Luke 17:10

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς, ὅταν ποιήσητε πάντα τὰ διαταχθέντα ὑμῖν, λέγετε, ὅτι Δοῦλοι ἀχρεῖοί ἐσμεν: ὅτι ὃ ὠφείλομεν ποιῆσαι πεποιήκαμεν.

Transliteration

Thus also you, when you poiēsēte all the things diatachthenta to you, legete, that Douloi achreioi esmen: because what we ōpheilomen poiēsai we have pepoiēkamen.

Grammar Details

• *poiēsēte*: aorist active subjunctive, 2nd plural - you do/perform
• *diatachthenta*: aorist passive participle, accusative, neuter, plural - having been commanded
• *legete*: present active imperative, 2nd plural - say
• *Douloi*: nominative, masculine, plural - slaves/servants
• *achreioi*: nominative, masculine, plural - unworthy/useless
• *esmen*: present active indicative, 1st plural - we are
• *ōpheilomen*: imperfect active indicative, 1st plural - we owed/were obligated
• *poiēsai*: aorist active infinitive - to do
• *pepoiēkamen*: perfect active indicative, 1st plural - we have done

Word Meanings

• *Douloi*: slaves/servants/bondservants
• *achreioi*: unworthy/useless/unprofitable
• *ōpheilomen*: we owed/were obligated/were bound

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  So likewise you, when you have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done what was our duty to do.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Even so ye also, when ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Soo lyke wyse ye when ye have done all thoose thinges which are commaunded you: saye we are vnprofitable servautes. We have done: ye which was oure duetye to do.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  So likewyse ye, wha ye haue done all that is comaunded you, saye: We are vnprofitable seruauntes, we haue done that we were bounde to do.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  So likewise yee, when yee haue done all those things, which are commanded you, say, We are vnprofitable seruants: wee haue done that which was our duetie to doe.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  So lykewyse ye, when ye haue done all those thynges which are commaunded you, say, We are vnprofitable seruauntes, We haue done that which was our duetie to do.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.'"

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `So also ye, when ye may have done all the things directed you, say -- We are unprofitable servants, because that which we owed to do -- we have done.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Even so ye also, when ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Even so ye also, when ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  In the same way, when you have done all the things which are given you to do, say, There is no profit in us, for we have only done what we were ordered to do.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.'"

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  So you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say,‘We are slaves undeserving of special praise; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Referenced Verses

• Job 35:6-7 : 6 If you sin, what do you accomplish against God? Even if your transgressions are many, what do you do to Him? 7 If you are righteous, what do you give to Him, or what does He receive from your hand?
• Ps 16:2-3 : 2 I said to the LORD, 'You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You.' 3 As for the holy ones who are in the land, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
• Isa 6:5 : 5 Then I said, "Woe to me! For I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts."
• Rom 3:12 : 12 All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.
• Rom 11:35 : 35 Or who has ever given to Him that God should repay them?
• 1 Cor 9:16-17 : 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to do so. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I do this willingly, I have a reward. But if unwillingly, I am simply entrusted with a responsibility.
• Matt 25:30 : 30 And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
• 1 Pet 5:5-6 : 5 In the same way, you younger ones, submit yourselves to the elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time.
• Matt 25:37-40 : 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ 40 The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me.’
• 1 Cor 15:9-9 : 9 For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
• Phil 3:8-9 : 8 Indeed, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them garbage, in order that I may gain Christ, 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
• Isa 64:6 : 6 No one calls on your name or rouses themselves to take hold of you, for you have hidden your face from us and have melted us away in the grip of our sins.
• 1 Chr 29:14-16 : 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give so generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15 For we are strangers and temporary residents before you, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build you a house for your holy name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.
• Job 22:2-3 : 2 Can a man benefit God? Even a wise man benefits only himself. 3 Is it a delight to the Almighty if you are righteous? Or does He gain anything if your ways are blameless?
• Ps 35:6-7 : 6 Let their way be dark and slippery, as the angel of the Lord pursues them. 7 For without cause, they hid a pit for me; without reason, they dug a trap to capture my life.
• Prov 16:2-3 : 2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but the Lord weighs the spirit. 3 Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
• Phlm 1:11 : 11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.