Luke 15:26 And he called one of the servants, and asked

Spoken to
audience

After the analogies of the lost sheep and lost coin, Jesus continues the analogy of the prodigal son.

KJV

Luke 15:26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

NIV

Luke 15:26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.

LISTENERS HEARD

And, summoning one of the children, he inquired concerning what these things might be. 

LOST IN TRANSLATION

Jesus uses a couple of uncommon, complex verbs that are translated as the common verbs "called" and "asked." The verb translated as "asked" is used only here. Jesus uses complicated, unusual words as a source of humor. 

The word translated as "servant" is the word commonly translated as "child”. While it can be translated as "servant”, this is not the way that Jesus commonly uses it. 

The construction on the end is unusual and may have a special meaning. The word meaning "probably" or "might" is left out of English translation. The word "to be" is translated as "meant" in the KJV and "was" in the NIV is the optative mood, which usually expresses the desire or with for something in the future. This mood has a number of special uses, but none of them seem to fit. 

MY TAKE

Children are good sources of information. 

GREEK ORDER

καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος ἕνα    τῶν παίδων ἐπυνθάνετο               
And summoning          one of the children, he inquired concerning 

τί      ἂν        εἴη  ταῦτα 
what might  be    these things be. 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
6

And he called(CW) one of the servants(CW) and(IW) asked(CW) what  (MWprobably) these things meant(CW).

  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the simple word usually translated as "called”.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "servant”.
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "and " doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "ask”.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "probably"  after "things" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- "Meant's" translation is more specific than the word's more general meaning.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
7

So(WW) he called(CW) one of the servants(CW) and(IW asked(CW) him what  (MWprobably) was [going on(PP)].

 

  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "so" should be something more like "and”.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the simple word usually translated as "called”.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "servant”.
  • IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "ask”.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "probably"  after "things" is not shown in the English translation.
  • PP -- Paraphrase - The phrase "these things" exists in the source but not "going on”.This is counted as 2 translation issues, not 1.
EACH WORD of KJV

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”.

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

called  - (CW) The verb translated as "after he had called" means "call upon" or "summon, but it has the specific meaning to "cite or summon into court." It is in the form of an adjective, "summoning", referring to the lord or master.  This is not the simple word usually translated as "called”.

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.

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. 

 servants,  - (CW) "Servants" is translated from a Greek word that means "a young child" or "little child." It is one of several words that Jesus uses that are translated as "child" or "children." (See this article.) One unique aspect of this word is that it is neither masculine or feminine, but neuter. The English word "kids" seems to capture its feeling. This is not the word usually translated as "servant”.

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

asked -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "asked" appears in Jesus's words for the only time here. It means to "learn from", "hear", "inquire concerning" and "to hear or learn that".  This is not the word usually translated as "ask”.

what -- The Greek word translated as "any" in 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”.

missing "probably"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  is a particle used with verbs to indicate that the action is limited by circumstances or defined by conditions. There is no exact equivalent in English but "possibly" is close. This word works similarly to the "might" or "should" of a subjunctive verb, but we don't want to confuse it with the subjunctive so using "possibly" provides a consistent translation. This particle usually suggests the subjunctive form of the verb but can be used without it. Its meaning is largely determined by the verb form but "would have" is the most common, even when not with a subjunctive verb. The same Greek letters can always be the more common conjunction meaning "when", so this meaning comes from context.

these - The "these" is a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that”, "here” or "there" the nearer or the further depending on usage. When the noun already has an article, it meaning is "here." It is often used in the neuter plural without a noun to refer to "these things". 

things -- This "things"  is from the plural, neuter form of the previous adjective.

meant.  -- (CW) The verb "meant" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.  The word also means "to exist" where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. This translation is more specific than the word's meaning. 

EACH WORD of NIV

So -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and”, but it also is used to add emphasis, "even”, "also” and "just”. This word doesn't mean "so”.  

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

called  - (CW) The verb translated as "after he had called" means "call upon" or "summon, but it has the specific meaning to "cite or summon into court." It is in the form of an adjective, "summoning”. referring to the lord or master.  This is not the simple word usually translated as "called”.

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.

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. 

 servants,  - (CW) "Servants" is translated from a Greek word that means "a young child" or "little child". It is one of several words that Jesus uses that are translated as "child" or "children”. (See this article.) One unique aspect of this word is that it is neither masculine or feminine, but neuter. The English word "kids" seems to capture its feeling. This is not the word usually translated as "servant”.

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

asked - (CW) The Greek word translated as "asked" appears in Jesus's words for the only time here. It means to "learn from", "hear", "inquire concerning", and "to hear or learn that".  This is not the word usually translated as "ask”.

him -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.

what -- The Greek word translated as "any" in 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."

missing "probably"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is a particle used with verbs to indicate that the action is limited by circumstances or defined by conditions. There is no exact equivalent in English but "possibly" is close. This word works similarly to the "might" or "should" of a subjunctive verb, but we don't want to confuse it with the subjunctive so using "possibly" provides a consistent translation. This particle usually suggests the subjunctive form of the verb but can be used without it.   Its meaning is largely determined by the verb form but "would have" is the most common, even when not with a subjunctive verb. The same Greek letters can always be the more common conjunction meaning "when”, so this meaning comes from context.

was -- (CW) The verb "was" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.  The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. 

going on  -- (PP) The Greek words "these things" here  are not translated but instead their assumed meaning is paraphrased into different words. The Greek words are: The "these" is a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that", "here”, or "there", the nearer or the further depending on usage. When  used in the neuter plural without a noun to refer to "these things”.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

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”.

προσκαλεσάμενος [3 verses](part sg aor mid masc nom) "Called" is proskaleo, which means to"call on”, "summon”, "address”, "accost”, "call to oneself”, "invite”, "summon”, "cite or summon into court”, in the passive, "to be summoned" and metaphorically, "call forth” and "excite”.-- The verb translated as "he called" means "call upon" or "summon", but it has the specific meaning to "cite or summon into court." It literally means "to call toward" or "call into the presence".  It is in the form of an adjective working on or for oneself, "summoning for himself”. This is an uncommon word for Jesus to use, a complex form of the common word for "call". 

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. 

τῶν [821 verses](article pl 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”.

παίδων  [21 verses](noun pl masc gen) "Servants" is paidion. which means "little child" or "young child”, (up to seven years) "infant" or "young slave”. The diminutive of  παῖς (pais), the common Greek word that means child that Jesus uses twice.

ἐπυνθάνετο [1 verse](verb 3rd sg imperf ind mp) "Asked" is pynthanomai which means to "learn from", "hear", "inquire concerning", and "to hear or learn that".  

τί  [252 verses] (pron sg neut nom/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,"

ἂν [60 verses](particle) "Untranslated" is an , which is a particle used with verbs to indicate that the action is limited by circumstances or defined by conditions. There is no exact equivalent in English, but it is translated as "possibly”, "would have”, "might”, "should” and "could”. Its meaning is largely determined by the verb form but "would have" is the most common, even when not with a subjunctive verb.

εἴη  [614 verses] (verb 3rd sg pres opt act) "Meant" is eimi, which means "to be”, "to exist”, "to be the case”, of circumstance and events "to happen” and "is possible". With the possessive (genitive) object, it means "is descended from”, "is the type of”, "belongs to”, "is made of”, "is a duty of”, "is at the mercy of" or " is dependent on”. With an indirect (dative) object, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed.  "It is to him" becomes "it is his" or "he has it”.  With the preposition,"into" (εἰς), the sense is "consist of”. When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are”.

ταῦτα [96 verses](adj pl neut acc) "These things" is tauta, which is a referring pronoun meaning "these”, "this”, "that” and "here”. It can mean the nearer or the further depending on usage. When ταῦτα and ἐκεῖνος refer to two things ἐκεῖνος, which normally means "the nearer" as well belongs to the more remote, "the latter" in time, place, or thought, οὗτος to "the nearer".

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