is paraphrased into different words. 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. The untranslated word "beloved" is an uncommon adjective for Jesus to use that means which means "that with one must be content" when specifically applied to only children, "to be acquiesced in" (the choice of least evils), "one must be content", "desirable" (of things), and "beloved" (of people). It is an adjective form of one of the words the NT translates as "love" but it has the sense of welcome. We only see this word here and in the parallel in Mark. This word follows "son" and is preceded by its own article so that either it or the following word (see below) are treated as a noun.
perhaps -- As an adverb, the Greek word means "equally", "in like manner", "equally", “fairly", "equitably", "probably" and "perhaps".
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. A "might" or "should" could work here or nothing at all in an "if/when/whoever" clause which implies a possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
respect -- (WW,WF) The word translated as "respect" primarily means to "turn around". In the passive used here, it has a sense of feeling misgivings about what you are doing. It also means to respect or reverence, but with a sense of changing behavior. This word doesn't mean "reverence". This is not an active verb but a passive one.
him -- (CW) The word translated as "him" means "from here", "from there" or "this/that thing/person here/there." As a pronoun by itself, it means "this here" but it can be shortened to just "this." The Bible usually translates it as the adjective "this" when it appears after words modifying them, which is confusing because the definite article, with which it is often used before the word, also can mean "this". It works better as "here", which is how Jesus usually uses it, but it can also mean "there". It often comes after the noun, emphasizing it, "this thing here".
when -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
they see him. -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as this in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.
εἶπεν ( verb 3rd sg aor ind act ) "Said" 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".
δὲ (conj/adv) "But" is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be a weak connective ("and") and explanation of cause ("so") and a condition ("if").
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "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".
κύριος (noun sg masc nom) "Lord" is kyrios (kurios), which means "having power", "being in authority" and "being in possession of". It also means "lord", "master of the house" and "head of the family".
τοῦ (article sg masc gen) "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" .
ἀμπελῶνος (noun sg masc gen) "Of the vineyard" is ampelon which means simply "vineyard".
Τί ( irreg sg neut nom ) "What" is tis which can mean "someone", "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".
ποιήσω; ( verb 1st sg aor subj act or verb 1st sg fut ind act ) "Shall I 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", "to make ready" and "to do".
πέμψω (verb 1st sg aor subj act or verb 1st sg fut ind act doric) "I will send" is pempo, which means "send", "send forth", "send away", "conduct" and "escort".
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 word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones".
υἱόν ( noun sg masc acc ) "The Son" is huios, which means a "son," and more generally, a "child". It is used generally to refer to any male descendant.
μου (noun sg masc gen) "My" is emou, which means "me", and "mine".
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 word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones".
ἀγαπητόν: [2 verses]( adj sg masc acc ) "Beloved" is agapetos, which means "that with one must be content" when specifically applied to only children. In the choice of least evils, it means "to be acquiesced in". It means desirable" (of things), and "beloved" (of people) as used in the Septuagint.
ἴσως [4 verses] (adv, adj pl masc acc) "Equal" is isos, which, as an adverb, means "equally", "in like manner", "equally", “fairly", "equitably", "probably" and "perhaps". As an adjective means "equal" in size, strength, number, or rights; of persons, "fair", "impartial"; of ground, "even", "flat"; generally, "just", "fair". It is also used to mean an "equal share" or "equally distributed".
τοῦτον (adj sg masc acc) "That" is toutos, (touto, toutou)which means "from here", "from there", "this [thing] there" or "that [person] here". In the neuter plural form, it is often used as the object of the verb to means "these things".
ἐντραπήσονται. (verb 3rd pl fut ind pass) "They will reverence" is from entrepo, which means "to turn [something] about", "to make one turn" and, as a metaphor, for "putting one to shame". In its passive form (used here), it means "to turn [yourself] about", "to feel misgivings", "to hesitate", "to give heed", "to respect" and "to reverence".
Comparing the three versions of this verse, Mark seems to combine words from both Matthew and Luke. Again, we see differences with the KJV and the Greek we use today, starting with the first word. All three versions use the same verb that is oddly translated as "they will reverence", which is neither its meaning or its form.