InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEUT JOB YEHO (JOS) HERO (JDG) RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG YOEL (JOEL) MIC ISA ZEP HAB YIR (JER) LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBAD DAN EZEK EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL 2 PS WIS TOB MAN BAR G DAN G ESD L ESD ESG JDT 3 MAC SIR 1 MAC 2 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL LAOD PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
InterlinearVerse Luke C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24
Luke 12 V1 V3 V5 V7 V9 V11 V13 V15 V17 V19 V21 V23 V25 V27 V29 V31 V33 V35 V37 V39 V41 V45 V47 V49 V51 V53 V55 V57 V59
OET (OET-RV) That slave will be blessed when his master arrives and finds him doing everything he should.
In this section Jesus continued to teach his disciples. He told them to do their work faithfully and to be ready for the time he would return to earth. He used three illustrations that all emphasized how important it is to be prepared for his return. In 12:35–38 he described a man who had gone to a wedding feast. His servants needed to be ready to open the door for him at whatever time he returned. In 12:39 he described the owner of a house watching out for a thief who might come at an unexpected time. In 12:41–48, Jesus explained the difference between a faithful servant and an unfaithful servant. This encouraged his disciples to be faithful.
Some other headings for this section are:
Faithful and Unfaithful Servants (CEV)
Be Ready for the Lord’s Coming (NLT)
Watchfulness (NIV)
There is a parallel passage for 12:41–48 in Matthew 24:45–51.
Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.
That servant/manager will be truly happy/fortunate if his master returns home and sees that he is doing the work that was entrusted to him.
When the master returns from a trip and learns that the servant has been doing his work well, the master will be very pleased with him.
The master will reward/favor this servant if he returns from his journey and discovers him acting responsibly/obediently.
Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns: Some time passes between 12:42 and 12:43. In 12:42 the text implies that the master left his servants. This part of the verse describes what happens when he returns home. In some languages it may be helpful to make this more explicit:
After some time, the master returns home. It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing his job properly!
There are other ways to structure this verse part. For example:
If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. (NLT)
When the master comes and finds the servant doing his work, the servant will be blessed. (NCV)
Blessed is that servant: As in 12:37a and 38a, the Greek word that the BSB translates literally as Blessed indicates that this servant will be truly happy or fortunate. In this context it implies that his master will be pleased with him and will show him special favor.
finds him doing so: In this context the phrase finds him doing so means sees/discovers that the servant has been doing his job, that is, he has been giving the other servants their food rations.
μακάριος ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μακάριος ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος ὅν ἐλθών ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ εὑρήσει οὕτως ποιοῦντα)
Alternate translation: [How good it will be for that slave]
ὃν ἐλθὼν, ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ εὑρήσει ποιοῦντα οὕτως
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μακάριος ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος ὅν ἐλθών ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ εὑρήσει οὕτως ποιοῦντα)
Alternate translation: [if his master finds him doing that work when he comes back]
OET (OET-RV) That slave will be blessed when his master arrives and finds him doing everything he should.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.
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