Luke 16:7
New International Version
“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “’A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

New Living Translation
“‘And how much do you owe my employer?’ he asked the next man. ‘I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,’ was the reply. ‘Here,’ the manager said, ‘take the bill and change it to 800 bushels.’

English Standard Version
Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

Berean Standard Bible
Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ ‘A hundred measures of wheat,’ he replied. ‘Take your bill and write eighty,’ he told him.

Berean Literal Bible
Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' And he said, 'A hundred cors of wheat.' He says to him, 'Take your bill and write eighty.'

King James Bible
Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

New King James Version
Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ So he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

New American Standard Bible
Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘A hundred kors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

NASB 1995
“Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

NASB 1977
“Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘One hundred kors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

Amplified Bible
Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

Christian Standard Bible
“Next he asked another, ‘How much do you owe? ’ “ ‘A hundred measures of wheat,’ he said. “ ‘Take your invoice,’ he told him, ‘and write eighty.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Next he asked another, How much do you owe?’ “’A hundred measures of wheat,’ he said. “’Take your invoice,’ he told him, and write 80.’

American Standard Version
Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. He saith unto him, Take thy bond, and write fourscore.

Contemporary English Version
The manager asked someone else who was in debt to his master, "How much do you owe?" "A thousand sacks of wheat," the man replied. The manager said, "Take your bill and write '800.'"

English Revised Version
Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. He saith unto him, Take thy bond, and write fourscore.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Then he asked another debtor, 'How much do you owe?' "The debtor replied, 'A thousand bushels of wheat.' "The manager told him, 'Take the ledger, and write "eight hundred!"'

Good News Translation
Then he asked another one, 'And you--how much do you owe?' 'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he answered. 'Here is your account,' the manager told him; 'write eight hundred.'

International Standard Version
Then he asked another debtor, 'How much do you owe?' The man replied, 'A hundred containers of wheat.' The manager told him, 'Get your bill and write "80."'

Majority Standard Bible
Then he asked another, ?And how much do you owe?? ?A hundred measures of wheat,? he replied. ?Take your bill and write eighty,? he told him.

NET Bible
Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' The second man replied, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' The manager said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'

New Heart English Bible
Then he said to another, 'How much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred cors of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. And he said to him, Take thy bill, and write eighty.

Weymouth New Testament
"To a second he said, "'And how much do you owe?' "'A hundred quarters of wheat,' was the answer. "'Here is your account,' said he: 'change it into eighty quarters.'

World English Bible
Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Afterward to another he said, And you, how much do you owe? And he said, One hundred cors of wheat; and he says to him, Take your bill, and write eighty.

Berean Literal Bible
Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' And he said, 'A hundred cors of wheat.' He says to him, 'Take your bill and write eighty.'

Young's Literal Translation
'Afterward to another he said, And thou, how much dost thou owe? and he said, A hundred cors of wheat; and he saith to him, Take thy bill, and write eighty.

Smith's Literal Translation
Then said he to another, How much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said to him, Take thy book, and write eighty.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then he said to another: And how much dost thou owe? Who said: An hundred quarters of wheat. He said to him: Take thy bill, and write eighty.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Next, he said to another, ‘In truth, how much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your record books, and write eighty.’

New American Bible
Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘One hundred kors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.’

New Revised Standard Version
Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘A hundred containers of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said to another, And you, what do you owe to my lord? He said to him, One hundred bushels of wheat. He said to him, Take your note, and sit down and write eighty bushels.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And he said to another, 'And what do you owe to my lord?', and he said to him, 'A hundred cors of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your book and sit and write eighty cors.' “
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Then he said to another, How much do you owe? He replied, A hundred homers of wheat. And he said to him, Take back your note, and write eighty.

Godbey New Testament
Then he said to another one, And how much do you owe? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. He says to him, Take your account, and write fourscore.

Haweis New Testament
Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred core of wheat. And he saith to him, Take thy account, and write fourscore.

Mace New Testament
then he said to another, how much do you owe? a hundred measures of wheat, said he, take your bill, says the steward, and write out one for fourscore.

Weymouth New Testament
"To a second he said, "'And how much do you owe?' "'A hundred quarters of wheat,' was the answer. "'Here is your account,' said he: 'change it into eighty quarters.'

Worrell New Testament
After that he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' And he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He says to him, 'Take your accounts, and write, Four score.'

Worsley New Testament
Then he said to another, And how much owest thou? and he said, an hundred measures of wheat: and he said to him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Shrewd Manager
6‘A hundred measures of olive oil,’ he answered. ‘Take your bill,’ said the manager. ‘Sit down quickly, and write fifty.’ 7Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ ‘A hundred measures of wheat,’ he replied. ‘Take your bill and write eighty,’ he told him. 8The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light.…

Cross References
Matthew 18:23-35
Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. / As he began the settlements, a debtor owing ten thousand talents was brought to him. / Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned. ...

Matthew 25:14-30
For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. / To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey. / The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more. ...

Luke 19:11-27
While the people were listening to this, Jesus proceeded to tell them a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and they thought the kingdom of God would appear imminently. / So He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to lay claim to his kingship and then return. / Beforehand, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Conduct business with this until I return,’ he said. ...

Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Romans 13:8
Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

James 2:13
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

2 Kings 4:1-7
Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!” / “How can I help you?” asked Elisha. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” / “Go,” said Elisha, “borrow empty jars from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few. ...

Nehemiah 5:1-13
About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. / Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” / Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” ...

Deuteronomy 15:1-2
At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. / This is the manner of remission: Every creditor shall cancel what he has loaned to his neighbor. He is not to collect anything from his neighbor or brother, because the LORD’s time of release has been proclaimed.

Leviticus 25:35-37
Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you. / Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you. / You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit.

Exodus 22:25
If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.


Treasury of Scripture

Then said he to another, And how much owe you? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said to him, Take your bill, and write fourscore.

An hundred.

Luke 20:9,12
Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time…

Song of Solomon 8:11,12
Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver…

measures.

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Account Afterward Amount Bill Bond Change Cors Debt Eight Eighty Fourscore Grain How Hundred Measures Owe Owest Quarters Second Thousand Wheat Write Writing
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Account Afterward Amount Bill Bond Change Cors Debt Eight Eighty Fourscore Grain How Hundred Measures Owe Owest Quarters Second Thousand Wheat Write Writing
Luke 16
1. The parable of the unjust steward.
14. Jesus reproves the hypocrisy of the covetous Pharisees.
19. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar.














Then he asked another,
This phrase continues the parable of the dishonest manager, where the manager is addressing another debtor. The context is a series of interactions where the manager is attempting to secure his future by reducing the debts owed to his master. This reflects the cultural practice of debt negotiation in ancient times, where a steward had the authority to manage and adjust accounts.

‘And how much do you owe?’
The question highlights the manager's role in assessing and managing debts. In the historical context, debt was a common part of economic life, and large landowners often had many debtors. This question also emphasizes the personal responsibility of the debtor to acknowledge their debt, a theme that resonates with spiritual accountability.

‘A hundred measures of wheat,’ he replied.
A hundred measures of wheat is a significant amount, indicating a large debt. In ancient Palestine, wheat was a staple crop, and such a quantity would represent a substantial economic value. This reflects the agrarian society of the time and the importance of agricultural produce in the economy. The measure used here, likely a "kor," would be equivalent to about ten to twelve bushels, underscoring the magnitude of the debt.

‘Take your bill and write eighty,’ he told him.
The reduction of the debt from a hundred to eighty measures of wheat demonstrates the manager's shrewdness in securing favor with the debtor. This act of reducing the debt can be seen as a form of grace, mirroring the forgiveness of sins. Theologically, it can be connected to the concept of mercy and the reduction of spiritual debt through Christ's atonement. The manager's actions, while dishonest, are used by Jesus to illustrate the importance of using worldly resources wisely to secure eternal relationships.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Unjust Steward
A manager accused of wasting his master's possessions, who seeks to secure his future by reducing the debts of his master's debtors.

2. The Debtors
Individuals who owe significant amounts to the steward's master, representing those who are in financial obligation.

3. The Master
The owner of the debts, who later commends the steward for his shrewdness, highlighting a lesson in worldly wisdom.

4. The Measures of Wheat
A significant quantity of wheat, indicating the substantial nature of the debt and the steward's boldness in reducing it.

5. The Context of the Parable
This parable is part of Jesus' teaching on the use of wealth and the importance of being faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us.
Teaching Points
Stewardship and Accountability
We are called to be faithful stewards of the resources God has given us, recognizing that we will be held accountable for how we manage them.

Wisdom in Resource Management
The parable encourages believers to use wisdom and foresight in managing earthly resources, with an eye toward eternal outcomes.

Generosity and Forgiveness
The steward's reduction of debts can inspire us to practice generosity and forgiveness, reflecting God's grace in our financial dealings.

Eternal Perspective
Our actions and decisions regarding wealth should be guided by an eternal perspective, prioritizing spiritual over material wealth.

Learning from the World
Jesus uses a worldly example to teach a spiritual truth, reminding us that we can learn valuable lessons from observing the world around us.(7) An hundred measures of wheat.--Here the measure is the Hebrew cor, which is reckoned as equal to ten baths (the latter, however, is a liquid, the former, a dry measure), and accordingly varies, according to the estimate given above, from thirteen to about ninety-seven gallons. One calculation makes it nearly equal to the English "quarter."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
Ἔπειτα (Epeita)
Adverb
Strong's 1899: Then, thereafter, afterwards. From epi and eita; thereafter.

he asked
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

another,
ἑτέρῳ (heterō)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2087: (a) of two: another, a second, (b) other, different, (c) one's neighbor. Of uncertain affinity; other or different.

‘And
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

how much
πόσον (poson)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4214: How much, how great, how many. From an absolute pos and hos; interrogative pronoun how much (plural) many).

{do} you
Σὺ (Sy)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

owe?’
ὀφείλεις (opheileis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 3784: Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty.

‘A hundred
Ἑκατὸν (Hekaton)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1540: One hundred. Of uncertain affinity; a hundred.

[measures]
κόρους (korous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2884: (Hebrew) a (dry) measure, equivalent to 120 gallons. Of Hebrew origin; a cor, i.e. A specific measure.

of wheat,’
σίτου (sitou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 4621: Wheat, grain. Also plural irregular neuter sita of uncertain derivation; grain, especially wheat.

he replied.
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

‘Take
Δέξαι (Dexai)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Middle - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1209: To take, receive, accept, welcome. Middle voice of a primary verb; to receive.

your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

bill
γράμματα (grammata)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1121: From grapho; a writing, i.e. A letter, note, epistle, book, etc. plural learning.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

write
γράψον (grapson)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1125: A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.

eighty,’
ὀγδοήκοντα (ogdoēkonta)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3589: Eighty. From ogdoos; ten times eight.

he told
Λέγει (Legei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

him.
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Gospels: Luke 16:7 Then said he to another 'How much (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 16:6
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