16:10–11
Verse 10 may have been a common saying that the people of Jesus’ time knew well. If people saw that a man was trustworthy in handling a small responsibility, then they would trust him to handle a large responsibility. Verse 11 is a specific example that is based on this general principle. If a person has not been trustworthy in handling a small responsibility such as earthly wealth, he will not be trustworthy in handling a large responsibility such as heavenly wealth.
16:10a
Whoever is faithful: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Whoever is faithful is literally “The one who is faithful.” It refers to any honest and responsible person, whom both God and people can trust. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
Whoever can be trusted (New International Version)
-or-
A person who can be relied on
-or-
If you are trustworthy
If it is necessary in your language to use an active verb with a subject, you may say:
The person whom ⌊people⌋ can trust
See believe, Meaning 4, in the Glossary.
with very little: The phrase with very little refers here to managing a small matter or fulfilling a minor responsibility. The word little may also refer here to few things or responsibilities. In some languages it may be necessary to supply some of this implied information. For example:
⌊to handle/manage⌋ something that is very small/unimportant
-or-
in fulfilling a minor/small responsibility/task
-or-
in taking care of a few things/matters
16:10b
will also be faithful with much: The phrase will also be faithful with much refers here to managing an important matter or fulfilling a major responsibility. The word much may also refer here to many matters/responsibilities. Your translation of this phrase should be parallel to your translation of 16:10a.
16:10c–d
and: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and here introduces a truth that is parallel to 16:10a–b, but which also contrasts with it. The New Living Translation (2004) uses the conjunction “But.” Use a natural way in your language to connect two ideas that are related in this way.
whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much: These verse parts are parallel to 16:10a–b. If a person is not faithful in managing a small or unimportant matter, he will not be faithful in managing a large or important matter.
dishonest: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as dishonest is the same word that was used in 16:8a–b. Here it refers to someone who is the opposite of faithful/trustworthy. Some other ways to translate this word here are:
cannot be trusted
-or-
is not faithful/trustworthy
General Comment on 16:10a–d
In some languages it will be better style to translate 16:10c–d in a way that is directly parallel to 16:10a–b. In other languages it will be better to use some variation. For example, if you said “a very small matter” in 16:10a, you may say “a few things” in 16:10c.
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