(KJV)
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
(NASB2020)
But the tax collector, astanding some distance away, bwas even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but cwas beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be ▼merciful to me, the sinner!’
(NET2full)
The
tax collector,
however,
stood ▼▼tn Grk “standing”; the Greek participle has been translated as a finite verb.
far off and
would not even look up ▼▼tn Grk “even lift up his eyes” (an idiom).
to heaven,
but beat his breast and
said, ‘
God,
be merciful ▼▼tn The prayer is a humble call for forgiveness. The term for mercy (
ἱλάσκομαι,
hilaskomai) is associated with the concept of a request for atonement (BDAG 473-74 s.v. 1;
Pss 51:1,
3;
25:11;
34:6,
18).
to
me,
sinner that I am!’
▼▼tn Grk “the sinner.” The tax collector views himself not just as any sinner but as the worst of all sinners. See
ExSyn 222-23.
