The Parable of Money Usage:
Luke 19:20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
Luke 19:20 Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.
And the other showed up saying, "Master, look! That mina of yours, which I kept stashing it away in a piece of cloth.
The Greek word "another" also means "different from" and this servant is different from the first two.
The word translated as "laid up/away" also means aside" "laid aside neglected," which is the point of the story. However, this word isn't all negative, the servant probably means this "laid aside to preserve it", another of its meanings. This word is only used in this verse. It is in the form of a present tense participle, so "stashing" is a good translation".
The other unique word in this verse, "napkin" (KJV) is better translated as "piece of cloth (NIV)." Metal money was kept in cloth, usually tied into a back to contain it. The amount here, a 100 coins, would require a fairly big clothe.
If we make money work, we also preserve it.
And (MW) another came, saying, Lord, behold, here(IW) is thy (MW) pound, which I have(WT) kept laid up(WF) in a napkin:
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "another" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "here" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "pound" is not shown in the English translation.
- 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).
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "laid up" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "stashing."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "then" should be something more like "and."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "another" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "servant" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "saying."
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is word not usually translated as "sir."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "is" should be something more like "look."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "mina" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This "it" should start the clauses as a "which."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "laid away" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "stashing."
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
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.
another -- The word translated as "another" means "one of two", "other," or "different." It is an adjective used as a noun. It is introduced with an article.
came -- The word translated as "came" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "come" or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas.
saying -- The word translated as "saying," is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak."
Lord -- The word translated as "lord" is the same word that is often translated as "Lord" or "the Lord" in the NT. It also means "lord", "master of the house," and "head of the family." It is the specific terms for the master of slaves or servants, but it was a common term of respect both for those in authority and who were honored.
behold-- "Behold" is a verbal command meaning "See!" and "Look!" It is from the most common word meaning "to see" in Greek. In a humorous vein, it is also an adverbial exclamation like we use the phrase "tah-dah" in a magic show, or "voila" in French. "Look!" or "See!" comes closest in English. Jesus uses it both ways.
here -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
thy -- The word translated as "thy" is the possessive form of the second person pronoun.
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.
pound -- -- "Pounds" is the Greek word for a "a weight", "a sum of money", and the amount of about "100 drachmas". The Greek word mna (μνᾶ) was borrowed from Semitic. Different city states used minae of different weights. The Aeginetan mina weighed 623.7 g (22.00 oz). The Attic mina weighed 436.6 g (15.40 oz).] According to Plutarch, the price of a sheep was one drachma or a (about 40 kg) of wheat. Thus a mina was worth 100 sheep.
which -- The word translated as "which" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular 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.
kept -- The word translated as "kept" means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do", "to have due to one", or "keep" and many specific uses.
laid up -- (WF) "Laid up" is from a verb that Jesus only uses here. It is a verb that means "to be laid up in store" when referring to money, as it does here. But it also means "to be laid aside neglected", which is the point of the story. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "stashing."
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," or "among."
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
napkin -- "Napkin" is another word that Jesus only uses here. It means "towel" or "napkin", but the sense is a smaller square of cloth, used like a handkerchief. In Jesus's time, people often kept money tied up in cloth, creating a bag.
Then -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "then" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as". This word doesn't mean "then."
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.
another -- The word translated as "another" means "one of two", "other," or "different." It is an adjective used as a noun. It is introduced with an article.
servant -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
came -- The word translated as "came" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "come" or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas.
and -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
said -- The word translated as "said," is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "saying."
Sir-- (CW) The word translated as "sir" is the same word that is often translated as "Lord" or "the Lord" in the NT. It also means "lord", "master of the house," and "head of the family." It is the specific terms for the master of slaves or servants, but it was a common term of respect both for those in authority and who were honored. This is word not usually translated as "sir."
here -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
is -- (WW) "Is" is a verbal command meaning "See!" and "Look!" It is from the most common word meaning "to see" in Greek. In a humorous vein, it is also an adverbial exclamation like we use the phrase "tah-dah" in a magic show, or "voila" in French. "Look!" or "See!" comes closest in English. Jesus uses it both ways. This word doesn't mean "is."
your -- The word translated as "your " is the possessive form of the second person pronoun.
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.
mina-- -- "Mina" is the Greek word for a "a weight", "a sum of money", and the amount of about "100 drachmas". The Greek word mna (μνᾶ) was borrowed from Semitic. Different city states used minae of different weights. The Aeginetan mina weighed 623.7 g (22.00 oz). The Attic mina weighed 436.6 g (15.40 oz).] According to Plutarch, the price of a sheep was one drachma or a (about 40 kg) of wheat. Thus a mina was worth 100 sheep.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular 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.
kept -- The word translated as "kept" means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do", "to have due to one", or "keep" and many specific uses.
it -- (CW) The word translated as "it" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause. This should start the clauses as a "which."
laid away -- (WF) "Laid away" is from a verb that Jesus only uses here. It is a verb that means "to be laid up in store" when referring to money, as it does here. But it also means "to be laid aside neglected", which is the point of the story. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "stashing."
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," or "among."
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
piece of cloth.-- "Piece of cloth" is another word that Jesus only uses here. It means "towel" or "napkin", but the sense is a smaller square of cloth, used like a handkerchief. In Jesus's time, people often kept money tied up in cloth, creating a bag.
καὶ (conj/adv) "And" is 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." --
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) Untranslated 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 a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --
ἕτερος ( adj sg masc nom ) "Another" 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."
ἦλθεν ( verb 3rd sg aor ind act ) "Came" is erchomai, which means "to start," "to set out", "to come", "to go," and any kind of motion. It means both "to go" on a journey and "to arrive" at a place.
λέγων ( part sg pres act masc nom ) "Saying" is lego, which means "to recount", "to tell over", "to say", "to speak", "to teach", "to mean", "boast of", "tell of", "recite," nominate," and "command." It has a secondary meaning "pick out," "choose for oneself", "pick up", "gather", "count," and "recount." A less common word that is spelled the same means "to lay", "to lay asleep" and "to lull asleep." --
Κύριε, ( noun sg masc voc ) "Lord" is kyrios (kurios), 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." -
ἰδοὺ (adv, verb 2nd sg aor imperat mid) "Behold is idou, which means "to behold", "to see," and "to perceive." It acts as an adverbial phrase in this form meaning "Lo! Behold!" and "See there!' It is a form of the verb eido, which means "to see."
ἡ [821 verses](article sg femnom) Untranslated 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 a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
μνᾶ (noun sg fem nom ) "Pound" is mna, which means "a weight", "a sum of money", and "100 drachmas".
σου (adj sg masc gen) "Thy" is sou which means "of you" and "your."
ἣν ( pron sg fem acc ) "Which" is hos, which means "this", "that", "he", "she", "which", "what", "who", "whosoever", "where", "for which reason," and many similar meanings.
εἶχον ( verb 1st sg imperf ind act ) "I have kept" is echo, which means "to have", "to hold", "to possess", "to keep", "to have charge of", "to have due to one", "to maintain", "to hold fast", "to bear", "to carry", "to keep close", "to keep safe," and "to have means to do."
ἀποκειμένην [1 verse] ( part sg pres mp fem acc ) "Laid up" is apokeimai, which means to " to be laid away from", "to be laid up in store", "to be laid aside neglected", "to be exposed", and "to lie open to". -
ἐν (prep) "In" is en, which means "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power," and "with". --
σουδαρίῳ: [1 verse] ( noun sg neut dat ) "Napkin" is soudarion, which means a "towel" or "napkin". -- "Napkin" is another word that Jesus only uses here. It means "towel" or "napkin", but the sense is a smaller square of cloth, used like a handkerchief. In Jesus's time, people often kept money tied up in cloth, creating a bag.