Luke 20:21

KJV1611 – Modern English

And they asked him, saying, Teacher, we know that you say and teach rightly, neither do you show favoritism, but teach the way of God truly:

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτόν, λέγοντες, Διδάσκαλε, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ὀρθῶς λέγεις καὶ διδάσκεις, καὶ οὐ λαμβάνεις πρόσωπον, ἀλλʼ ἐπʼ ἀληθείας τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ διδάσκεις:

Transliteration

And they epērōtēsan him, legontes, Didaskale, we oidamen that orthōs you legeis and didaskeis, and not you lambaneis prosōpon, but upon alētheias the hodon of Theou you didaskeis:

Grammar Details

• *epērōtēsan*: aorist active, 3rd plural - they questioned
• *legontes*: present active participle, nominative, plural - saying
• *Didaskale*: vocative, masculine, singular - Teacher
• *oidamen*: perfect active, 1st plural - we know
• *orthōs*: adverb - rightly/correctly
• *legeis*: present active, 2nd singular - you say/speak
• *didaskeis*: present active, 2nd singular - you teach
• *lambaneis*: present active, 2nd singular - you take/receive
• *prosōpon*: accusative, neuter, singular - face/person/appearance
• *alētheias*: genitive, feminine, singular - of truth
• *hodon*: accusative, feminine, singular - way/path
• *Theou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of God

Word Meanings

• *epērōtēsan*: they questioned/they asked
• *Didaskale*: Teacher/Master/Rabbi
• *oidamen*: we know/we understand
• *orthōs*: rightly/correctly/accurately
• *legeis*: you say/you speak/you tell
• *didaskeis*: you teach/you instruct
• *lambaneis prosōpon*: show partiality/show favoritism/accept appearances
• *alētheias*: truth/truthfulness/reality
• *hodon tou Theou*: way of God/God's way/path of God

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  So they questioned him, saying, 'Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in truth.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} they asked{G1905} him,{G846} saying,{G3004} Teacher,{G1320} we know{G1492} that{G3754} thou sayest{G3004} and{G2532} teachest{G1321} rightly,{G2532} and{G2532} acceptest{G2983} not the person{G4383} [of any], but{G235} of a{G1909} truth{G225} teachest{G1321} the way{G3598} of God:{G2316}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} they asked{G1905}{(G5656)} him{G846}, saying{G3004}{(G5723)}, Master{G1320}, we know{G1492}{(G5758)} that{G3754} thou sayest{G3004}{(G5719)} and{G2532} teachest{G1321}{(G5719)} rightly{G3723},{G2532} neither{G3756} acceptest thou{G2983}{(G5719)} the person{G4383} of any, but{G235} teachest{G1321}{(G5719)} the way{G3598} of God{G2316} truly{G225}{G1909}:

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And they axed him sayinge: Master we knowe that thou sayest and teachest ryght nother cosiderest thou eny manes degre but teachest the waye of God truly.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And they axed him, & sayde: Master, we knowe that thou sayest & teachest right, and regardest the outwarde appearauce of no man, but teachest the waye of God truly.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest, and teachest right, neither doest thou accept mans person, but teachest the way of God truly.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And they asked him, saying: Maister, we knowe that thou sayest and teachest ryght, neither considerest thou the outwarde appearaunce of any man, but teachest the way of God truely:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person [of any], but teachest the way of God truly:

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  They asked him, "Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren't partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and they questioned him, saying, `Teacher, we have known that thou dost say and teach rightly, and dost not accept a person, but in truth the way of God dost teach;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And they asked him, saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person `of any', but of a truth teachest the way of God:

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And they asked him, saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person [of any], but of a truth teachest the way of God:

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And they put a question to him, saying, Master, we are certain that your teaching and your words are right, and that you have no respect for a man's position, but you are teaching the true way of God:

• World English Bible (2000)

  They asked him, "Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren't partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Thus they asked him,“Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, and show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

Referenced Verses

• Matt 22:16 : 16 And they sent out to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God in truth, nor do you care about anyone, for you do not regard the person of men.
• 1 Thess 2:4-5 : 4 But as we were allowed by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness:
• 2 Chr 19:7 : 7 Therefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
• Job 34:19 : 19 How much less to Him who does not respect the persons of princes nor regard the rich more than the poor? For they all are the work of His hands.
• Ps 12:2 : 2 They speak vanity everyone with his neighbor: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
• Ps 55:21 : 21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
• Jer 42:2-3 : 2 And said to Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech you, our supplication be accepted before you, and pray for us to the LORD your God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few out of many, as your eyes do see us:) 3 That the LORD your God may show us the way in which we may walk, and the thing that we may do.
• Matt 26:49-50 : 49 And immediately he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said to him, Friend, why have you come? Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
• Mark 12:14 : 14 When they had come, they said to him, 'Teacher, we know that you are true, and do not care about anyone; for you do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
• John 3:2 : 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him.
• Acts 10:34-35 : 34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality: 35 But in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is accepted by him.
• 2 Cor 2:17 : 17 For we are not like many who corrupt the word of God; but as of sincerity, as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
• Gal 1:10 : 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
• Gal 2:6 : 6 But from those who seemed to be something (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me: God accepts no man's person), for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me: