The Pharisees ask whether it is lawful to pay tribute to Caesar and Jesus ask whose image and title is on it.
Luke 20:25 Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
Luke 20:25 Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Well then, give back those of Caesar to Caesar, and those of the Divine to the Divine.
The Greek is much simpler than these English translations. The words "Caesar" and "God" (the Divine) are the dative from implying a "to" before it, and then the genitive form implying a "of": "to Caesar/of Caesar" and "to the Divine/of the Divine."
A single word is translated as "the things which are" (KJV) and "what is" (NIV) in it. It can be either the definite article or the pronoun meaning "." It is in the plural, neuter form which is where the "things" comes from. "What is".
Everything flows back to its source.
Render(CW) therefore(CW) unto Caesar the things [which be(IP)] Caesar's, and unto (MW) God the things [which be(IP)] (MW) God's.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not one of the common words usually translated as "render".
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "therefore".
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "which be" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God's" is not shown in the English translation.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "which be " doesn't exist in the source.
Then give back to Caesar what(WN) is(IW) Caesar’s, and to (MW) God what(WN) is(IW) (MW) God’s.”
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "is" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God's" is not shown in the English translation.
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "is" doesn't exist in the source.
Render -- (CW) The word translated as "render" means "to give back". In a financial sense, to "pay back". This word is translated "deliver" and "reward" elsewhere in the NT. This is not one of the common words usually translated as "render".
therefore -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "therefore" is a word used uniquely here by Jesus. It means "well, then" when answering a question. It starts the verse. Matthew has a common word meaning "therefore" in this position. This is not the word usually translated as "therefore".
unto -- This word comes from the dative case of the following word(s) that requires the addition of a preposition in English: a "to" as an indirect object, a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, "at" or "on" a time, and an "in" for area of affect.
Caesar -- The Greek spelling of "Caesar" primarily means Julius but also Augustus and, generally, "the Roman emperor."
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.
things - There is no word, "things", in the Greek source, but this word comes from the neuter, plural form of the previous definite article.
which be --- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
Caesar's; -- The Greek spelling of "Caesar" primarily means Julius but also Augustus and, generally, "the Roman emperor". The apostrophe "s" is from the genitive case, "of "Caesar".
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
unto -- This word comes from the dative case of the following word(s) that requires the addition of a preposition in English: a "to" as an indirect object, a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, "at" or "on" a time, and an "in" for area of affect.
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.
God -- -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity". It is introduced with an article, so "the God". Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.
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.
things - There is no word, "things," in the Greek source, but this word comes from the neuter, plural form of the previous definite article.
which be - --- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
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.
God's. -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity". It is introduced with an article, so "the God". Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods. The apostrophe "s" is from the genitive case, "of "Caesar".
Then -- The Greek word translated as "then" is a word used uniquely here by Jesus. It means "well, then" when answering a question. It starts the verse. This is not the word usually translated as "Then".
give -- The word translated as "render" means "to give back". In a financial sense, to "pay back". This word is translated "deliver" and "reward" elsewhere in the NT.
back - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.
to -- This word "to" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.
Caesar -- The Greek spelling of "Caesar" primarily means Julius but also Augustus and, generally, "the Roman emperor."
what -- (WN) The Greek word translated as "what" the singular means "anyone," "someone," "something," and "anything." The same forms are used both for the masculine and feminine, so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone," "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," "which," or even "why." - Jesus often uses the root word as an adjective describing a high-status people as "somebodies." This word is not singular but plural.
is --- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
Caesar's; -- The Greek spelling of "Caesar" primarily means Julius but also Augustus and, generally, "the Roman emperor." The apostrophe "s" is from the genitive case, "of "Caesar."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
to -- This word comes from the dative case of the following word(s) that requires the addition of a preposition in English: a "to" as an indirect object, a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, "at" or "on" a time, and an "in" for area of affect.
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.
God -- -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.
what -- (WN) The Greek word translated as "what" the singular means "anyone," "someone," "something," and "anything." The same forms are used both for the masculine and feminine, so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone," "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," "which," or even "why." - Jesus often uses the root word as an adjective describing a high-status people as "somebodies." This word is not singular but plural.
is --- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
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.
God's. -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods. The apostrophe "s" is from the genitive case, "of "Caesar."
Τοίνυν [unique](particle) "Therefore" is toinyn, which means "therefore", "accordingly" and, in dialogue to introduce an answer, well then".
Ἀπόδοτε (verb 2nd pl aor imperat act) "Render" is from apodidomi which means "to give back", "to restore" and "to deliver". It has the economic sense of "to sell" or "to give something for one's own profit". It begins with apo the preposition of separation and origin, the idea of "from" in English, didômi which means "to give", "to grant", "to hand over" and "to describe".
τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut acc) "The things which are" 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". OR [252 verses](pron pl neut acc) "What" is tis, which can mean "someone", "something", "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". Plural, "who are" is τίνες ἐόντες. It has specific meanings with certain prepositions, διὰ τί; "for what reason?" ἐκ τίνος; "from what cause?" ἐς τί; "to what point?", "to what end?" τί ὅτι "why it is that".
Καίσαρος (noun sg masc gen) "Caesar" is from Kaisar (Kaisar), which means "Caesar" primarily Julius but also Augustus and, generally, "the emperor".
Καίσαρι (noun sg masc dat) "Caesar" is from Kaisar, which means "Caesar" primarily Julius but also Augustus and, later, generally, "the emperor".
καὶ "And" is from 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".
τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut acc) "The things which are" 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".
τοῦ (article sg masc gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
θεοῦ (noun sg masc gen) "God" is from theos, which means "God", "divine" and "Deity".
τῷ (article sg masc dat) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
θεῷ. (noun sg masc dat) "God" is from theos, which means "God", "divine" and "Deity".