Luke 20:3 I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

Spoken to
challengers

After Jesus is asked by opponents about his source of authority. 

KJV

Luke 20:3 I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

NIV

Luke 20:3 I will also ask you a question. Tell me:

LISTENERS HEARD

I might question you all also I myself, an explanation also tell me.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The word translated as "one thing" and "question" is the logos, the word usually translated as "word" in the Bible. ("The word (logos) was made flesh.") The word has many meanings, one of which is "question", which fits here. The word is the source of our word "logic".

 

MY TAKE

Using logic is asking questions. 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
3

 I will also ask you one(IW) thing(WW); and answer(CW) me:

  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "one" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "thing" should be something more like "question".
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is word not usually translated as "answer".
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
1

I will also ask you a question. (MW) Tell me:

  •  MW - Missing Word -- The word "and"  after "question" is not shown in the English translation.  
EACH WORD of KJV

I - The pronoun "I" is unnecessary because the first-person indication is part of the verb ending. Christ sometimes uses it humorously to refer to himself, but it always adds emphasis like saying "I myself". This pronoun doesn't appear first, the verb does, with the "I" information in it already. This occurs after the "you".

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. - However, the verb could also be in the form of possibility, "might".

ask "Will ask" means "to ask" or "to question". The form could be the future, but the subjective mood is more likely, "I might question".

also -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). It is part of the contraction with the "I" pronoun. It appears after the "you" not before the verb.

you -- The "you" here is the second-person, plural pronoun in the form of an object.  

one -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source

thing -- (WW) "Word" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation" or "reasoning", but it has many, many specific meanings from "deliberation", "question", "subject matter", "narrative" and so on.  It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. However, when applied to people, it means "repute" or "reputation". More about this word in this article. In English, we would say "logic", "concept" or "reasoning" to describe it but it also means the communication of various types, so "message" often works. "Teaching" might work but it is unrelated to the common words for "to teach", "teacher" and "student" that all have the same root.  This word doesn't mean "thing".

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). It is the same as the word above.

answer  -- (CW) "Answer" is from the Greek verb that means "to say" and "to speak" also.  It is almost always translated as "say", "speak" or "tell" in the Bible. This is word not usually translated as "answer".  

me: -- The "me" is in the indirect object form on the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me", though the form has other uses in Greek.

EACH WORD of NIV

I - The pronoun "I" is unnecessary because the first-person indication is part of the verb ending. Christ sometimes uses it humorously to refer to himself, but it always adds emphasis like saying "I myself". This pronoun doesn't appear first, the verb does, with the "I" information in it already. This occurs after the "you".

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. - However, the verb could also be in the form of possibility, "might".

also -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). It is part of the contraction with the "I" pronoun. It appears after the "you" not before the verb.

ask "Will ask" means "to ask" or "to question". The form could be the future, but the subjunctive mood is more likely, "I might question".

you -- The "you" here is the second-person, plural pronoun in the form of an object.  

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.

question-- "Word" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation" or "reasoning", but it has many, many specific meanings from "deliberation", "question", "subject matter", "narrative" and so on.  It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology". Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. However, when applied to people, it means "repute" or "reputation". More about this word in this article. In English, we would say "logic", "concept" or "reasoning" to describe it but it also means the communication of various types, so "message" often works. "Teaching" might work but it is unrelated to the common words for "to teach", "teacher" and "student" that all have the same root.  

missing "and"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). It is the same as the word above.

Tell -- "Tell " is from the Greek verb that means "to say" and "to speak" also.  It is almost always translated as "say", "speak" or "tell" in the Bible. This is word not usually translated as "answer".  

me: -- The "me" is in the indirect object form on the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me", though the form has other uses in Greek. 

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

Ἐρωτήσω (verb 1st sg fut ind act or verb 1st sg aor subj act) "Will ask" is from erotaowhich means "to ask" or "to question".

ὑμᾶς (pron 2nd pl acc) "You" is humas which is the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you".

κἀγὼ (conj pron) "I...also" is kago, a contraction of kai ego. "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and" or "but". 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" ."I" is ego, which is the first-person singular pronoun meaning "I". It also means "I at least", "for my part", "indeed" and "for myself".

λόγον, ( noun sg masc acc ) "This" is logos, which means "word", "computation", "relation", "explanation", "law", "rule of conduct", "continuous statement", "tradition", "discussion", "reckoning" and "value".

καὶ (conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and" or "but". 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".

εἴπατέ ( verb 2nd pl aor imperat act ) "Answer" 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".

μοι (noun sg masc dat) "Me" is emoi, which is 1st person,singular dative pronoun meaning "me' as the indirect object of a verb.

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