Matthew 21:28

KJV1611 – Modern English

But what do you think? A certain man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

¶Τί δὲ ὑμῖν δοκεῖ; Ἄνθρωπος εἶχεν τέκνα δύο· καὶ προσελθὼν τῷ πρώτῳ εἶπεν, Τέκνον, ὕπαγε, σήμερον ἐργάζου ἐν τῷ ἀμπελῶνι μου.

Transliteration

What de to you dokei? Anthrōpos eichen tekna dyo; and proselthōn to the prōtō eipen, Teknon, hypage, sēmeron ergazou in the ampelōni of me.

Grammar Details

• *de*: postpositive particle - but/and
• *dokei*: present active indicative, 3rd person singular - it seems
• *Anthrōpos*: nominative masculine singular - man
• *eichen*: imperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular - he had
• *tekna*: accusative neuter plural - children
• *dyo*: accusative - two
• *proselthōn*: aorist active participle, nominative masculine singular - having come to
• *prōtō*: dative masculine singular - first
• *eipen*: aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular - he said
• *Teknon*: vocative neuter singular - child
• *hypage*: present active imperative, 2nd person singular - go
• *sēmeron*: adverb - today
• *ergazou*: present middle imperative, 2nd person singular - work
• *ampelōni*: dative masculine singular - vineyard

Word Meanings

• *dokei*: seems/appears/thinks
• *Anthrōpos*: man/person/human
• *eichen*: had/possessed
• *tekna*: children/offspring
• *proselthōn*: having come to/approached
• *prōtō*: first/foremost
• *eipen*: said/spoke/told
• *Teknon*: child/son
• *hypage*: go/depart
• *ergazou*: work/labor/serve
• *ampelōni*: vineyard/vineyard plantation

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go work today in the vineyard.'

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  What saye ye to this? A certayne man had two sonnes and came to ye elder and sayde: sonne go and worke to daye in my vineyarde.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But what thinke ye? A certayne man had two sonnes, and came to the first, and sayde: Go thy waye my sonne, & worke to daye in my vynyarde.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But what thinke ye? A certaine man had two sonnes, and came to the elder, and saide, Sonne, goe and worke to day in my vineyarde.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But what thynke you? A man had two sonnes, and came to the firste, and saide: sonne, go and worke to day in my vineyarde.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ ‹But what think ye? A› [certain] ‹man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, 'Son, go work today in my vineyard.'

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `And what think ye? A man had two children, and having come to the first, he said, Child, go, to-day be working in my vineyard.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But how does it seem to you? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go and do work today in the vine-garden.

• World English Bible (2000)

  But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, 'Son, go work today in my vineyard.'

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The Parable of the Two Sons“What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said,‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’

Referenced Verses

• Matt 21:33 : 33 Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and hedged it around, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, and leased it to vine dressers, and went into a far country.
• Matt 17:25 : 25 He said, Yes. And when he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or tribute? from their own children, or from strangers?
• Matt 20:1 : 1 For the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
• 1 Cor 10:15 : 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
• 1 Cor 15:58 : 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
• Matt 20:5-7 : 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said to them, Why do you stand here all day idle? 7 They said to him, Because no man has hired us. He said to them, Go also into the vineyard; and whatever is right, that you shall receive.
• Matt 22:17 : 17 Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
• Mark 13:34 : 34 For the Son of Man is like a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
• Luke 13:4 : 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think they were worse sinners than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?
• Luke 15:11-32 : 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me. And he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered everything together, and took his journey to a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the pigs ate: and no one gave him anything. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 And am no longer worthy to be called your son: make me like one of your hired servants. 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it; and let us eat and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry. 25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, Your brother has come; and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore his father came out, and pleaded with him. 29 And he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years I have served you, nor have I transgressed at any time your commandment: and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him. 31 And he said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad: for this your brother was dead and is alive again; and was lost and is found.