Open Bible Data Home About News OET Key
OET OET-RV OET-LV ULT UST BSB MSB BLB AICNT OEB WEBBE WMBB NET LSV FBV TCNT T4T LEB BBE Moff JPS Wymth ASV DRA YLT Drby RV SLT Wbstr KJB-1769 KJB-1611 Bshps Gnva Cvdl TNT Wycl SR-GNT UHB BrLXX BrTr Related Topics Parallel Interlinear Reference Dictionary Search
ParallelVerse 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
Luke Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24
Luke 16 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31
Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) [ref]“The Hebrew scriptures applied until Yohan-the-immerser started preaching the good message about God’s kingdom, now everyone is striving to get into it,[fn]
16:16 See https://rediscoveryingjesus.substack.com/p/jesuss-confusing-sayings-luke-1616.
OET-LV The law and the prophets were until Yōannaʸs, from then the kingdom of_ the _god is_being_good_message_preached, and everyone is_forcing into it.
SR-GNT Ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται μέχρι Ἰωάννου· ἀπὸ τότε ἡ Βασιλεία τοῦ ˚Θεοῦ εὐαγγελίζεται, καὶ πᾶς εἰς αὐτὴν βιάζεται. ‡
(Ho nomos kai hoi profaʸtai meⱪri Yōannou; apo tote haʸ Basileia tou ˚Theou euangelizetai, kai pas eis autaʸn biazetai.)
Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, 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 Law and the Prophets were until John. From then on, the kingdom of God is proclaimed as good news, and everyone is forcing their way into it.
UST The laws that God gave Moses and the things that the prophets wrote were in effect until John the Baptizer came. Since then, I have been preaching the good news about how God will rule as king. Many people are accepting my message and are very eagerly trying to become part of the kingdom of God.
BSB The Law and the Prophets [were proclaimed] until John. Since that time, the {gospel} of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.[fn]
16:16 Or everyone is urged to enter into it
MSB The Law and the Prophets [were proclaimed] until John. Since that time, the {gospel} of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.[fn]
16:16 Or everyone is urged to enter into it
BLB The Law and the prophets were until John. From that time the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone forces his way into it.
AICNT “The law and the prophets {were}[fn] until John; since then the kingdom of God is preached [; and everyone forces his way into it].[fn]
16:16, were: Some manuscripts read “prophesied until John.” D(05) Syriac(syc)
16:16, and everyone forces his way into it: Absent from some manuscripts. ℵ(01)
OEB The Law and the prophets sufficed until the time of John. Since then the good news of the kingdom of God has been told, and everybody has been forcing their way into it.
WEBBE “The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Good News of God’s Kingdom is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
WMBB “The Torah and the Prophets were until Yochanan. From that time the Good News of God’s Kingdom is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
NET “The law and the prophets were in force until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it.
LSV the Law and the Prophets [are] until John; since then the good news of the Kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone presses into it;
FBV What was written in the law and the prophets lasted until John. From then on the good news of the kingdom of God is being spread, and everyone is forcing their way in.
TCNT “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone tries to force their way into it.
T4T The laws that God gave Moses and what the prophets [MTY] wrote were ◄in effect/what you needed to obey► until John the Baptizer came. Since then I have been preaching about how God wants to rule people’s lives in a new way, and many people are accepting that message and very eagerly asking God to control their lives. But that does not mean that God has abolished the laws that he established previously.
LEB “The law and the prophets were until John; from that time on the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urgently pressed[fn] into it.
16:16 The verb is translated here as a passive; some English versions translate the verb as active (“forces their way into it”)
BBE The law and the prophets were till John: but then came the preaching of the kingdom of God, and everyone makes his way into it by force.
Moff The Law and the prophets lasted till John; since then the good news of the Realm of God is preached, and anyone presses in.
Wymth The Law and the Prophets continued until John came: from that time the Good News of the Kingdom of God has been spreading, and all classes have been forcing their way into it.
ASV The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it.
DRA The law and the prophets were until John; from that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every one useth violence towards it.
YLT the law and the prophets [are] till John; since then the reign of God is proclaimed good news, and every one doth press into it;
Drby The law and the prophets [were] until John: from that time the glad tidings of the kingdom of [fn]God are announced, and every one forces his way into it.
16.16 Elohim
RV The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it.
(The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth/enters violently into it. )
SLT The law and the prophets until John: from then the kingdom of God announces good news, and every one is forced into it.
Wbstr The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
KJB-1769 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
KJB-1611 The law and the Prophets were vntill Iohn: since that time the kingdome of God is preached, and euery man preasseth into it.
(The law and the Prophets were until Yohn: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man preasseth into it.)
Bshps The lawe & the prophetes raigned vntyll Iohn, and sence that tyme, the kyngdome of God is preached, & euery man stryueth to go in.
(The law and the prophets reigned until Yohn, and since that time, the kingdom of God is preached, and every man striveth to go in.)
Gnva The Lawe and the Prophets endured vntill Iohn: and since that time the kingdome of God is preached, and euery man preasseth into it.
(The Law and the Prophets endured until Yohn: and since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man preasseth into it. )
Cvdl The lawe and ye prophetes prophecied vnto Ihon, and from that tyme forth is ye kyngdome of God preached thorow ye Gospell, and euery man preasseth in to it by violence.
(The law and ye/you_all prophets prophesied unto Yohn, and from that time forth is ye/you_all kingdom of God preached through ye/you_all Gospel, and every man preasseth in to it by violence.)
TNT The lawe and the Prophetes raygned vntyll the tyme of Iohn: and sence that tyme the kyngdom of God is preached and every man stryveth to goo in.
(The law and the Prophets raygned until the time of Yohn: and since that time the kingdom of God is preached and every man striveth to go in. )
Wycl The lawe and prophetis til to Joon; fro that tyme the rewme of God is euangelisid, and ech man doith violence in to it.
(The law and prophets till to Yohn; from that time the realm of God is euangelisid, and each man doth/does violence in to it.)
Luth Das Gesetz und die Propheten weissagen bis auf Johannes; und von der Zeit an wird das Reich Gottes durchs Evangelium geprediget, und jedermann dringet mit Gewalt hinein.
(The law and the prophet(s) prophesy(v) until on/in/to Yohannes; and from the/of_the time/period at/to becomes the kingdom God’s through gospel preached, and anyone dringet with violence into/inside.)
ClVg Lex et prophetæ usque ad Joannem: ex eo regnum Dei evangelizatur, et omnis in illud vim facit.[fn]
(Law and the_prophets until to Yoannem: from by_him kingdom of_God evangelizatur, and everyone in/into/on it/this/that force he_does. )
16.16 Lex et prophetæ. Disputantem contra philargyriam deridebant, quasi contrarium legi et prophetis: cum in lege multi divites Deo placuerunt, et cum lex suis observatoribus bona terræ promittat, quibus occurrit docens distantiam esse inter legem et Evangelium: quia in lege carnalibus propter terram præcipiuntur minora, et in Evangelio spiritualibus propter cœlum præcipiuntur majora. Et omnis. Magna vis est cum de terra genitu cœlum quærit possidere per virtutem, quod non potuit tenere per naturam, cum linguas etiam deridentium contemnit, sicut Dominus irritus est a Pharisæis. Omnis qui vim facit, vehementi studio properat, non torpenti lentescit affectu. Est ergo fidei religiosa violentia, segnities criminosa. Faciamus ergo vim naturæ, ut non ad terrena demergat, sed ad superna se erigat.
16.16 Law and the_prophets. Disputantem on_the_contrary philargyriam deridebant, as_if opposite/reverse I_read and prophets: when/with in/into/on lawfully many rich to_God they_liked, and when/with the_law to_his_own observatoribus good(s) of_the_earth/land promittat, to_whom meets teaching distancem to_be between the_law and the_Gospel: because in/into/on lawfully carnal because the_earth/land beforecipiuntur minor, and in/into/on Evangelio spiritual because sky beforecipiuntur bigger. And everyone. Magna you_want it_is when/with from/about earth/land genitu sky seeks to_possess through virtue, that not/no could to_hold through nature, when/with tongue/languages also deridentium despises, like Master irritus it_is from Phariseess. Everyone who/which force he_does, vehementi studio properat, not/no torpenti lentescit with_feeling. It_is therefore of_faith religiosa violentia, segnities criminosa. Faciamus therefore force of_nature, as not/no to earthly demergat, but to heavenly himself erigat.
UGNT ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται μέχρι Ἰωάννου; ἀπὸ τότε ἡ Βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ εὐαγγελίζεται, καὶ πᾶς εἰς αὐτὴν βιάζεται.
(ho nomos kai hoi profaʸtai meⱪri Yōannou; apo tote haʸ Basileia tou Theou euangelizetai, kai pas eis autaʸn biazetai.)
SBL-GNT Ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται ⸀μέχρι Ἰωάννου· ἀπὸ τότε ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ εὐαγγελίζεται καὶ πᾶς εἰς αὐτὴν βιάζεται.
(Ho nomos kai hoi profaʸtai ⸀meⱪri Yōannou; apo tote haʸ basileia tou theou euangelizetai kai pas eis autaʸn biazetai.)
RP-GNT Ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται ἕως Ἰωάννου· ἀπὸ τότε ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ εὐαγγελίζεται, καὶ πᾶς εἰς αὐτὴν βιάζεται.
(Ho nomos kai hoi profaʸtai heōs Yōannou; apo tote haʸ basileia tou theou euangelizetai, kai pas eis autaʸn biazetai.)
TC-GNT Ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται [fn]ἕως [fn]Ἰωάννου· ἀπὸ τότε ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ εὐαγγελίζεται, καὶ πᾶς εἰς αὐτὴν βιάζεται.
(Ho nomos kai hoi profaʸtai heōs Yōannou; apo tote haʸ basileia tou Theou euangelizetai, kai pas eis autaʸn biazetai. )
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
16:16 John the Baptist was a transitional figure—the last in the line of Old Testament prophets and the herald of the age of salvation (see 1:5-25, 57-80; 3:1-20; 7:18-35).
• everyone is eager to get in: The verb normally means “to suffer violence” and may have the negative sense of violent force into or against the Kingdom (see Matt 11:12). More likely, it carries here a positive sense of urgency to enter the Kingdom.
In this section Jesus talked to the Pharisees about several topics. He told them that God understood their hearts, that is, that he knew what they most deeply valued and desired. He also talked to them about the authority of God’s law.
Another possible heading for this section is:
Some other things that Jesus taught
There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 5:31–32 and Mark 10:11–12.
The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John.
¶ “The Law of Moses and the books that the prophets wrote were taught/followed until the time of John the Baptizer.
¶ “The Law of Moses and the writings/books of the prophets guided people until the time of John who baptized people.
¶ “Before the time when John came, leaders of the Jews taught people to obey the Law of Moses and the writings of the Prophets.
The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John: The Greek expression that the BSB translates as The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John is literally “The law and the prophets until John.” There is no verb in the Greek expression. Most English versions have supplied a verb to clarify the meaning.The KJV, RSV, NJB, and REB supply only the verb “were/was.” This may wrongly imply that the Old Testament existed only until the time of John the Baptist. This Greek expression implies at least two ideas:
It implies that the law and prophets “were in effect and had authority” until John came. For example:
The Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets were in effect up to the time of John the Baptist. (GNT) (GNT, CEV, NLT, GNT, GW, NRSV, NET, JBP)
It implies that the law and prophets “were preached/proclaimed” until John came. For example:
The law of Moses and the writings of the prophets were preached until John came. (NCV) (BSB, NCV, NIV, NASB)
You may express either of these ideas or a combination of the two. One way to express both ideas is:
Before the time of John, the Jewish people were taught to follow the Law of Moses and the books that the prophets wrote.
If you cannot use a passive verb such as “were taught/proclaimed,” you may use an active verb and supply a subject such as “the Jewish leaders.” For example:
The leaders of the Jews taught people to obey the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets.
It may be natural in your language to place the time phrase until John at the beginning of the sentence. For example:
Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. (NLT)
In some languages this order may result in a better contrast between until John in 16:16a and “Since that time” in 16:16b. Consider what order would be more natural in your language.
The Law and the Prophets: The phrase The Law and the Prophets refers to two of the divisions of the Old Testament, the Law of Moses and the Writings/Books of the Prophets. In many languages it will be necessary to use more explicit phrases like this. See the preceding GNT example under (a) in 16:16a.
The Jews sometimes used the expression The Law and the Prophets to refer to the whole Old Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus used it in that way here. Consider putting this information in a footnote. For example:
The Jews often used the expression “the Law and the Prophets” to refer to the whole Old Testament. That is its meaning here.
Prophets: In this context the word Prophets refers to the writings of the prophets in the OT. These prophets were men and women who spoke on behalf of God. They told people what God revealed to them. Later these words were written and became part of the OT Scriptures.
The word Prophets also occurs at 13:28b. See also prophet in the Glossary.
until John: The name John refers to John the Baptist. He preached and baptized just before Jesus began to preach and baptize. See Luke 3:1–23. There are two ways to interpret the phrase until John:
It means “up to but not including John.” Another way to translate this phrase is:
before the time of John the Baptizer
It means “up to and including John.”
English versions are ambiguous. If it is not possible to translate ambiguously, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most scholars. John did not represent the Old Covenant. He preached the good news, as Jesus did at the beginning of his ministry (see 3:18).
Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached,
Since the time of John, the good news about God’s kingdom has been preached/proclaimed,
Starting from then, I and my disciples have been preaching/teaching the good news about God’s reign/chieftaincy,
Since that time: The phrase Since that time probably refers to the general time of John the Baptist’s ministry and after.
the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached: In Greek, this clause consists of five words: a subject the kingdom of God and a verb “good-news-is-being-preached.” The Notes will discuss the meaning of this clause in terms of normal English grammar and word order.
The Greek verb that the BSB translates as is being preached is a passive verb. If it is necessary to use an active verb in your language, here are some ways to translate it:
Supply a general subject if possible. For example:
some/people are preaching the good news
Supply a more specific subject like “I” or “we(excl).” Such a subject implies that Jesus himself or he and others like his disciples were preaching the good news. For example:
I have been preaching the good news
we(excl) have been proclaiming the good news
See the notes on 4:43a and 8:1b, where almost identical expressions occur.
the gospel…is being preached: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as the gospel…is being preached means to publicly tell people good news. Some other ways to translate the gospel…is being preached are:
the good/sweet news…is being announced
good news…is being preached
the message/report…that causes joy is being told
Be sure that the term you choose does not refer only to a news report or to a story that is not true.
the gospel of the kingdom of God: The phrase the gospel of the kingdom of God means “the good news about God’s kingdom/reign.” The phrase the kingdom of God usually refers to God’s activity of ruling and caring for his people as their king. It does not refer to a literal land or country that he rules. Other ways to translate this whole phrase are:
the good news concerning God’s reign/rule
the sweet message about God’s chieftaincy
In some languages it may be necessary to translate kingdom with a verb and supply an object. If that is true in your language, some ways to translate it are:
the good/sweet news about God ruling his people
the message/report that causes joy. This message is about God reigning over his people
and everyone is forcing his way into it.
and everyone is striving persistently to enter it.
and many people are trying hard to become subjects in his kingdom.
and crowds of people are doing everything possible to join those whom God rules.
everyone is forcing his way into it: The clause everyone is forcing his way into it probably refers to the many people who were accepting the good news. They desired very strongly to have God as their king. They were trying hard to enter God’s kingdom.This is the interpretation that is followed by a strong majority of scholars. For a summary of other interpretations, see Blight, 2007b (p. 167). Some English versions are ambiguous, but except for the NET, which says “everyone is urged to enter it,” none of the versions used in these Notes unambiguously supports another view. So the other interpretations have not been discussed in the Notes. For example:
everyone is trying hard to get in (CEV)
everyone: The word everyone in this context is a figure of speech (hyperbole). It is a deliberate exaggeration that refers to the many people who were trying to enter the kingdom of God. If hyperbole is not correctly understood in your language, you may translate the meaning directly. For example:
eager multitudes (NLT96)
many people
into it: The pronoun it refers here to the kingdom of God. English versions translate this phrase in a way that implies that the kingdom of God is a place that people can enter. Although the phrase “kingdom of God” does not usually refer to a place (see the note on 16:16b), it may have that sense here.The locative sense is supported by the Translator’s Handbook and is implied by all English versions. Other commentaries do not discuss this issue. You will need to translate this phrase in a way that fits your translation of “kingdom of God” in 16:16b. Some ways to do this are:
enter the place of his/God’s rule
be subjects in his/God’s kingdom
join those whom he/God rules
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / merism
ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ νόμος καί οἱ προφῆται μέχρι Ἰωάννου ἀπό τότε ἡ Βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ εὐαγγελίζεται καί πᾶς εἰς αὐτήν βιάζεται)
Jesus is referring to all of God’s word that had been written up to that time. He is using the names of two of its major components to do so. Alternate translation: [The Scriptures]
μέχρι
until
Alternate translation: [led up to the time of]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
Ἰωάννου
John
Jesus assumes that the Pharisees will know that he is referring to John the Baptist. Alternate translation: [John the Baptist]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ἡ Βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ εὐαγγελίζεται
the Kingdom ¬the ˱of˲_God ˓is_being˒_gospel_preached
If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who has been doing the action. Alternate translation: [I have been teaching people the good news about the kingdom of God]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἡ Βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ
the Kingdom ¬the ˱of˲_God
See how you decided to translate this phrase in [4:43](../04/43.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun kingdom with a verb such as “rule.” Alternate translation: [how God will rule]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole
πᾶς εἰς αὐτὴν βιάζεται
everyone into (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ νόμος καί οἱ προφῆται μέχρι Ἰωάννου ἀπό τότε ἡ Βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ εὐαγγελίζεται καί πᾶς εἰς αὐτήν βιάζεται)
Jesus says that people have been forcing their way into the kingdom to mean that they have been doing everything they can to enter it. Alternate translation: [people have been doing everything they can to enter it]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole
πᾶς
everyone
The term everyone is a generalization for emphasis. Alternate translation: [people]
Open Bible Data site copyright © 2023–2026 Freely-Given.org.
Python source code for creating these static pages is available on GitHub under an open licence.
For Bible data copyrights, see the details for each displayed Bible version.
The Open English Translation (OET) main site is at OpenEnglishTranslation.Bible or OET.Bible.