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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL 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
Luke C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 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 V43 V45 V49 V51 V53 V55 V57 V59
OET (OET-LV) And that the slave, which having_known the will of_the master of_him, and not having_prepared or having_done for the will of_him, will_be_being_beat many blows,
OET (OET-RV) “Any slave who knows what their master wants, yet doesn’t get anything ready or start doing what’s wanted, they’ll get a good beating,
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.
This verse states a general principle. It does not refer to a particular action in the past.In Greek the forms used in these verse parts are aorist (past) forms. Some English versions, such as the RSV, translate them using the past tense (“knew,” “did not prepare himself”). Others, such as the BSB, use the present tense. Use a natural way in your language to state this general principle. For example:
If servants are not ready or willing to do what their master wants them to do, they will be beaten hard. (CEV)
Servants who know their master’s will but do not get themselves ready or do it will receive many blows.
As for a servant who knows his master’s will but does not do it, he will receive a severe beating.
That servant who knows his master’s will
¶ “The/A servant who knows what his master wants him to do
¶ “If servants know their master’s wishes
That servant who knows his master’s will: The phrase that the BSB translates as That servant refers to a type of servant that Jesus was about to mention. Jesus was referring to any servant who knew what his master wanted or told him to do. In some languages it may be more natural to use a different form to refer to a servant or servants in general. For example:
a servant who knows what the master wants (NLT)
servants who know what their master wants them to do
but does not get ready or follow his instructions
and does not get ready or do it,
and/but they neither obey/fulfill them nor do they prepare for his return,
but does not get ready: In this context the phrase does not get ready means “does not prepare for the master’s return.”
or: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as or introduces a second thing that the servant does not do. The servant does not get ready and he does not do what his master wants.
follow his instructions: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as follow his instructions is literally “do his master’s will,” as in 12:47a. The BSB has varied the translation for stylistic reasons. You may use the same expression if that is good style in your language. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
obey his master
fulfill his master’s desires
In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of the two verb phrases in this part of the verse. For example:
and does not obey his master or prepare for his return
will be beaten with many blows.
will receive a heavy/long beating.
their master will whip them severely.
will be beaten with many blows: This is a passive verb phrase. It refers to someone being struck many times with a whip (or possibly a stick). Some ways to translate it are:
With a passive verb. For example:
will be whipped with many blows/strokes
With an active verb. For example:
will receive a severe beating (NRSV)
If it is necessary to specify an actor, the implied actor is either the master or someone else whom the master orders to whip him. For example:
his master will give him a severe whipping
his master will cause/order someone to beat him with many blows
Translate this in a way that is most natural in your language.
12:47a–b describe a condition or situation that will lead to a particular result (12:47c). In some languages it may be more natural to state 12:47a–b as a conditional (if) clause. For example:
If servants do not obey their master or prepare for him to return, they will receive many lashes with the whip.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / hypo
ἐκεῖνος δὲ ὁ δοῦλος, ὁ γνοὺς τὸ θέλημα τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἑτοιμάσας ἢ ποιήσας πρὸς τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ, δαρήσεται πολλάς
that (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐκεῖνος Δέ ὁ δοῦλος ὁ γνούς τό θέλημα τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ καί μή ἑτοιμάσας ἤ ποιήσας πρός τό θέλημα αὐτοῦ δαρήσεται πολλάς)
Jesus is describing a hypothetical situation. It may be helpful to use two sentences if you translate it that way. Alternate translation: [Suppose a slave knew what his master wanted him to do, and suppose he did not get ready or do what the master wanted. Then his master would punish him severely]
τὸ θέλημα τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐκεῖνος Δέ ὁ δοῦλος ὁ γνούς τό θέλημα τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ καί μή ἑτοιμάσας ἤ ποιήσας πρός τό θέλημα αὐτοῦ δαρήσεται πολλάς)
Alternate translation: [what his master wanted him to do]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
δαρήσεται πολλάς
˓will_be_being˒_beat many_‹blows›
If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who will do the action. Alternate translation: [his master will punish him severely]
OET (OET-LV) And that the slave, which having_known the will of_the master of_him, and not having_prepared or having_done for the will of_him, will_be_being_beat many blows,
OET (OET-RV) “Any slave who knows what their master wants, yet doesn’t get anything ready or start doing what’s wanted, they’ll get a good beating,
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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