LUKE 11:41 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) However, if you sacrificially give what’s inside, then everything would then become clean for you.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object.
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 But give as charity what is inside, and behold, all things are clean to you.

UST Instead of worrying about dishes being ritually clean, be merciful and give whatever is inside the dishes to people in need. Then both the inside and outside of you will be acceptable to God.

BLB But give as alms the things being within, and behold, all things are clean to you.

AICNT But give as charity what is inside, and behold {everything is}[fn] clean for you.

11:41, everything is: Some manuscripts read “everything will be.” 𝔓45 D(05)

OEB Only give away what is in them in charity, and at once you have the whole clean.

WEBBE But give for gifts to the needy those things which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to you.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But give from your heart to those in need, and then everything will be clean for you.

LSV But what you have given [as] alms, and behold, all things are clean to you.

FBV If, acting from within, you do acts of kindness to others, then everything will be clean to you.

TCNT But give as alms the things that are on the inside, and behold, everything will be clean for you.

T4T Give money to those who are poor. Give according to what you know within your ◄inner beings/heart► that you should give. Then you will be surprised to realize that you will be acceptable to God without having to perform all those rituals about washing.

LEB But give as charitable giving the things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.

BBE But if you give to the poor such things as you are able, then all things are clean to you.

Moff Better cleanse what is within; then nothing will be unclean for you.

Wymth But as to what is within, give alms, and instantly all is clean in you.

ASV But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, all things are clean unto you.

DRA But yet that which remaineth, give alms; and behold, all things are clean unto you.

YLT But what ye have give ye [as] alms, and, lo, all things are clean to you.

Drby But rather give alms of what ye have, and behold, all things are clean to you.

RV Howbeit give for alms those things which are within; and behold, all things are clean unto you.
(Howbeit give for alms/donations those things which are within; and behold, all things are clean unto you. )

SLT But of the things being, give alms; and, behold, all things are clean to you.

Wbstr But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and behold, all things are clean to you.

KJB-1769 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
( But rather give alms/donations of such things as ye/you_all have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. )

KJB-1611 But rather giue almes of such things [fn]as you haue: and behold, all things are cleane vnto you.
(But rather give alms/donations of such things as you haue: and behold, all things are clean unto you.)

11:41 Or, as you are able.

Bshps But rather geue almes of those thynges which are within, and beholde all thynges are cleane vnto you.
(But rather give alms/donations of those things which are within, and behold all things are clean unto you.)

Gnva Therefore, giue almes of those thinges which you haue, and beholde, all thinges shall be cleane to you.
(Therefore, give alms/donations of those things which you have, and behold, all things shall be clean to you. )

Cvdl Neuertheles geue almesse of that ye haue, and beholde, all is cleane vnto you.
(Nevertheless give alms/donationsse of that ye/you_all have, and behold, all is clean unto you.)

TNT Neverthelesse geve almose of that ye have and beholde all is clene to you.
(Nevertheless give almose of that ye/you_all have and behold all is clean to you. )

Wycl Netheles that that is ouer plus, yyue ye almes, and lo! alle thingis ben cleene to you.
(Nevertheless that that is over plus, give ye/you_all alms/donations, and lo! all things been clean to you.)

Luth Doch gebt Almosen von dem, was da ist, siehe, so ist‘s euch alles rein.
(But give Almosen from to_him, what/which there is, see/look, so it_is you all/everything pure.)

ClVg Verumtamen quod superest, date eleemosynam: et ecce omnia munda sunt vobis.[fn]
(Nevertheless that superest, date alms: and behold everything clean are to_you(pl). )

11.41 Verumtamen quod superest. Jam bonus doctor, quomodo contagium corporis mundari debeat, docet. Et hic latius explicatur quod supra breviter dixerat de mundando cordis oculo. Totus enim hic locus ad hoc dirigitur, ut nos ad studium simplicitatis invitet, et superflua Judæorum et terrena condemnet, qui secundum corpus intelligendo legem vitro et catino propter fragilitatem comparantur. In quo etsi graviter peccant, ipsis tamen absolutio peccati promittitur, si misericordiam facere nitantur. Quod necessario victui et vestimento superest, date pauperibus. Vel do consilium, quod restat solummodo post tanta scelera, date eleemosynam. Prima eleemosyna est mederi animabus vestris credendo in me qui corda mundo, et per fidem mundatis cordibus omnia etiam exteriora erunt munda. Qui ordinate vult dare eleemosynam, a semetipso incipit, et eam sibi primum dat. Est enim eleemosyna opus misericordiæ, unde dicitur: Miserere animæ tuæ placens Deo.

11.41 Nevertheless that superest. Now good/kind/gracious doctor, how contagium body to_clean should, teaches. And this/here wider explainsur that above briefly/shortly had_said from/about cleanndo of_the_heart with_an_eye. Totus because this/here place to this directsur, as us to study/zeal simplicitatis invitet, and unnecessary Yudahorum and earthly condemnet, who/which after/second body intelligendo the_law vitro and catino because fragilitatem are_compared. In where even_though seriouster peccant, themselves nevertheless absolutio of_sin promised, when/but_if mercy to_do nitantur. That necessarily victui and clothing superest, date to_the_poor. Or do advice, that remains onlymodo after such_a_great_deal crimes, date alms. The_first eleemosyna it_is mederi souls yours by_believing in/into/on me who/which hearts to_the_world, and through faith cleansis hearts everything also exteriora they_will_be clean. Who ordinate wants dare alms, from myself begins, and her to_himself first gives. It_is because eleemosyna work/need of_mercy, from_where/who it_is_said: Have_mercy soul yours placens to_God.

UGNT πλὴν τὰ ἐνόντα δότε ἐλεημοσύνην, καὶ ἰδοὺ, πάντα καθαρὰ ὑμῖν ἐστιν.
(plaʸn ta enonta dote eleaʸmosunaʸn, kai idou, panta kathara humin estin.)

SBL-GNT πλὴν τὰ ἐνόντα δότε ἐλεημοσύνην, καὶ ἰδοὺ πάντα καθαρὰ ὑμῖν ἐστιν.
(plaʸn ta enonta dote eleaʸmosunaʸn, kai idou panta kathara humin estin.)

RP-GNT Πλὴν τὰ ἐνόντα δότε ἐλεημοσύνην· καὶ ἰδού, πάντα καθαρὰ ὑμῖν ἐστιν.
(Plaʸn ta enonta dote eleaʸmosunaʸn; kai idou, panta kathara humin estin.)

TC-GNT Πλὴν τὰ ἐνόντα δότε ἐλεημοσύνην· καὶ ἰδού, [fn]πάντα καθαρὰ ὑμῖν [fn]ἐστιν.
(Plaʸn ta enonta dote eleaʸmosunaʸn; kai idou, panta kathara humin estin. )

11:41 παντα ¦ απαντα ANT

11:41 εστιν ¦ εσται ANT

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 11:37–54: Jesus criticized the Pharisees and the teachers of the law

In this section, a Pharisee invited Jesus to his house for a meal. The Pharisee was surprised that Jesus did not ritually wash his hands before he ate. Jesus then criticized the Pharisees because they carefully observed outward rituals but neglected true devotion to God. He specifically warned the Pharisees about three ways in which they displeased God. He then directed three additional warnings to the teachers of the law.

Some other headings for this section are:

Jesus’ Criticism of the Religious Leaders

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 23:1–36 and Mark 12:38–40.

11:41a

But give as alms the things that are within you,

So do not be greedy and wicked. Instead, share^(plur) your possessions with the poor,
So what you^(plur) ought to do instead is to use what you have to help poor people.

But: The Greek word that the BSB translates as But introduces a strong contrast. The contrast is between what the Pharisees were actually doing in 11:39b–c and what they should have been doing instead in 11:41a. They were careful about their ritual cleanness, and at the same time were greedy and wicked. Instead, they should have been concerned about giving alms to the poor.

Since the contrast is not with the preceding verse (11:40), it may be necessary to make the connection explicit. For example:

Instead of acting like that

11:41a is also advice that concludes this paragraph. So in some languages it may be more natural to introduce this verse as a conclusion. For example:

So what you should do instead is to…

So do not be greedy and wicked. Instead…

So remove wickedness from your hearts. Instead…

give as alms: The Greek word that the BSB translates literally as give as alms means “give as charity” or “give to the poor.” For example:

Give…as a gift to the poor (GW)

the things that are within you: The Greek expression that the BSB translates as the things that are within you is literally “the-(things) being-inside.” There are several ways to interpret this phrase:

It refers figuratively to a person’s possessions. For example:
give what you have to the poor (CEV) (NJB, NLT, CEV, KJV)
It refers to the inside of a person. Specifically, it refers to giving “inwardly” or “from an inner motivation.” For example:
give from your heart to those in need (NET) (BSB, NET)
It refers to food that is inside the dishes. For example:
So give what is in your dishes to the poor (NCV) (NIV, GNT, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) or a combination of interpretations (1) and (2). These two interpretations fit well together and are supported by a majority of scholars. See the General Comment on 11:41a–b at the end of 11:41b for another way to express the relationship between these verse parts.

11:41b

and you will see that everything is clean for you.

and then, I tell you, both your^(plur) heart/mind and your body will be clean.
If you^(plur) do this, I assure you that you^(plur) will be completely/truly clean in God’s sight and acceptable to him.”

and: The Greek text here is literally “and behold.” Some English versions, such as the ESV, translate it that way. This phrase calls attention to the next statement. It indicates that the next statement is something important. It introduces what will happen if the Pharisees give generously to poor people. Most English versions do not translate this phrase. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

I tell you

I assure you

everything is clean for you: There are at least two ways to interpret the clause everything is clean for you:

Your entire being will be truly clean in God’s sight and will be acceptable to him. For example:
and you will be clean all over (NLT)
and then you will be fully clean (NCV) (NLT, NCV, CEV, JBP)
Everything that needs ceremonial cleansing will be ritually clean and acceptable for you to use. For example:
everything will be ritually clean for you (GNT) (BSB, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is consistent with Jesus’ overall teaching that God emphasizes inner purity more than ritual purity.

clean: The word clean here means something like “acceptable to God.” Jesus was saying that washing bowls and cups and hands made them ceremonially clean. But in order for the people eating at the feast to be truly clean before God, they had to be clean inside.

One way to be clean inside was to be generous to the poor. If they did that, God would be pleased with them, whether or not they washed their hands.

General Comment on 11:41a–b

Verse 11:41a (giving alms to the poor) may be regarded as a means to achieving the result in 11:41b (becoming truly clean). In some languages, it may be more natural to make this explicit. For example:

So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over. (NLT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὰ ἐνόντα δότε ἐλεημοσύνην

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πλήν τά ἐνόντα δότε ἐλεημοσύνην καί ἰδού παντᾶ καθαρά ὑμῖν ἐστίν)

Jesus assumes that the Pharisees will know that he is now referring literally to the cups and bowls because he wants to speak about what they contain. So in this saying, they no longer represent the Pharisees. Alternate translation: [give to the poor what is in your cups and bowls]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τὰ ἐνόντα δότε ἐλεημοσύνην

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πλήν τά ἐνόντα δότε ἐλεημοσύνην καί ἰδού παντᾶ καθαρά ὑμῖν ἐστίν)

Jesus is referring to food by association with the cups and bowls that the food is inside. Alternate translation: [share your food with the poor]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἰδοὺ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πλήν τά ἐνόντα δότε ἐλεημοσύνην καί ἰδού παντᾶ καθαρά ὑμῖν ἐστίν)

Jesus uses the term behold to get the Pharisees to focus their attention on what he is about to say. Alternate translation: [indeed]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πάντα καθαρὰ ὑμῖν ἐστιν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πλήν τά ἐνόντα δότε ἐλεημοσύνην καί ἰδού παντᾶ καθαρά ὑμῖν ἐστίν)

The implication is that if the Pharisees devote themselves to what is most important, helping people in need, then they will recognize that ceremonial cleansing is less important and less worthy of their attention. Alternate translation: [you will not have to be so concerned about ritually washing cups and bowls]

Parallel LUKE 11:41

Section 11:37–54: Jesus criticized the Pharisees and the teachers of the law

11:41a

11:41b

General Comment on 11:41a–b