OET interlinear LUKE 15:1

15:1a

15:1b

15:1a–b

Now: In this context the Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as Now introduces a new event and a new topic. It is not a time word here. Introduce the topic in a natural way in your language.

all the tax collectors and sinners: The terms tax collectors and sinners refer to people who were known to be sinful. Many Jews refused to associate with such people. See how you translated this phrase in 7:34.

It is clear from 15:2 that tax collectors were included among those who were called “sinners.”In Greek there is an article before each term (the tax collectors and the sinners). Several scholars point out that the two articles indicate two different groups of people. However, in 15:2, both groups are collectively referred to as “sinners.” In similar passages, such as Mark 2:15–16, these two terms are also used together with a single article, indicating that the two groups were closely associated in people’s minds. In some languages it may be necessary to indicate this connection. For example:

tax collectors and other notorious sinners (NLT)

all: In this context the word all emphasizes that very many tax collectors and other sinners gathered around Jesus. It probably does not indicate that every sinner came. In some languages it may be more natural to make this clear. For example:

many tax collectors and sinners

tax collectors: The Greek word that the BSB translates as tax collectors refers to Jewish men who collected taxes from their fellow Jews for the government. Ordinary Jews despised them because:

1. Tax collectors worked for a government that oppressed the people.

2. Tax collectors often cheated the people by collecting more money than the law required and keeping the extra money for themselves.

If you do not have a word in your language for “tax collectors,” some other ways to describe them are:

men who collected taxes/payment for the government

men who were paid by rulers to collect money for them from people

See how you translated tax collectors in 3:12a. You may also want to include a footnote in your translation to help readers understand why most Jews hated tax collectors.

sinners: The Greek word that the BSB translates as sinners refers to people who habitually disobey God or do not do what he wants them to do. In this context sinners refers to people whom the Pharisees thought were especially sinful. The NIV uses quote marks to indicate that the people had a reputation for being more sinful than others. Some ways to translate sinners here are:

people who habitually sin

people who do not obey God

wrongdoers

The word sinners also occurs in 5:30b.

were gathering around to listen to Jesus: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as were…gathering around means “were approaching” or “were coming near.” The people were coming nearer to Jesus so that they could listen to his teaching. Other ways to translate this are:

were…crowding in to listen to him (REB)

were coming near Him to listen to Him (NASB)