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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
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Luke 6 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
OET (OET-LV) he_is similar to_a_man building a_house, who dug and deepened and laid a_foundation on the rock, and having_become flood the flood dashed_against to_ the that _house, and it_was_ not _able to_shake it, because_of the thing to_have_built it well.
OET (OET-RV) That person is like a man building a house. He dug and drilled and laid a foundation on the rock, and then when there was a flood that dashed against that house, it didn’t shake it because it was built well.
In this section, Jesus spoke about how his true disciples should think and act. He spoke about this immediately after he had chosen twelve of his disciples to be his apostles. Jesus said many things about this topic in his speech, so that people have often called this particular speech of Jesus a “sermon.”
In this sermon, Jesus asked those who heard him to be different from other people in the world and to think differently. He encouraged his disciples to obey his authority and live as people of God. They should be generous and merciful even to their enemies, as God is generous to everyone. Jesus assured his disciples that they would be blessed and rewarded for their obedience and for suffering for him. He concluded his speech by telling parables to motivate his disciples to obey his teaching.
Another possible heading for this section is:
The Sermon on the Plain (NET)
Some English versions divide 6:17–49 into several sections. Here is one way that might be done:
6:17–26 Blessings and woes
6:27–36 Love your enemies
6:37–42 Do not judge
6:43–45 A tree and its fruit
6:46–49 Two foundations
The sermon in 6:17–49 is similar to the sermon commonly referred to as “The Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew chapters 5–7.
Jesus concluded his sermon by challenging his listeners not only to hear his teaching but also to obey it. He spoke a parable that illustrated the wisdom of listening and obeying and the folly of listening without obeying.
He is like a man building a house,
He is like a man who built a house.
They are like a man who began to build a house,
He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock: Jesus compared the person who obeys his teaching to a man who built a house on a solid foundation. The focus is on the foundation, not the house.
In Israel, a builder who wanted a solid foundation for his house would dig into the soil until he reached a layer of rock. Then he would begin building the foundation directly on the rock.
who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock.
He dug, and he dug deep/deeper, and built the foundation of the house on bedrock.
who first dug down deep into the ground until he reached the rock beneath and built the house on the rock.
dug down deep: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as dug down deep consists of two verbs. It is literally “dug and went/made deep.” Most English versions, such as the BSB, NIV, and RSV, combine these two verbs into one. However, using two verbs gives greater emphasis on the effort the man gave to be sure his house had a strong foundation. For example:
dug, and dug deep (NJB)
Use the word or phrase that is natural in your language for digging a long way down into the earth.
laid his foundation: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as laid his foundation is literally “placed/put the foundation.” In English, building a foundation is called “laying a foundation.” The foundation supports the house. It could also be called the “base” or the “support” of the house.
If building methods are different in your region, you could adapt this parable to fit your culture. Describe here what a man would do to build a house that was sturdy and strong. For example, where houses are built of wood and supported by posts, you could say:
he dug deep holes for his posts
the rock: The Greek word that the BSB translates as rock means “bedrock.” It does not refer to loose stones on top of the ground. It refers to a solid rock mass or layer under the surface of the ground. This layer of bedrock varies in depth. It could be as little as twenty centimeters from the surface, or it could be several meters below it. This explains the need to dig deep.
When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house
When it rained hard, the water from the river burst against the house.
When the nearby river overflowed its banks, the waters smashed against his house,
When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house: The Greek word that the BSB translates as flood refers to high water. A flood occurs when a river overflows its banks because of heavy rain. Apparently the man had built his house near a river. Some other ways to translate this are:
When the flood came and the river rushed against the house (CEV)
The river flooded over and hit that house (GNT)
When the river was in flood, it burst upon that house (REB)
the torrent: The Greek word that the BSB translates as torrent implies in this context a strong, fast-flowing stream of water. For example:
stream (ESV)
crashed against that house: The Greek word that the BSB translates as crashed against describes a great force of water striking against the house. This is a violent and vivid image. Some other ways to translate this are:
rushed against (CEV)
break against (NLT)
pushed against (GW)
tried to wash the house away (NCV)
but could not shake it, because it was well built.
Even so, it was not damaged, because he had built the house well.
but could not cause it to fall, because he had built a sturdy/strong house.
but: The Greek conjunction that the BSB here translates as but is often translated as “and,” and several English versions translate it that way. Here this conjunction introduces something unexpected. Despite the power of the flood waters, the house was not destroyed. Some other ways to translate this are:
in spite of that
however
nevertheless
could not shake it: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as could not shake it means “was not able to move it” or “was not strong enough to cause it to fall.” Some other ways to translate this are:
it could not shift it (JBP)
it stands firm (NLT)
because it was well built: There is a textual issue here. Instead of the clause “because it was well built,” some Greek manuscripts have “because it was founded upon the rock.” The KJV follows the manuscripts that have “because it was founded upon the rock.” It is recommended that you follow the earliest manuscripts, as do the majority of English versions, which say “because it was well built.” The clause because it was well built states the reason why the floodwaters could not destroy the house.
It is a passive clause. In some languages, it may be natural to use an active verb and supply a subject:
because the man built it well
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations
ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδομοῦντι οἰκίαν
˱to˲_˓a˒_man building ˓a˒_house
Here Jesus is using man in the generic sense. Alternate translation: [a person building a house]
Note 2 topic: translate-unknown
ἔσκαψεν καὶ ἐβάθυνεν καὶ ἔθηκεν θεμέλιον ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν
dug (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅμοιος ἐστίν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδομοῦντι οἰκίαν ὅς ἔσκαψεν καί ἐβάθυνεν καί ἔθηκεν θεμέλιον ἐπί τήν πέτραν πλημμύρης δέ γενομένης προσέρηξεν ὁ ποταμός τῇ οἰκίᾳ ἐκείνῃ καί οὐκ ἴσχυσεν σαλεῦσαι αὐτήν διά τό καλῶς οἰκοδομῆσθαι αὐτήν)
The foundation is the part of a house that connects it to the ground. People in Jesus’ time dug down into the ground until they reached a layer of solid rock, and then they began to build on the rock. You could describe this more fully in your translation. Alternatively, if the people of your culture would not be familiar with laying the foundation of a house on bedrock, you could instead describe how they would ensure that a dwelling was safe and stable. Alternate translation: [dug down deep enough to reach a layer of solid rock and set the foundation of the house on it]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / hendiadys
ἔσκαψεν καὶ ἐβάθυνεν
dug (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅμοιος ἐστίν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδομοῦντι οἰκίαν ὅς ἔσκαψεν καί ἐβάθυνεν καί ἔθηκεν θεμέλιον ἐπί τήν πέτραν πλημμύρης δέ γενομένης προσέρηξεν ὁ ποταμός τῇ οἰκίᾳ ἐκείνῃ καί οὐκ ἴσχυσεν σαλεῦσαι αὐτήν διά τό καλῶς οἰκοδομῆσθαι αὐτήν)
This phrase expresses a single idea by using two words connected with and. The expression dug deep tells what goal the person had when he or she dug down. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [dug down deep enough]
Note 4 topic: translate-unknown
τὴν πέτραν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅμοιος ἐστίν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδομοῦντι οἰκίαν ὅς ἔσκαψεν καί ἐβάθυνεν καί ἔθηκεν θεμέλιον ἐπί τήν πέτραν πλημμύρης δέ γενομένης προσέρηξεν ὁ ποταμός τῇ οἰκίᾳ ἐκείνῃ καί οὐκ ἴσχυσεν σαλεῦσαι αὐτήν διά τό καλῶς οἰκοδομῆσθαι αὐτήν)
This means the layer of hard rock that lies deep under the soil. Alternate translation: [bedrock]
ποταμὸς
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅμοιος ἐστίν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδομοῦντι οἰκίαν ὅς ἔσκαψεν καί ἐβάθυνεν καί ἔθηκεν θεμέλιον ἐπί τήν πέτραν πλημμύρης δέ γενομένης προσέρηξεν ὁ ποταμός τῇ οἰκίᾳ ἐκείνῃ καί οὐκ ἴσχυσεν σαλεῦσαι αὐτήν διά τό καλῶς οἰκοδομῆσθαι αὐτήν)
Alternate translation: [floodwaters]
προσέρηξεν
dashed_against
Alternate translation: [crashed against]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
οὐκ ἴσχυσεν σαλεῦσαι αὐτὴν
not ˱it˲_was_able ˓to˒_shake (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅμοιος ἐστίν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδομοῦντι οἰκίαν ὅς ἔσκαψεν καί ἐβάθυνεν καί ἔθηκεν θεμέλιον ἐπί τήν πέτραν πλημμύρης δέ γενομένης προσέρηξεν ὁ ποταμός τῇ οἰκίᾳ ἐκείνῃ καί οὐκ ἴσχυσεν σαλεῦσαι αὐτήν διά τό καλῶς οἰκοδομῆσθαι αὐτήν)
Jesus is describing what the waters would do at first to represent what they would ultimately do if they could. This meaning is clear from what he says in the next verse. Alternate translation: [it could not destroy it]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
διὰ τὸ καλῶς οἰκοδομῆσθαι αὐτήν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅμοιος ἐστίν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδομοῦντι οἰκίαν ὅς ἔσκαψεν καί ἐβάθυνεν καί ἔθηκεν θεμέλιον ἐπί τήν πέτραν πλημμύρης δέ γενομένης προσέρηξεν ὁ ποταμός τῇ οἰκίᾳ ἐκείνῃ καί οὐκ ἴσχυσεν σαλεῦσαι αὐτήν διά τό καλῶς οἰκοδομῆσθαι αὐτήν)
If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: [because the person had built it well]
6:17-49 The central theme of Jesus’ great sermon is that an authentic life of righteousness accompanies repentance and acceptance into God’s Kingdom.
OET (OET-LV) he_is similar to_a_man building a_house, who dug and deepened and laid a_foundation on the rock, and having_become flood the flood dashed_against to_ the that _house, and it_was_ not _able to_shake it, because_of the thing to_have_built it well.
OET (OET-RV) That person is like a man building a house. He dug and drilled and laid a foundation on the rock, and then when there was a flood that dashed against that house, it didn’t shake it because it was built well.
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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