LUKE 15:4 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Τίς
2. tis
3. What
4. -
5. 51010
6. E····NMS
7. what
8. what
9. D
10. Y33
11. 53125
1. ἄνθρωπος
2. anthrōpos
3. person
4. -
5. 4440
6. N····NMS
7. person
8. person
9. -
10. Y33; F53130; F53135; F53143; F53152; F53159; F53163; F53167; F53169; F53177; F53184; F53189
11. 53126
1. ἐξ
2. ek
3. of
4. -
5. 15370
6. P·······
7. of
8. of
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53127
1. ὑμῶν
2. su
3. you all
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2G·P
7. you_all
8. you_all
9. -
10. Y33; R53103
11. 53128
1. ὅς
2. hos
3. -
4. -
5. 37390
6. R····NMS
7. who
8. who
9. -
10. -
11. 53129
1. ἔχων
2. eχō
3. having
4. -
5. 21920
6. VPPA·NMS
7. having
8. having
9. -
10. Y33; R53126
11. 53130
1. ἕξει
2. eχō
3. -
4. -
5. 21920
6. VIFA3··S
7. ˓will_be˒ having
8. ˓will_be˒ having
9. -
10. -
11. 53131
1. ἑκατόν
2. hekaton
3. +a hundred
4. hundred
5. 15400
6. E····ANP
7. ˓a˒ hundred
8. ˓a˒ hundred
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53132
1. πρόβατα
2. probaton
3. sheep
4. -
5. 42630
6. N····ANP
7. sheep
8. sheep
9. -
10. Y33; F53139
11. 53133
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53134
1. ἀπολέσας
2. apolluō
3. having lost
4. -
5. 6220
6. VPAA·NMS
7. ˓having˒ lost
8. ˓having˒ lost
9. -
10. Y33; R53126
11. 53135
1. ἀπολέσῃ
2. apolluō
3. -
4. -
5. 6220
6. VSAA3··S
7. ˱he˲ ˓may˒ lose
8. ˱he˲ ˓may˒ lose
9. -
10. -
11. 53136
1. ἕν
2. heis
3. -
4. -
5. 15200
6. S····ANS
7. one
8. one
9. -
10. -
11. 53137
1. ἐξ
2. ek
3. of
4. -
5. 15370
6. P·······
7. of
8. of
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53138
1. αὐτῶν
2. autos
3. them
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3GNP
7. them
8. them
9. -
10. Y33; R53133
11. 53139
1. ἕν
2. heis
3. one
4. -
5. 15200
6. S····ANS
7. one
8. one
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53140
1. οὒ
2. ou
3. not
4. -
5. 37560
6. T·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53141
1. ἀφίησι
2. afiēmi
3. -
4. -
5. 8630
6. VIPA3··S
7. leaving
8. leaving
9. -
10. -
11. 53142
1. καταλείπει
2. kataleipō
3. is leaving
4. -
5. 26410
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ leaving
8. ˓is˒ leaving
9. -
10. Y33; R53126
11. 53143
1. τά
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····ANP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53144
1. ἐνενήκοντα
2. enenēkonta
3. ninety
4. -
5. 17525
6. S····ANP
7. ninety
8. ninety
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53145
1. ἐννέα
2. ennea
3. nine
4. -
5. 17670
6. S····ANP
7. nine
8. nine
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53146
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53147
1. τῇ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53148
1. ἐρήμῳ
2. erēmos
3. wilderness
4. wilderness
5. 20480
6. S····DFS
7. wilderness
8. desert
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53149
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53150
1. ἀπελθών
2. aperχomai
3. -
4. -
5. 5650
6. VPAA·NMS
7. ˓having˒ gone_away
8. ˓having˒ gone_away
9. -
10. -
11. 53151
1. πορεύεται
2. poreuō
3. is going
4. -
5. 41980
6. VIPM3··S
7. ˓is˒ going
8. ˓is˒ going
9. -
10. Y33; R53126
11. 53152
1. ἐπί
2. epi
3. after
4. -
5. 19090
6. P·······
7. after
8. after
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53153
1. τό
2. ho
3. the sheep
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····ANS
7. the ‹sheep›
8. the ‹sheep›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53154
1. ἀπολωλός
2. apolluō
3. having lost
4. -
5. 6220
6. VPEA·ANS
7. ˓having˒ lost
8. ˓having˒ lost
9. -
10. Y33; F53160
11. 53155
1. ζητεῖ
2. zēteō
3. -
4. -
5. 22120
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ seeking
8. ˓is˒ seeking
9. -
10. -
11. 53156
1. ἕως
2. heōs
3. until
4. until
5. 21930
6. C·······
7. until
8. until
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53157
1. οὒ
2. ou
3. -
4. -
5. 37560
6. T·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. -
11. 53158
1. εὕρῃ
2. euriskō
3. he may find
4. -
5. 21470
6. VSAA3··S
7. ˱he˲ ˓may˒ find
8. ˱he˲ ˓may˒ find
9. -
10. Y33; R53126
11. 53159
1. αὐτό
2. autos
3. it
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3ANS
7. it
8. it
9. -
10. Y33; R53155
11. 53160

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 15:1–7: Jesus told a parable about a man looking for his lost sheep

In Luke 15 Jesus welcomed sinful people, and many listened to him. However, the Pharisees criticized Jesus for welcoming people like that. Then Jesus told the three parables in this chapter. Each parable tells about something that was lost and the joy of the one who found it. The things that were lost represent sinful people. They need help to be restored to God. The parables illustrate that God feels great joy when even one sinful person repents and is restored to a good relationship with him. In the Notes each parable will be described in a separate section.

The parable in this section is about a sheep that went away from its shepherd. The sheep did not know how to find the shepherd again. When the shepherd noticed that this one sheep was missing, he searched for it diligently until he found it. He then invited his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him that he had found the lost sheep. Another heading for this section is:

The Lost Sheep (GW)

A shepherd was happy to find his lost sheep

There is a parallel passage for this section in Matthew 18:12–14. However, the context and some of the details are different.

15:4

In Greek, 15:4 is a single rhetorical question. For example:

If one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does he not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is missing until he finds it? (REB)

Jesus used this question to illustrate what he wanted to teach the people about God’s attitude toward sinners. The question emphasizes that any of them would surely search for one of their sheep that got lost. In some languages it is not natural to use a long rhetorical question to express this. Other ways to translate it are:

As a combination of a statement or command with a rhetorical question. For example:
Suppose you have a hundred sheep and one gets lost. What will you do? You will leave ninety-nine that are safe and go to look for the one that is lost until you find it.
As two or more rhetorical questions. For example:
If any of you has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won’t you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? (CEV)
As two or more statements. For example:
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep but loses one of them. You will certainly leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the open field and go out and look for the lost sheep until you find it.

Translate this rhetorical question in a way that will emphasize that any person among them would search for his lost sheep.

What man among you, if he: Notice that the BSB uses “among you” and “he” to refer to the listeners. The CEV uses “one of you,” and “you.” Another option is to use forms like “someone” and “he” throughout. For example:

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others… (NLT)

Use a natural way in your language to refer to the person in this illustration.

15:4a

“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them,

“If you^(plur) had one hundred sheep and one became lost,
“If one of you^(plur) owns one hundred sheep and one goes astray,
“What would someone do if he owned a hundred sheep and just one wandered away and became lost?

if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them: In this context the owner of the sheep loses a sheep when the sheep wanders off by itself and becomes lost. The phrase does not imply here that the sheep is stolen or dies. For example:

one of them gets lost (CEV)

sheep: The word sheep refers to domestic animals that are raised for meat and for wool. In some languages there may not be a word for “sheep.” If that is true in your language, you may borrow the word for “sheep” and indicate its meaning with a general word such as “herd/flock” or “animals.” For example:

a hundred animals called sheep

herd/flock of one hundred sheep

If people are not familiar with sheep in your area, it is suggested that you insert a picture in your translation.

15:4b

does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture

what would you^(plur) do? You would leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture,
think about what you would do. You^(plur) would leave the other ninety-nine sheep to keep feeding in the grassland,
He would leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the field/place where they were safely eating grass

does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture: The Greek word that the BSB translates as the pasture is sometimes translated as “wilderness.” Some English versions, such as the RSV, translate it that way. In this context it probably refers specifically to a pasture area where the sheep could eat grass and other plants. This was a normal place for sheep to stay.

It was common for shepherds to have enclosures in such pasture areas where the sheep could be safe at night. The shepherd was not being cruel or foolish to leave the ninety-nine sheep in such a place. Use a term in your language that describes a good place for sheep to eat and rest. It is best to avoid a word that implies a dangerous place. For example:

grazing in the pasture (GW)

15:4c

and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

and go and look for the lost sheep until you^(plur) found it, wouldn’t you? Of course you would do that!
and you^(plur) would go and search for that one lost sheep until you found it.
while he went and searched for that one missing sheep.

go after the one that is lost, until he finds it: The phrase go after means here “go to look/search for.” The shepherd would keep looking for the sheep until he found it. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

look for (GW)

go to search for (NLT)

go out and look for (NCV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τίς ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ὑμῶν, ἔχων ἑκατὸν πρόβατα καὶ ἀπολέσας ἐξ αὐτῶν ἓν, οὐ καταλείπει τὰ ἐνενήκοντα ἐννέα ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, καὶ πορεύεται ἐπὶ τὸ ἀπολωλὸς, ἕως εὕρῃ αὐτό?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τίς ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ὑμῶν ἔχων ἑκατόν πρόβατα καί ἀπολέσας ἐξ αὐτῶν ἕν οὒ καταλείπει τά ἐνενήκοντα ἐννέα ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καί πορεύεται ἐπί τό ἀπολωλός ἕως εὕρῃ αὐτό)

Jesus is using this question as a teaching tool. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate his words as a statement. Alternate translation: [If one of you had 100 sheep and lost one of them, he would certainly leave the other 99 sheep in the wilderness and go looking for the sheep that had wandered off until he found it.]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / hypo

τίς ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ὑμῶν, ἔχων ἑκατὸν πρόβατα καὶ ἀπολέσας ἐξ αὐτῶν ἓν, οὐ καταλείπει

Jesus is offering the Pharisees and scribes an illustration that involves a hypothetical situation. Alternate translation: [Suppose one of you had 100 sheep and you lost one of them. Then would you not certainly leave]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

τίς ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ὑμῶν, ἔχων ἑκατὸν πρόβατα & ἕως εὕρῃ αὐτό

Since Jesus begins the parable by asking, “Which man among you,” some languages would continue the parable in the second person. Alternate translation: [Which one of you, if you had 100 sheep … until you found it]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

τίς ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ὑμῶν

This could mean: (1) while all of the Pharisees and scribes who are grumbling are probably men, Jesus is describing what any person, man or woman, would likely do in this situation, and he is telling the parable for the whole crowd to hear. So the term man here may be generic. Alternate translation: [Which person among you] (2) since Jesus speaks in his next parable of a woman doing something, he may be using a man and a woman in paired examples to offer a comprehensive teaching about the kingdom of God. In that case, the term man here would not be generic. Alternate translation: [Which of you men]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. What
2. -
3. 51010
4. D
5. tis
6. E-····NMS
7. what
8. what
9. D
10. Y33
11. 53125
1. person
2. -
3. 4440
5. anthrōpos
6. N-····NMS
7. person
8. person
9. -
10. Y33; F53130; F53135; F53143; F53152; F53159; F53163; F53167; F53169; F53177; F53184; F53189
11. 53126
1. of
2. -
3. 15370
5. ek
6. P-·······
7. of
8. of
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53127
1. you all
2. -
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2G·P
7. you_all
8. you_all
9. -
10. Y33; R53103
11. 53128
1. having
2. -
3. 21920
5. eχō
6. V-PPA·NMS
7. having
8. having
9. -
10. Y33; R53126
11. 53130
1. +a hundred
2. hundred
3. 15400
5. hekaton
6. E-····ANP
7. ˓a˒ hundred
8. ˓a˒ hundred
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53132
1. sheep
2. -
3. 42630
5. probaton
6. N-····ANP
7. sheep
8. sheep
9. -
10. Y33; F53139
11. 53133
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53134
1. having lost
2. -
3. 6220
5. apolluō
6. V-PAA·NMS
7. ˓having˒ lost
8. ˓having˒ lost
9. -
10. Y33; R53126
11. 53135
1. one
2. -
3. 15200
5. heis
6. S-····ANS
7. one
8. one
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53140
1. of
2. -
3. 15370
5. ek
6. P-·······
7. of
8. of
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53138
1. them
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3GNP
7. them
8. them
9. -
10. Y33; R53133
11. 53139
1. is
2. -
3. 26410
5. kataleipō
6. V-IPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ leaving
8. ˓is˒ leaving
9. -
10. Y33; R53126
11. 53143
1. not
2. -
3. 37560
5. ou
6. T-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53141
1. leaving
2. -
3. 26410
5. kataleipō
6. V-IPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ leaving
8. ˓is˒ leaving
9. -
10. Y33; R53126
11. 53143
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····ANP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53144
1. ninety
2. -
3. 17525
5. enenēkonta
6. S-····ANP
7. ninety
8. ninety
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53145
1. nine
2. -
3. 17670
5. ennea
6. S-····ANP
7. nine
8. nine
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53146
1. in
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53147
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····DFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53148
1. wilderness
2. wilderness
3. 20480
5. erēmos
6. S-····DFS
7. wilderness
8. desert
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53149
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53150
1. is going
2. -
3. 41980
5. poreuō
6. V-IPM3··S
7. ˓is˒ going
8. ˓is˒ going
9. -
10. Y33; R53126
11. 53152
1. after
2. -
3. 19090
5. epi
6. P-·······
7. after
8. after
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53153
1. the sheep
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. R-····ANS
7. the ‹sheep›
8. the ‹sheep›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53154
1. having lost
2. -
3. 6220
5. apolluō
6. V-PEA·ANS
7. ˓having˒ lost
8. ˓having˒ lost
9. -
10. Y33; F53160
11. 53155
1. until
2. until
3. 21930
5. heōs
6. C-·······
7. until
8. until
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53157
1. he may find
2. -
3. 21470
5. euriskō
6. V-SAA3··S
7. ˱he˲ ˓may˒ find
8. ˱he˲ ˓may˒ find
9. -
10. Y33; R53126
11. 53159
1. it
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3ANS
7. it
8. it
9. -
10. Y33; R53155
11. 53160

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.