After the Lord's Prayer, Jesus gives this parable about prayer.
Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Luke 11:9 So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
And I myself to you say: Request, and it will be given to you; search and you will discover; examine, and it will be disclosed to you:
We have to do the work to get what we ask for.
The "and I" that starts the phrase is a contraction of the two Greek words meaning "and I". The pronoun "I" is added to add emphasis that Jesus is referring to his own words. The sense is "and I myself.
The word translated as "ask" means "ask" but there is this is not the verb for asking a question, but the verb means asking for something, Our the word "request" works better.
- MW -- Missing Word -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "ask" is not the word that means "ask a question" but a word that means "request."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "so" should be something more like "and."
- MW -- Missing Word -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "ask" is not the word that means "ask a question" but a word that means "request."
And I -- This is from "and I," a contraction of the conjunction "and" and the first person pronoun, "I/me." The "me" is an indirect object, usually translated as "to me. It appears below. The "me" is an direct object. It appears below. This "I" is a subject.When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, this pronoun's accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.
missing "myself" -- (MW) The subject pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
say -- -- The word translated as "I tell" is the most common word that means "to say," "to tell," and "to speak," but when used with an objective noun or pronoun, the sense is "say of" or "speak of." It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself."
unto -- This word "to" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.
you, -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed. With the "to be," it acts as a possessive, "yours."
Ask, -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "ask" means "asking for" something. It might be best to translate consistently as "request" to avoid confusion with the Greek word meaning "ask a question." This word has shades of meaning from "demand" to "claim." It means to beg or even to demand something from someone else.
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."
it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
given - The verb translated as "given" means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe." It is almost always translated as some form of "give."
you;-- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed. With the "to be," it acts as a possessive, "yours."
seek, - The Greek verb translated as "sought" has a variety of meanings around the idea of "searching" and "desiring." It has a sense of seeking with a specific aim. It also means to "search," "inquire into," "investigate," and "examine."
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."
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
find; -- The term used for "find" is the source of our word, "heuristic," meaning enabling a person to find out something for themselves. It means "find out" and "discover."
knock, -- The word translated as "knock" also means "to examine" and "to prove.
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."
it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
opened --- The verb translated as "opens" means "to open up," "to disclose" or "to lay open." It is the root verb. meaning "open" with the prefix meaning "up." It means revealing something that is there, but that you cannot access.
unto -- This word "to" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.
you, -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed. With the "to be," it acts as a possessive, "yours."
So I -- (WW) This is from "soI," a contraction of the conjunction "and" and the first person pronoun, "I/me." The "me" is an indirect object, usually translated as "to me. It appears below. The "me" is an direct object. It appears below. This "I" is a subject.When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, this pronoun's accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English. This word doesn't mean "so."
missing "myself" -- (MW) The subject pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
say -- -- The word translated as "I tell" is the most common word that means "to say," "to tell," and "to speak," but when used with an objective noun or pronoun, the sense is "say of" or "speak of." It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself."
you, -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed. With the "to be," it acts as a possessive, "yours."
Ask, -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "ask" means "asking for" something. It might be best to translate consistently as "request" to avoid confusion with the Greek word meaning "ask a question." This word has shades of meaning from "demand" to "claim." It means to beg or even to demand something from someone else.
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."
it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
will -- This helping verb "will " indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
given - The verb translated as "given" means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe." It is almost always translated as some form of "give."
you;-- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed. With the "to be," it acts as a possessive, "yours."
seek, - The Greek verb translated as "sought" has a variety of meanings around the idea of "searching" and "desiring." It has a sense of seeking with a specific aim. It also means to "search," "inquire into," "investigate," and "examine."
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."
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
will -- This helping verb "will " indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
find; -- The term used for "find" is the source of our word, "heuristic," meaning enabling a person to find out something for themselves. It means "find out" and "discover."
knock, -- The word translated as "knock" also means "to examine" and "to prove.
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."
the door -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb. This word doesn't mean "the door." WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "lo" should be something more like "the door.."
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
opened --- The verb translated as "opens" means "to open up," "to disclose" or "to lay open." It is the root verb. meaning "open" with the prefix meaning "up." It means revealing something that is there, but that you cannot access.
to -- This word "to" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.
you, -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed. With the "to be," it acts as a possessive, "yours."
Κἀγὼ [34 verses](conj, pron 1st sg masc nom ) "And...I" is kago, a contraction of kai-ego. It also appears as a contraction of other forms of the pronoun, kamoi (dative) and kame (acc). "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." "I" is -ego, which is the first-person singular pronoun meaning "I." It also means "I at least," "for my part," "indeed," and "for myself." --
ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."
λέγω, [264 verses] (1st sg pres ind act) "Say "is lego, which means "to recount," "to tell over," "to say," "to speak," "to teach," "to mean," "boast of," "tell of," "recite," nominate," and "command." When used with an object is has the sense of "call by name." It has a secondary meaning "pick out," "choose for oneself," "pick up," "gather," "count," and "recount." A less common word that is spelled the same means "to lay," "to lay asleep" and "to lull asleep." This word is more about making a statement than participating in a discussion. Translating is as "stated" might distinguish it better. When two accusative objects are used, the sense is "say of him this," or "call him this." The form Jesus uses to describe his own speaking can be either indicative, "I say/tell" or subjunctive, "I should/could say/tell."
αἰτεῖτε, [28 verses](2nd pl pres imperat) "Ask" is from aiteo, which means "to ask for," "to request," "to demand," "to beg of," "to postulate or assume [in logic]," "to claim," and "to ask for one's own use." In passive, "to be asked" and "to have a thing begged from one."
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."
δοθήσεται [147 verses](3rd sg fut ind pass) "Shall be given" is didomi, which means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe." -
ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."
ζητεῖτε, , [36 verses] (verb 2nd pl pres imperat act) "Seek" is zeteo, which means "inquire for," "search for," "seek after," "desire," and "feel the want of." -
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." -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
εὑρήσετε[43 verses] ( 2nd pl fut ind act) "Ye shall find" i is heurisko, which means "to find," "to find out," "to discover," "to devise," "to invent," "to get," and "to gain."
κρούετε, [6 verses](2nd pl pres imperat) "Knock" is krouo, which means to "strike", "smite", "strike one against another", "strike together", "knocking", "examine", "try", "prove," and "knock at the door [on the outside]."
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."
ἀνοιγήσεται [9 verses](3rd sg fut ind pass) "It shall be opened" is anoigo, which means "to open", "to throw open," and "to disclose."
ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you." -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed. With the "to be," it acts as a possessive, "yours."
All the key terms in this verse have double meanings that relate to experimentation, testing, and discovery. Two of them also have double meanings relating to craving and desiring.
Except for the introductory first phrase, this verse is identical to Matthew 7:7 from the Sermon on the mount. The two words translated as "ask," and "seek,"have secondary meanings of "desire" or "crave". Since they are both commands, there is a strong sense that we are must desire things.