"What is the proper punctuation of the Greek text in Luke 23:43? Should it be punctuated in such a way as to connect sameron ("today") with the verb Lego ("I say"), or with the verb esa ("thou shalt be")?
There were even no divisions either between letters or words in those texts until the ninth century. Neither were there any modern marks of punctuation until the same period, and then only in the Latin version and some cursives. The question raised cannot be answered by any appeal to the original text, so far as the proper place of the comma in this text is concerned.
The matter of the proper interpretation of Luke 23:43 is dealt with under Appendix 173 of "The Companion Bible," Part V. The editor of this edition of the Bible is the well-known scholar, E. W. Bullinger, and it was published at the Oxford University Press. The following quotation deals with this question:
"The interpretation of this verse depends entirely on punctuation, which rests wholly on human authority, the Greek manuscripts having no punctuation of any kind till the ninth century, and then it is only a dot (in the middle of the line) separating each word.
The verb 'to say,' when followed by hoti. introduces the ipsissima verba of what is said; and answers to our quotation marks. So here (in Luke 23:43), in the absence of hoti—that,' there may be a doubt as to the actual words included in the dependent clause. But the doubt is resolved (1) by the common Hebrew idiom, `I say unto thee this day,' which is constantly used for very solemn emphasis . . as well as (2) by the usage observable in other passages where the verb is connected with the Greek sameron—today.' "
Inasmuch as hoti is not found in Luke 23:43, we must determine by other considerations than a late interpretative punctuation or the mere order of the Greek words whether sameron ("today") should be connected with "I say" or with "thou shalt be."
Prof. A. T. Robertson, whose recent death is greatly regretted by all students of the Greek New Testament, makes this explanation of the use of the Greek conjunction hoti: "Direct discourse is far more frequent than indirect in the New Testament. This is true also of the Old Testament and of most popular writers. Prolonged indirect discourse as in Thucydides and Livy is labored and artificial. The Greeks had no quotation marks, but hoti often served this purpose."—"A Short Grammar of the Greek New Testament," p. 181.
Inasmuch as hoti is not used in Luke 23:43, the word "sameron" ("today") is not necessarily a part of the statement following the verb "lego" ("I say").
In his translation of the New Testament, J. B. Rotherham renders this text as follows: "Verily, to thee I say, this day, with Me shalt thou be in the Paradise." From a footnote dealing with the meaning of this verse the following quotation is taken:
"It is left for the reader to determine whether the words 'this day' should be joined
(A) with the former part of the sentence, or
(B) with the latter.
In favor of (A) may be urged
(1) the fact that sameron, 'this day,' does not always stand first in the clause to which it belongs (see Luke 2:11; 5:26; 22:34; Acts 20:26; 22:3; 24:21; 26:29);
(2) that being essentially a demonstrative word, it will bear any reasonable stress which may be laid upon it, whether it be placed before or after the words which it qualifies;
(3) that it is far from meaningless if regarded as belonging to the opening words of asseveration (`Thou dost ask to be remembered then; verily thou art assured now. As on this the day of my weakness and shame, thou hast faith to ask, I this day have authority to answer') ;
(4) that the latter part of the verse is thus left free to refer to the very matter of the supplicant's request (`Thou dost ask to be remembered when I come in My kingdom: thou shalt be remembered then, and with distinguished favor: thou shalt be in My kingdom; shalt be with Me in the very Paradise of My kingdom, in the garden of the Lord')."
It is interesting and instructive to note the use of the words "this day" in connection with the words "I
say" in the Old Testament. In the book of Deuteronomy this expression is attached forty-two times to the verb "to say." It would seem quite natural that this Hebrew idiom, with which our Lord was of course fully acquainted, should be found in His own statement.
There is another consideration which must not be overlooked. Jesus Himself was not in Paradise on the day of the crucifixion, and therefore He could not have intended to assure the penitent thief that they would be together in Paradise on that same day.
There is another large subject which is involved in the interpretation of Luke 23:43,—. the condition of man in death. At the close of life do the righteous go at once to their reward and the wicked to their punishment? Those who have investigated this most important subject are fully aware that writers well known in the theological field can be cited both in the affirmative and in the negative.
----Those who answer in the affirmative can accept the punctuation of this verse which connects "today" with "thou shalt be;"
----but those who answer in the negative must connect "today" with "I say."
In view of what has here been presented, it seems clear that "today" in Luke 23:43 should be connected with "I say," so that the passage, if punctuated at all, should read thus: "Verily I say unto thee today, Thou shalt be with Me in Paradise."
W. W. Prescott-1935
There were even no divisions either between letters or words in those texts until the ninth century. Neither were there any modern marks of punctuation until the same period, and then only in the Latin version and some cursives. The question raised cannot be answered by any appeal to the original text, so far as the proper place of the comma in this text is concerned.
The matter of the proper interpretation of Luke 23:43 is dealt with under Appendix 173 of "The Companion Bible," Part V. The editor of this edition of the Bible is the well-known scholar, E. W. Bullinger, and it was published at the Oxford University Press. The following quotation deals with this question:
"The interpretation of this verse depends entirely on punctuation, which rests wholly on human authority, the Greek manuscripts having no punctuation of any kind till the ninth century, and then it is only a dot (in the middle of the line) separating each word.
The verb 'to say,' when followed by hoti. introduces the ipsissima verba of what is said; and answers to our quotation marks. So here (in Luke 23:43), in the absence of hoti—that,' there may be a doubt as to the actual words included in the dependent clause. But the doubt is resolved (1) by the common Hebrew idiom, `I say unto thee this day,' which is constantly used for very solemn emphasis . . as well as (2) by the usage observable in other passages where the verb is connected with the Greek sameron—today.' "
Inasmuch as hoti is not found in Luke 23:43, we must determine by other considerations than a late interpretative punctuation or the mere order of the Greek words whether sameron ("today") should be connected with "I say" or with "thou shalt be."
Prof. A. T. Robertson, whose recent death is greatly regretted by all students of the Greek New Testament, makes this explanation of the use of the Greek conjunction hoti: "Direct discourse is far more frequent than indirect in the New Testament. This is true also of the Old Testament and of most popular writers. Prolonged indirect discourse as in Thucydides and Livy is labored and artificial. The Greeks had no quotation marks, but hoti often served this purpose."—"A Short Grammar of the Greek New Testament," p. 181.
Inasmuch as hoti is not used in Luke 23:43, the word "sameron" ("today") is not necessarily a part of the statement following the verb "lego" ("I say").
In his translation of the New Testament, J. B. Rotherham renders this text as follows: "Verily, to thee I say, this day, with Me shalt thou be in the Paradise." From a footnote dealing with the meaning of this verse the following quotation is taken:
"It is left for the reader to determine whether the words 'this day' should be joined
(A) with the former part of the sentence, or
(B) with the latter.
In favor of (A) may be urged
(1) the fact that sameron, 'this day,' does not always stand first in the clause to which it belongs (see Luke 2:11; 5:26; 22:34; Acts 20:26; 22:3; 24:21; 26:29);
(2) that being essentially a demonstrative word, it will bear any reasonable stress which may be laid upon it, whether it be placed before or after the words which it qualifies;
(3) that it is far from meaningless if regarded as belonging to the opening words of asseveration (`Thou dost ask to be remembered then; verily thou art assured now. As on this the day of my weakness and shame, thou hast faith to ask, I this day have authority to answer') ;
(4) that the latter part of the verse is thus left free to refer to the very matter of the supplicant's request (`Thou dost ask to be remembered when I come in My kingdom: thou shalt be remembered then, and with distinguished favor: thou shalt be in My kingdom; shalt be with Me in the very Paradise of My kingdom, in the garden of the Lord')."
It is interesting and instructive to note the use of the words "this day" in connection with the words "I
There is another consideration which must not be overlooked. Jesus Himself was not in Paradise on the day of the crucifixion, and therefore He could not have intended to assure the penitent thief that they would be together in Paradise on that same day.
There is another large subject which is involved in the interpretation of Luke 23:43,—. the condition of man in death. At the close of life do the righteous go at once to their reward and the wicked to their punishment? Those who have investigated this most important subject are fully aware that writers well known in the theological field can be cited both in the affirmative and in the negative.
----Those who answer in the affirmative can accept the punctuation of this verse which connects "today" with "thou shalt be;"
----but those who answer in the negative must connect "today" with "I say."
In view of what has here been presented, it seems clear that "today" in Luke 23:43 should be connected with "I say," so that the passage, if punctuated at all, should read thus: "Verily I say unto thee today, Thou shalt be with Me in Paradise."
W. W. Prescott-1935