Luke 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
He said, however, I ask you, therefore, father, that you might send out him as far as that house of that father of mine.
Except for the mistranslation of the first word, this verse has no surprises at all, which is surprising. The point is to set up the punchline at the end of the story. There are usually the simplest lines in Jesus's words.
The Greek word translated as "then" means "but", "however", and "on the other hand". Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
"He said" is from the Greek verb that means "to say" and "to speak" also.
"I pray" means "to ask" or "to question". It is not the word normally translated as "pray" in the NT. The form is "I ask". The form is act singular, "he asks".
The "thee" here is the second person pronoun singular.
The Greek word translated as "therefore" either emphasizes the truth of something ("certainly", "really") or it simply continues an existing narrative.
"Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers". It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.
The word translated as "that" is an adverb or a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "there", "where," and "in order that."
"Thou wouldest send" is from a Greek verb that means "send", "send forth", "send away", "conduct," and "escort." The form is one of possibility.
The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. The word means "the same" when used as an adjective.
The word translated as "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure.
"My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun.
"Father's" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers". The form is possessive.
The Greek word translated as "house," is any dwelling place but not exclusively a separate house. It means the household or clan that lives in the building as well.
εἶπεν (verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "He said" is eipon, which means "to speak", "to say", "to recite", "to address", "to mention", "to name", "to proclaim", "to plead", "to promise," and "to offer." --
δέ (conj/adv) "Then" 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 a weak connective ("and") and explanation of cause ("so") and a condition ("if").
Ἐρωτῶ [uncommon] (verb 1st sg pres ind act ) "I pray" is from erotao, which means "to ask" or "to question." - "I pray" means "to ask" or "to question". It is not the word normally translated as "pray" in the NT. The form is "I ask".
σε (pron 2nd sg acc) "Thee" is from se, the second person singular accusative pronoun.
οὖν, (adv) "Therefore" is oun, which means "certainly", "in fact", "really", "in fact," "so" and "then" (continuing a narrative), and "then" and "therefore."
πάτερ, (noun sg masc voc) "The Father" is pater, which means "father", "grandfather", "author", "parent," and "forefathers." --
ἵνα (adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place", "there", "where", "when", "that", "in order that", "when," and "because."
πέμψῃς (verb 2nd sg aor subj act) "Thou wouldest send" is pempo, which means "send", "send forth", "send away", "conduct," and "escort."
αὐτὸν (adj sg masc acc) "Him" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself", "yourself", "himself", "herself", "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him", "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there."
εἰς (prep) "To" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)", "until (of time)", "as much as (of measure or limit)", "as far as (of measure or limit)", "towards (to express relation)", "in regard to (to express relation)", "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."
τὸν οἶκον (noun sg masc acc) "House" is oikos, which means "house", "dwelling place", "room", "home", "meeting hall", "household goods", "substance," and "ruling family." It is any dwelling place but not exclusively a separate house.
τοῦ πατρός (noun sg masc gen) "The Father" is pater, which means "father", "grandfather", "author", "parent," and "forefathers." --
μου, (pro sg masc gen) "My" is mou, which mean "my," or "mine."