After Jesus has fun with the Pharisees, a lawyer takes offense as well.
Luke 11:46 Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
Luke 11:46 And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
And to you, the legals, sadly, because you load these people with unbearable burdens and you yourselves don't touch on these burdens with one of those fingers of yours.
It is easy to think of more legal responsibilities for people.
Καὶ ὑμῖν τοῖς νομικοῖς οὐαί, ὅτι φορτίζετε τοὺς ἀνθρώπους φορτία δυσβάστακτα,
And to you, the lawyers, sadly, because you load these people with burdens unbearable
καὶ αὐτοὶ ἑνὶ τῶν δακτύλων ὑμῶν οὐ προσψαύετε τοῖς φορτίοις.
and you yourselves with one of those fingers of yours don't touch these burdens
The key to the humor in this verse is the repeated, "woe" from previous verses "Woe" is from an exclamation of grief, meaning "woe" or "alas." Today we would say "sadly [for you]" or "boo-hoo to you." More about this word in this article.
The Greek word translated as "lawyers" is translated better as "legal" because it is an adjective meaning "relating to laws", "legal," and "relating to points of law".
The verb "lade" and "load" has two different direct objects, the "men/people" and the "burdens."
The adjective translated as "grevious to be borne' and "they can hardly carry" is used by Jesus uniquely here. The word is only seen once in the Septuagint and twice in New Testament. In the Septuagint, where the Hebrew word is translated as "heavier." The most direct translation of the Greek is "unbearable." This is not a clause but an adjective.
The word translated as "you yourselves" is the Greek word commonly translated as pronouns in English, but it becomes a reflexive eaggareating the subject when used in the subjetct form, since the subject is also part of the verb.
The Greek verb translated as "touch/lift" means "touch upon" is used only here.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "ye" should be something more like "the."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these" before "men" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not a clause but an adjective.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "those" before "fingers" is not shown in the English translation.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "experts in" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "law" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "to you" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "down" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "these" before "people" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not a sentence but an adjective.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "lift" should be something more like "touch."
- MP - Missing Phrase - The phrase "the loads" exists in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "those" before "fingers" is not shown in the English translation.
Woe -- "Woe" is an exclamation of grief, meaning "woe" or "alas." Jesus uses it humorously. Today we would say "so sad for you" or "boo-hoo to you." The word is very like the Jewish, "oy vey" which can be used to express sorrow but is more commonly used cynically. More about this phrase in this article on Christ's humor using exaggeration.
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.
also, -- The Greek word translated as "also" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
ye --(WW) The word translated as "ye" 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. This word doesn't mean "ye."
lawyers! - -The Greek word translated as "lawyers" means "relating to laws", "legals," "relating to points of law", "forensic", "conventional", "lawyer", "notary", and "legal advisor".
for -- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," "seeing that," "that," and "wherefore." Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because" in statements that seem like an answer to a question because of the change of context. It means "because" when answering a "why" question and "that" when explaining a "what" question.
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
lade - "Lade" means "to load," or, in the passive used here, "to be laden."
missing "these" -- (MW) The untranslated word 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," and "those"). See this article for more.
men -- The Greek word for "man" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples."
with - This completes the meaning of the verb. The Greek verb can take two direct objects, but the English requires one to be indirect.
burdens - "Burdens" is a Greek word which means "a load," and "burden." In the plural, it tends to refer to "merchandise" but here it is singular.
grievous to be borne, -"Grievous to be born" is an adjective that means "intolerable". It is used by Jesus uniquely here. The word is only seen once in the Septuagint and twice in New Testament. In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word is translated as "heavier." The most direct translation of the Greek is "unbearable." This is not a clause but an adjective.
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.
yourselves "Yourselves" is the nominative case of the third-person, plural adjective that means "themselves," "ourselves,"yourselves," "the same," "one's true self," and "the soul" as opposed to the body. While other forms of this word are used as pronouns, this form is used for emphasis, since the subject pronoun is part of the verb.
touch -- The Greek verb translated as "touch" means "touch", and "touch upon".
not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
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.
burdens - "Burden" is a Greek word that means "a load," and "burden." In the plural, it tends to refer to "merchandise" but here it is singular.
with -- This word "with" 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. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with," "in," "of," "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.
one -- The Greek word translated as "one " means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single," and "one and the same."As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession,
your -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the possessive (genitive) case. This pronoun follows the noun so the possessive "of yours."
missing "those" -- (MW) The untranslated word 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," and "those"). See this article for more.
fingers. - "Finger" is from another uncommon Greek word for Jesus, used only in five verses that means "fingers," "toes," "the thumb" "an inch," and "a digit." It is used in the same sense that we might say, "keeping someone under your thumb." Since the term also means "toes," under someone's foot also works best.
And - The Greek word translated as "also" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
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.
experts in-- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
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.
law - - (CW) The Greek word translated as "lawyers" means "relating to laws", "legals," "relating to points of law", "forensic", "conventional", "lawyer", "notary", and "legal advisor". This word doesn't precisely mean "law."
woe -- "Woe" is an exclamation of grief, meaning "woe" or "alas." Jesus uses it humorously. Today we would say "so sad for you" or "boo-hoo to you." The word is very like the Jewish, "oy vey" which can be used to express sorrow but is more commonly used cynically. More about this phrase in this article on Christ's humor using exaggeration.
to you, -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
because -- The word translated as "because " introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," "seeing that," "that," and "wherefore." Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because" in statements that seem like an answer to a question because of the change of context. It means "because" when answering a "why" question and "that" when explaining a "what" question.
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
load - "Load" means "to load," or, in the passive used here, "to be laden."
down -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
missing "these" -- (MW) The untranslated word 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," and "those"). See this article for more.
people -- The Greek word for "people " means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples."
with - This completes the meaning of the verb. The Greek verb can take two direct objects, but the English requires one to be indirect.
burdens - "Burdens" is a Greek word that means "a load," and "burden." In the plural, it tends to refer to "merchandise" but here it is singular.
they can hardly carry -(WF) "They can hardly carry" is an adjective that means "intolerable". It is used by Jesus uniquely here. The word is only seen once in the Septuagint and twice in New Testament. In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word is translated as "heavier." The most direct translation of the Greek is "unbearable." This is not a sentence but an adjective.
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.
yourselves "Yourselves" is the nominative case of the third-person, plural adjective that means "themselves," "ourselves,"yourselves," "the same," "one's true self," and "the soul" as opposed to the body. While other forms of this word are used as pronouns, this form is used for emphasis, since the subject pronoun is part of the verb.
will -- (WT) This helping verb "will" indicates the future tense, but the verb is not the future.
lift -- (WW) The Greek verb translated as "lift " means "touch", and "touch upon". While the English idiom is "lift one finger," the rest of this verse doesn't work is we try to use it, as we can see from the rest of the verse. This word doesn't mean "lift."
not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
the loads -- The words here aren't translated with their correct meanings and forms. The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." "Loads" is a Greek word that means "a load," and "burden." In the plural, it tends to refer to "merchandise" but here it is singular.
with -- This word "with" 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. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with," "in," "of," "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.
one finger to help them.
one -- The Greek word translated as "one " means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single," and "one and the same."As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession,
your -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the possessive (genitive) case. This pronoun follows the noun so the possessive "of yours."
missing "those" -- (MW) The untranslated word 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," and "those"). See this article for more.
fingers. - "Finger" is from another uncommon Greek word for Jesus, used only in five verses that means "fingers," "toes," "the thumb" "an inch," and "a digit." It is used in the same sense that we might say, "keeping someone under your thumb." Since the term also means "toes," under someone's foot also works best.
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."
ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of the pronoun of the second person, "you." 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."
τοῖς [821 verses](article pl masc dat) "Ye" 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."
νομικοῖς [2 verses] (adj pl masc dat) "Lawyers" is nomikos, which means "relating to laws", "legal," "relating to points of law", "forensic", "conventional", "lawyer", "notary", and "legal advisor".
οὐαὶ [27 verses](exclam)"Woe" is ouai, which is an exclamation of pain or anger meaning "woe" or "alas" but it can be used sarcastically.
ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "for" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore." This is the same word can be translated as both "because" and "that" in the same verse when answering two different types of questions.
φορτίζετε [2 verses](verb 2nd pl pres ind act) "Ye lade" is from phortizô, which means "to load," "to encumber," and, in the passive, "to be laden."
τοὺς [821 verses](article pl masc acc) Untranslated 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." --
ἀνθρώπους [209 verses](noun pl masc acc) "Men" is anthropos, which is "man," and, in plural, "mankind." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate.
φορτίον [3 verses] (pl sg neut acc) "Burden" is from phortion, which means "to load," "to burden," "to freight;" in agriculture, "produce," "crops," and "a child in the womb." In plural, it means "merchandise" and "wares."
δυσβάστακτα, [1 verse](adj pl neut acc) "Grievous to be born" is dysbastaktos, which means "intolerable", "grievous to be borne". The dys prefix means a of difficulty, opposition, injuriousness, similar to our "mis-" or "un-" prefixes. The root bastazo, which means "to lift up," "to raise," "to bear," "to carry," "to endure," and "to carry off, "produce," "yield," of land." In the Septuagint, it is used to translated kāḇēḏ (כָּבֵד), which is translated as "great," "heavy, and "grievous." The most direct translation of the Greek is "unbearable."
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."
αὐτοὶ [32 verses](pron/adj pl masc nom) "Your yourselves" is from autoi. the nominative case of the third-person, plural adjective that means "themselves," "ourselves," "yourselves," "the same," "one's true self," and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord." While other forms of this word are used as pronouns, this form is used for emphasis, since the subject pronoun is part of the verb.
ἑνὶ [85 verses](noun sg masc/neut dat ) "One"is heis, which means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single," and "one and the same." This noun/adjective is irregular, having a number of forms depending on gender and case. It is always singular.
τῶν [821 verses](article pl masc gen)) Untranslated 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." --
δακτύλων [5 verses](noun pl masc gen) "Fingers" is daktylos, which means "finger," "thumb," "toes," a measure of length, "finger's breadth," "date," and "a kind of grape."
ὑμῶν [168 verses](pron 2nd pl gen) "Your/you" is humon, the plural possessive form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you." It is either a possessive pronoun or the object of a preposition. As an object of a preposition, the genitive indicates movement away or a position away from something.
οὐ [269 verses](adv) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The negative, οὐ, denies, is absolute, and objective.
προσψαύετε [1 verse](verb 2nd pl pres ind act) "Touch" is prospsauo, which means "touch", and "touch upon".
τοῖς [821 verses](article pl neut dat) "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."
φορτίοις [3 verses] (noun pl neut dat) "Burdens" is from phortion, which means "load," "burden," "freight;" in agriculture, "produce," "crops," and "a child in the womb." In plural, it means "merchandise" and "wares." -
The English phrase "grevious to be born" appears also in the KJV in Matthew 23:4, but the Greek word does not appear in that verse in the Greek sources we use today.