After the apostles start asking themselves who is the greatest among them.
Luke 22:25 The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
Luke 22:25 The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.
These rulers of the ethnics lord over them and the ones having control of them call themselves, "a benefactor."
This verse has three unique words.
The word translated as "exercise lordship" and "lord it over" is a verb form of the common noun meaning "lord". The word translated as "exercise authority" means "having power". It is a verb form of the noun usually translated as "power" or an "authority". It is better translated "having control" because it better first the form of the following pronoun "of them".
The final noun, part of the punchline doesn't seem to fit with its verb "call". It is a singular noun in the form of a subject. Yet the final verb is plural and takes an object. This means that the final noun assumes the verb "to be". The object of the verb, "call" is "themselves" from its middle verb form. The final noun implies an unspoken "I am". The sense is "they call themselves, '[I am] a benefactor'".
Trying to control others is a dangerous game requiring self-deception.
The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they(CW) that(IW) [exercise authority(WF)] upon them are(WF) called benefactors(WN,WF).
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "they".
- IW - Inserted Word -- The "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form -- This verb is in the form of possibility, a subjunctive, which requires a "should" or "might" before the verb.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "exercising authority".
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "benefactors" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an object of a verb but a subject.
The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who(IW) [exercise authority(WF)] over them call themselves Benefactors(WN,WF).
- IW - Inserted Word -- The "who" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "exercising authority".
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "benefactors" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an object of a verb but a subject.
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.
kings -- "The kings" is translated from a Greek word which means a "king" 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.
Gentiles -- The word translated as "of the Gentiles" means "a group of people living together". "a nation", "a tribe" or a cast of people. Later it came to mean "barbarous nations" similar to our idea of ethnic people. It is in the same form as the "them" above, so "to them" or "for them". The "of" comes from the form of the word. This translation is more specific than the word's meaning.
exercise lordship over -- "Exercise lordship over" is from a Greek verb that Jesus only uses here. It means "to be lord or master of" and "possession of" and "seize". However, this is a common verb outside of the NT. In Matthew, Jesus adds a prefix to this word, making it a new form. This word is the verb form of word Jesus commonly uses as a noun.
them -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
they -- (CW) The word translated as "they" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one". Here, it preceded the adjective form of a verb, making it act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. The form is that of the subject of the sentence. This is not the word usually translated as "they".
that -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.
exercise authority -- (WF) "Exercise authority upon" is another verb Jesus only uses in the verse that means to "exercise authority", "have power", "exercise authority over" and "enjoy license". The form is not that of an active verb but of an adjective, "exercising authority over". The form is that of the subject of the sentence. This word is the verb form of a word Jesus commonly uses as a noun. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "exercising authority."
upon -- This word "upon" 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.
them - The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
are -- (WF) This helping verb "are" indicates that the verb is passive, but the verb is more likely the middle voice, someone acting on/for/by themselves. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
called -- The term translated as "are called" is like our word "call" because it means both "to summon" and also "to name". The form is that of either passive or someone acting on themselves, so "calling themselves". Other people are not calling them this, but they are calling themselves. This word comes at the end of the verse and is its punchline.
benefactors-- (WN,WF) "Benefactors" is a Greek noun that Jesus only uses here. It means "benefactor" and, as an adjective, "beneficent" and "bountiful". This word is also in the form of a subject. The verb "to be" can be assumed. This word is not plural but singular. This is not an object of a verb but a subject. WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an object of a verb but a subject.
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.
kings -- "The kings" is translated from a Greek word which means a "king" 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.
Gentiles -- The word translated as "of the Gentiles" means "a group of people living together", "a nation", "a tribe" or a cast of people. Later it came to mean "barbarous nations" similar to our idea of ethnic people. It is in the same form as the "them" above, so "to them" or "for them". The "of" comes from the form of the word. This translation is more specific than the word's meaning.
lord it over -- "Lord it over" is from a Greek verb that Jesus only uses here. It means "to be lord or master of", "possession of" and "seize". However, this is a common verb outside of the NT. In Matthew, Jesus adds a prefix to this word, making it a new form. This word is the verb form of word Jesus commonly uses as a noun.
them -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
those -- The word translated as "those" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one". Here, it preceded the adjective form of a verb, making it act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. The form is that of the subject of the sentence. This is not the word usually translated as "those".
who -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.
exercise authority -- (WF) "Exercise authority upon" is another verb Jesus only uses in the verse that means to "exercise authority", "have power", "exercise authority over" and "enjoy license". The form is not that of an active verb but of an adjective, "exercising authority over". The form is that of the subject of the sentence. This word is the verb form of a word Jesus commonly uses as a noun. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "exercising authority".
over -- This word "upon" 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.
them - The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
call -- The term translated as "are called" is like our word "call" because it means both "to summon" and also "to name." The form is that of either passive or someone acting on themselves, so "calling themselves". Other people are not calling them this, but they are calling themselves. This word comes at the end of the verse and is its punchline.
themselves -- -- The word comes from the middle voice of making the subject also the object directly as itself or "by" or "for" itself.
benefactors-- (WN,WF) "Benefactors" is a Greek noun that Jesus only uses here. It means "benefactor" and, as an adjective, "beneficent" and "bountiful". This word is also in the form of a subject. The verb "to be" can be assumed. This word is not plural but singular. This is not an object of a verb but a subject. WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an object of a verb but a subject.
Οἱ [821 verses](article pl 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".
βασιλεῖς (noun pl masc nom) "The kings" is basileus, which means a "king", "chief", "prince", "lord", "master", "a great man" and "the first and most distinguished of any class". It is a form of the word used for "kingdom".
τῶν [821 verses](article pl neut 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 word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones".
ἐθνῶν (noun pl neut gen) "Of the gentiles" is ethnos, which means "a number of people living together", "company", "body of men", "tribe", "a people", "nation" and (later) "foreign, barbarous nations".
κυριεύουσιν [1 verse]( verb 3rd pl pres ind act ) "Exercise lordship over" is kyrieuō, which means "to be lord or master of", "possession of" and "seize".
αὐτῶν ( adj pl masc gen) "Them" (adj sg masc acc) "Him" is autos, which means "the same" and the reflexive pronouns, "myself", "yourself", "himself", "herself", "itself" or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him", "her" and "it". It also means "one's true self" that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord". In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there".
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".
οἱ ( article pl masc nom ) "They that" 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".
ἐξουσιάζοντες [1 verse]( part pl pres act masc nom ) "Exercise authority" is exousiazō, which means to "exercise authority", "have power", "exercise authority over" and "enjoy license".
αὐτῶν ( adj pl masc gen) "Them" (adj sg masc acc) "Him" is autos, which means "the same", and the reflexive pronouns, "myself", "yourself", "himself", "herself", "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him", "her" and "it". It also means "one's true self" that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord", In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there".
εὐεργέτα [1 verse]( noun sg masc nom ) "Benefactors" is euergetēs, which means "benefactor" and, as an adjective, "beneficent" and "bountiful".
καλοῦνται. ( verb 3rd pl pres ind mp ) "Are called" is kaleo, which means "call", "summon", "invite", "invoke", "call by name" and "demand".
Comparing this verse to Matthew 20:25, this verse uses more common words though they are used uniquely by Jesus here, but this verse uses those words in more complex forms. This version, however, is more entertaining because of the ending.