LUKE 18:8 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) I’m telling you that he’ll quickly bring justice to the situation. However, when humanity’s child comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, 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 I say to you that he will do the vindication of them quickly. Nevertheless, the Son of Man having come, will he indeed find faith on the earth?”

UST I tell you, God will quickly bring about justice for his chosen ones! Nevertheless when I, the Son of Man, come back to earth, there will still be many people who do not believe in me.”

BLB I say to you that He will execute their avenging in quickness. Nevertheless, the Son of Man having come, will He find faith on the earth?"

AICNT I say to you [that][fn] he will bring about their vindication quickly.
¶ “{However},[fn] when the Son of Man comes, will he find the faith on the earth?”

18:8, that: Absent from some manuscripts. D(05) Latin(b ff² i)

18:8, However: D(05) reads “So.”

OEB He will, I tell you, give them justice soon enough! Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’

WEBBE I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET I tell you, he will give them justice speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

LSV I say to you that He will execute justice to them quickly; but the Son of Man having come, will He find faith on the earth?”

FBV No, I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. However, when the Son of man comes, will he find people on earth who trust in him?”

TCNT I tell you that he will bring about justice for them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

T4T But I tell you, some day he will show that what you did was right, and he will do it quickly. But when I, the one who came from heaven, return to earth, ◄there may not be many people who will still be trusting that I will vindicate them (OR, who will still be trusting in me)./will there be many people who will still be trusting that I will vindicate them (OR, who will still be trusting in me)?► [RHQ]”

LEB I tell you that _⌊he will see to it that justice is done_⌋[fn] for them soon! Nevertheless, when[fn] the Son of Man comes, then will he find faith on earth?”

18:8 Literally “he will carry out the giving of justice”

18:8 *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“comes”) which is understood as temporal

BBE I say to you that he will quickly do right in their cause. But when the Son of man comes, will there be any faith on earth?

Moff I tell you, he will quickly see justice done to his elect! And yet, when the Son of man does come, will he find faith on earth?"

Wymth Yes, He will soon avenge their wrongs. Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"

ASV I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

DRA I say to you, that he will quickly revenge them. But yet the Son of man, when he cometh, shall he find, think you, faith on earth?

YLT I say to you, that He will execute the justice to them quickly; but the Son of Man having come, shall he find the faith upon the earth?'

Drby I say unto you that he will avenge them speedily. But when the Son of man comes, shall he indeed find faith on the earth?

RV I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Howbeit when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
(I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Howbeit when the Son of man cometh/comes, shall he find faith on the earth? )

SLT I say to you, that he will do their avenging swiftly. But the Son of man having come, shall he find faith upon earth

Wbstr I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, will he find faith on the earth?

KJB-1769 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
( I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh/comes, shall he find faith on the earth? )

KJB-1611 I tell you that he wil auenge them speedily. Neuerthelesse, when the Son of man commeth, shall hee find faith on the earth?
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps I tell you he wyll auenge them, and that quickly. Neuerthelesse, when the sonne of man commeth, shall he fynde fayth on the earth?
(I tell you he will avenge them, and that quickly. Nevertheless, when the son of man cometh/comes, shall he find faith on the earth?)

Gnva I tell you he will auenge them quickly: but when the Sonne of man commeth, shall he finde faith on the earth?
(I tell you he will avenge them quickly: but when the Son of man cometh/comes, shall he find faith on the earth? )

Cvdl I saye vnto you: He shal delyuer them, and that shortly. Neuertheles, whan the sonne of man cometh, suppose ye, that he shal fynde faith vpon earth?
(I say unto you: He shall deliver them, and that shortly. Nevertheless, when the son of man cometh/comes, suppose ye/you_all, that he shall find faith upon earth?)

TNT I tell you he will avenge them and that quickly. Neverthelesse when the sonne of man cometh suppose ye that he shall fynde faithe on the erthe.
(I tell you he will avenge them and that quickly. Nevertheless when the son of man cometh/comes suppose ye/you_all that he shall find faithe on the earth. )

Wycl Sotheli Y seie to you, for soone he schal do veniaunce of hem. Netheles gessist thou, that mannus sone comynge schal fynde feith in erthe?
(Truly I say to you, for soon he shall do vengeance of hem. Nevertheless gessist thou/you, that man’s son coming shall find faith in earth?)

Luth Ich sage euch: Er wird sie erretten in einer Kürze. Doch wenn des Menschen Sohn kommen wird, meinest du, daß er auch werde Glauben finden auf Erden?
(I said you: He becomes they/she/them save/rescue in one/a Kürze. But when the people son coming becomes, my you(sg), that he also become faith find on/in/to earth/land/ground?)

ClVg Dico vobis quia cito faciet vindictam illorum. Verumtamen Filius hominis veniens, putas, inveniet fidem in terra?[fn]
(Sayo to_you(pl) because quickly will_do vengeance/revenge of_them. Nevertheless Son of_man coming, you_think, will_find faith in/into/on earth/land? )

18.8 Verumtamen. Dico me facturum vindictam justorum, sed illi erunt valde pauci, quia cum in die judicii in forma Filii hominis apparuero, tanta erit raritas justorum, ut non tam ob clamorem fidelium injuste damnatorum, quam ob eorum torporem juste damnandorum totius jam mundi sit acceleranda ruina. Putas. In verbo increpatur dubitationis infidelitas, non opinatur Divinitas. Scit enim omnia per quem sunt omnia, sed dubitando increpat infidelium corda.

18.8 Nevertheless. Sayo me facturum vengeance/revenge of_the_righteous, but them they_will_be very_much a_few, because when/with in/into/on day judgement in/into/on form Children of_man apparuero, such_a_great_deal will_be raritas of_the_righteous, as not/no tam because shout faithful unjustly damnatorum, how because their torporem justly damnandorum of_the_whole already world be acceleranda ruin(n). Putas. In word increpatur doubtsionis infidelitas, not/no opinatur Divinitas. Scit because everything through which are everything, but dubitando increpat of_infidels hearts.

UGNT λέγω ὑμῖν, ὅτι ποιήσει τὴν ἐκδίκησιν αὐτῶν ἐν τάχει. πλὴν ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου ἐλθὼν, ἆρα εὑρήσει τὴν πίστιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς?
(legō humin, hoti poiaʸsei taʸn ekdikaʸsin autōn en taⱪei. plaʸn ho Huios tou Anthrōpou elthōn, ara heuraʸsei taʸn pistin epi taʸs gaʸs?)

SBL-GNT λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ποιήσει τὴν ἐκδίκησιν αὐτῶν ἐν τάχει. πλὴν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐλθὼν ἆρα εὑρήσει τὴν πίστιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς;
(legō humin hoti poiaʸsei taʸn ekdikaʸsin autōn en taⱪei. plaʸn ho huios tou anthrōpou elthōn ara heuraʸsei taʸn pistin epi taʸs gaʸs;)

RP-GNT Λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ποιήσει τὴν ἐκδίκησιν αὐτῶν ἐν τάχει. Πλὴν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐλθὼν ἆρα εὑρήσει τὴν πίστιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς;
(Legō humin hoti poiaʸsei taʸn ekdikaʸsin autōn en taⱪei. Plaʸn ho huios tou anthrōpou elthōn ara heuraʸsei taʸn pistin epi taʸs gaʸs;)

TC-GNT Λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ποιήσει τὴν ἐκδίκησιν αὐτῶν ἐν τάχει. Πλὴν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐλθὼν ἆρα εὑρήσει τὴν πίστιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς;
(Legō humin hoti poiaʸsei taʸn ekdikaʸsin autōn en taⱪei. Plaʸn ho huios tou anthrōpou elthōn ara heuraʸsei taʸn pistin epi taʸs gaʸs; )

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 18:1–8: Jesus told a story to teach his disciples to pray persistently

At the end of chapter 17, Jesus told his disciples about the coming of the Son of Man. In this section, he concluded this teaching by telling them a parable about praying persistently.Bock (p. 1444) says: “The parable of the nagging widow and the consenting judge is linked to the previous eschatological discourse by the reference in Luke 18:8 to the Son of Man’s return. Its plea that believers ask God for justice looks back to the vindication of the saints described in 17:22–37.” He used the parable to teach them that they should continue to trust God and pray to him. They should not become discouraged when they suffer unjustly, because Jesus will return, and God will give them justice.

Justice is an important theme in this parable. Phrases about justice occur four times. Each phrase uses a form of the same Greek word, so you will probably want to translate the phrases in a similar way:

Grant me justice (18:3)

see that she gets justice (18:5)

will not God bring about justice (18:7)

he will see that they get justice (18:8)

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it. Some examples of headings for this section are:

The Parable of the Persistent Widow (NIV)

Jesus told a parable about a widow coming repeatedly to an unjust judge

The parable of the unjust judge

God Will Answer His People (NCV)

Luke is the only gospel that has this story. It is similar in some ways to the parable in 11:5–10.

Paragraph 18:6–8

In this paragraph Jesus told his disciples what he wanted them to learn from the parable in 18:1–5. Jesus contrasted God and his people with the judge and the widow. God is not like the unfair judge. God loves to help his people. The judge helped the widow because she asked him many times. God will certainly be much more willing to help his people get justice when they continue to pray to him. He will quickly help them.Keener (p. 238) says, “This parable is a standard Jewish ‘how much more’…argument: if an unjust judge who cared not for widows can dispense justice, how much more will the righteous judge of all the earth, who was known as the defender of widows and orphans?”

18:8a

I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf.

I tell you^(plur) this, God will quickly do what is just for them.
He will certainly make sure that they receive what is fair/right.
I assure you^(plur) that God will be swift to give them justice.

I tell you: Jesus often used the words I tell you to begin a statement that he wanted to emphasize. It indicates that the statement was important and that people should listen carefully to it. Some other ways to show this emphasis are:

Use a phrase before Jesus’ statement. For example:
Let me tell you this
I can guarantee that GW)
I assure you
Use an emphatic word within Jesus’ statement. For example:
He will certainly see that they get justice.

If you have another way in your language to emphasize an important statement, consider using it here.

He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf: The Greek expression that the BSB translates as He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf means “God will quickly give/provide justice for his people.” The Greek expression carry out justice is very similar to the expression “bring about justice” (literally, “do…justice”) in 18:7a. It is good to translate in a similar way here. For example:

^7bgive his chosen people justice…^8ahe will give them justice quickly (GW)

^7awill…see justice done…^ahe will not delay in seeing justice done (JBP)

In some languages it may be more natural to translate this without using a noun such as justice. For example:

he will quickly do what is right for his people

he will judge in their favor and do it quickly (GNT)

promptly: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as promptly means “in/after a short period of time.”Some scholars think that the phrase means “suddenly” here, indicating that when the right time comes, God will give his people justice suddenly. Of the fourteen English versions consulted, no version follows this interpretation. Some other ways to translate this are:

speedily

soon

without delay

18:8b

Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes,

But when the Son of Man returns
But when I, the Son of Man, come,
Although that is true, when I, the Son of Man, come,

Nevertheless: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as Nevertheless introduces a strong contrast between 18:8a and 18:8c. Even though God will quickly give justice to his people (18:8a), some of his people may doubt that he will ever do it (18:8c). The clause in 18:8b is a time clause. Use a natural way in your language to connect 18:8a and 18:8b–c. Some other ways to translate the connection in English are:

But will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes? (GNT)

And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? (NRSV)

In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of the clauses in this verse. See the General Comment on 18:8a–c at the end of 18:8c for a suggestion.

when the Son of Man comes: The clause when the Son of Man comes refers to the time in the future when Jesus will return to earth. Other ways to translate it are:

When the Son of Man will return

when the Son of Man comes back to earth

the Son of Man: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the Son of Man is literally “the Son of the human/person.” Jesus used this title to imply that:

he was a true human being, and he represented all people.
he came from God and had authority from God.

Try to use an expression that implies both meanings. Some expressions that translators have used are:

the Man whom God Sent

the True Man from God/Heaven

the Representative of Mankind

The Older Brother of All People

In some languages it may be necessary to use a form like “I” or “me” to indicate that Jesus was referring to himself. For example:

me, the Son of Man

I who became man/human

This term first occurs in Luke at 5:24a. See also “Son of Man” in KBT.

18:8c

will He find faith on earth?”

to earth, will he meet/see people who have faith?”
will I discover/see that people on earth trust me/God?”
will I find any people in this world who believe that?”

will He find faith on earth?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus knew that his disciples did not know the answer to this question. The question implies that the Son of ManIn Greek the word for “faith” is preceded by “the” (“the faith”). Here “the faith” probably refers to the faith that is specifically mentioned in this context, that is, faith in God, in the Son of Man, or specifically that God will speedily give his chosen people justice. Most scholars do not interpret it to mean “Christian teaching” in this context, though that later became a common meaning of the phrase “the faith.” may not find faith on the earth when he returns. Jesus probably asked this question to motivate his disciples to be people with that faith.

Some ways to translate this question are:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
…will he find people on earth with faith?
…whom will he find on earth who trusts him/God?
As a statement. For example:
He may not find people on earth with faith.
He may not find/see that there are people on earth who have faith.

Translate this rhetorical question in a natural way in your language.

will He find faith: In this context the question will He find faith implies that people may not have faith at that time. It does not imply that the Son of Man will not be able to find the people who have faith.

This question probably also does not imply that there will be no people who believe in Jesus. It may imply that there may not be many people who have confidence in him.

Some other ways to translate this are:

will he see that people have faith

will he discover that people believe/trust him/God

will he find that no one trusts God/him

faith: In this context faith refers to people trusting God or Jesus, the Son of Man. It may refer specifically to people having confidence that when they pray, God will bring about justice for them, as Jesus said in 18:8a. If you translate faith as a verb here, you may need to supply an object. For example:

trust him

have confidence in him/God

believe/trust that God will do this

See believe, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.

on earth: Here the phrase on earth refers to the whole earth in contrast to heaven. It does not refer to any particular part of the earth.

General Comment on 18:8a–c

In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of clauses in this verse. For example:

^8aI tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. ^8cHowever, will the Son of Man find faith on the earth ^8bwhen he returns?

UTN uW Translation Notes:

λέγω ὑμῖν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ποιήσει τήν ἐκδίκησιν αὐτῶν ἐν τάχει Πλήν ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου ἐλθών ἆρα εὑρήσει τήν πίστιν ἐπί τῆς γῆς)

Jesus says this to emphasize what he is about to tell his disciples. Alternate translation: [I can assure you]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ποιήσει τὴν ἐκδίκησιν αὐτῶν ἐν τάχει

˱he˲_˓will_be˒_executing (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ποιήσει τήν ἐκδίκησιν αὐτῶν ἐν τάχει Πλήν ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου ἐλθών ἆρα εὑρήσει τήν πίστιν ἐπί τῆς γῆς)

The point of the parable and of this teaching is that people should continue to pray even if God does not answer right away. So this statement might seem contradictory, since it suggests that God will answer right away. The implication may be that God is concerned for his people and will begin to act immediately to help them, even if his actions do not become apparent for some time. If you think your readers would be puzzled or troubled by the apparent contradiction, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: [he will start to answer their prayers right away] or [he will begin to send them help right away]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

πλὴν ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου ἐλθὼν, ἆρα εὑρήσει τὴν πίστιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς?

Jesus is using the question form as a teaching tool. This particular question uses a word that anticipates a negative answer. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this as a statement. Alternate translation: [Nevertheless, it is doubtful that the Son of Man will find faith on the earth when he returns.]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πλὴν

The reference of the word Nevertheless is implied in the context. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could make it explicit. Alternate translation: [Even though God readily answers prayer]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου ἐλθὼν

the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ποιήσει τήν ἐκδίκησιν αὐτῶν ἐν τάχει Πλήν ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου ἐλθών ἆρα εὑρήσει τήν πίστιν ἐπί τῆς γῆς)

Jesus is speaking about himself in the third person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this in the first person. Alternate translation: [when I, the Son of Man, come]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου ἐλθὼν

See how you translated the title Son of Man in [5:24](../05/24.md). Alternate translation: [when I, the Messiah, come]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὴν πίστιν