KJV: But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
YLT: 'And, that servant having come forth, found one of his fellow-servants who was owing him an hundred denaries, and having laid hold, he took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that which thou owest.
Darby: But that bondman having gone out, found one of his fellow-bondmen who owed him a hundred denarii. And having seized him, he throttled him, saying, Pay me if thou owest anything.
ASV: But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest.
| Ἐξελθὼν | Having gone out |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἐξέρχομαι Sense: to go or come forth of. |
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| δὲ | however |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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| δοῦλος | servant |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: δοῦλοσ1 Sense: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition. |
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| ἐκεῖνος | same |
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Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἐκεῖνος Sense: he, she it, etc. |
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| εὗρεν | found |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: εὑρίσκω Sense: to come upon, hit upon, to meet with. |
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| ἕνα | one |
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Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: εἷς Sense: one. |
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| συνδούλων | fellow servants |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural Root: σύνδουλος Sense: a fellow servant, one who serves the same master with another. |
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| αὐτοῦ | of him |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular Root: αὐτός Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself. |
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| ὤφειλεν | was owing |
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Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ὀφείλω Sense: to owe. |
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| ἑκατὸν | a hundred |
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Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural Root: ἑκατόν Sense: a hundred. |
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| δηνάρια | denarii |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural Root: δηνάριον Sense: A Roman silver coin in NT time. |
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| κρατήσας | having seized |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: κρατέω Sense: to have power, be powerful. |
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| ἔπνιγεν | he was throttling [him] |
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Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: πνίγω Sense: to choke, strangle. |
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| λέγων | saying |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: λέγω Sense: to say, to speak. |
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| Ἀπόδος | Pay |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular Root: ἀποδίδωμι Sense: to deliver, to give away for one’s own profit what is one’s own, to sell. |
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| τι | any |
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Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: τὶς Sense: a certain, a certain one. |
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| ὀφείλεις | you owe |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular Root: ὀφείλω Sense: to owe. |
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Greek Commentary for Matthew 18:28
A denarius was worth about eight and a half pence. The hundred denarii here were equal to some “fifty shillings” (Bruce), “about 4 pounds” (McNeile), “twenty pounds” (Moffatt), “twenty dollars” (Goodspeed), “100 shillings” (Weymouth). These are various efforts to represent in modern language the small amount of this debt compared with the big one. [source]
“Held him by the throat” (Allen). It is imperfect, probably inchoative, “began to choke or throttle him.” The Roman law allowed this indignity. Vincent quotes Livy (iv. 53) who tells how the necks were twisted (collum torsisset) and how Cicero (Pro Cluentio, xxi.) says: “Lead him to the judgment seat with twisted neck (collo obtorto).” What thou owest (ει τι οπειλεις ei ti opheileis). Literally, “if thou owest anything,” however little. He did not even know how much it was, only that he owed him something. “The ‹if‘ is simply the expression of a pitiless logic” (Meyer). [source]
Literally, “if thou owest anything,” however little. He did not even know how much it was, only that he owed him something. “The ‹if‘ is simply the expression of a pitiless logic” (Meyer). [source]
Either went in search of him, as he himself had been sought out by his lord, or came upon him accidentally in the street. [source]
Less than a millionth part of his own debt. [source]
Lit., throttled. Wyc., strangled. Compare were choked, Mark 5:13. Creditors often dragged their debtors before the judge, as the Roman law allowed them to do, holding them by the throat. Thus Livy (4: 53), relates how, a difficulty having arisen between the consul Valerius and one Menenius, the tribunes put an end to the contest, and the consul ordered into prison (collum torsisset, twisted the neck ) the few who appealed. And Cicero (“Pro Cluentio,” xxi.) “Lead him to the judgment-seat with twisted neck (collo obtorto )Compare Cicero, “In C. Verrem,” 4:10. [source]
Lit., If thou owest anything. Not that the creditor is uncertain about the fact of the debt, though some uncertainty about the exact amount may be implied. This would agree with found, in the sense of coming upon accidentally. Compare Matthew 13:44. He came suddenly upon him and recognized him as a debtor, though not certain as to the amount of his debt. Meyer remarks, “The if is simply the expression of a pitiless logic. If thou owest anything (as thou dost) pay!” The word pay ( ἀπόδος ) is emphatic in position. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 18:28
So, rightly, A. V., and Rev. (compare Luke 11:4). Sin is pictured as a debt, and the sinner as a debtor (compare Matthew 18:28, Matthew 18:30). Accordingly the word represents sin both as a wrong and as requiring satisfaction. In contrast with the prayer, “Forgive us our debts,” Tholuck (“Sermon on the Mount”) quotes the prayer of Apollonius of Tyana, “O ye gods, give me the things which are owing to me.” [source]
A denarius, the chief silver coin of the Romans at this time, and of the value of about seventeen cents. We must remember to reckon according to the rate of wages in that day. A denarius was regarded as good pay for a day's work. It was the pay of a Roman soldier in Christ's time. In almost every case where the word occurs in the New Testament it is connected with the idea of a liberal or large amount. Compare Matthew 18:28; Mark 6:37; Luke 7:41; John 12:5. For a penny is, literally, out of or on the strength of a penny; the payment being that on the strength of which the agreement was made. The agreement arose out of the demand on the one hand and the promise on the other. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- [source]
See note on Matthew 18:28. “Penny” is not adequate, “shilling” Moffatt has it. The ek with the ablative represents the agreement (sunphōnēsas) with the workmen “The day” the Greek has it, an accusative of extent of time. [source]
Luke (Luke 11:4) has “sins” In the ancient Greek οπειλημα opheilēma is common for actual legal debts as in Romans 4:4, but here it is used of moral and spiritual debts to God. “Trespasses” is a mistranslation made common by the Church of England Prayer Book. It is correct in Romans 4:14 in Christ‘s argument about prayer, but it is not in the Model Prayer itself. See Matthew 18:28, Matthew 18:30 for sin pictured again by Christ “as debt and the sinner as a debtor” (Vincent). We are thus described as having wronged God. The word οπειλη opheilē for moral obligation was once supposed to be peculiar to the New Testament. But it is common in that sense in the papyri (Deismann, Bible Studies, p. 221; Light from the Ancient East, New ed., p. 331). We ask forgiveness “in proportion as” It means to send away, to dismiss, to wipe off. [source]
John says that Jesus asked Philip to find out what food they had (John 6:5.) probably after the disciples had suggested that Jesus send the crowd away as night was coming on (Mark 6:35.). On this protest to his command that they feed the crowds (Mark 6:37; Matthew 14:16; Luke 9:13) Jesus said “Go see” how many loaves you can get hold of. Then Andrew reports the fact of the lad with five barley loaves and two fishes (John 6:8.). They had suggested before that two hundred pennyworth (δηναριων διακοσιων dēnariōn diakosiōn See note on Matthew 18:28) was wholly inadequate and even that (some thirty-five dollars) was probably all that or even more than they had with them. John‘s Gospel alone tells of the lad with his lunch which his mother had given him. [source]
If - anything does not state a merely possible case, as if Zacchaeus were unconscious of any such extortion; but is a milder way of saying “Whatever I have taken.” See on Luke 3:14. It is an odd coincidence, nothing more, that the fig -mulberry (sycamore) should occur in connection with the fig -shewer (sycophant). It was common for the publicans to put a fictitious value on property or income, or to advance the tax to those unable to pay, and then to charge usurious interest on the private debt. On the harsh exaction of such debts, see Matthew 18:28; Luke 12:58. [source]
Old relative adverb It behoved him Imperfect active of οπειλω opheilō old verb to owe, money (Matthew 18:28), service and love (Romans 13:8), duty or obligation as here and often in N.T. (Luke 17:10). Jesus is here the subject and the reference is to the incarnation. Having undertaken the work of redemption (John 3:16), voluntarily (John 10:17), Jesus was under obligation to be properly equipped for that priestly service and sacrifice. In all things Except yielding to sin (Hebrews 4:15) and yet he knew what temptation was, difficult as it may be for us to comprehend that in the Son of God who is also the Son of man (Mark 1:13). Jesus fought through to victory over Satan. To be made like unto his brethren First aorist passive infinitive of ομοιοω homoioō old and common verb from ομοιος homoios (like), as in Matthew 6:8, with the associative instrumental case as here. Christ, our Elder Brother, resembles us in reality (Philemon 2:7 “in the likeness of men”) as we shall resemble him in the end (Romans 8:29 “first-born among many brethren”; 1 John 3:2 “like him”), where the same root is used as here That he might be (ινα hina genētai). Purpose clause with γινομαι hina and the second aorist middle subjunctive of ελεημων και πιστος αρχιερευς ginomai to become, “that he might become.” That was only possible by being like his brethren in actual human nature. Merciful and faithful high priest (αρχιερευς eleēmōn kai pistos archiereus). The sudden use of ελεημων archiereus here for Jesus has been anticipated by Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 2:9 and see Hebrews 3:1. Jesus as the priest-victim is the chief topic of the Epistle. These two adjectives (πιστος eleēmōn and τα προς τον τεον pistos) touch the chief points in the function of the high priest (Hebrews 5:1-10), sympathy and fidelity to God. The Sadducean high priests (Annas and Caiaphas) were political and ecclesiastical tools and puppets out of sympathy with the people and chosen by Rome. In things pertaining to God (τα προς τον τεον ta pros ton theon). The adverbial accusative of the article is a common idiom. See the very idiom προς ta pros ton theon in Exodus 18:19; Romans 15:17. This use of εις το ιλασκεσται pros we had already in Hebrews 1:7. On the day of atonement the high priest entered the holy of holies and officiated in behalf of the people. To make propitiation for (εις το eis to hilaskesthai). Purpose clause with ιλασκομαι eis to and the infinitive (common Greek idiom), here present indirect middle of ιλαος hilaskomai to render propitious to oneself (from ιλεως hilaos Attic ιλαστητι hileōs gracious). This idea occurs in the lxx (Psalm 65:3), but only here in N.T., though in Luke 18:13 the passive form (ιλασμος hilasthēti) occurs as in 2 Kings 5:18. In 1 John 2:2 we have hilasmos used of Christ (cf. Hebrews 7:25). The inscriptions illustrate the meaning in Hebrews 2:17 as well as the lxx. [source]
Imperfect active of οπειλω opheilō old verb to owe, money (Matthew 18:28), service and love (Romans 13:8), duty or obligation as here and often in N.T. (Luke 17:10). Jesus is here the subject and the reference is to the incarnation. Having undertaken the work of redemption (John 3:16), voluntarily (John 10:17), Jesus was under obligation to be properly equipped for that priestly service and sacrifice. In all things Except yielding to sin (Hebrews 4:15) and yet he knew what temptation was, difficult as it may be for us to comprehend that in the Son of God who is also the Son of man (Mark 1:13). Jesus fought through to victory over Satan. To be made like unto his brethren First aorist passive infinitive of ομοιοω homoioō old and common verb from ομοιος homoios (like), as in Matthew 6:8, with the associative instrumental case as here. Christ, our Elder Brother, resembles us in reality (Philemon 2:7 “in the likeness of men”) as we shall resemble him in the end (Romans 8:29 “first-born among many brethren”; 1 John 3:2 “like him”), where the same root is used as here That he might be (ινα hina genētai). Purpose clause with γινομαι hina and the second aorist middle subjunctive of ελεημων και πιστος αρχιερευς ginomai to become, “that he might become.” That was only possible by being like his brethren in actual human nature. Merciful and faithful high priest (αρχιερευς eleēmōn kai pistos archiereus). The sudden use of ελεημων archiereus here for Jesus has been anticipated by Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 2:9 and see Hebrews 3:1. Jesus as the priest-victim is the chief topic of the Epistle. These two adjectives (πιστος eleēmōn and τα προς τον τεον pistos) touch the chief points in the function of the high priest (Hebrews 5:1-10), sympathy and fidelity to God. The Sadducean high priests (Annas and Caiaphas) were political and ecclesiastical tools and puppets out of sympathy with the people and chosen by Rome. In things pertaining to God (τα προς τον τεον ta pros ton theon). The adverbial accusative of the article is a common idiom. See the very idiom προς ta pros ton theon in Exodus 18:19; Romans 15:17. This use of εις το ιλασκεσται pros we had already in Hebrews 1:7. On the day of atonement the high priest entered the holy of holies and officiated in behalf of the people. To make propitiation for (εις το eis to hilaskesthai). Purpose clause with ιλασκομαι eis to and the infinitive (common Greek idiom), here present indirect middle of ιλαος hilaskomai to render propitious to oneself (from ιλεως hilaos Attic ιλαστητι hileōs gracious). This idea occurs in the lxx (Psalm 65:3), but only here in N.T., though in Luke 18:13 the passive form (ιλασμος hilasthēti) occurs as in 2 Kings 5:18. In 1 John 2:2 we have hilasmos used of Christ (cf. Hebrews 7:25). The inscriptions illustrate the meaning in Hebrews 2:17 as well as the lxx. [source]
The angel refuses worship from John on this ground. All Christians are συνδουλοι sundouloi (fellow-servants) as Christ taught (Matthew 18:28.; Matthew 24:49) and as Paul (Colossians 1:7; Colossians 4:7) and John (Revelation 6:11) taught. Angels are God‘s servants also (Hebrews 1:4-14). For “the testimony of Jesus” see Revelation 1:2, Revelation 1:9; Revelation 6:9; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 22:4. [source]
Repeated in Revelation 22:9. Here there is no verb after μη mē (ellipse of ποιησηις τουτο poiēsēis touto) as in Mark 1:44; 1 Thessalonians 5:15), the aorist subjunctive of negative purpose with μη mē after ορα hora (present active imperative of οραω horaō), a common enough idiom.Fellow-servant (συνδουλος sundoulos). The angel refuses worship from John on this ground. All Christians are συνδουλοι sundouloi (fellow-servants) as Christ taught (Matthew 18:28.; Matthew 24:49) and as Paul (Colossians 1:7; Colossians 4:7) and John (Revelation 6:11) taught. Angels are God‘s servants also (Hebrews 1:4-14). For “the testimony of Jesus” see Revelation 1:2, Revelation 1:9; Revelation 6:9; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 22:4.Worship God And Christ, who is the Son of God (Revelation 5:13.).The spirit of prophecy (το πνευμα της προπητειας to pneuma tēs prophēteias). Explanatory use of γαρ gar (for) here as in Revelation 19:8. The possession of the prophetic spirit shows itself in witness to Jesus. In illustration see Mark 1:10; Matthew 3:16; Luke 3:21; John 1:51; Revelation 4:1; Revelation 10:1; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 14:17; Revelation 15:5; Revelation 18:1; Revelation 19:1, Revelation 19:7-9. [source]