Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters:

Spoken to
audience

Jesus continues the moral of the rich man's house manager who was slandered. 

KJV

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

NIV

Luke 16:13  “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

LISTENERS HEARD

No one, a houseman, has the power  to serve two masters. Because either he will hate the one and he will care for the other or he will stick himself to one and he will look down upon the other . You do not have the power to serve Divinity and mammon.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The unique word for Jesus here is translated as "servant" but it means "house slave" or "house man".  It is from the same root as the word for "steward" used extensively in the previous story. Both words are from the Greek root for "house" or "household". 

Jesus has fun with the Greek term translated as "hold" and "be devoted" because it has many seeming opposed meanings. It means "hold out against" and "clinging to”, "withstand" and "caring for". It has some of the same sense of the way we use "stuck" in English, where there is a negative sense of being "stuck with" someone and a positive sense of being "stuck on" someone. This would be "he will stick himself to one," which is a funny turn of phrase. Its is balanced against a word, translated as "despise" that means "look down on”, which is another funny image. This funny pair light the preceding serious "hate" and "love”.

The punchline is the non-Greek word mammon, which is possibly, a word he has used extensively in the previous verses. It is more exotic than any Greek words for money or property and has the flavor of ill-gotten gains. 

MY TAKE

We can serve the highest or the lowest common denominator. 

GREEK ORDER

 

Οὐδεὶς     οἰκέτης      δύναται           δυσὶ κυρίοις   δουλεύειν
No one, a houseman, has the power two   masters to serve.

        γὰρ         τὸν ἕνα μισήσει       καὶ τὸν ἕτερον ἀγαπήσει
 either Because  the one he will hate and the other   he will care for

       ἑνὸς ἀνθέξεται                   καὶ τοῦ ἑτέρου καταφρονήσει
 or to one  he will stick himself and the other    he will look down upon. 

οὐ        δύνασθε                   θεῷ       δουλεύειν καὶ μαμωνᾷ.
do not  You have the power Divinity to serve     and mammon.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
9

No(CW) servant(CW) can(CW, WV) serve(WF) two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love(CW) the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cancan(CW, WV) not serve(WF)serve God and mammon.

  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "no”.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "servant”.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence. 
  • WV --Wrong Voice - The verb "can" is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "serve" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to serve”.
  • CW - Confusing Word - This is one of two different verbs with different meanings translated as "love" so the translation confuses them.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence.
  • WV --Wrong Voice - The verb "can" is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "infinitive" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to infinitive”.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "divinity" doesn't precisely mean "God" without a preceding article.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
14
 
“No one (MW) can(CW, WV) serve(WF) two masters. Either you(WW) will hate the one and love the other, or you(WW) will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You (CW, WV) not serve(WF)serve  both(IW) God and money.”
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "houseman"  after "no one" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "for"  after "masters" is not shown in the English translation. 
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence. 
  • WV --Wrong Voice - The verb "can" is translated as active but it is passive either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "serve" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to serve”.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "you" should be something more like "he”.
  • CW - Confusing Word - This is one of two different verbs with different meanings translated as "love" so the translation confuses them.
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "you" should be something more like "he”.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "devoted" doesn't precisely mean "devoted”.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence.
  • WV --Wrong Voice - The verb "can" is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "infinitive" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to infinitive”.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "divinity" doesn't precisely mean "God" without a preceding article.
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "both" doesn't exist in the source.
EACH WORD of KJV

No  -- (CW) The Greek adjective translated as "no man" also means "no one", "nothing" and other negative pronouns. It is used by Jesus more like a negative pronoun than an adjective.  However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative. This is not the word usually translated as "no”.

servant --  (CW)The unique word for Jesus here is translated as "servant", but it means "house slave" or "house man".  It is from the same root as the word for  "steward" used extensively in the previous story. Both words are from the Greek word for "house" or "household". This is not the word usually translated as "servant”.

can  -- (CW, WV) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. In English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. See this article. The verb here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.  This is not an active verb, but an infinitive. WF - Wrong Form -  The "infinitive" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to infinitive."

serve -- (WF) The Greek verb for "serve"  means "to be a slave”. It is the verb form of the noun translated as "servant", which means "slave" or "bondsman". This is not an active verb, but an infinitive. 

 two -- The Greek word for "two" means "two" or a "couple”. -- The "two" is the numeral, "two”, which, like numbers in English, plays a lot of roles. Often, it acts as an adjective, but without a noun to modify, so it takes on the role of a noun. The Greek word is "duo”, which of course means "a pair of singers" or "couple" like a married couple.

masters  -- The word translated as "masters" 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”. For the sake of consistency, this should be the Greek word translated as "master”.

 for  --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why”. "For" is better because another common word is also used for "because”.

either -- "Either " is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi!” or the adverb meaning "in truth”.

he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

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. 

hate-- "Hate" is a Greek verb is translated as "to hate”, “would not suffer”, and in passive, "to be hated”. But this word doesn't have the passionate or emotional intensity of the word “hate” in English. The word expresses a negative preference, not a strong passion. Jesus uses this word as the opposite of both the common Greek word translated as "love," whose meanings are closer to “care for” and “enjoy” (see this article). So, it means “not caring for” and “not enjoying”.

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. 

 one, -- The Greek word translated as "one " means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single” and "one and the same”. As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

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”.

love -- (CW) The word translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "to care for”, "to be fond of”, "to greet with affection”, "to persuade” and "to be contented with”. Jesus however, applies it to relationships where we have a duty to care for others: family, God, etc. Another word, also translated as "love”, is used to for relationships of affectionate friendship that are more voluntary. To distinguish this word, translating it as "cares for" seems to work best. See this article on love for more information

 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. 

other;  -- The word translated as "other" means "one of two”, "other”, "another” or "different”. It is an adjective used as a noun.

or else  -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi!” or the adverb meaning "in truth”.

he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

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.

 hold -- The word translated as "hold" means "hold out against", "withstand", "hold out", "endure", "stand one's ground", "extend", "reach", "hold before one against", "hold on by", "cling to", "care for", "support", "will lay claim [to the property from you]", "dispute it [with you]", "resist" and "adhere”.

to - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.

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. 

 one, -- The Greek word translated as "one" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single” and "one and the same”. As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

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”.

despise  - "Despise" is from a verb that means "look down upon". Its prefix is the Greek prefix for "downward" and its base is the verb for knowing or understanding.

 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. 

other;  -- The word translated as "other" means "one of two”, "other”, "another” or "different”. It is an adjective used as a noun.

 Ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

can  -- (CW, WV) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. In English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. See this article.  The verb here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.  

not - -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no”, "not” or "no truly”. It makes a negative statement of fact. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. 

serve -- (WF) The Greek verb for "serve"  means "to be a slave”. It is the verb form of the noun translated as "servant", which means "slave" or "bondsman". This is not an active verb, but an infinitive. 

God -- (CW) 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.  

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”.

mammon. --  "Mammon" is not from any Greek word, but it is a foreign word that is written in Greek letters. As such, usually, it should not be translated but written out in English letters. The KJV follows this practice, other biblical versions do not.  There is some debate about both its source and its meaning.  The Aramaic source words mean "wealth" and "money," but Jesus readily uses the Greek words for wealth and money or a personification of them, like a pagan god.  From the context in which he uses it, Jesus often seems to used it to refer to ill-gotten gains, that is, plunder or loot.

 

EACH WORD of NIV

No one -- The Greek adjective translated as "no man" also means "no one”, "nothing” and other negative pronouns. It is used by Jesus more like a negative pronoun than an adjective. However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative. This is not the word usually translated as "no”.

missing "houseman"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "houseman" is a unique word for Jesus and means "house slave" or "house man".  It is from the same root as the word for  "steward" used extensively in the previous story. Both words are from the Greek word for "house" or "household". This is not the word usually translated as "servant”.

can  -- (CW, WV) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. In English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. See this article. The verb here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.  This is not an active verb, but an infinitive. 

serve -- (WF) The Greek verb for "serve"  means "to be a slave”. It is the verb form of the noun translated as "servant", which means "slave" or "bondsman". This is not an active verb, but an infinitive. 

 two -- The Greek word for "two" means "two" or a "couple." The "two" is the numeral, "two”, which, like numbers in English, plays a lot of roles. Often, it acts as an adjective, but without a noun to modify, so it takes on the role of a noun. The Greek word is "duo”, which of course means "a pair of singers" or "couple" like a married couple.

masters  -- The word translated as "masters" 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”. For the sake of consistency, this should be the Greek word translated as "master”.

missing "for"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why". "For" is better because another common word is also used for "because”.

Either -- "Either " is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi!” or the adverb meaning "in truth”.

you -- (WW) This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb. This word doesn't mean "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. 

hate-- "Hate" is a Greek verb translated as "to hate”, “would not suffer”, and in passive, "to be hated”. But this word doesn't have the passionate or emotional intensity of the word “hate” in English. The word expresses a negative preference, not a strong passion. Jesus uses this word as the opposite of both the common Greek word translated as "love”, whose meanings are closer to “care for” and “enjoy” (see this article). So, it means “not caring for” and “not enjoying”. 

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. 

 one, -- The Greek word translated as "one " means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same”. As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

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”.

love -- (CW) The word translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "to care for", "to be fond of”, "to greet with affection”, "to persuade" and "to be contented with”. Jesus however, applies it to relationships where we have a duty to care for others: family, God, etc. Another word, also translated as "love", is used for relationships of affectionate friendship that are more voluntary. To distinguish this word, translating it as "cares for" seems to work best. See this article on love for more information

 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. 

other;  -- The word translated as "another" means "one of two”, "other”, "another” or "different”. It is an adjective used as a noun.

or -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi!” or the adverb meaning "in truth”.

you -- (WW) This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb. This word doesn't mean "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.

be This verb is not a passive voice but a middle voice meaning something one does by or for themselves. Our word "be devoted" has the sense of a person doing it by themselves. 

devoted  -- (CW) The word translated as "devoted" means "hold out against", "withstand", "hold out", "endure", "stand one's ground", "extend", "reach", "hold before one against", "hold on by", "cling to", "care for", "support", "will lay claim [to the property from you]", "dispute it [with you]", "resist” and "adhere”. This word doesn't precisely mean "devoted”.

to - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.

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. 

 one, -- The Greek word translated as "one" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single” and "one and the same”. As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

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”.

despise  - "Despise" is from a verb that means "look down upon." Its prefix is the Greek prefix for "downward" and its base is the verb for knowing or understanding.

 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. 

other;  -- The word translated as "another" means "one of two", "other”, "another” or "different”. It is an adjective used as a noun.

 You -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

 You cannot serve both God and money.

can  -- (CW, WV) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. In English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. See this article. The verb here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.  

not - -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no”, "not” or "no truly”. It makes a negative statement of fact. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. 

serve -- (WF) The Greek verb for "serve"  means "to be a slave”. It is the verb form of the noun translated as "servant", which means "slave" or "bondsman". This is not an active verb, but an infinitive. 

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

God -- (CW) 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.  

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”.

money. --  "Money" is not from any Greek word, but it is a  foreign word, mammon, that is written in Greek letters. As such, usually, it should not be translated but written out in English letters. The KJV follows this practice, other biblical versions do not.  There is some debate about both its source and its meaning.  The Aramaic source words mean "wealth" and "money”, but Jesus readily uses the Greek words for wealth and money or a personification of them, like a pagan god.  From the context in which he uses it, Jesus often seems to used it to refer to ill-gotten gains, that is, plunder or loot.

 

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

Οὐδεὶς [69 verses](adj sg masc nom) "No man"  is oudeis which means "no one”, "not one”, "nothing”, "naught”, "good for naught” and "no matter”.

οἰκέτης [1 verse] (noun sg masc nom) "Servant" is oiketēswhich means "household slave", and "household". This might be seen as an abbreviation of the Greek word for "steward",  oikonomoswhich was used extensively in the previous story. Both words are from the Greek word for "house" or "household",  oikos.

δύναται [61 verses](3rd sg pres ind mp) "Can" is the verb, dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities", "to be able" and "to be strong enough”.

δυσὶ [36 verses] (numeral pl masc/fem/neut dat) "Two" is duo, which means the number "two”, "a couple” and "a pair”.

κυρίοις  [92 verses]  (noun pl masc dat) "Masters" is kyrios, 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". 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 Jesus, even though he had no formal authority. It was also the term used for the name of God in the Old Testament. Today, we would say "boss" or "chief”. For the sake of consistency, this should be the Greek word translated as "master" for humans and "Lord" for the Old Testament usage. 

δουλεύειν:(3 verses) (pres inf act) "Serve”, is from douleuo, which means to "be a slave", "serve", "be subject", "make oneself a slave", "accommodate oneself" and "render a service”. 

[92 verses](conj/adv)  "Either" is e, which is a particle used as a disjunctive, "either", "or" or as a comparative, "than" or "rather than." It is (explam) also an exclamation, "hi!" and an adverb (adv) meaning "in truth" and "of a surety”. It is used with comparative forms of adjective or with positive adjective implying a comparison. 

γὰρ [205 verses](partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for”, "since” and "as”. In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what”.

τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc)  "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”.

ἕνα [85 verses](noun sg masc acc) "One" is heis, which means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single” and "one and the same". This noun/adjective is irregular, having a number of forms depending on gender and case. It is always singular.  

μισήσει [20 verses](3rd sg fut ind act) "Hate" is miseo, which is translated as "to hate”, “would not suffer” and in passive, "to be hated”.

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" 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”.

τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc) "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”. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this”, "that”, "these”, "those") than the English "the”. See this article for more. 

 ἕτερον   [21 verses](adj sg masc acc) "Other" is heteros, which means "one or the other of two”, "the second”, "the secondary”, "the minor”, "other things [of like kind]”, "another”, "different”, "other than”, "different from”, "other than should be” and "in another or a different way”. As an adverb, it means "in one or the other way", "differently”, "otherwise than should be”, "badly” and "wrongly”. -- The word translated as "another" means "one of two”, "other”, "another”, or "different”. It is an adjective used as a noun.

ἀγαπήσει, [32 verses] (3rd sg fut ind act) "Love" is agapao, which means "to care for", "to be fond of”, "to greet with affection", "to persuade”, "to caress”, "to prize”, "to desire”, "to be pleased with” and "to be contended with”.  This love is more associated with affection in relationships where we are obligated. Jesus uses another word, phileô, which means "to love”, "to like”, "to be fond of doing” and "to show affection" to express "love" in the sense of like and dislike. He never uses the word eros, which describes romantic, sexual love. 

[92 verses](conj/adv)  "Or" is e, which is a particle used as a disjunctive, "either”, "or”, or as a comparative, "than” or "rather than”. It is (explam) also an exclamation, "hi!" and an adverb(adv)  meaning "in truth" and "of a surety”. It is used with comparative forms of adjectives or with positive adjectives implying a comparison.

ἑνὸς [85 verses](noun sg masc gen) "To the one" is heis, which means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single” and "one and the same”. This noun/adjective is irregular, having a number of forms depending on gender and case. It is always singular. As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

ἀνθέξεται [2 verses](3rd sg fut ind mid) "He will hold" is from antecho, which means to "hold out against", "withstand", "hold out", "endure", "stand one's ground", "extend", "reach", "hold before one against", "hold on by", "cling to", "care for", "support", "will lay claim [to the property from you]", "dispute it [with you]", "resist" and "adhere”.

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" 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”. 

τοῦ [821 verses](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 word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones”.

ἑτέρου     [21 verses](adj sg masc gen) "Other" is heteros, which means "one or the other of two”, "the second”, "the secondary”, "the minor”, "other things [of like kind]”, "another”, "different”l "other than”, "different from”, "other than should be” and "in another or a different way”. As an adverb, it means "in one or the other way”, "differently”l "otherwise than should be”, "badly”, and "wrongly”.

καταφρονήσει.  [3 verses](3rd sg fut ind act) "Despise" is kataphroneô, which means "look down upon”, "think slightly of”, "to be disdainful”, "deal contemptuously”, "think contemptuously that” and "to despise”. 

οὐ [269 verses](adv) "Not" is ou, the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences.  The negative, οὐ, denies, is absolute, and objective. 

δύνασθε [61 verses] (2nd pl pres ind mp) "Can" is the verb, dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities”, "to be able” and "to be strong enough”,

θεῷ [144 verses] (noun sg masc dat) "God" is theos, which means "God”, "divine” and "Deity”. 

δουλεύειν  (3 verses) (pres inf act ) "Serve” is from douleuo, which means to "be a slave”, "serve", "be subject", "make oneself a slave", "accommodate oneself" and "render a service”. 

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" 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”. 

μαμωνᾷ. [4 verses](noun sg masc dat) "Mammon" is from mamonas, which is not from any Greek word. There is some debate about both its source and its meaning. The most accepted view is that it is from Aramaic mamona, "riches" or "wealth", probably from Hebrew mamon, "security", "that which is trusted" or "deposit" or Hebrew matmon, "treasure”. The term comes possibly from Akkadian "mimmu" meaning "property”. It has also been suggested that mammon was the name of a Syriac god of wealth.

Wordplay

The fact that Christ goes back to addressing the whole crowd in this verse rather than an individual is hidden in the Greek. Christ also uses Greek terms of opposing meanings to make his point about serving two masters that are lost in translation. He also wraps up this verse with a strange and surprising word that is one example of how we can know Christ taught in Greek, not Aramaic (see this article).

parallel comparison

This verse is identical to Matthew 6: 24, except for the addition of one word that is used uniquely by Jesus in this verse translated as "servant" in the KJV and left out in the NIV.

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