Luke 16:8, what is the accurate translation "age" or "world"?

Question

Luke 16:8 (ASV):

8. {cf6 And his lord commended the unrighteous steward because he had done wisely: for the sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the light.}

Luke 16:8 (DRB):

And the lord commended the unjust steward, forasmuch as he had done wisely: for the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.

Luke 16:8 (LV):

8. et laudavit dominus vilicum iniquitatis quia prudenter fecisset quia filii huius saeculi prudentiores filiis lucis in generatione sua sunt

The phrase: "sons of this world" has the following variations:

• sons, children and people.
• world and age.

What is the most accurate translation?

For example:

• Sons of this world.
• Sons of this age.
• children of this world.
• children of this age.
• people of this world.
• people of this age.

Thus, what is the most accurate translation according to the original Greek manuscripts?

Answer 1

The operative word in Luke 16:8 which is translated either "world" or "age" is αἰῶνος (aiōnos) from the root αἰών (aión). The primary meaning of this word is "age" or "aeon", a period of time. The NAS concordance gives the following meaning:

Word Origin: from a prim. root appar. mean. continued duration Definition: a space of time, an age

BDAG gives four basic meanings for this word, the second of which is the one allocated to Luke 16:8, namely, "a segment of time as a particular unit of history, age", eg, 1 Cor 3:18, Matt 12:32, Mark 4:19, Luke 16:8, etc.

The phase (literally) "sons of this age", is common Hebrew idiom for "people of the present time" or equivalent. See also Luke 20:34.

In a very few places it is also capable (according to BDAG) of meaning, "the world as a special concept, the world", eg, Heb 1:2.