LUKE 18:26 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 18:18–30: It is hard for rich people to enter God’s kingdom

The theme of this section is similar in some ways to the theme of the preceding section. In both sections Jesus talked about entering the kingdom of God. This section also contrasts with the preceding one. In that section the children represent humble people who easily depend on God and welcome his rule/reign. The ruler in this section represents people who are rich and powerful. It is very difficult for such people to welcome God’s reign and submit to it.

The ruler asked Jesus how he could obtain eternal life. Jesus told him to obey God’s commands. Among the Jews, this was a well-known answer to the question of how to obtain eternal life. The ruler said that he had obeyed God’s commands since he was a child. Then Jesus told him to sell what he had, give the money to the poor, and become his disciple. But the ruler valued his riches too much to do that. Then Jesus said that it is very hard for rich people to enter God’s kingdom.

At the end of the section Jesus promised that people who left their possessions and family behind to serve him would receive great rewards.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Jesus taught that riches make it difficult to obtain eternal life

A Rich Man’s Question (NCV)

The rich young man (NJB)

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 19:16–30 and Mark 10:17–31.

18:26a

Those who heard this asked,

¶ The people who heard this asked,
¶ When people heard Jesus say that, they were amazed. And they said,
¶ Then the people listening asked each other,

Those who heard this: The phrase Those who heard this refers to the people who were listening to Jesus.

asked: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as asked is literally “said.” It introduces a rhetorical question. If you translate it as a statement, it may be more natural to use a verb like “said.”

The text does not specify to whom the people were speaking. They may have been speaking directly to Jesus or more generally to anyone who was listening.In the parallel passage in Mark 10:26, there is a textual issue. The Notes recommended the text that indicates that the people asked each other. If you must say whom the people were asking, you may want to supply a general phrase. For example:

The people who heard this asked each other

18:26b

“Who then can be saved?”

“If that is true, who can be saved?”
“If rich people cannot be saved, maybe God will not save anyone!”
“But if God will not save rich people from their sins so they can enter his kingdom, whom will he save?”

Who then can be saved?: This is probably a rhetorical question. It is an emphatic way to say, “If that is true, no one can be saved!” It expresses the people’s surprise at what Jesus said in 18:25.Jews thought that a person became rich because God blessed him for being righteous. They thought that poor people were probably not righteous. So when the people who were listening to Jesus heard him say that it was impossible for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom, they assumed that poor people could not hope for God to save them either.

Some ways to translate this to express emphasis and surprise are:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
How can anyone ever be saved? (CEV)
Then can anyone be saved? It is impossible!
As a statement. For example:
Then we do not know how anyone can possibly be saved!
If that is true, then God will not save anyone.

Translate this emphasis and surprise in a way that is natural in your language.

then: In this context the conjunction that the BSB translates as then could also be translated as “in that case” or “if that is so/true.”

be saved: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as be saved means “to be rescued or preserved from harm.” In this context it refers to God allowing someone to enter his kingdom (18:25) and to receive eternal life.

In some languages, it may be necessary to make explicit what the person was saved from. For example:

saved from his sins that would prevent him from entering God’s kingdom

rescued from God’s judgment/punishment and allowed to enter God’s kingdom

The verb be saved is a passive verb. In some languages it is more natural to use an active verb and supply a subject. The implied subject is God. For example:

Whom then will God save?

See save, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.

uW Translation Notes:

οἱ ἀκούσαντες

they ˓having˒_heard

Alternate translation: [the people who were listening to Jesus]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

καὶ τίς δύναται σωθῆναι?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπον Δέ οἱ ἀκούσαντες Καί τίς δύναται σωθῆναι)

It is possible that these people were asking for an answer. But it is more likely that they were using the question form to emphasize their surprise at what Jesus said. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this as a statement or exclamation. Alternate translation: [Then no one can be saved!]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

καὶ τίς δύναται σωθῆναι?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπον Δέ οἱ ἀκούσαντες Καί τίς δύναται σωθῆναι)

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this with an active form, and you could specify the agent. Alternate translation: [Then God is not going to save anyone!]

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

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.

OET interlinear LUKE 18:26

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 18:18–30: It is hard for rich people to enter God’s kingdom

18:26a

18:26b

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