The lawyer asked," Who is my neighbor?" Jesus tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
Luke 10:32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
Luke 10:32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
Similarly, however, also a Levite showing up opposite that place and seeing [him], passed by on the opposite side.
Being at the right place and seeing what should be done is not as important as doing it.
Neither English translated captures the first three word completely. They are "similarly, however, also" and are a meant to add suspense to the story. The "similarly" makes it seem like this line is going to repeat the other. However, the "however" seems to contradict that its. The "also" reaffirms it.
The definite article in Koine can be translated as "that" since it is practically identical to the demonstrative article. Say "that place" makes the point clearer so we know where we are.
Both the "came" and "looked/saw" are not active verbs. They are participles, verbal adjectives describing what the Levite was doing "showing up" and "seeing." The word for "seeing" also has the sense of understanding what is seen. These words are the setup for the one-word punchline that delivers a complicated idea. The rare word means "passed by on the opposite side." Jesus often uses complicated words for their humorous effect.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "but" is not shown in the English translation.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "when he was " doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "came" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "looked" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The " on him, and" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "likewise" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "when" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "came" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "saw" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
likewise -- The word translated as "likewise" is an adjective that means "like," "resembling," and "matching."
missing "but" -- (MW) The untranslated word "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
Levite, - "Levites" is the Greek form of the Hebrew word "Levites". The Levites were the priestly class of Judeans.
when he was -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
at -- The word translated as "at" means "down from," "down into," "against," "opposite," "separately," "at a point" (geometry), "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
place, -- "Place" is translated from a Greek word that means "place," "position," and "topic." This is a fairly uncommon word for Christ to use.
came -- (WF) The word translated as "came" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
looked -- - (WF) The verb translated as "looked" means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive."In the past perfect tense, it means "to know," and that sense of knowing gives this word a sense of seeing and understanding. " This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."
on him, and -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
passed by on the other side. -- -The uncommon verb means to "pass by the opposite side". It is a combination of a common verb for "pass by" with a prefix meaning "opposite".
So -- The word "so" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of indirect cause ("so").
too-- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
missing "likewise" -- (MW) The untranslated word "likewise" is an adjective that means "like," "resembling," and "matching."
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
Levite, - "Levites" is the Greek form of the Hebrew word "Levites". The Levites were the priestly class of Judeans.
when -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as this word in the Greek source.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
came -- (WF) The word translated as "came" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.
to -- The word translated as "to" means "down from," "down into," "against," "opposite," "separately," "at a point" (geometry), "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
place, -- "Place" is translated from a Greek word that means "place," "position," and "topic." This is a fairly uncommon word for Christ to use.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
saw-- - (WF) The verb translated as "looked" means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive."In the past perfect tense, it means "to know," and that sense of knowing gives this word a sense of seeing and understanding. " This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing."
him -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.
passed by on the other side. -- -The uncommon verb means to "pass by the opposite side". It is a combination of a common verb for "pass by" with a prefix meaning "opposite".
ὁμοίως [29 verses](adj pl neut acc) "Likewise" is homoios, which means "like," "resembling," "the same," "equal in force, "a match for one," "suiting," "of the same rank," "alike," "in like manner," and "equally."
δὲ [446 verses](conj) Untranslated is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of indirect cause ("so"). In an "if" (εἰ ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then." In a series begun by men, its means "on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then." It can also be an explanation of cause ("so"). When used with a conditional starting a clause, the sense is "if/when...then." When used with a particle meaning "indeed" the sense is "on one hand...on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
Λευείτης [1 verse] (noun) "Levites" is Leuites, which is the Greek form of the Hebrew word "Levites".
κατὰ [60 verses](prep/adv) "At" is kata can be a preposition or an adverb. As a preposition with the genitive, it means, means "downwards," "down from," "down into," "against," "down toward," "down (from)," and, or time, "for." With the accusative, it means "down (to)," "according to," "about," " during," of motion, "on," "over," "throughout a space," "opposite," "separately," "individually," "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally." As an adverb, it means "according as," "just as," "in so far as," "wherefore," "like as if" and "exactly as." As an adverb is means "downward" or "down."
τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative.There is no vocative definite article, (despite being shown in Perseus). When the vocative is meant, no article is used or they used ω or ε. See this article.
τόπον [16 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Place" is from topos, which means "place," "region," "position," "part [of the body]," "district," "room," and "topic." It is also a metaphor for "opening," "occasion," and "opportunity."
ἐλθὼν [198 verses](part sg aor act masc nom) "Came" is erchomai, which means "to start," "to set out," "to come," "to go," and any kind of motion. It means both "to go" on a journey and "to arrive" at a place.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
ἰδὼν [166 verses](part sg aor act masc nom) "Looked" is eido which means "to see," "to examine," "to perceive," "to behold," "to know how to do," "to see with the mind's eye," and "to know."
ἀντιπαρῆλθεν. [2 verses] (verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "passed by on the other side." is antiparerchomai, which means "pass by on the opposite side", "come up and help", "enter in place of", and "penetrate".