LUKE 11:34 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Your eyes are like the lamp for your body. Whenever your eyes are healthy, your entire body will be bright, but when your eyes are evil, your body is also dark,

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is also illuminated. But when it is evil, your body is also dark.

UST Your eye lets light into your body. If your eye is working right, then your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is not working right, then your body will not get any light.

BSB Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good,[fn] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad,[fn] your body [is] full of darkness.

11:34 Literally When your eye is sound; see Proverbs 22:9.

11:34 Literally when it is evil; see Proverbs 23:6 and Proverbs 28:22.

MSB The eye is the lamp of the body.[fn] So when your eyes are good,[fn] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad,[fn] your body [is] full of darkness.

11:34 CT Your eye is the lamp of your body

11:34 Literally So when your eye is sound; see Proverbs 22:9.

11:34 Literally But when it is evil; see Proverbs 23:6 and Proverbs 28:22.

BLB Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is clear, your whole body is also light; but when it is evil, your body is also dark.

AICNT “The lamp of {the}[fn] body is your eye.[fn] [[Therefore]][fn] when your eye is clear,[fn] your whole body is full of light; but when it is evil, your body is full of darkness.

11:34, the: Some manuscripts read “your.” D(05) Latin(a b e ff²)

11:34, the lamp of the body is your eye: That is “inward lamp” and “inward eye.” The discourse shifts from the ordinary lamp, which gives light from the outside, to a figurative extension of the word 'lamp', here called 'the lamp of the body', which gives light from within. (UBS Handbooks for New Testament (20 Vols.))

11:34, Therefore: Some manuscripts include. A(02) C(04) BYZ TR ‖ Absent from 𝔓45 𝔓75 ℵ(01) B(03) D(05) W(032) NA28 SBLGNT THGNT.

11:34, clear: Or healthy. The Greek word for clear is defined by BDAG as: being motivated by singleness of purpose so as to be open and aboveboard, without guile, sincere, straightforward, i.e. without a hidden agenda. (BDAG, ἁπλοῦς)

OEB The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is unclouded, your whole body, also, is lit up; but, as soon as your eye is diseased, your body, also, is darkened.

WEBBE The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is diseased, your body is full of darkness.

LSV The lamp of the body is the eye, when then your eye may be simple, your whole body is also lightened; and when it may be evil, your body is also darkened;

FBV Your eye is the light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body is in the dark.

TCNT [fn]The lamp of the body is the eye. [fn]So when yoʋr eye is clear, yoʋr whole body is full of light. But when yoʋr eye is bad, yoʋr body is full of darkness.

11:34 The lamp of the body is the eye ¦ Yoʋr eye is the lamp of yoʋr body CT

11:34 So when ¦ When CT

T4T Your eyes [MET] are like a lamp for your body, because they enable you to see things. If your eyes are healthy, you are able to see everything well [MET]. Similarly, if you(sg) accept my teaching, you will be able to know all that God wants you to know. But if your eyes are bad, you are not able to see anything. It is like being in darkness [MET]. And similarly, if you(pl) do not accept what I teach, you will not be able to know all the things that God wants you to know.

LEB Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is sincere, your whole body is full of light also. But when it is evil, your body is dark also.

BBE The light of the body is the eye: when your eye is true, all your body is full of light; but when it is evil, your body is dark.

Moff Your eye is the lamp of the body:
⇔ when your eye is sound, then the whole of your body has light,
⇔ but if your eye is diseased, then your body is darkened.

Wymth The lamp of the body is the eye. When your eyesight is good, your whole body also is lighted up; but when it is defective, your body is darkened.

ASV The lamp of thy body is thine eye: when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when it is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

DRA The light of thy body is thy eye. If thy eye be single, thy whole body will be lightsome: but if it be evil, thy body also will be darksome.

YLT 'The lamp of the body is the eye, when then thine eye may be simple, thy whole body also is lightened; and when it may be evil, thy body also is darkened;

Drby The lamp of the body is thine eye: when thine eye is simple, thy whole body also is light; but when it is wicked, thy body also is dark.

RV The lamp of thy body is thine eye: when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when it is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
(The lamp of thy/your body is thine/your eye: when thine/your eye is single, thy/your whole body also is full of light; but when it is evil, thy/your body also is full of darkness. )

SLT The light of the body is the eye; when therefore thine eye be plain, also thy whole body is clear: and when it be evil, also thy body dark.

Wbstr The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thy eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thy eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

KJB-1769 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
( The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine/your eye is single, thy/your whole body also is full of light; but when thine/your eye is evil, thy/your body also is full of darkness. )

KJB-1611 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light: but when thine eye is euill, thy body also is full of darkenesse.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from marking of added words (and possibly capitalisation and punctuation))

Bshps The lyght of the body, is the eye: Therefore when thyne eye is single, all thy body also shalbe full of lyght. But if thyne eye be euyll, thy body also shalbe full of darknesse.
(The light of the body, is the eye: Therefore when thine/your eye is single, all thy/your body also shall be full of light. But if thine/your eye be evil, thy/your body also shall be full of darkness.)

Gnva The light of the bodie is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, then is thy whole bodie light: but if thine eye be euill, then thy bodie is darke.
(The light of the bodie is the eye: therefore when thine/your eye is single, then is thy/your whole bodie light: but if thine/your eye be evil, then thy/your bodie is dark. )

Cvdl The eye is the light of the body. Yf thine eye then be syngle, all thy body shal be full of light: but yf thine eye be wicked, then shal all thy body be full of darcknesse.
(The eye is the light of the body. If thine/your eye then be syngle, all thy/your body shall be full of light: but if thine/your eye be wicked, then shall all thy/your body be full of darkness.)

TNT The light of thy body is the eye. Therfore when thine eye is single: then is all thy body full of light. But if thine eye be evyll: then shall thy body also be full of darknes.
(The light of thy/your body is the eye. Therefore when thine/your eye is single: then is all thy/your body full of light. But if thine/your eye be evil: then shall thy/your body also be full of darknes. )

Wycl The lanterne of thi bodi is thin iye; if thin iye be symple, al thi bodi schal be liyti; but if it be weyward, al thi bodi schal be derkful.
(The lantern of thy/your body is thin iye; if thin eye be simple, all thy/your body shall be lighti; but if it be weyward, all thy/your body shall be derkful.)

Luth Das Auge ist des Leibes Licht. Wenn nun dein Auge einfältig sein wird, so ist dein ganzer Leib licht. So aber dein Auge ein Schalk sein wird, so ist auch dein Leib finster.
(The eye is the body light(n). When now your(s) eye einfältig be becomes, so is your(s) whole body light. So but your(s) eye a Schalk be becomes, so is also your(s) body dark.)

ClVg Lucerna corporis tui est oculus tuus. Si oculus tuus fuerit simplex, totum corpus tuum lucidum erit: si autem nequam fuerit, etiam corpus tuum tenebrosum erit.
(Lucerna body yours(sg) it_is the_eye your(sg). When/But_if the_eye your(sg) has_been simplex, whole body your(sg) lucidum will_be: when/but_if however wicked/worthless has_been, also body your(sg) tenebrosum will_be. )

UGNT ὁ λύχνος τοῦ σώματός ἐστιν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου. ὅταν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἁπλοῦς ᾖ, καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμά σου φωτεινόν ἐστιν; ἐπὰν δὲ πονηρὸς ᾖ, καὶ τὸ σῶμά σου σκοτεινόν.
(ho luⱪnos tou sōmatos estin ho ofthalmos sou. hotan ho ofthalmos sou haplous aʸ, kai holon to sōma sou fōteinon estin; epan de ponaʸros aʸ, kai to sōma sou skoteinon.)

SBL-GNT ὁ λύχνος τοῦ σώματός ἐστιν ὁ ὀφθαλμός ⸀σου. ⸀ὅταν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἁπλοῦς ᾖ, καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμά σου φωτεινόν ἐστιν· ἐπὰν δὲ πονηρὸς ᾖ, καὶ τὸ σῶμά σου σκοτεινόν.
(ho luⱪnos tou sōmatos estin ho ofthalmos ⸀sou. ⸀hotan ho ofthalmos sou haplous aʸ, kai holon to sōma sou fōteinon estin; epan de ponaʸros aʸ, kai to sōma sou skoteinon.)

RP-GNT Ὁ λύχνος τοῦ σώματός ἐστιν ὁ ὀφθαλμός· ὅταν οὖν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἁπλοῦς ᾖ, καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμά σου φωτεινόν ἐστιν· ἐπὰν δὲ πονηρὸς ᾖ, καὶ τὸ σῶμά σου σκοτεινόν.
(Ho luⱪnos tou sōmatos estin ho ofthalmos; hotan oun ho ofthalmos sou haplous aʸ, kai holon to sōma sou fōteinon estin; epan de ponaʸros aʸ, kai to sōma sou skoteinon.)

TC-GNT Ὁ λύχνος τοῦ σώματός ἐστιν ὁ [fn]ὀφθαλμός· ὅταν [fn]οὖν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἁπλοῦς ᾖ, [fn]καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμά σου [fn]φωτεινόν ἐστιν· ἐπὰν δὲ πονηρὸς ᾖ, καὶ τὸ σῶμά σου [fn]σκοτεινόν.
(Ho luⱪnos tou sōmatos estin ho ofthalmos; hotan oun ho ofthalmos sou haplous aʸ, kai holon to sōma sou fōteinon estin; epan de ponaʸros aʸ, kai to sōma sou skoteinon. )

11:34 οφθαλμος ¦ οφθαλμος σου CT

11:34 ουν ¦ — CT

11:34 και ¦ — PCK

11:34 φωτεινον ¦ φωτινον WH

11:34 σκοτεινον ¦ σκοτινον WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 11:33–36: Jesus taught about light and darkness

In this section, Jesus used the metaphors of a lamp, light, darkness, eye, and body. The lamp and the light are illustrations of Jesus and his teaching. Both Jesus’ life and teaching revealed God to the people. People whose spiritual eyesight was good were able to understand and accept his message. They were like someone whose mind or body was full of light. People who rejected his message were like a person who was full of darkness.

Jesus used these metaphors to tell the people (in 11:29–32) that their spiritual eyes were diseased. They could not receive the light of his message. If they had been willing to accept his message, then their minds would have been full of light. They would not have asked for another miracle to prove that God had sent him.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Jesus’ message is like a lamp and like light

The light of the body (GNT)

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 5:15 and 6:22–23.

Paragraph 11:33–36

There are two sayings about a lamp in this paragraph: one in 11:33 and another in 11:34–36. In 11:33 Jesus compared himself and his teaching to a lamp. People put a lamp where its light will be seen. In the same way, Jesus taught in public where everyone could hear and see him.

In 11:34 the topic is different. Here a person’s eye (his attitude toward Jesus’ message) is compared to a lamp. This lamp provides him with light (spiritual illumination or understanding).A number of commentators say that in this context the eye represents a person’s attitude toward Jesus, his willingness or unwillingness to accept Jesus’ message. Evans (p. 188) uses the term “moral disposition,” referring to a person’s inclination to receive Jesus’ message or to reject him. Marshall (p. 489) speaks of a person being “single-mindedly receptive to the light of the gospel,” and Liefeld (p. 954) says that the body receives light through the eye “subject to the individual’s will.” Morris (p. 221) also speaks of a person’s attention being focused on good (in the case of a healthy eye) or on evil (in the case of a bad eye). Nolland (p. 657) agrees that the eye here is a metaphor for “moral and spiritual readiness to see.”

11:34–36

In 11:34–36, Jesus used the word “body” to refer to the person himself. Consider if it would be better to make this explicit. One way to do this in English is to use “you” throughout this passage. For example:

³⁴Your eye is your lamp. When your eyes are good, you also are full of light. But when they are bad, you also are full of darkness. ³⁵See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. ³⁶Therefore, if you are full of light, and no part is dark, you will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.

In some languages, it may be more natural to use terms such as “a person” and “his” in parts of 11:34–36. For example:

^34aThe eye is the lamp of a person’s body. ^34bWhen a person’s eyes are good, his whole body also is full of light. ^34cBut when they are bad, his body also is full of darkness. ³⁵He must see to it, then, that the light within him is not darkness. ^36aTherefore, if a person’s whole body is full of light, ^36band no part of it dark, ^36cit will be completely lighted, ^36das when the light of a lamp shines on him.

Also note that in the Greek text Jesus used the singular forms for “your” and “you” throughout this passage. However, he was talking about anybody and everybody. Consider if it would be better to use the plural forms for “you” and “your” in this context. The Display will use both forms.

11:34a

Your eye is the lamp of your body.

Your^(sing/plur) eyes are like the lamp for your body.
Your^(sing/plur) eyes are like a lamp that gives you light.
A person’s eye is like his body’s lamp.

Your eye is the lamp of your body: This is a complex metaphor. It compares a person’s eyes (both physical and spiritual) with a lamp. The point of similarity is that both of these help him to see. A person’s physical eyes receive light and enable him to see where he is going and what is happening. A person’s spiritual eyes represent his attitude toward Jesus and his message. This attitude determines whether a person will understand the message.

Some ways to translate this metaphor are:

Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
A person’s eye is like his lamp.
Change the metaphor to a simile and make explicit the point of similarity. For example:
Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. It helps you to see.

If the figure of the eye is not understood correctly, you may want to add a footnote. For example:

In Jewish thinking, the eye was the part of the body that could receive or see light. Here Jesus used the eye as an illustration of a person’s willingness to receive spiritual light or truth.

Your eye: In some languages, it may be more natural to use the plural “Your eyes” rather than the singular “Your eye.” For example:

Your eyes are the lamp for your body (CEV)

your body: The phrase your body is a figure of speech. This phrase represents you as a whole or you as a person. As mentioned above, some other ways to translate your body are:

you

a person

11:34b–e

In 11:34b–e, Jesus used good eyes and bad eyes as a figure of speech. He contrasted the results of having good eyes and bad eyes. In the example below, the meaning of the figure is put in parentheses.

^34bWhen your eyes are good (When you accept my message),

^34cyour whole body also is full of light (you will understand the truth about me and it will guide you to do what is right).

^34dBut when your eyes are bad (But when you ignore or reject my message),

^34eyour body also is full of darkness (you will remain ignorant of the truth about me).

11:34b

When your eyes are good,

When your^(sing/plur) eyes are healthy,
If a person is able to see clearly/properly,
A person who accepts my message is like someone who has good eyes. If a person is like that,

When: The word When introduces a condition or circumstance. It is not an expression of time.

your eyes are good: The word good in this context means “healthy.” A person whose eyes are good, healthy, or clear can see well. The meaning of this figure is, “If you accept my message.” Some other ways to translate this clause are:

When/If your sight is good

If you are able to see clearly/properly

A person with good eyes

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the meaning explicit. For example:

A person who accepts my message is like someone who has good eyes. If a person is like that…

11:34c

your whole body also is full of light.

there will be light in/for your^(sing/plur) whole body.
it is as if his entire body/mind is lit.
he will completely understand the truth. It will be as if his whole body is full of light.

your whole body also is full of light: The clause your whole body also is full of light pictures light entering the body and lighting up the entire body. In this context, the meaning is that the person’s whole being (body/mind/heart) will be completely lit up. The meaning of this figure is “he will really/properly understand the truth.”

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

there is light in/for the whole body

you will have plenty of light

it is as if your entire mind/being is illuminated

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the meaning more explicit. For example:

he will completely understand the truth. It will be as if his whole body is illuminated.

11:34d

But when they are bad,

But when your^(sing/plur) eyes are not healthy,
But if a person is not able to see clearly/properly,
But a person who rejects my message is like someone whose eyes are bad. If a person is like that,

But when: These words introduce a contrast to the situation described in 11:34b. See the note on when in that verse part.

they are bad: The word they in this clause refers to “your eyes” as in 11:34b. In this context, “bad eyes” refers to eyes that are diseased or that have something wrong with them. The meaning of this figure of speech is “if you reject my message.” Some other ways to translate this clause are:

When your sight is bad/faulty

If you are not able to see clearly/properly

A person with bad eyes

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the meaning explicit. For example:

But a person who rejects my message is like someone whose eyes are bad. If a person is like that…

11:34e

your body is full of darkness.

there will be darkness in/for your^(sing/plur) whole body.
it is as if his body/mind is completely dark.
he will not understand the truth at all. It will be as if his whole body is full of darkness.

your body is full of darkness: The clause your body is full of darkness is a figure of speech. It means that light is not able to enter the body, so the inside of the body is dark. In this context the meaning is that the person’s whole being (body/mind/heart) will be completely dark. The meaning of this figure is “he will be completely unable to understand the truth.”

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

there is darkness for the whole body

you will live in darkness

it is as if your entire mind is in the dark

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the meaning more explicit. For example:

he will be completely unable to understand the truth. It will be as if his body is completely dark inside.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὁ λύχνος τοῦ σώματός ἐστιν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου

the the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ λύχνος τοῦ σώματος ἐστίν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ Ὅταν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ ἁπλοῦς ᾖ καί ὅλον τό σῶμα σοῦ φωτεινόν ἐστίν ἐπάν δέ πονηρός ᾖ καί τό σῶμα σοῦ σκοτεινόν)

The eye is a lamp in a figurative sense. It is not a source of light, but a channel of light. Alternate translation: [Your eye lets light into your body]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd

σου

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ λύχνος τοῦ σώματος ἐστίν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ Ὅταν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ ἁπλοῦς ᾖ καί ὅλον τό σῶμα σοῦ φωτεινόν ἐστίν ἐπάν δέ πονηρός ᾖ καί τό σῶμα σοῦ σκοτεινόν)

Even though Jesus is speaking to the crowd, he is addressing an individual situation, so your and you are singular in [11:34–36](../11/34.md). But if the singular form of these pronouns would not be natural in your language for someone who was speaking to a group of people, you could use the plural forms in your translation.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

ὅταν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἁπλοῦς ᾖ, καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμά σου φωτεινόν ἐστιν

Jesus is drawing an extended comparison between physical vision and spiritual receptivity. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the comparison. Alternate translation: [When your eye is healthy, it lets light into your whole body. In the same way, if you are willing to obey God, you will understand and live by his message for every part of your life]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

ἐπὰν δὲ πονηρὸς ᾖ, καὶ τὸ σῶμά σου σκοτεινόν

Jesus continues to draw an extended comparison between physical vision and spiritual receptivity. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the comparison. Alternate translation: [But when your eye is unhealthy, it does not let light into any of your body. In the same way, if you are not willing to obey God, you will not understand and live by his message for any part of your life]

ἐπὰν δὲ πονηρὸς ᾖ

In this context, Jesus is using the term evil to contrast with healthy, so it means “unhealthy.” Alternate translation: [But when your eye is unhealthy]

Parallel LUKE 11:34