5The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!' [17:6] The Lord replied, 'If you had faith like a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. [17:7] Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, would say to him when he comes in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at the table'? [17:8] Wouldn’t you rather say to him, 'Prepare my meal, gird yourself, and serve me while I eat and drink; and after that, you may eat and drink'? [17:9] Does the master thank the slave for doing what he was commanded? [17:10] So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have only done what we were obliged to do.'
LUK 17:5-10
The Power of Faith
In the world it was spoken into
In the first-century Greco-Roman world, slavery was a deeply entrenched institution, and the relationship between masters and slaves was governed by strict social norms. Slaves were considered property, with no inherent rights, and their primary role was to serve their masters without expectation of reward or gratitude. The imagery of a servant plowing or shepherding and then immediately serving a meal reflects the unrelenting demands placed on slaves in a household economy. The term ('useless') underscores that fulfilling one’s duty was the baseline expectation, not something deserving special acknowledgment. The mustard seed analogy, rooted in agricultural life, highlights the transformative power of even minimal faith, contrasting with the humility and obedience expected of slaves. This pericope would have resonated with listeners familiar with the hierarchical dynamics of slavery and the cultural expectation of unquestioning service.
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How other translations render this
LUK 17:5
- KJV
- And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
- BSB
- The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
- Koinōnos
- The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!
LUK 17:6
- KJV
- And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
- BSB
- And the Lord answered, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
- Koinōnos
- The Lord replied, 'If you had faith like a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
LUK 17:7
- KJV
- But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
- BSB
- Which of you whose servant comes in from plowing or shepherding in the field will say to him, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?
- Koinōnos
- Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, would say to him when he comes in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at the table'?
LUK 17:8
- KJV
- And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
- BSB
- Instead, wonʼt he tell him, ‘Prepare my meal and dress yourself to serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’?
- Koinōnos
- Wouldn’t you rather say to him, 'Prepare my meal, gird yourself, and serve me while I eat and drink; and after that, you may eat and drink'?
LUK 17:9
- KJV
- Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
- BSB
- Does he thank the servant because he did what he was told?
- Koinōnos
- Does the master thank the slave for doing what he was commanded?
LUK 17:10
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
- Koinōnos
- So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have only done what we were obliged to do.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 17:7
- a servant:The word translated 'a servant' here refers to a slave, someone who was legally owned by another and whose life was entirely at the master's disposal, not merely an employee.
LUK 17:8
- do serve:The word translated 'do serve' implies active, diligent service, often in a practical or humble capacity, rather than just passive attendance.
LUK 17:9
- thankful:The word translated 'thankful' is closely related to the concept of 'grace' or 'favor,' suggesting a response to a gift or kindness received, not just a general feeling of gratitude.
LUK 17:10
- unworthy:The word translated 'unworthy' carries the sense of being unprofitable or useless, implying that one has not provided any special benefit or earned any special merit.