The Widow's Offering
Luke 21:1-4
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Luke.21.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Αναβλεψας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- δε: CONJ
- ειδεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- βαλλοντας: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,m,pl
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- γαζοφυλακιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- δωρα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- πλουσιους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 12:41-44 (verbal): Nearly identical narration of Jesus observing people putting gifts into the treasury and the ensuing contrast with the widow’s offering (verbal and situational parallel).
- Luke 21:2-4 (structural): Immediate literary continuation in Luke: the account of the poor widow’s two mites follows verse 1 and completes the contrast between rich donors and the widow’s sacrificial gift.
- Luke 12:33-34 (thematic): Jesus’ teaching to ‘sell your possessions and give to the poor’ and to store treasures in heaven relates thematically to the issue of giving, treasure, and true worth displayed in the treasury scene.
- Matthew 6:2-4 (thematic): Instruction on almsgiving and the importance of motive (giving in secret rather than for show) connects thematically to the gospel’s interest in the quality and intent of gifts placed in the temple treasury.
Alternative generated candidates
- He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury.
- He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury.
Luke.21.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειδεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- τινα: PRON,acc,sg,m
- χηραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- πενιχραν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- βαλλουσαν: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,sg,f
- εκει: ADV
- λεπτα: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- δυο: NUM,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 12:41-44 (verbal): Parallel account of Jesus observing a poor widow's small offering (two lepta); shares close verbal and narrative correspondence with Luke's report.
- Luke 21:1-4 (structural): Immediate pericope containing verse 2; situates the widow's gift within Luke's narrative and Jesus' remark about sacrificial giving.
- 1 Kings 17:8-16 (thematic): Story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath highlights themes of a widow's poverty, sacrificial giving of her last provisions, and divine provision—resonant with the motif of the poor widow's offering.
- James 1:27 (thematic): Calls true religion to care for orphans and widows in their suffering; thematically connects to NT concern for widows and the moral weight of their treatment and offerings.
- Deuteronomy 24:19 (thematic): Law commanding leave of gleanings for the poor and the widow; echoes Israelite concern for widows' welfare, framing the social-religious background to the Gospel scene.
Alternative generated candidates
- He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two small copper coins.
- And he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
Luke.21.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ειπεν·Αληθως: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- οτι: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- χηρα: NOUN,nom,sg,fem
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- πτωχη: ADJ,nom,sg,fem
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- πλειον: ADV,comp
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- εβαλεν·: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 12:41-44 (verbal): Parallel narrative of the widow's offering; language and conclusion (the poor widow put in more than all) closely mirror Luke's wording.
- Luke 21:1-4 (structural): Immediate context in Luke: the fuller narrative of Jesus observing the donors and commendation of the poor widow; v.3 is the concluding statement of this scene.
- 2 Corinthians 8:2-5 (thematic): Paul praises the Macedonian churches for giving beyond their means out of extreme poverty—thematic parallel to the widow's sacrificial, disproportionate gift.
- James 1:27 (thematic): Links true religion to care for orphans and widows; thematically connected to Jesus' attention to and commendation of the widow.
- Deuteronomy 10:18 (thematic): Old Testament background emphasizing God's care for the widow and orphan, providing ethical context for the special status of the widow in Jesus' example.
Alternative generated candidates
- He said, 'Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.'
- And he said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them."
Luke.21.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- γαρ: PART
- ουτοι: PRO,nom,pl,m
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- περισσευοντος: PART,pres,act,gen,sg,m
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- εβαλον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- δωρα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- υστερηματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αυτης: PRO,gen,sg,f
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- βιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ον: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- ειχεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- εβαλεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 12:41-44 (verbal): Direct parallel account of the widow's offering (the 'two small coins'); wording and narrative point closely match Luke's story, emphasizing the widow's sacrificial giving.
- Luke 20:45-47 (structural): Immediate contextual link in Luke: Jesus warns against scribes who 'devour widows' houses,' setting up a contrast between exploitative religious leaders and the faithful widow.
- Matthew 6:1-4 (thematic): Jesus' teaching on giving alms in secret and avoiding ostentation connects thematically to the widow's humble, sincere gift and Jesus' concern for motives in charity.
- James 1:27 (thematic): James' definition of true religion—caring for orphans and widows—resonates with the story's focus on the moral and religious significance of attention to vulnerable widows.
Alternative generated candidates
- For all of them gave out of their abundance to God's offerings, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on.
- For they all gave out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on.
And he looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury.
He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them."
For all of them gave out of their abundance; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on.