LUKE 17:4 Parallel Verse View

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) Even if they wrong you seven times in a day and then seven times come and tell you that they’re turning away from it, forgive them.”

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, 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 And if he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you will forgive him.”

UST Even if he sins against you seven times in one day, if he comes to you each time and says, ‘I am sorry for what I did,’ you must continue forgiving him.”

BLB And if he should sin against you seven times in the day, and seven times should return to you, saying 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."

AICNT “And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns [to you][fn] seven times [[in a day]],[fn] saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

17:4, to you: Absent from some manuscripts. W(032) BYZ

17:4, in a day: Some manuscripts include. A(02) W(032) Latin(e) BYZ TR

OEB Even if they wrong you seven times a day, but turns to you every time and says “I am sorry,” you must forgive them.’

WEBBE If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

LSV and if seven times in the day he may sin against you, and seven times in the day may return to you, saying, I change my mind, you will forgive him.”

FBV Even if he sins against you seven times a day, and seven times comes back and tells you, ‘I'm really sorry,’ forgive him.”

TCNT Even if he sins against yoʋ seven times in a day, and seven times [fn]in that day he comes [fn]back and says, ‘I repent,’ yoʋ must forgive him.”

17:4 in that day ¦ — CT

17:4 back ¦ back to yoʋ ANT CT TR

T4T Even if he sins against you (sg) seven times in one day, if he comes to you each time and says, ‘I am sorry for what I did’, you must continue forgiving him.”

LEB And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times he returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

BBE And if he does you wrong seven times in a day, and seven times comes to you and says, I have regret for what I have done; let him have forgiveness.

Moff Even if he sins against you seven times in one day and turns to you seven times saying, "I repent," you must forgive him."

Wymth and if seven times in a day he acts wrongly towards you, and seven times turns again to you and says, `I am sorry,' you must forgive him."

ASV And if he sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

DRA And if he sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day be converted unto thee, saying, I repent; forgive him.

YLT and if seven times in the day he may sin against thee, and seven times in the day may turn back to thee, saying, I reform; thou shalt forgive him.'

Drby And if he should sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times should return to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him.

RV And if he sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
(And if he sin against thee/you seven times in the day, and seven times turn again to thee/you, saying, I repent; thou/you shalt/shall forgive him. )

SLT And if seven times in a day he sin against thee, and seven times in a day turn back to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt let him go.

Wbstr And if he shall trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day shall turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

KJB-1769 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
( And if he trespass against thee/you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee/you, saying, I repent; thou/you shalt/shall forgive him. )

KJB-1611 And if hee trespasse against thee seuen times in a day, and seuen times in a day turne againe to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgiue him.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps And though he sinne agaynst thee seuen tymes in a day, and seuen tymes in a day turne agayne to thee, saying, it repenteth me: thou shalt forgeue hym.
(And though he sin against thee/you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee/you, saying, it repenteth/repents me: thou/you shalt/shall forgive him.)

Gnva And though he sinne against thee seuen times in a day, and seuen times in a day turne againe to thee, saying, It repenteth mee, thou shalt forgiue him.
(And though he sin against thee/you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee/you, saying, It repenteth/repents me, thou/you shalt/shall forgive him. )

Cvdl and yf he amende, forgeue him. And though he synne agaynst the seuen tymes in a daye, and come seuen tymes in a daye to ye agayne, and saye: It repenteth me, forgeue him.
(and if he amende, forgive him. And though he sin against the seven times in a day, and come seven times in a day to ye/you_all again, and say: It repenteth/repents me, forgive him.)

TNT And though he sinne agest the .vii. tymes in a daye and seve tymes in a daye tourne agayne to the sayinge: it repenteth me forgeve him
(And though he sin agest the 7 times in a day and seve times in a day turn again to the saying: it repenteth/repents me forgive him )

Wycl And if seuene sithis in the dai he do synne ayens thee, and seuene sithis in the dai he be conuertid to thee, and seie, It forthenkith me, foryyue thou hym.
(And if seven sithis in the day he do sin against thee/you, and seven sithis in the day he be converted to thee/you, and say, It forthnkith me, forgive thou/you him.)

Luth Und wenn er siebenmal des Tages an dir sündigen würde und siebenmal des Tages wieder käme zu dir und spräche: Es reuet mich, so sollst du ihm vergeben.
(And when he seven_times the day at/to you/to_you(sg) sin(v) would and seven_times the day again would_come to/for you/to_you(sg) and spoke: It reuet me, so should you(sg) him forgive.)

ClVg Et si septies in die peccaverit in te, et septies in die conversus fuerit ad te, dicens: Pœnitet me, dimitte illi.[fn]
(And when/but_if seven_times in/into/on day sinned in/into/on you(sg), and seven_times in/into/on day turned_around has_been to you(sg), saying: Pœnitet me, let_go them. )

17.4 Septies. Solet universitas septenario designari. Præcipitur ergo ut omnia peccata dimittantur, vel semper pœnitenti dimittatur.

17.4 Septies. Solet of_the_universe/all_togethertas septenario designari. Præcipitur therefore as everything sins let_them_go, or always pœnitenti dimittatur.

UGNT καὶ ἐὰν ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας ἁμαρτήσῃ εἰς σὲ, καὶ ἑπτάκις ἐπιστρέψῃ πρὸς σὲ, λέγων μετανοῶ, ἀφήσεις αὐτῷ.
(kai ean heptakis taʸs haʸmeras hamartaʸsaʸ eis se, kai heptakis epistrepsaʸ pros se, legōn metanoō, afaʸseis autōi.)

SBL-GNT καὶ ἐὰν ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας ⸀ἁμαρτήσῃ εἰς σὲ καὶ ⸀ἑπτάκις ἐπιστρέψῃ ⸂πρὸς σὲ⸃ λέγων· Μετανοῶ, ἀφήσεις αὐτῷ.
(kai ean heptakis taʸs haʸmeras ⸀hamartaʸsaʸ eis se kai ⸀heptakis epistrepsaʸ ⸂pros se⸃ legōn; Metanoō, afaʸseis autōi.)

RP-GNT Καὶ ἐὰν ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας ἁμάρτῃ εἰς σέ, καὶ ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας ἐπιστρέψῃ, λέγων, Μετανοῶ, ἀφήσεις αὐτῷ.
(Kai ean heptakis taʸs haʸmeras hamartaʸ eis se, kai heptakis taʸs haʸmeras epistrepsaʸ, legōn, Metanoō, afaʸseis autōi.)

TC-GNT Καὶ ἐὰν ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας [fn]ἁμάρτῃ εἰς σέ, καὶ ἑπτάκις [fn]τῆς ἡμέρας [fn]ἐπιστρέψῃ, λέγων, Μετανοῶ, ἀφήσεις αὐτῷ.
(Kai ean heptakis taʸs haʸmeras hamartaʸ eis se, kai heptakis taʸs haʸmeras epistrepsaʸ, legōn, Metanoō, afaʸseis autōi. )

17:4 αμαρτη ¦ αμαρτηση CT

17:4 της ημερας ¦ — CT

17:4 επιστρεψη ¦ επιστρεψη επι σε TR ¦ επιστρεψη προς σε ANT CT

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 17:1–10: Jesus taught his disciples about sin, faith, and duty

At the end of chapter 16, Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees. He concluded his parable about Lazarus and the rich man. Here in 17:1–10, he spoke to his disciples and taught them about several issues.Scholars have different opinions about whether the teachings in this section are thematically related to Jesus’ teachings in chapter 16. Some scholars say that the teachings in the two chapters are not connected. Other scholars do see a broad connection. Green says, “Especially due to its location adjacent to prior accounts of Jesus’ interaction with Pharisees, this pericope recapitulates Jesus’ message to his followers: They are not to be like the Pharisees!” (p. 611). Liefeld says that “it is also possible to see a logical connection between the end of chapter 16 and the beginning of chapter 17, if we understand ‘the things that cause people to sin’ to be the sins of the Pharisees, such as those mentioned in 16:14.” Scholars also disagree about whether the paragraphs in this section are related to each other. About this, Liefeld says that “there is a common unifying theme of attitudes in the Christian community” (p. 994). Morris also mentions this possible connection: “The connecting link here may be the attitude of the religious leaders. They were in danger of using their wealth wrongly, and they were also in danger of leading their lesser brethren astray—temptations that would confront his disciples as well as people like the Pharisees” (p. 279). Nolland (p. 835) says, “Luke seems to have cobbled a unity together here of three separate blocks of tradition (verses 1–2, 3–4, 5–6). The catchword link “into/in the sea” from verse 2 to verse 6 helps to give a formal unity to the piece, and it is likely that he intends the blocks so juxtaposed, to mutually qualify the meaning of one another.” He also says, “As he opens this new section (17:1–19) Luke has brought together three blocks of tradition to form a unit about the adequacy, despite all human frailty, of even the most meager of kingdom faiths for the radical challenge of Jesus’ teaching” (p. 839).

English versions divide these verses into sections in different ways. For example:

Most versions put 17:1–10 together in one section and have one heading. (The Notes follow these versions.)
Some versions divide 17:1–10 into three sections with a heading for each one. For example, the GNT has:

17:1–4	Sin
17:5–6	Faith
17:7–10	A servant’s duty

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Jesus taught his disciples to not cause others to sin, to forgive others, and to serve him humbly

Teachings about Forgiveness and Faith (NLT)

Sin, Forgiveness, Faith, and Service (NET)

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 18:6–7 and 18:15 and in Mark 9:42. However, Jesus may have spoken these passages in a different context from the one in this section.

Paragraph 17:3b–4

In this paragraph, Jesus taught his followers that they must always forgive people who repent for sinning against them. This may be one way to avoid causing “one of these little ones” to sin (17:1–2).

17:4a

Even if he sins against you seven times in a day,

If he does wrong to you^(sing) seven times during one day,
Even though he wrongs you^(sing) as often as seven times in a single day,
Suppose he sins against you^(sing) many times in one day,

Even if he sins against you seven times in a day: The phrase Even if introduces a situation that might happen. It does not refer to a situation that has actually occurred. Some other ways to translate this are:

Your brother might sin against you seven times in one day. If he does….

Suppose that your friend sins against you seven times in one day

sins against you seven times in a day: As in 17:3b, the word sins refers here to something wrong or bad that one person does to another person. The phrase sins against you seven times in a day does not necessarily refer to doing the same sin each time. It could refer to seven different sorts of sin.

seven times: Jesus used the number seven to emphasize that the person continued to sin against the same person a number of times. The number seven does not imply that a disciple should not forgive his brother the eighth time he sinned. Jesus probably did not want his disciples to count each time the person sinned!

If a literal translation may imply that wrong meaning, it may be helpful to use a more general expression. For example:

even if he sins against you many times a day

If you decide to translate literally, you may want to include a footnote in your translation to make the meaning clear. For example:

Jesus’ point is that we should forgive others unconditionally as many times as they sin against us. Also see Matthew 18:21–35. (TRT)

in a day: The phrase in a day means “during one day” or “within a single day.” A day here refers to one twenty-four hour period.

17:4b

and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’

and he returns to you^(sing) seven times and says, ‘I regret what I did,’
if he comes back and says to you^(sing) seven times, ‘I am sorry,’
then each time he returns and asks you^(sing) to forgive him.

and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent’: In some languages it may not be natural to repeat the words seven times. It may be more natural to use a more general expression. For example:

and each time he comes to you saying, “I repent…” (GNT)

returns: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as returns is literally “turns around” or “turns back.” The context implies that after some minutes or hours, the person who sinned regrets his sin. The Greek word may indicate that he turns again to the offended believer or it may imply that he goes somewhere and then returns. Some ways to translate this are:

and…returns to you (NET)

and comes back to you (GW)

and turns to you (RSV)

to say, ‘I repent’: The Greek word that the BSB translates as I repent is the same Greek word as in 17:3c. Here Jesus used it to quote what a person might say to express his repentance to the person whom he offended.

In many languages, there are certain specific things that a person says when he asks someone to forgive him. If that is true in your language, you may be able to use such an expression here. It is good to use an expression that implies actual repentance, not merely polite apology. For example:

and says, “I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

In some languages, it will be more natural to use indirect speech here. For example:

and says that he is sorry (GW)

and asks you to forgive him

17:4c

you must forgive him.”

forgive^(sing) him.”
you^(sing) must pardon him every/each time.”
Every time he does this, you^(sing) must forgive him.”

you must forgive him: The phrase you must forgive him is a command. Here is another way to translate this:

forgive him (NCV)

The word forgive also occurs in 17:3c.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

καὶ ἐὰν ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας ἁμαρτήσῃ εἰς σὲ, καὶ ἑπτάκις ἐπιστρέψῃ πρὸς σὲ, λέγων μετανοῶ, ἀφήσεις αὐτῷ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἐάν ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας ἁμαρτήσῃ εἰς σέ καί ἑπτάκις ἐπιστρέψῃ πρός σέ λέγων Μετανοῶ ἀφήσεις αὐτῷ)

Jesus is describing a hypothetical situation in order to tell his disciples what they should do if it takes place. Alternate translation: [Suppose a fellow believer were to sin against you seven times in the same day. And suppose each time he came to you and said, ‘I am sorry.’ Then you would have to forgive him each time]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας & καὶ ἑπτάκις

seven_times ˱in˲_the day & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἐάν ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας ἁμαρτήσῃ εἰς σέ καί ἑπτάκις ἐπιστρέψῃ πρός σέ λέγων Μετανοῶ ἀφήσεις αὐτῷ)

The number seven in the Bible represents a large or sufficient quantity. Alternate translation: [many times in the same day, and each time]

τῆς ἡμέρας

˱in˲_the day

Alternate translation: [in the same day]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd

σὲ & σὲ & ἀφήσεις

The word you is singular in this verse, since Jesus is addressing an individual situation, even though he is speaking to a group. If these singular forms would not be natural in your language for someone who was speaking to a group of people, you could use plural forms in your translation.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

ἐπιστρέψῃ πρὸς σὲ, λέγων μετανοῶ, ἀφήσεις αὐτῷ

˱he˲_˓may˒_return (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἐάν ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας ἁμαρτήσῃ εἰς σέ καί ἑπτάκις ἐπιστρέψῃ πρός σέ λέγων Μετανοῶ ἀφήσεις αὐτῷ)

If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: [comes to you and says that he is sorry, you must forgive him]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / declarative

ἀφήσεις αὐτῷ

˱you˲_˓will_be˒_forgiving ˱to˲_him

Jesus is using a future statement to give an instruction and command. Alternate translation: [you must forgive him]

Parallel LUKE 17:4

Section 17:1–10: Jesus taught his disciples about sin, faith, and duty

Paragraph 17:3b–4

17:4a

17:4b

17:4c