LUKE 18:26 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.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject.
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).

UST Those who heard Jesus say that replied, “Then it seems that God will not consider that anyone should have eternal life!”

AICNT But those who heard said, “And who can be saved?”

OEB ‘Then who can be saved?’ asked those who heard this.

WEBBE Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Those who heard this said, “Then who can be saved?”

LSV And those who heard, said, “And who is able to be saved?”

FBV Those who heard this wondered, “Who can be saved then?”

TCNT Those who heard this said, “Who then can be saved?”

T4T The Jews thought that God favored rich people, so they thought that if God did not save rich people, he would not save others, either. So one of the disciples who heard him say that replied, “If that is so, it seems that no one will be saved {that God will not save anyone} [RHQ]!”

LEB So those who heard this[fn] said, “And who can be saved?”

18:26 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

BBE And those who were present said, Then who may have salvation?

Moff His hearers said, "Then whoever can be saved?"

Wymth "Who then can be saved?" exclaimed the hearers.

ASV And they that heard it said, Then who can be saved?

DRA And they that heard it, said: Who then can be saved?

YLT And those who heard, said, 'And who is able to be saved?'

Drby And those who heard it said, And who can be saved?

RV And they that heard it said, Then who can be saved?

SLT And they having heard, said, And who can be saved?

Wbstr And they that heard it , said, Who then can be saved?

KJB-1769 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

KJB-1611 And they that heard it, said, Who then can be saued?
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps And they that hearde it, sayde: And who can then be saued?
(And they that heard it, said: And who can then be saved?)

Gnva Then said they that heard it, And who then can be saued?
(Then said they that heard it, And who then can be saved? )

Cvdl Then sayde they yt herde that: Who can then be saued?
(Then said they it heard that: Who can then be saved?)

TNT Then sayde they that hearde that: And who shall then be saved?
(Then said they that heard that: And who shall then be saved? )

Wycl And thei that herden these thingis seiden, Who may be maad saaf?
(And they that heard these things said, Who may be made safe?)

Luth Da sprachen, die das höreten: Wer kann denn selig werden?
(So said, the the heard: Who can because/than blessed become?)

ClVg Et dixerunt qui audiebant: Et quis potest salvus fieri?[fn]
(And they_said who/which they_were_listening: And who/any can safe to_be_done? )

18.26 Quis potest? Intelligunt in numero divitum deputandos omnes qui amant divitias, etsi non habent: aliter enim, cum sit turba major pauperum, non dicerent: Quis potest salvus fieri?

18.26 Who can? Intelligunt in/into/on number rich deputandos everyone who/which amant riches, even_though not/no they_have: otherwise because, when/with be crowd major/greater of_the_poor, not/no they_would_say: Who can safe to_be_done?

UGNT εἶπον δὲ οἱ ἀκούσαντες, καὶ τίς δύναται σωθῆναι?
(eipon de hoi akousantes, kai tis dunatai sōthaʸnai?)

SBL-GNT Εἶπαν δὲ οἱ ἀκούσαντες· Καὶ τίς δύναται σωθῆναι;
(Eipan de hoi akousantes; Kai tis dunatai sōthaʸnai;)

RP-GNT Εἶπον δὲ οἱ ἀκούσαντες, Καὶ τίς δύναται σωθῆναι;
(Eipon de hoi akousantes, Kai tis dunatai sōthaʸnai;)

TC-GNT [fn]Εἶπον δὲ οἱ ἀκούσαντες, Καὶ τίς δύναται σωθῆναι;
(Eipon de hoi akousantes, Kai tis dunatai sōthaʸnai; )

18:26 ειπον ¦ ειπαν NA SBL WH

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

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Rich and Poor in the Gospel of Luke

Throughout Luke’s Gospel, a reversal of worldly fortunes characterizes entrance into, or exclusion from, the Kingdom of God. Mary announced that God would lift up the poor and humble and bring down the rich and powerful (1:52-53). Jesus announced at Nazareth that the gospel is “Good News to the poor” (4:18). He pronounced blessings on the poor and hungry, and woes against the rich and satisfied (6:20-26). This was a reversal of conventional wisdom, which held that God had blessed the rich and cursed the poor.

A number of Jesus’ parables severely warn against the danger of riches. The parable of the rich fool (12:13-21) reveals the consequence of storing up treasures on earth instead of having a rich relationship with God. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus (16:19-31) shows the eternal cost of ignoring the poor and helpless while enjoying the good things in life. The rich man who asked Jesus the way to eternal life was devastated when Jesus said he must sell all that he had and give to the poor (18:18-23).

Who are the poor in Luke’s Gospel? Are they the physically poor or those that are poor in spirit (cp. Matt 5:3)? Almost certainly it is both. The physically poor, who have very little, are naturally dependent on God for their needs. The rich and powerful are likely to be self-sufficient, forgetting their need for God. It is impossible for rich people to enter God’s Kingdom as long as they trust in their riches to get them there (16:25-26). God accepts those who put their faith in him alone.

Passages for Further Study

Matt 5:3; Luke 1:52-53; 4:18; 6:20-25; 12:13-34; 14:12-23; 16:19-31; 18:18-30

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 18:18–30: It is hard for rich people to enter God’s kingdom

The theme of this section is similar in some ways to the theme of the preceding section. In both sections Jesus talked about entering the kingdom of God. This section also contrasts with the preceding one. In that section the children represent humble people who easily depend on God and welcome his rule/reign. The ruler in this section represents people who are rich and powerful. It is very difficult for such people to welcome God’s reign and submit to it.

The ruler asked Jesus how he could obtain eternal life. Jesus told him to obey God’s commands. Among the Jews, this was a well-known answer to the question of how to obtain eternal life. The ruler said that he had obeyed God’s commands since he was a child. Then Jesus told him to sell what he had, give the money to the poor, and become his disciple. But the ruler valued his riches too much to do that. Then Jesus said that it is very hard for rich people to enter God’s kingdom.

At the end of the section Jesus promised that people who left their possessions and family behind to serve him would receive great rewards.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Jesus taught that riches make it difficult to obtain eternal life

A Rich Man’s Question (NCV)

The rich young man (NJB)

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 19:16–30 and Mark 10:17–31.

18:26a

Those who heard this asked,

¶ The people who heard this asked,
¶ When people heard Jesus say that, they were amazed. And they said,
¶ Then the people listening asked each other,

Those who heard this: The phrase Those who heard this refers to the people who were listening to Jesus.

asked: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as asked is literally “said.” It introduces a rhetorical question. If you translate it as a statement, it may be more natural to use a verb like “said.”

The text does not specify to whom the people were speaking. They may have been speaking directly to Jesus or more generally to anyone who was listening.In the parallel passage in Mark 10:26, there is a textual issue. The Notes recommended the text that indicates that the people asked each other. If you must say whom the people were asking, you may want to supply a general phrase. For example:

The people who heard this asked each other

18:26b

“Who then can be saved?”

“If that is true, who can be saved?”
“If rich people cannot be saved, maybe God will not save anyone!”
“But if God will not save rich people from their sins so they can enter his kingdom, whom will he save?”

Who then can be saved?: This is probably a rhetorical question. It is an emphatic way to say, “If that is true, no one can be saved!” It expresses the people’s surprise at what Jesus said in 18:25.Jews thought that a person became rich because God blessed him for being righteous. They thought that poor people were probably not righteous. So when the people who were listening to Jesus heard him say that it was impossible for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom, they assumed that poor people could not hope for God to save them either.

Some ways to translate this to express emphasis and surprise are:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
How can anyone ever be saved? (CEV)
Then can anyone be saved? It is impossible!
As a statement. For example:
Then we do not know how anyone can possibly be saved!
If that is true, then God will not save anyone.

Translate this emphasis and surprise in a way that is natural in your language.

then: In this context the conjunction that the BSB translates as then could also be translated as “in that case” or “if that is so/true.”

be saved: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as be saved means “to be rescued or preserved from harm.” In this context it refers to God allowing someone to enter his kingdom (18:25) and to receive eternal life.

In some languages, it may be necessary to make explicit what the person was saved from. For example:

saved from his sins that would prevent him from entering God’s kingdom

rescued from God’s judgment/punishment and allowed to enter God’s kingdom

The verb be saved is a passive verb. In some languages it is more natural to use an active verb and supply a subject. The implied subject is God. For example:

Whom then will God save?

See save, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

οἱ ἀκούσαντες

they ˓having˒_heard

Alternate translation: [the people who were listening to Jesus]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

καὶ τίς δύναται σωθῆναι?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπον Δέ οἱ ἀκούσαντες Καί τίς δύναται σωθῆναι)

It is possible that these people were asking for an answer. But it is more likely that they were using the question form to emphasize their surprise at what Jesus said. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this as a statement or exclamation. Alternate translation: [Then no one can be saved!]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

καὶ τίς δύναται σωθῆναι?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπον Δέ οἱ ἀκούσαντες Καί τίς δύναται σωθῆναι)

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this with an active form, and you could specify the agent. Alternate translation: [Then God is not going to save anyone!]

Parallel LUKE 18:26

Section 18:18–30: It is hard for rich people to enter God’s kingdom

18:26a

18:26b