Lukas 17:9-10

17:9 He won’t thank the slave because he did what he was told, ¹  will he? ²  17:10 So you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, ‘We are slaves undeserving of special praise; ³  we have only done what was our duty.’” ⁴ 

[17:9]  ¹ tn Grk “did what was commanded.”

[17:9]  ² tn The Greek construction anticipates a negative reply which is indicated in the translation by the ‘tag’ at the end, “will he?” Thanks are not required.

[17:10]  ³ tn Some translations describe the slaves as “worthless” (NRSV) or “unworthy” (NASB, NIV) but that is not Jesus’ point. These disciples have not done anything deserving special commendation or praise (L&N 33.361), but only what would normally be expected of a slave in such a situation (thus the translation “we have only done what was our duty”).

[17:10]  ⁴ tn Or “we have only done what we were supposed to do.”