Luke 18:13

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

'But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven but beat his chest and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ ὁ τελώνης, μακρόθεν ἑστὼς, οὐκ ἤθελεν οὐδὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐπᾶραι, ἀλλʼ ἔτυπτεν εἰς τὸ στῆθος αὐτοῦ, λέγων, Ὁ Θεός ἱλάσθητί μοι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ.

Transliteration

And the telōnēs, from-afar hestōs, not ēthelen not-even the ophthalmous into the ouranon eparai, but etypen into the stēthos of-him, legōn, The Theos hilasthēti to-me the hamartōlō.

Grammar Details

• *telōnēs*: nominative masculine singular - tax collector
• *hestōs*: perfect active participle, nominative masculine singular - standing
• *ēthelen*: imperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular - was willing
• *ophthalmous*: accusative masculine plural - eyes
• *ouranon*: accusative masculine singular - heaven/sky
• *eparai*: aorist active infinitive - to lift up/raise
• *etypen*: imperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular - was beating/striking
• *stēthos*: accusative neuter singular - chest/breast
• *legōn*: present active participle, nominative masculine singular - saying
• *Theos*: nominative masculine singular - God
• *hilasthēti*: aorist passive imperative, 2nd person singular - be merciful/propitious
• *hamartōlō*: dative masculine singular - sinner

Word Meanings

• *telōnēs*: tax collector/publican
• *hestōs*: standing/having stood
• *ēthelen*: was willing/wanted/desired
• *eparai*: to lift up/to raise
• *etypen*: was beating/was striking [repeatedly]
• *stēthos*: chest/breast
• *hilasthēti*: be merciful/be propitious/make atonement for
• *hamartōlō*: sinner/sinful person

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but struck upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G2532} the publican,{G5057} standing{G2476} afar off,{G3113} would{G2309} not{G3756} lift up{G1869} so much as{G3761} his eyes{G3788} unto{G1519} heaven,{G3772} but{G235} smote{G5180} {G1519} his{G846} breast,{G4738} saying,{G3004} God,{G2316} be thou merciful{G2433} to me{G3427} a sinner.{G268}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} the publican{G5057}, standing{G2476}{(G5761)} afar off{G3113}, would{G2309}{(G5707)} not{G3756} lift up{G1869}{(G5658)} so much as{G3761} his eyes{G3788} unto{G1519} heaven{G3772}, but{G235} smote{G5180}{(G5707)} upon{G1519} his{G846} breast{G4738}, saying{G3004}{(G5723)}, God{G2316} be merciful{G2433}{(G5682)} to me{G3427} a sinner{G268}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And the publican stode afarre of and wolde not lyfte vp his eyes to heven but smote his brest sayinge: God be mercyfull to me a synner.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And the publican stode afarre of, and wolde not lift vp his eyes to heauen, but smote vpon his brest, and sayde: God be thou mercyfull vnto me synner.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But the Publican standing a farre off, woulde not lift vp so much as his eyes to heauen, but smote his brest, saying, O God, be mercifull to me a sinner.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And the publicane standyng a farre of, woulde not lyft vp his eyes to heauen, but smote vpon his brest, saying: God be mercifull to me a sinner.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as› [his] ‹eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `And the tax-gatherer, having stood afar off, would not even the eyes lift up to the heaven, but was smiting on his breast, saying, God be propitious to me -- the sinner!

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  The tax-farmer, on the other hand, keeping far away, and not lifting up even his eyes to heaven, made signs of grief and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

• World English Bible (2000)

  But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said,‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’

Referenced Verses

• Ezra 9:6 : 6 I said, 'My God, I am ashamed and humiliated to lift my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.'
• Luke 23:48 : 48 And all the crowds who had gathered to witness this event, seeing what had happened, went home beating their chests.
• Acts 2:37 : 37 When they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'
• Rom 5:8 : 8 But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• 1 Tim 1:15 : 15 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.
• Heb 4:16 : 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
• Luke 23:40-43 : 40 But the other criminal rebuked him, saying, 'Don't you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? 41 'And we are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.' 42 Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.' 43 And Jesus replied, 'Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.'
• 1 John 1:8-9 : 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.
• Ezek 16:63 : 63 So that you may remember and be ashamed, and never again open your mouth because of your disgrace, when I forgive you for all you have done, declares the Lord GOD.
• Isa 64:5-6 : 5 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags. We wither like a leaf, and our sins carry us away like the wind. 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.
• Jer 31:18-19 : 18 I have surely heard Ephraim’s lamenting: 'You disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf. Restore me, and I will return, for you are the LORD my God.' 19 After I turned away, I repented; after I came to understand, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.
• Luke 5:8 : 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!"
• Luke 7:6-7 : 6 So Jesus went with them. When He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to Him, 'Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.' 7 That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to You. But speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
• Luke 15:18-21 : 18 I will rise up and go to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’ 20 And he rose up and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
• Luke 17:12 : 12 As he entered a village, ten men with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance,
• Rom 5:20-21 : 20 Now the law was brought in so that the trespass might increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more. 21 So that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
• 2 Cor 7:11 : 11 See what earnestness this godly sorrow has produced in you! What eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what readiness to see justice done! At every point you have proved yourselves to be pure in this matter.
• Heb 8:12 : 12 For I will be merciful toward their unrighteousness, and I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.
• 2 Chr 33:12-13 : 12 When he was in distress, he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. 13 He prayed to Him, and the LORD was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea. He brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.
• 2 Chr 33:19 : 19 His prayer and how God was moved by his plea, all his sins and unfaithfulness, the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and carved images before he humbled himself—all these are written in the records of the seers.
• 2 Chr 33:23 : 23 But he did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had humbled himself; instead, Amon increased his guilt.
• Dan 9:5 : 5 we have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly, rebelled, and turned away from Your commandments and judgments.
• Dan 9:7-9 : 7 Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but shame covers our faces today—to the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where You have driven them because of their unfaithfulness to You. 8 O LORD, shame covers us—our kings, our rulers, and our ancestors—because we have sinned against You. 9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him. 10 We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by following His instructions, which He gave us through His servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed Your law and turned away, refusing to obey Your voice. So the curse and oath written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us because we have sinned against Him.
• Dan 9:18-19 : 18 Incline Your ear, my God, and hear. Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our pleas before You on account of our righteousness, but because of Your great mercy. 19 Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, pay attention and act! Do not delay, for Your own sake, my God, because Your city and Your people bear Your name.
• Matt 9:13 : 13 'Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'
• Job 42:6 : 6 Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.
• Ps 25:7 : 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love, remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD.
• Ps 25:11 : 11 For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great.
• Ps 40:12 : 12 LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me; may Your love and truth always protect me.
• Ps 41:4 : 4 The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his illness.
• Ps 51:1-3 : 1 For the choir director: A psalm of David. 2 When Nathan the prophet came to him after David had gone to Bathsheba. 3 Be gracious to me, O God, according to your lovingkindness; according to the abundance of your compassion, blot out my transgressions.
• Ps 86:15-16 : 15 But You, O Lord, are a God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; grant Your strength to Your servant and save the son of Your maidservant.
• Ps 106:6 : 6 We have sinned, just as our ancestors did; we have committed iniquity and acted wickedly.
• Ps 119:41 : 41 May Your lovingkindness come to me, LORD—Your salvation, according to Your word.
• Ps 130:3-4 : 3 If You, LORD, keep a record of iniquities, Lord, who could stand? 4 But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.
• Ps 130:7 : 7 Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is steadfast love, and with Him is abundant redemption.
• Isa 1:18 : 18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
• 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."