New American Standard Bible 1995

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Luke

12

:

15

Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
Then and, even, also Conj H2532 καὶ kai
He said to say H3004    
to them, "Beware, to see, perceive, attend to V-PMA-2P H3708 ὁρᾶτε orate
and be on your guard to guard, watch V-PMM-2P H5442 φυλάσσεσθε phulassesthe
against from, away from Prep H575 ἀπὸ apo
every form all, every Adj-GFS H3956 πάσης pasēs
of greed; advantage, covetousness N-GFS H4124 πλεονεξίας pleonexias
for not [even] when in, on, at, by, with Prep H1722 ἐν en
one a certain one, someone, anyone IPro-DMS H5100 τινὶ tini
Analysis:

One: God

Refers to HaShem (God), Who is One. This number can also refer to unity. The first place the number "one" occurs is in Genesis 1:5. There one reads, "And there was an evening and there was a morning— one day". Later on in this same book of Genesis, it is stated concerning the man and his wife, "And they became one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). It is very significant that in both of these examples there was a multiplicity for the subject. In the first example, the evening and the morning became one day and in the second example, it was Adam and Eve who became one flesh.

One of the most famous passages in the Torah concerning HaShem is Deuteronomy 6:4 which states, "Hear O Israel the Lord your God the Lord is One." The question that a person must ask himself is what is the connection between the use of the Hebrew word אחד "one" which identifies a multiplicity being one and the fact that the Lord God of Israel is One? The answer is that the Hebrew word אחד can relate to the concept for one as in "unification". There is another Hebrew word that would have been possible to be used if the author wanted to refer to an absolute oneness or singleness. This is the Hebrew word יחיד. In fact, there is a well-known prayer in Judaism which states, "אחד ואין יחיד כיחודו". This phrase should be translated as, "(God is) One and there is no singularity as His singularity." The idea that is being expressed in this prayer is that the Lord God of Israel is One; but not an absolute One; rather there is a uniqueness and a complexity to His Oneness.

The number one is frequently employed to express in the Scriptures one object, such as one man or one tabernacle. This usage would be the simple or common purpose that the number one or for that matter any number, would appear in a Biblical text. Often the appearance of a number does not contain any of the significance that Hebrew numerology might offer. Therefore, the reader must always consider when coming across a verse which contains a number, that the number only expresses an amount and no additional significance. 

Because the number one is often associated with God, there is a unique phenomenon in the Scriptures concerning this number. Sometimes the number one is employed to express a unique relationship that the object has to HaShem. For example,

"And it will be one day, it will be known to HaShem..." Zechariah 14:7

In the text above, Zechariah could have stated simply, "And it will be a day…" The fact that the prophet said "one day" is to convey that this day is uniquely related to God. Similarly, it is stated by the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 37, "one King", "one nation" and "one Shepherd" (see Ezekiel 37:22, 24). Each of these objects—King, nation and Shepherd—has a connection to HaShem. The King and Shepherd is Messiah Yeshua, the Son of God and the one nation is Israel, the people of God.

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

has an abundance to be over and above, to abound V-PNA H4052 περισσεύειν perisseuein
does his life life N-NFS H2222 ζωὴ zōē
consist I exist, I am V-PIA-3S H1510    
of his possessions." to begin, to be ready or at hand, to be V-PPA-GNP H5225    

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."
King James Bible Then He And he said to unto them, "Beware, Take heed, and be on your guard against every form beware of greed; covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not even when one has an in the abundance does his life consist of his possessions."the things which he possesseth.
Berean Bible Then And He said to them, "Beware, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; keep yourselves from all covetousness; for not even when one has an to anyone is his life in the abundance does his life consist of his possessions."that which he possesses.”
Hebrew Greek English Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."