Jesus continues the morals of the rich man's house manager who was slandered.
Luke 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Luke 16:11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
So, since you do not become trustworthy in that unvirtuous mammon, who will trust you with the true?
The beginning "if" primarily means "if," but it needs a specific form of verb meaning something that "might" or "could" happen. When used with a verb of something actually happening, it means "since."
The key word "become" is mistranslated as "been." This "being faithful" completed in the past. This misses the point. We "become" faithful over time. We have all failed in the past, but what we try to do is to become trustworthy even with illegal wealth.
Mammon, a foreign word of that refers to wealth or property. Here it is clearly what we call "ill-gotten gains" that is,. All wealth doesn't come from wrongdoing but Jesus seems to use mammon to refer to that which does.
Both English translations add "riches" after "true." The Greek just says "the true". This only implies that Jesus is referring to wealth. However, since the word translated as "wealth" in the NIV is the word "mammon," this is confusing, perhaps intentionally so, because mammon implies illegitimate wealth and money-grubbing.
The goal is to become the true.
If(CW) therefore ye have(WT) not been(WW) faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit(CW) to your trust(WF) the true riches(IW)?
- CW --Confusing Word -- This word doesn't mean "if" with this form of verb.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "be" should be something more like "become”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- "commit...trust's" is more specific than the word's more general meaning.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not a possessive but an indirect object.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "riches" doesn't exist in the source.
So. if(CW) you have(WT) not been(WW) trustworthy in handling(IW) (MW) worldly(WW) (MW) wealth, who will trust you with (MW) true riches(IW)?
- CW --Confusing Word -- This word doesn't mean "if" with this form of verb.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "be" should be something more like "become”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "handling” doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "worldly" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "worldly" should be something more like "wrongdoing”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" after "worldly" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "word" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "riches" doesn't exist in the source.
If -- (CW) The "if" here is used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect and direct questions, "whether”. It also means "if ever" and "whenever". When used in an "if" clause, the verb is the subjunctive form of possibility. When citing a fact the sense is more "whether”, "since" or "as sure as”. The verb is not subjunctive, which means it is citing a fact. This word doesn't mean "if" with this form of verb.
therefore -- The Greek word translated as "therefore" either emphasizes the truth of something ("certainly”, "really") or it simply continues an existing narrative, "then”, "therefore”. Jesus uses it to respond positively to questions, but in parables, it can continue the story.
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
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.
been -- (WW) The word translated as "ye have...been" means "to become”, that is, to enter into a new state. When applied to events, this word means "to happen”, "to occur” or "take place”. Sometimes, "arises" works best when the subject comes into being. For things, it can be "to be produced”. When the participle takes a predicate, the sense is "coming into" something. The form of the verb's object can indicate the time or to whom it "happens”.
faithful -- The word translated as "faithful" means "trusting" and "trustworthy”.
in -- The word translated as "in" means "in”, "on”, "within”, "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time), or "among" with an indirect-object form object. About time, it means "during the time”, "in the time”, "within” and "in”. With the direct object form, it means "into”, "on” and "for”. When referring to time, it means "during". It can mean "on”, "at” or "by" in the sense of "near”.
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.
unrighteous -- The Greek word translated as "unrighteous" is from an adjective that means "unrighteous”, unjust”, "obstinate", "unmanageable", "unjust", "unrighteous” [of things] and "one who plays unfairly”. In modern terms, we would say "unfair". The noun form means "injustice". It is the negative of the Greek word usually translated as "righteous”, which has the sense of "virtue”.
mammon,--- "Mammon" is not from any Greek word, but it is a foreign (non_Greek) 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.
who -- The Greek word translated as "who" 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”. This is not the word usually translated as "who”.
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. - However, the verb could also be in the form of possibility, "might”.
commit -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "commit...trust" means trusting or relying upon other people, especially their words. Jesus usually uses it in contexts that apply to trusting words. See this article. This translation is more specific than the word's meaning.
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. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with”, "in”, "of”, "as”, "by”, "for”, "at” or "on" depending on the context.
your -- (WF) The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you”, "for you”, etc. This is not a possessive but an indirect object.
trust - 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.
true - - "True" is an adjective that means "truthful" and "trustworthy" when applied to a person, "true" and "genuine" when applied to objects and as an adverb "really" and honestly". "The true" appears before the final phrase as a comment before the final phrase.
riches? --(IW)There is no "riches" in the phrase. The verb "trust" refers to trusting people or their words. It doesn't take objects in this way, but since the word doesn't exist, that doesn't matter.
So -- The "therefore" either emphasizes the truth of something ("certainly”, "really") or it simply continues an existing narrative, "then”, "therefore”. "So" is a for synonym for "therefore”. Jesus uses it to respond positively to questions, but in parables, it can continue the story.
If --(CW) The "if" here is used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect and direct questions, "whether”. It also means "if ever" and "whenever”. When used in an "if" clause, the verb is the subjunctive form of possibility. When citing a fact the sense is more "whether”, "since" or "as sure as”. The verb is not subjunctive, which means it is citing a fact. This word doesn't mean "if" with this form of verb. This word doesn't mean "if" with this form of verb.
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
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.
been -- (WW) The word translated as "ye have...been" means "to become”, that is, to enter into a new state. When applied to events, this word means "to happen”, "to occur” or "take place”. Sometimes, "arises" works best when the subject comes into being. For things, it can be "to be produced”. When the participle takes a predicate, the sense is "coming into" something. The form of the verb's object can indicate the time or to whom it "happens”.
trustworthy -- The word translated as "trustworthy" means "trusting" and "trustworthy”.
in -- The word translated as "in" means "in”, "on”, "within”, "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time), or "among" with an indirect-object form object. About time, it means "during the time”, "in the time", "within” and "in”. With the direct object form, it means "into”, "on”, and "for”. When referring to time, it means "during”, It can mean "on”, "at" or "by" in the sense of "near”.
handling -- (IW) This word is not 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.
worldly -- (WW) The Greek noun translated as "unrighteousness”; means "wrongdoing", "injustice", "a wrongful act”, and "offense”. It is also an uncommon verb for Jesus to use. This word doesn't mean "worldly."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word "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.
wealth -- "Wealth" is not from any Greek word, but it is a word that is untranslated from the Greek letters of the sources. 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 for money, both generally and specifically. From the context in which he uses it, he seems to use it to refer to ill-gotten gains, that is, plunder or loot.
who -- The Greek word translated as "who" 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 /those”. Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who”, "what”, "which” or even "why”. This is not the word usually translated as "who”.
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. - However, the verb could also be in the form of possibility, "might”.
trust -- The Greek word translated as "commit...trust" means trusting or relying upon other people, especially their words. Jesus usually uses it in contexts that apply to trusting words. See this article. This translation is more specific than the word's meaning.
you -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you”, "for you”, etc.
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.
true - - "True" is an adjective that means "truthful" and "trustworthy" when applied to a person, "true" and "genuine" when applied to objects and as an adverb "really" and honestly”. “The true" appears before the final phrase as a comment before the final phrase.
riches? --(IW)There is no "riches" in the phrase. The verb "trust" refers to trusting people or their words. It doesn't take objects in this way, but since the word doesn't exist, that doesn't matter.
εἰ [90 verses](conj) "If" is ei, which is the particle used to express conditions "if" (with the indicative, implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect and direct questions, "whether". It also means "if ever", "in case" and "whenever”. In citing a fact, it can mean "as sure as" or "since". It is combined with various conjunctions to create derivative conditions. When appearing as εἰ δὲ (literally, "if however") the sense is "if this...then that”. The construction εἰ δὲ μή . . means "otherwise." The construction εἰ οὖν has the sense of "if so”. However, it is also used to express a wish. After verbs of wonder, delight, indignation, disappointment, contentment, and similar emotions, it is used instead of ὅτι, to express the object of the feeling in a hypothetical form, "that" with the indicative (not subjunctive). After ὅτι, it introduces a quotation where we use quotation marks. With the future tense, it is used for emphasis, a warning, or an intention. When this word is paired with the conjunction translated as "but" or "however”, the structure works like an "if then" statement in English. With verbs of desire and emotion and the indicative in the second clause, the sense is "that". With an imperative, it is used to express a wish. The sense is "I wish that”. With the future tense indicative, it is used for emphasis, a warning, or an intention. The emphasis clause is after the main statement.
οὖν [82 verses](adv) "Therefore" is oun, which means "certainly", "in fact”, "really”, "in fact”, "so" and "then" (continuing a narrative), and "then" and "therefore”.
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with its usual indirect (dative) object, "in”, "on”, "at”, "by”, "among”, "within”, "surrounded by”, "in one's hands”, "in one's power”, "during” and "with”. With a direct (accusative) object, it means "into”, "on” and "for”. Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during”.
τῷ [821 verses](article sg 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”.
ἀδίκῳ [4 verses](adj sg masc dat) "Unrighteous' is adikos, which means "illegal", "unrighteous", unjust", "obstinate", "unmanageable", "unjust", "unrighteous” [of things] and "one who plays unfairly”.
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.
πιστοὶ [11 verses](adj pl masc nom) "Faithful" is pistos which means "believing", "trustful”, "obedient”, "genuine”, "deserving belief”, "credible”, "unmistakable”, "believing”, "relying on” and "loyal”.
οὐκ [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.
ἐγένεσθε, [117 verses](verb 2nd pl aor ind mid) "Ye have...been" is ginomai, which means "to become”, "to come into being”, "to happen”, of things "to be produced”, of events "happen”, (passive) "take place”, "come to pass”, "to be engaged in”, math "to be multiplied into”, "become one of”, "turn into”. It means changing into a new state of being. When the participle takes a predicate, the sense is "coming into" something. This verb also has a number of special meanings with different prepositions. It is the complementary opposite of the verb "to be" (eimi) which indicates existence in the same state. A genitive object indicates the time during which it "happens" or a date on which it "falls”. A dative object indicates to whom it happens.
τὸ [821 verses](article sg neut nom/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”.
ἀληθινὸν [8 verses] (adj sg neut nom/acc) "True" is from alethinos, which is an adjective that means "truthful" and "trustworthy" when applied to a person, "true" and "genuine" when applied to objects and as an adverb "really" and "honestly”.
τίς [252 verses] (pron sg masc/fem nom ) "Who" 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?”.
ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of the pronoun of the second person in the indirect object form, "to you". As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed. With the "to be", it acts as a possessive, "yours”.
πιστεύσει; [69 verses](verb 3rd sg fut ind act) "Will commit to...trust" is pisteuo, which means "to trust, put faith in, or rely on a person”, "to believe in someone's words”, "to comply”, "to feel confident in a thing" and "to entrust in a thing”.
Luke 16:9 ...Make to yourselves friends of the mammon
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters:
Matthew 6:24 No servant can serve two masters: