Jesus begins teaching in the plain of Judea, attracting people from all over wanting to be healed.
Luke 6:32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
Luke 6:32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you care for those caring for you, what credit is it to you? Because also the erring to you those caring for them care for.
We get no credit for doing what is easy.
*The humor here is in both the double meaning of the Greek word translated as "thank/credit" in the first line and the last line, playing "the mistake-makers" against those "caring for those who care for them." The sense is that this type of caring is a mistake.
It means the appearance of beauty and grace. On the part of a doer, it is "kindness" and "goodwill". On the part of the receiver, it means "thankfulness" and "gratitude". Generally, it means "gratification", "delight", with many special uses. It is the subject of this phrase. Jesus only used it in four verses.
"Sinners" is word that means "erroneous" or "erring." Since the word "sin" means "mistake," the idea is a "mistake maker." It also means "of bad character" but with the sense of being a slave or low-born not evil. Only in biblical translations is this term given the sense of wickedness. More about the translation issues regarding "sin" here.
For(WW) if ye love them(WW) which(IW) love(CW,WF) you, what thank have ye(WF)? for (MWthese) sinners(CW) also love(CW,WF) those that(IW) love(CW,WF) them.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "for" should be something more like "and."
- CW - Confusing Word - This is one of two different verbs with different meanings translated as "love" so the translation confuses them.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "them" should be something more like "those."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "which " doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word - This is one of two different verbs with different meanings translated as "love" so the translation confuses them.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "love" is not an active verb but a participle, "caring for."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "have" should be something more like "is."
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "you" is not the subject of the verb but an indirect object.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "sinners" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "sinners" adds a moral condemnation that the Greek word does not have.
- CW - Confusing Word - This is one of two different verbs with different meanings translated as "love" so the translation confuses them.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word - This is one of two different verbs with different meanings translated as "love" so the translation confuses them.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "love" is not an active verb but a participle, "caring for."
(MWand) If you love those who(IW) love(CW,WF) you, what credit is that(IW) to you? (MWfor) Even (MWthese) sinners(CW) love(CW) those who(IW) love(CW,WF) them.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word - This is one of two different verbs with different meanings translated as "love" so the translation confuses them.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "who" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word - This is one of two different verbs with different meanings translated as "love" so the translation confuses them.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "love" is not an active verb but a participle, "caring for."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "for" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "sinners" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "sinners" adds a moral condemnation that the Greek word does not have.
- CW - Confusing Word - This is one of two different verbs with different meanings translated as "love" so the translation confuses them.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "who" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word - This is one of two different verbs with different meanings translated as "love" so the translation confuses them.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "love" is not an active verb but a participle, "caring for."
For -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "for" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
if -- The "if" here is used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect and direct questions, "whether."It also means "if ever" and "whenever." When used in an "if" clause, the verb is the subjunctive form of possibility. When citing a fact the sense is more "whether," "since" or "as sure as." When this word is paired with the conjunction translated as "but" or "however," the structure works like an "if then" statement in English. With verbs of desire and emotion and the indicative in the second clause, the sense is "that." With an imperative, it is used to express a wish. The sense is "I wish that." With the future tense indicative, it is used for emphasis, a warning, or an intention. The emphasis clause is after the main statement.
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
love -- (CW) The word translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," and "to be contented with." Jesus however, applies it to relationships where we have a duty to care for others: family, God, etc. Another word, also translated as "love," is used to for relationships of affectionate friendship that are more voluntary. To distinguish this word, translating it as "cares for" seems to work best. See this article on love for more information.
them -- (WW) The word translated as "them" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before an adjective, participle, or infinitive it changes the following word 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.
which -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "which " in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.
love -- (CW, WF) The word translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," and "to be contented with." Jesus however, applies it to relationships where we have a duty to care for others: family, God, etc. Another word, also translated as "love," is used to for relationships of affectionate friendship that are more voluntary. To distinguish this word, translating it as "cares for" seems to work best. See this article on love for more information. This word is a participle, not an active verb.
you, -- The "you" here is the second-person, plural pronoun in the form of an object of the action or preposition. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.
what -- The Greek word translated as "what" means "of what kind," "whose," "what," and "which."
thank -- The Greek word translated as "thank" is complicated. It means the appearance of beauty and grace. On the part of a doer, it is "kindness" and "goodwill". On the part of the receiver, it means "thankfulness" and "gratitude". Generally, it means gratification", "delight", with many special uses. It is the subject of this phrase. It also means "the owed gratitude" and "to be beholden". This is not the specific meaning of the word in this situation.
have -- (WW) The verb "have" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. With an object in the possessive form the "is" becomes "is of," which can mean "it is descended from," "it is the type of," "it belongs to," "is made of," "is a duty of," "is at the mercy of," or " is dependent on." With an indirect object, the object acts like a possessive and "it is to him" becomes "it is his" or the verb can act like "have" with the object and the subject reverses, "he has it." With the preposition "into", the sense is "consist of."When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."
ye? -- (WF) The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc.
for --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." Before an adjective, participle, or infinitive it changes the following word to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
sinners . -- (CW) "Sinners" is word that means "erroneous" or "erring." It also means "of bad character" but with the sense of being a slave or low-born not evil. Only in biblical translations is this term given the sense of wickedness. More about the translation issues regarding "sin" here.
also -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
love -- (CW) The word translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," and "to be contented with." Jesus however, applies it to relationships where we have a duty to care for others: family, God, etc. Another word, also translated as "love," is used to for relationships of affectionate friendship that are more voluntary. To distinguish this word, translating it as "cares for" seems to work best. See this article on love for more information.
those -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before an adjective, participle, or infinitive it changes the following word 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.
that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.
love -- (CW, WF) The word translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," and "to be contented with." Jesus however, applies it to relationships where we have a duty to care for others: family, God, etc. Another word, also translated as "love," is used to for relationships of affectionate friendship that are more voluntary. To distinguish this word, translating it as "cares for" seems to work best. See this article on love for more information.
them. -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English in the form of a plural object of a verb or preposition. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.
missing "and" -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
If -- The "if" here is used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect and direct questions, "whether."It also means "if ever" and "whenever." When used in an "if" clause, the verb is the subjunctive form of possibility. When citing a fact the sense is more "whether," "since" or "as sure as." When this word is paired with the conjunction translated as "but" or "however," the structure works like an "if then" statement in English. With verbs of desire and emotion and the indicative in the second clause, the sense is "that." With an imperative, it is used to express a wish. The sense is "I wish that." With the future tense indicative, it is used for emphasis, a warning, or an intention. The emphasis clause is after the main statement.
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
love -- (CW) The word translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," and "to be contented with." Jesus however, applies it to relationships where we have a duty to care for others: family, God, etc. Another word, also translated as "love," is used to for relationships of affectionate friendship that are more voluntary. To distinguish this word, translating it as "cares for" seems to work best. See this article on love for more information.
those -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before an adjective, participle, or infinitive it changes the following word 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.
who -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "who" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.
love -- (CW, WF) The word translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," and "to be contented with." Jesus however, applies it to relationships where we have a duty to care for others: family, God, etc. Another word, also translated as "love," is used to for relationships of affectionate friendship that are more voluntary. To distinguish this word, translating it as "cares for" seems to work best. See this article on love for more information. This word is a participle, not an active verb.
you, -- The "you" here is the second-person, plural pronoun in the form of an object of the action or preposition. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.
what -- The Greek word translated as "what" means "of what kind," "whose," "what," and "which."
credit -- The Greek word translated as "thank" is complicated. It means the appearance of beauty and grace. On the part of a doer, it is "kindness" and "goodwill". On the part of the receiver, it means "thankfulness" and "gratitude". Generally, it means gratification", "delight", with many special uses. It is the subject of this phrase. It also means "the owed gratitude" and "to be beholden". This is not the specific meaning of the word in this situation.
is -- (The verb "have" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. With an object in the possessive form the "is" becomes "is of," which can mean "it is descended from," "it is the type of," "it belongs to," "is made of," "is a duty of," "is at the mercy of," or " is dependent on." With an indirect object, the object acts like a possessive and "it is to him" becomes "it is his" or the verb can act like "have" with the object and the subject reverses, "he has it." With the preposition "into", the sense is "consist of."When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."
that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source. While we can assume a repeated object, we cannot assume a demonstrative pronoun.
to -- This word "to" comes from the dative case 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.
missing "for" -- (MW) The untranslated word "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause."
Even -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." Before an adjective, participle, or infinitive it changes the following word to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
sinners . -- (CW) "Sinners" is word that means "erroneous" or "erring." It also means "of bad character" but with the sense of being a slave or low-born not evil. Only in biblical translations is this term given the sense of wickedness. More about the translation issues regarding "sin" here.
love -- (CW) The word translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," and "to be contented with." Jesus however, applies it to relationships where we have a duty to care for others: family, God, etc. Another word, also translated as "love," is used to for relationships of affectionate friendship that are more voluntary. To distinguish this word, translating it as "cares for" seems to work best. See this article on love for more information.
those -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before an adjective, participle, or infinitive it changes the following word 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.
who -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "who" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.
love -- (CW, WF) The word translated as "love" expresses a lot of different ideas including "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," and "to be contented with." Jesus however, applies it to relationships where we have a duty to care for others: family, God, etc. Another word, also translated as "love," is used to for relationships of affectionate friendship that are more voluntary. To distinguish this word, translating it as "cares for" seems to work best. See this article on love for more information.
them. -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English in the form of a plural object of a verb or preposition. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.
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."
εἰ [90 verses](conj) "If" is ei, which is the particle used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect and direct questions, "whether." It also means "if ever," "in case," and "whenever." In citing a fact, it can mean "as sure as" or "since." It is combined with various conjunctions to create derivative conditions. When appearing as εἰ δὲ (literally, "if however") the sense is "if this...then that." The construction εἰ δὲ μή . . means "otherwise." The construction εἰ οὖν has the sense of "if so." However, it is also used to express a wish. After verbs of wonder, delight, indignation, disappointment, contentment, and similar emotions, it is use instead of ὅτι, to express the object of the feeling in a hypothetical form, "that" with the indicative (not subjunctive). With the future tense, it is used for emphasis, a warning, or an intention.
ἀγαπᾶτε [32 verses] (verb 2nd pl pres subj act) "Ye love" is agapao, which means "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," "to caress," "to prize," "to desire," "to be pleased with," and "to be contended with." This love is more associated with affection in relationships where we are obligated. Jesus uses another word. Jesus uses another word, phileô, which means "to love," "to like," "to be fond of doing," and "to show affection" to express "love" in the sense of like and dislike.He never uses the word eros, which describes romantic, sexual love.
τοὺς [821 verses](article pl masc acc) "Them" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding 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. See this article.
ἀγαπῶντας[32 verses] (part pl pres act masc acc) "Them which love" is agapao, which means "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," "to caress," "to prize," "to desire," "to be pleased with," and "to be contended with." This love is more associated with affection in relationships where we are obligated. Jesus uses another word. Jesus uses another word, phileô, which means "to love," "to like," "to be fond of doing," and "to show affection" to express "love" in the sense of like and dislike.He never uses the word eros, which describes romantic, sexual love.
ὑμᾶς [210 verses](pron 2nd pl acc) "You" is humas which is the plural objective form of the second-person pronoun, "you."
ποίᾳ [13 verses](adj pl neut nom/acc) "What" is from poios, which means "of what kind," "whose," "what," and "which."
ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you." to -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.
χάρις [4 verses](noun sg fem nom) "Thank" is charis, which means, in objective sense, "outward grace" or "favour", "beauty", in subjective sense, "grace" or "favour felt", "kindness", "goodwill", in concrete sense, a "favour" done or returned, "boon", "gratification", "delight", with many special uses.
ἐστίν.[614 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "Is" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen," and "is possible." With the genitive object, it means "is descended from," "is the type of," "belongs to," "is made of," "is a duty of," "is at the mercy of," or " is dependent on." With the dative object, the object acts like a possessive and "it is to him" becomes "it is his." With the preposition, εἰς, the sense is "consist of."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "Also" 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."
γὰρ [205 verses](partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for," "since," and "as." In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what."
οἱ [821 verses](article pl masc nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding 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. See this article. -
ἁμαρτωλοὶ [15 verses](adj pl masc nom) "The sinners" is hamartolos, which means "erroneous" or "erring." It also means "of bad character" but with the sense of being a slave or low-born not evil.
τοὺς [821 verses](article pl masc acc) "Those" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding 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. See this article.
ἀγαπῶντας [32 verses](part pl pres act masc acc) "Them which love" is agapao, which means "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," "to caress," "to prize," "to desire," "to be pleased with," and "to be contended with." This love is more associated with affection in relationships where we are obligated. Jesus uses another word. Jesus uses another word, phileô, which means "to love," "to like," "to be fond of doing," and "to show affection" to express "love" in the sense of like and dislike.He never uses the word eros, which describes romantic, sexual love.
αὐτοὺς [62 verses](pron pl masc acc) "Them" is autous, in the form of the plural, masculine pronoun "them" in the form of a direct object. An accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement. Events may show the amount of time.
ἀγαπῶσιν [32 verses](verb 3rd pl pres ind act ) "Love"is agapao, which means "to be fond of," "to greet with affection," "to persuade," "to caress," "to prize," "to desire," "to be pleased with," and "to be contended with." This love is more associated with affection in relationships where we are obligated. Jesus uses another word. Jesus uses another word, phileô, which means "to love," "to like," "to be fond of doing," and "to show affection" to express "love" in the sense of like and dislike.He never uses the word eros, which describes romantic, sexual love.
There repetition of the Greek word for "love" as the verb and its object, not once by twice.
This verse and the following verse are something like parallels to Matthew 5:46, and less so, to Matthew 5:47, but they only express similar ideas in a similar way. They are very different in vocabulary. In the Luke verses, the word "sinners" is used, but the word doesn't have the same sense of our "sinners" today. In the Matthew verses, the parallel idea is "publican", which means "tax collector."