Luke 12:14
New International Version
Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”

New Living Translation
Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?”

English Standard Version
But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

Berean Standard Bible
But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”

Berean Literal Bible
And He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or partitioner over you?"

King James Bible
And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

New King James Version
But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

New American Standard Bible
But He said to him, “You there—who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over the two of you?”

NASB 1995
But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

NASB 1977
But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbiter over you?”

Legacy Standard Bible
But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

Amplified Bible
But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or an arbitrator over [the two of] you?”

Christian Standard Bible
“Friend,” he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Friend,” He said to him, “who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

American Standard Version
But he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

Contemporary English Version
Jesus answered, "Who gave me the right to settle arguments between you and your brother?"

English Revised Version
But he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus said to him, "Who appointed me to be your judge or to divide [your inheritance]?"

Good News Translation
Jesus answered him, "Friend, who gave me the right to judge or to divide the property between you two?"

International Standard Version
But Jesus asked him, "Mister, who appointed me to be a judge or arbitrator over you people?"

Majority Standard Bible
But Jesus replied, ?Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you??

NET Bible
But Jesus said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator between you two?"

New Heart English Bible
But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to him, Man, who made me a judge, or a divider over you?

Weymouth New Testament
"Man," He replied, "who has constituted me a judge or arbitrator over you?"

World English Bible
But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He said to him, “Man, who set Me a judge or a divider over you?”

Berean Literal Bible
And He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or partitioner over you?"

Young's Literal Translation
And he said to him, 'Man, who set me a judge or a divider over you?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he said to him, Man, who appointed me judge or distributer over you.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But he said to him: Man, who hath appointed me judge, or divider, over you?

Catholic Public Domain Version
But he said to him, “Man, who has appointed me as judge or arbitrator over you?”

New American Bible
He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”

New Revised Standard Version
But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Jesus said to him, Man, who appointed me a judge or a property divider over you?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But Yeshua said to him, “Man, who has set me as a judge and a divider over you?”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But he said to him: Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

Godbey New Testament
And He said to him; Man, who established me judge or a divider over you?

Haweis New Testament
But he said to him, Man, who made me a judge and a divider among you?

Mace New Testament
but Jesus answer'd him, who made me a judge, or an arbitrator between you?

Weymouth New Testament
"Man," He replied, "who has constituted me a judge or arbitrator over you?"

Worrell New Testament
But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or a divider over you?"

Worsley New Testament
Man, who set me over you as a judge or divider?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?” 15And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”…

Cross References
Matthew 20:25-28
But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. / It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— ...

Mark 10:42-45
So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. / But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. ...

John 18:36
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”

1 Corinthians 6:1-8
If any of you has a grievance against another, how dare he go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints! / Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? / Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! ...

James 4:1-3
What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? / You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask. / And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.

Romans 12:17-19
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. / If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. / Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. / Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 Peter 5:2-3
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; / not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Acts 6:1-4
In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. / So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. / Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them ...

1 Timothy 6:6-10
Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. / For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. / But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. ...

Proverbs 15:16-17
Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. / Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12
He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. / When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes? / The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Isaiah 2:22
Put no more trust in man, who has only the breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?

Jeremiah 22:13-17
“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages, / who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion. / Does it make you a king to excel in cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He administered justice and righteousness, and so it went well with him. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And he said to him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

Man.

Luke 22:58
And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

Romans 2:1,3
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things…

Romans 9:20
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

who.

Exodus 2:14
And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

John 6:15
When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

John 8:11
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

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Appointed Arbiter Constituted Decisions Established Jesus Judge Maker
Luke 12
1. Jesus preaches to his apostles to avoid hypocrisy
13. and warns against covetousness, by the parable of the man who set up greater barns.
22. We must not worry about earthly things,
31. but seek the kingdom of God;
33. give alms;
35. be ready at a knock to open to our Lord whensoever he comes.
41. Jesus' disciples are to see to their charges,
49. and look for persecution.
54. The people must take this time of grace;
57. because it is a fearful thing to die without reconciliation.














But Jesus replied
The phrase begins with Jesus' response, indicating a direct engagement with the person addressing Him. The Greek word for "replied" is "ἀποκριθεὶς" (apokritheis), which implies a thoughtful and deliberate answer. Jesus often used such responses to teach deeper truths, emphasizing His role as a teacher and prophet rather than a mere arbitrator of earthly disputes.

Man
The use of "Man" here is significant. The Greek word "ἄνθρωπε" (anthrope) is a general term for a human being, highlighting the universality of Jesus' message. It suggests a level of detachment, as Jesus addresses the individual not by name but by his shared humanity, pointing to the broader application of His teachings beyond the immediate context.

who appointed Me
This phrase questions the authority given to Jesus in this specific context. The Greek "τίς με κατέστησεν" (tis me katestēsen) implies a formal appointment or setting in place. Jesus is challenging the assumption that His mission includes settling personal disputes, redirecting focus to His divine purpose.

judge
The term "judge" in Greek is "κριτὴν" (kritēn), which refers to someone who makes decisions or resolves disputes. In the Jewish context, judges were respected leaders who interpreted the law. Jesus' rhetorical question underscores that His mission transcends earthly legal matters, focusing instead on spiritual truths and the Kingdom of God.

or executor
The word "executor" is translated from the Greek "μεριστὴν" (meristēn), meaning a divider or arbitrator. This role involves distributing or dividing property, a common legal function in disputes over inheritance. Jesus' refusal to act as an executor highlights His focus on eternal matters rather than temporal concerns.

between you?
The phrase "between you" indicates the personal nature of the dispute. The Greek "μεταξὺ ὑμῶν" (metaxy hymōn) suggests a division or conflict within a community or family. Jesus' question redirects attention from interpersonal conflicts to the greater spiritual issues at hand, encouraging His listeners to seek reconciliation and unity through His teachings.

(14) Man, who made me a judge . . .?--This is the only instance of our Lord's so addressing one who had come to Him as a questioner. As in Romans 2:1; Romans 2:3, the form, "O man," was one which expressed grave censure and indignation. Was it for this that men came to Him instead of seeking for the kingdom of God? He accordingly distinctly repudiates any but the purely spiritual aspect of a scribe's work, and will neither act publicly as judge nor privately as arbitrator. (Comp. John 8:11.)



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[Jesus] replied,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Man,
Ἄνθρωπε (Anthrōpe)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

who
τίς (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

appointed
κατέστησεν (katestēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2525: From kata and histemi; to place down, i.e. to designate, constitute, convoy.

Me
με (me)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

judge
κριτὴν (kritēn)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2923: A judge, magistrate, ruler. From krino; a judge.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

executor
μεριστὴν (meristēn)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3312: A divider, partitioner, distributor. From merizo; an apportioner.

between
ἐφ’ (eph’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

you?”
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.


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