LUKE 20:21 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) They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say what is right, and that you teach the truth about God’s way without being influenced by people.

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, magenta:vocative, red:negative.
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 they asked him, saying, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and you do not receive a face, but you teach the way of God in truth.

UST One of them said to him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right. You do that even if important people do not like it. You teach truthfully what God wants us to do.

BSB “Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

BLB And they questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You speak and teach rightly, and do not receive any person, but teach the way of God on the basis of truth.

AICNT And they questioned him, saying, “Teacher, we know that you speak [and teach][fn] rightly, and you {do not show partiality},[fn] but teach [the way][fn] of God in truth:

20:21, and teach: Absent from some manuscripts. Latin(a ff² i)

20:21, do not show partiality: Some manuscripts read “show partiality to no one.” D(05) Syriac(sy^s sy^c)

20:21, the way: Absent from Latin(e).

OEB These spies asked Jesus a question. They said, ‘Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and that you do not take any account of a person’s position, but teach the way of God honestly;

WEBBE They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God.

WMBB They asked him, “Rabbi, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God.

NET Thus they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, and show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

LSV and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we have known that You say and teach correctly, and do not receive a person, but in truth teach the way of God.

FBV They said, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is good and right, and that you're not swayed by the opinions of others. You truly teach the way of God.

TCNT The spies asked him, “Teacher, we know that yoʋ speak and teach correctly, and that yoʋ do not show partiality but teach the way of God in truth.

T4T So one of them asked Jesus, “Teacher, we (exc) know that you (sg) speak and teach what is right. You tell the truth even if important people do not like it. You teach truthfully what God wants us to do.

LEB And they asked him, saying, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and do not _⌊show partiality_⌋,[fn] but teach the way of God in truth.

20:21 Literally “receive face”

BBE And they put a question to him, saying, Master, we are certain that your teaching and your words are right, and that you have no respect for a man's position, but you are teaching the true way of God:

Moff They put this question to him, "Teacher, we know you are straight in what you say and teach, you do not look to human favour but teach the Way of God honestly.

Wymth So they put a question to Him. "Rabbi," they said, "we know that you say and teach what is right and that you make no distinctions between one man and another, but teach God's way truly.

ASV And they asked him, saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person of any, but of a truth teachest the way of God:

DRA And they asked him, saying: Master, we know that thou speakest and teachest rightly: and thou dost not respect any person, but teachest the way of God in truth.

YLT and they questioned him, saying, 'Teacher, we have known that thou dost say and teach rightly, and dost not accept a person, but in truth the way of God dost teach;

Drby And they asked him saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest no [man's] person, but teachest with truth the way of [fn]God:

20.21 Elohim

RV And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person of any, but of a truth teachest the way of God:
(And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou/you sayest/say and teachest/teach rightly, and acceptest not the person of any, but of a truth teachest/teach the way of God: )

SLT And they asked him, saying. Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and thou receivest not the face, but teachest in truth the way of God:

Wbstr And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any , but teachest the way of God truly:

KJB-1769 And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
(And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou/you sayest/say and teachest/teach rightly, neither acceptest thou/you the person of any, but teachest/teach the way of God truly: )

KJB-1611 And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God [fn]truely.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

20:21 Or, of a trueth.

Bshps And they asked him, saying: Maister, we knowe that thou sayest and teachest ryght, neither considerest thou the outwarde appearaunce of any man, but teachest the way of God truely:
(And they asked him, saying: Master, we know that thou/you sayest/say and teachest/teach ryght, neither considerest/consider thou/you the outward appearance of any man, but teachest/teach the way of God truly:)

Gnva And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest, and teachest right, neither doest thou accept mans person, but teachest the way of God truely.
(And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou/you sayest/say, and teachest/teach right, neither dost/do thou/you accept mans person, but teachest/teach the way of God truly. )

Cvdl And they axed him, & sayde: Master, we knowe that thou sayest & teachest right, and regardest the outwarde appearauce of no man, but teachest the waye of God truly.
(And they asked him, and said: Master, we know that thou/you sayest/say and teachest/teach right, and regardest/regard the outward appearauce of no man, but teachest/teach the way of God truly.)

TNT And they axed him sayinge: Master we knowe that thou sayest and teachest ryght nother cosiderest thou eny manes degre but teachest the waye of God truly.
(And they asked him saying: Master we know that thou/you sayest/say and teachest/teach right nother cosiderest thou/you any manes degree but teachest/teach the way of God truly. )

Wycl And thei axiden hym, and seiden, Maister, we witen, that riytli thou seist and techist; and thou takist not the persoone of man, but thou techist in treuthe the weie of God.
(And they asked him, and said, Master, we perceive, that riytli thou/you sayest/say and teachest/teach; and thou/you takest/take not the persoone of man, but thou/you teachest/teach in truth the way of God.)

Luth Und sie fragten ihn und sprachen: Meister, wir wissen, daß du aufrichtig redest und lehrest und achtest keines Menschen Ansehen, sondern du lehrest den Weg Gottes recht.
(And they/she/them asked him/it and said: master, we/us realise, that you(sg) on/in/torichtig talk/speak and you_teach and pay_attention none people view/reputation, rather you(sg) you_teach the way/path/road God’s right.)

ClVg Et interrogaverunt eum, dicentes: Magister, scimus quia recte dicis et doces: et non accipis personam, sed viam Dei in veritate doces.
(And they_asked him, saying: Teacher/Master, we_know because correctly/straight you_say and teachs: and not/no be_accepteds person, but way/road of_God in/into/on with_truth teachs. )

UGNT καὶ ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτὸν λέγοντες, Διδάσκαλε, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ὀρθῶς λέγεις, καὶ διδάσκεις, καὶ οὐ λαμβάνεις πρόσωπον, ἀλλ’ ἐπ’ ἀληθείας τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ διδάσκεις.
(kai epaʸrōtaʸsan auton legontes, Didaskale, oidamen hoti orthōs legeis, kai didaskeis, kai ou lambaneis prosōpon, all’ ep’ alaʸtheias taʸn hodon tou Theou didaskeis.)

SBL-GNT καὶ ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτὸν λέγοντες· Διδάσκαλε, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ὀρθῶς λέγεις καὶ διδάσκεις καὶ οὐ λαμβάνεις πρόσωπον, ἀλλʼ ἐπʼ ἀληθείας τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ θεοῦ διδάσκεις·
(kai epaʸrōtaʸsan auton legontes; Didaskale, oidamen hoti orthōs legeis kai didaskeis kai ou lambaneis prosōpon, allʼ epʼ alaʸtheias taʸn hodon tou theou didaskeis;)

RP-GNT Καὶ ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτόν, λέγοντες, Διδάσκαλε, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ὀρθῶς λέγεις καὶ διδάσκεις· καὶ οὐ λαμβάνεις πρόσωπον, ἀλλ' ἐπ' ἀληθείας τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ θεοῦ διδάσκεις.
(Kai epaʸrōtaʸsan auton, legontes, Didaskale, oidamen hoti orthōs legeis kai didaskeis; kai ou lambaneis prosōpon, all' ep' alaʸtheias taʸn hodon tou theou didaskeis.)

TC-GNT Καὶ ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτόν, λέγοντες, Διδάσκαλε, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ὀρθῶς λέγεις καὶ διδάσκεις· καὶ οὐ λαμβάνεις πρόσωπον, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀληθείας τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ διδάσκεις.
(Kai epaʸrōtaʸsan auton, legontes, Didaskale, oidamen hoti orthōs legeis kai didaskeis; kai ou lambaneis prosōpon, all ep alaʸtheias taʸn hodon tou Theou didaskeis. )

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 20:20–26: Jewish leaders tried to trap Jesus with a question about taxes

The chief priests, the scribes, and the elders mentioned in 20:1 sent men to trick Jesus into saying something for which they could accuse him and arrest him. They wanted to cause trouble for him.

The men asked Jesus, “Should the Jews pay taxes to the Roman Emperor Caesar or not?” The word “Caesar” was the title that the Roman people gave to their highest ruler, the emperor.The Romans worshiped their emperor as a god. The Romans ruled over the Jews at that time and forced them to pay taxes.

The men’s question was difficult because either a “yes” or a “no” answer would cause problems for Jesus. If Jesus answered, “yes, the Jews should pay taxes to the Romans,” he would make the Jews angry. If he answered “no, they should not pay,” he would make the Roman government angry. But Jesus answered wisely and avoided the trap that the Jewish leaders set for him.

Some examples of headings for this section are:

The Question about Paying Taxes (GNT)

Paying Taxes to Caesar (NIV)

Should people pay taxes to Caesar or not?

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 22:15–22 and Mark 12:13–17.

20:21a

“Teacher,” they inquired,

So those spies began to question Jesus, saying,
Then those men/people went to Jesus and said to him,

In Greek, 20:21a begins with conjunction that is often translated as “and.” The NIV translates this word as “So.” It introduces the result of the plans that the Jewish leaders made: The spies asked Jesus a question. Many English versions, such as the BSB, do not have a conjunction here. In some languages it may be natural to introduce the verse with a phrase or clause. For example:

When the spies came to Jesus, they…

Having come to Jesus, the spies…

Then the spies went to Jesus, and…

Introduce this verse in a natural way in your language.

“Teacher,” they inquired: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as they inquired means “to ask” or “to question.” The BSB places these words in the middle of what the spies said. In some languages, it may be necessary to put these words at the beginning of 20:21a. For example:

So the spies questioned him, “Teacher…” (NIV)

Teacher: The word Teacher was a polite title for a Jewish religious leader. It was a title of respect for a Jewish man who had authority to teach other people things about God and his commands. In some languages the appropriate way to address a religious teacher may be:

Honored Teacher

Sir

Master

The term does not refer to a person who taught children in school.

they inquired: The Greek word that the BSB translates as inquired is literally “questioned.” In some languages, it may be necessary to make the subject of this verb explicit, since the subject of 20:20 was the Jewish leaders. For example:

the spies questioned him (NIV)

The spies did not question Jesus until 20:22. First, they praised Jesus in a long statement. In some languages it may be more natural to translate inquired as “said” here. If you do this, you may introduce the actual question in 20:22 with a phrase like “then they asked him.”

20:21b

“we know that You speak and teach correctly.

“Teacher, we^(excl) know that you^(sing) speak and teach accurately/correctly,
“Teacher, we^(excl) know that your^(sing) teaching is right,

we know that You speak and teach correctly: Here the spies said something that they did not really believe. They did not really believe that Jesus spoke and taught correctly. They said it because they wanted him to think that they were friendly toward him. They did not want him to guard carefully what he said to them. However, what they said about Jesus was true: Jesus did teach what was correct. Some other ways to translate this are:

we know that what you say and teach is true (NCV)

we know that you are right in what you say and teach (NRSV)

we: The pronoun we refers to the spies and not to both the spies and Jesus.

speak and teach correctly: The phrase speak and teach correctly is literally “rightly speak and teach.” It indicates that what Jesus taught and what he said in ordinary speech was true and correct. It implies that he did not teach error.

In this context the words speak and teach have similar meanings. In some languages it may be more natural to use only one of these verbs. For example:

we know that you teach the truth (CEV)

20:21c

You show no partiality,

and you^(sing) do not favor some people over other people.
and you^(sing) treat all people the same.

You show no partiality: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as You show no partiality is literally “you do not receive/accept a face.” This statement is an idiom. It indicates that Jesus did not favor one person more than another person. He treated all people fairly. He did not flatter rich and important people. He told everyone the truth, even when they did not like to hear it. Here is another way to translate this:

you pay no attention to anyone’s status (GNT)

By saying this, the spies were praising Jesus. However, they had a deceitful motive in praising him. They wanted Jesus to answer their question without showing special favor or respect even to the emperor. Be sure to translate the statement as a good thing to say about Jesus. For example:

You do not show unfair/improper favor to anyone

In some languages it may be more natural to translate this without a negative. For example:

You treat everyone fairly.

And you treat everyone with the same respect, no matter who they are. (CEV)

20:21d

but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

You^(sing) teach the truth about how God wants people to live.
As you^(sing) teach people what God requires of them, you faithfully tell them what is true.

but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth: This statement is similar to the statements in 20:21b and 20:21c. It indicates that Jesus taught what is true about God’s way. He did not say false things in order to please anyone.

In some languages a conjunction like but may be confusing here or it may imply a wrong contrast. If that is true in your language, you may connect the statements in a different way or omit a conjunction. For example:

You teach the way of God truthfully. (NLT)

…and you always teach the truth about God’s way. (NCV)

the way of God: In the context of the question about paying taxes, the phrase the way of God refers primarily to what God wants people to do or not to do. Some other ways to translate this are:

the way of life that God requires (REB)

what God wants people to do (CEV)

in accordance with the truth: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as in accordance with the truth is literally “in truth.” It means “truthfully.” The spies were saying that Jesus taught the truth about the way God wants people to live.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτὸν

˱they˲_asked (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτόν λέγοντες Διδάσκαλε οἴδαμεν ὅτι ὀρθῶς λέγεις καί διδάσκεις καί οὒ λαμβάνεις πρόσωπον ἀλλʼ ἐπʼ ἀληθείας τήν ὁδόν τοῦ Θεοῦ διδάσκεις)

It may be helpful to state explicitly that this happened after the spies whom the leaders sent arrived where Jesus was. Alternate translation: [the spies came and asked Jesus]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτὸν

Luke could mean that one spy spoke on behalf of the whole group. So instead of they, you could state “one of them,” as UST does.

Διδάσκαλε

Teacher

Teacher is a respectful title. You could translate it with an equivalent term that your language and culture would use.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

οἴδαμεν

˱we˲_˓have˒_known

The spies are speaking only of themselves, so we would be exclusive, if your language marks that distinction.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

οὐ λαμβάνεις πρόσωπον

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτόν λέγοντες Διδάσκαλε οἴδαμεν ὅτι ὀρθῶς λέγεις καί διδάσκεις καί οὒ λαμβάνεις πρόσωπον ἀλλʼ ἐπʼ ἀληθείας τήν ὁδόν τοῦ Θεοῦ διδάσκεις)

The spies are using the term face to mean “person.” Alternate translation: [it does not matter to you who a person is]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ

The spies speak of how God wants people to live as if it were a way or path that people should follow. Alternate translation: [how God wants people to live]

Parallel LUKE 20:21

Section 20:20–26: Jewish leaders tried to trap Jesus with a question about taxes

20:21a

20:21b

20:21c

20:21d