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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 V47 V49 V51 V53 V55 V57 V59
OET (OET-LV) but the one not having_known, but having_done things worthy of_beatings, will_be_being_beat few blows.
And to_everyone to_whom was_given much, much will_be_being_sought from him, and to_whom they_entrusted they_will_be_requesting him much, more_abundantly.
OET (OET-RV) yet a slave that didn’t know what was expected, even if they might have done things worthy of a beating, they’ll just get a couple of blows. Everyone who’s given much is expected to do much, and everyone who’s entrusted with many things, will have much more expected back from them.
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.
But the one who unknowingly does things
But the/a servant who does not know what his master wants
But if/when servants do not know their master’s wishes
But the one who unknowingly does: This clause contains an ellipsis. It does not say what this servant unknowingly does. From the context, it is clear that this servant does not know his master’s will. In languages where this kind of ellipsis is unclear or unnatural, you should supply the implied information. For example:
But the servant who does not know what his master wants him to do…
worthy of punishment
and does things for which he deserves to be punished
and they do something wrong so that a punishment is necessary,
does things worthy of punishment: The phrase that the BSB translates as does things worthy of punishment is more literally “having done (things) worthy of blows.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:
does something for which he deserves a whipping (GNT)
does something wrong (NLT)
will be beaten with few blows.
will receive only a light/short beating.
their master will whip them only a little.
will be beaten with few blows: You should translate this phrase in a way that clearly shows the contrast with the parallel phrase in 12:47c. Some ways to translate it in English are:
will be flogged less severely (REB)
will not be beaten so hard (CEV)
From everyone who has been given much, much will be required;
Everyone who has much entrusted to him, much will also be expected of him.
When God greatly blesses certain people, he requires that those people should be especially faithful/diligent in serving him.
From everyone who has been given much, much will be required: This saying is in the form of a proverb or general statement. It applies both to the way people relate to one another and also to the way God relates to people. When a master gives his servants great privileges, he expects those servants to serve him exceptionally well. Similarly, when God gives his people many gifts and blessings, he expects them to work hard for him.
Both clauses in this verse part contain passive verbs. Some ways to translate these verbs are:
As passive verbs. For example:
When someone has been given much, much will be required in return (NLT)
As active verbs. If possible, use a subject that can apply both to God and a human master. For example:
A master demands much from the one to whom he has given much
If it is not possible to use an ambiguous subject, it is recommended that you supply the subject “God.” You may also need to supply direct objects and say what God gives and demands. For example:
When God gives great blessings/privileges to people, he requires from them great faithfulness
If God has been generous with you, he will expect you to serve him well (CEV)
Translate these verbs in a way that is most natural in your language.
and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.
The person who has accepted a great trust will be held all the more responsible.”
Yes, when God gives much responsibility/authority to someone, he expects much more from him.”
and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded: The conjunction and here introduces a statement that is parallel to the one in 12:48d. In some languages a conjunction may not be needed. For example:
much more is required from the person to whom much more is given (GNT)
from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded: This statement has almost the same meaning as 12:48d. This repetition is called parallelism. It was considered good style for Jewish proverbs to use parallelism to emphasize something. See the General Comment on 12:48d–e at the end of 12:48e for a way to combine these two parallel statements into one statement.
has been entrusted…even more will be demanded: The Greek verbs that the BSB translates as has been entrusted and will be demanded are more literally “they entrust” and “they will demand/require.” Here the subject “they” is a way to include anyone who entrusts or asks something of people. It can be applied to both human masters and God. Some ways to translate these verbs are:
Use passive verbs. For example:
the more he has had entrusted to him the more will be demanded of him (REB)
Use verbs with general subjects such as “anyone” or “someone”:
When someone/anyone entrusts you with a very precious thing, he will require you to be very faithful
Translate these verbs in a way that is most natural in your language.
In some languages it may not be natural to use parallel statements that have almost the same meaning. If that is true in your language, it may be possible to combine the parallel statements into one statement. For example:
If a person is given many blessings and responsibilities, much will be expected from him.
God will certainly require much from people to whom he has entrusted much.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / hypo
ὁ δὲ μὴ γνοὺς, ποιήσας δὲ ἄξια πληγῶν, δαρήσεται ὀλίγας
the_‹one› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ δέ μή γνούς ποιήσας δέ ἀξία πληγῶν δαρήσεται ὀλίγας παντί Δέ ᾧ ἐδόθη πολύ πολύ ζητηθήσεται πάρʼ αὐτοῦ καί ᾧ παρέθεντο πολύ περισσότερον αἰτήσουσιν αὐτόν)
Jesus is describing a hypothetical situation. It may be helpful to use two sentences if you translate it that way. Alternate translation: [But suppose a servant did not know what his master wanted him to do, and suppose he did things that deserved punishment. Then his master would punish him lightly]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
δαρήσεται ὀλίγας
˓will_be_being˒_beat few_‹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 would punish him lightly]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism
παντὶ & ᾧ ἐδόθη πολύ, πολὺ ζητηθήσεται παρ’ αὐτοῦ; καὶ ᾧ παρέθεντο πολύ, περισσότερον αἰτήσουσιν αὐτόν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ δέ μή γνούς ποιήσας δέ ἀξία πληγῶν δαρήσεται ὀλίγας παντί Δέ ᾧ ἐδόθη πολύ πολύ ζητηθήσεται πάρʼ αὐτοῦ καί ᾧ παρέθεντο πολύ περισσότερον αἰτήσουσιν αὐτόν)
These two clauses mean the same thing. Jesus is using repetition for emphasis. If it would be helpful in your language, you could combine them, especially if putting both of them in your translation might be confusing for your readers. Alternate translation: [if someone entrusts many resources to a person, he will expect that person to produce much from those resources]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
παντὶ & ᾧ ἐδόθη πολύ, πολὺ ζητηθήσεται παρ’ αὐτοῦ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ δέ μή γνούς ποιήσας δέ ἀξία πληγῶν δαρήσεται ὀλίγας παντί Δέ ᾧ ἐδόθη πολύ πολύ ζητηθήσεται πάρʼ αὐτοῦ καί ᾧ παρέθεντο πολύ περισσότερον αἰτήσουσιν αὐτόν)
If it would be helpful in your language, you could use active verbal forms to express the meaning of the two passive verbal forms here. Alternate translation: [the master will require more of everyone to whom he has given much]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ᾧ παρέθεντο πολύ, περισσότερον αἰτήσουσιν αὐτόν
˱to˲_whom ˱to˲_whom ˱they˲_entrusted much more_abundantly ˱they˲_˓will_be˒_requesting him
If it would be helpful in your language, you could use active verbal forms to express the meaning of the two passive verbal forms here. Alternate translation: [the master will ask even more of the one to whom he has given much property to care for]
OET (OET-LV) but the one not having_known, but having_done things worthy of_beatings, will_be_being_beat few blows.
And to_everyone to_whom was_given much, much will_be_being_sought from him, and to_whom they_entrusted they_will_be_requesting him much, more_abundantly.
OET (OET-RV) yet a slave that didn’t know what was expected, even if they might have done things worthy of a beating, they’ll just get a couple of blows. Everyone who’s given much is expected to do much, and everyone who’s entrusted with many things, will have much more expected back from them.
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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