All the key words here, those translated as "trespass/sin", "repent" and "forgive" have all been translated to add a religious gloss that obscures the common sense meaning in this verse. These words mean "err", "change his mind", and "leave alone". See this article for more on the meaning of "sin" and "forgive". The Greek word translated as "I repent" means "to perceive afterward", "to perceive too late", "to change one's mind" and "to change one's purpose". The Biblical translators add makes it religious by making it "to repent".
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Today's Verse Analysis
To his students after saying to let go of others who err.
Spoken to
Apostles
KJV Verse
Luke 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
NIV Verse:
Luke 17:4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
What His Listeners Heard:
And when he errs seven times during the day in regards to you and seven times turns toward you saying, "I changed my mind", you will let him loose.
Lost In Translation:
KJV w/Translation Issues :
And if(CW) he trespass(WW) against(WW) thee seven times in a(WW) day, and seven times [in a day{OS}] turn again to thee, saying, I repent(CW); thou shalt forgive(CW) him.
KJV List (See full page for word-by-word analysis):
For analysis of each word of original Greek and biblical verses, click here.
Constantly Updated
My analysis standards and methods are constantly improving. New information on each verse is provided as articles are updated. It requires approximately two years for me to work through updating each of Jesus's verses.
What Jesus's Listeners Heard
The everyday meanings of the Greek words Jesus used were different than the definitions they have been given over time in biblical translation. The word translations here are based upon documents of his time such as the Greek Septuagint, not ideas unknown in his time.
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See what Jesus said in Greek and see how his words are changed in English translation. My goal is to translate Jesus's words as they were heard when he taught, not the way they are interpreted today. The work here resurrects the humor and cleverness of Jesus's words lost in translation.
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Each article provides detailed information on all the Greek words in each verse with links simplifying your own research. It compares the Greek to popular translations to show where words are confused, changed, left out, and added. This site offers research available nowhere else, such as how often Jesus uses a specific Greek word and links to a list of every verse in which he uses a given word.
Christ's Words in Matthew as a Guide to 40 Days of Prayer.