LUKE 21:23 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. οὐαί
2. ouai
3. woe
4. -
5. 37590
6. I·······
7. woe
8. woe
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58346
1. Δέ
2. de
3. And
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y33
11. 58347
1. ταῖς
2. ho
3. to the women
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····DFP
7. ˱to˲ the ‹women›
8. ˱to˲ the ‹women›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58348
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58349
1. γαστρί
2. gastēr
3. womb
4. -
5. 10640
6. N····DFS
7. womb
8. womb
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58350
1. ἐχούσαις
2. eχō
3. having child
4. -
5. 21920
6. VPPA·DFP
7. having ‹child›
8. having ‹child›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58351
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58352
1. ταῖς
2. ho
3. to the women
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····DFP
7. ˱to˲ the ‹women›
8. ˱to˲ the ‹women›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58353
1. θηλαζούσαις
2. thēlazō
3. nursing
4. -
5. 23370
6. VPPA·DFP
7. nursing
8. nursing
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58354
1. θηλαζομέναις
2. thēlazō
3. -
4. -
5. 23370
6. VPPM·DFP
7. nursing
8. nursing
9. -
10. -
11. 58355
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58356
1. ἐκείναις
2. ekeinos
3. those
4. -
5. 15650
6. E····DFP
7. those
8. those
9. -
10. Y33; R58336
11. 58357
1. ταῖς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DFP
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58358
1. ἡμέραις
2. hēmera
3. days
4. time
5. 22500
6. N····DFP
7. days
8. days
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58359
1. ἔσται
2. eimi
3. will be
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIFM3··S
7. will_be
8. will_be
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58360
1. γάρ
2. gar
3. because/for
4. because
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for
8. for
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58361
1. ἐν
2. en
3. -
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. -
11. 58362
1. ἐκείναις
2. ekeinos
3. -
4. -
5. 15650
6. E····DFP
7. those
8. those
9. -
10. -
11. 58363
1. ταῖς
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DFP
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. -
11. 58364
1. ἡμέραις
2. hēmera
3. -
4. -
5. 22500
6. N····DFP
7. days
8. days
9. -
10. -
11. 58365
1. ἀνάγκη
2. anagkē
3. hardship
4. -
5. 3180
6. N····NFS
7. hardship
8. hardship
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58366
1. μεγάλη
2. megalos
3. great
4. -
5. 31730
6. A····NFS
7. great
8. great
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58367
1. ἐπί
2. epi
3. on
4. -
5. 19090
6. P·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58368
1. τῆς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58369
1. γῆς
2. gē
3. land
4. -
5. 10930
6. N····GFS
7. land
8. land
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58370
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58371
1. ὀργή
2. orgē
3. severe anger
4. severe anger
5. 37090
6. N····NFS
7. severe_anger
8. wrath
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58372
1. ἐν
2. en
3. -
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. -
11. 58373
1. τῷ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58374
1. λαῷ
2. laos
3. on people
4. people
5. 29920
6. N····DMS
7. ˱on˲ people
8. ˱on˲ people
9. -
10. Y33; F58378; F58385
11. 58375
1. τούτῳ
2. houtos
3. this
4. -
5. 37780
6. E····DMS
7. this
8. this
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58376

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 21:5–38: Jesus taught about what would happen in the future

After the events of the preceding section, some of Jesus’ disciples were admiring the beautiful stones and gifts that people used to adorn the Temple. Jesus told them that one day the Temple would be completely destroyed. Enemies would attack Jerusalem and destroy the Temple.In A.D. 70, the Jews rebelled against the Romans, and the Roman destroyed the temple. Jesus also told them about other things that would happen in the future. He told them that after these things happened, he would return to earth in power and great glory. He warned his disciples to pray so that they would be able to endure the future troubles and be ready to meet him when he comes again.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it. Some examples of other headings are:

The Jerusalem temple would soon be destroyed

The destruction of the temple and the coming times of trouble

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 24:1–35 and Mark 13:1–31.

Paragraph 21:20–24

In this paragraph Jesus began a new topic. In 21:12–19 he had talked about the persecution that his disciples would endure before the end. In this paragraph Jesus talked about the future time when an army would attack the city of Jerusalem and destroy it.It is possible that this passage will have two fulfillments. The first application referred to the time when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D. This happened about forty years after people had crucified Jesus. Many Christians think that Jerusalem will be attacked again in the last days of this age. This would be a second fulfillment of this prediction. Jesus warned his disciples to escape when they saw armies gathering around Jerusalem.

21:23a

How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!

What a terrible time that will be for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding their babies!
Pity women who are expecting babies and mothers caring for infants in those days!
Oh cry for the pregnant women and nursing mothers! Those days will be very hard for them!

How miserable: The Greek word that the BSB translates as How miserable is a lament. It is an exclamation of sorrow and pity. Some versions translate this Greek word with the English words “woe” (NRSV) or “alas” (RSV). Jesus lamented that it will be a terrible time for women who are pregnant or nursing babies. They will suffer greatly. Other ways to translate this lament are:

How terrible…! (GNT)

Greatly to be pitied are…

Pity so much…

Alas for…

Languages have different ways to express laments like this. Express it in a natural way in your language.

those days: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as those days refers to the time that Jesus spoke of in 21:20a–21:22b. At that time enemy armies will surround Jerusalem in order to attack and destroy it. Then people will have to leave Jerusalem and escape to the hills and mountains of Judea. Another way to translate this phrase is:

at that time

for pregnant and nursing mothers: It will be a terrible time for women who are expecting babies and for mothers taking care of infants. They will suffer greatly because it will be very hard for them to run away quickly. It will be hard for them to escape the armies that are coming to destroy Jerusalem.

In some languages it may be necessary to use indirect expressions to refer to pregnant women and nursing mothers. Use expressions that are suitable for public reading.

nursing mothers: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as nursing mothers refers to women whose babies are still at the age when they nurse at the breast. But the important point here is not the act of breast-feeding. It is the fact that these mothers need to take care of an infant while they try to escape the armies. In some languages it may be natural to refer to this fact directly. For example:

mothers with little babies (GNT)

mothers taking care of infants

21:23b

For there will be great distress upon the land

In this/our^(incl) land there will be terrible grief/suffering,
People will suffer greatly in the land of Judea/Israel

For: In the Greek text, 21:23b begins with the conjunction that the BSB translates as For. Here it introduces the explanation for Jesus’ lament in 21:23a. Another way to translate this conjunction is:

I say this because

Some other English versions do not translate this conjunction. Begin the explanation in a natural way in your language.

there will be great distress upon the land: This statement means that the people in the land will be greatly distressed. They will suffer terribly during the time when the armies surround Jerusalem and attack it. Another way to translate this clause is:

Everywhere in the land people will suffer horribly (CEV)

the land: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the land refers primarily here to the land of Judea, the province in which the city of Jerusalem was located. Judea was mentioned in 21:21a. However, the suffering would affect the whole land of Israel, where the Jewish people lived.

21:23c

and wrath against this people.

as God’s wrath/judgment falls on this people.
because God will punish them.

and: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as and introduces the cause of the distress in 21:23b. The people of Israel would experience great distress and suffering because God was angry with them. In some languages it may be more natural to use a different conjunction to connect 21:23b and 21:23c. Use a natural way to express the connection in your language. See the translation examples in the next note.

wrath against this people: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as wrath against this people refers to God’s anger toward the Jewish people because of their sins. It also refers to the way he would punish them by allowing the soldiers to attack them and kill many of them. Some other ways to translate this are:

and in his anger God will punish this people

as God shows his anger against his people

there will be wrath against this people

Translate this phrase in a way that is natural in your language.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ταῖς ἐν γαστρὶ ἐχούσαις

˱to˲_the_‹women› in ˱to˲_the_‹women› ¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὐαί Δέ ταῖς ἐν γαστρί ἐχούσαις καί ταῖς θηλαζούσαις ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις ἔσται γάρ ἀνάγκη μεγάλη ἐπί τῆς γῆς καί ὀργή τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ)

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: [to women who are pregnant]

ταῖς θηλαζούσαις

˱to˲_the_‹women› ˱to˲_the_‹women› nursing

This does not mean babies who are nursing. Alternate translation: [to the mothers who are nursing their babies]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις

in in those ¬the days

Jesus is using the term days to refer to a specific time. Alternate translation: [at that time]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὐαί Δέ ταῖς ἐν γαστρί ἐχούσαις καί ταῖς θηλαζούσαις ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις ἔσται γάρ ἀνάγκη μεγάλη ἐπί τῆς γῆς καί ὀργή τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ)

Jesus uses the word For to introduce the reason why it will be very difficult for pregnant women and nursing mothers at this time. If it would be helpful in your language, you could put the sentence that this word introduces first in the verse, since it gives the reason for the results that the other sentence in the verse describes.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

ἔσται & ἀνάγκη μεγάλη ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ὀργὴ τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ

will_be & hardship great (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὐαί Δέ ταῖς ἐν γαστρί ἐχούσαις καί ταῖς θηλαζούσαις ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις ἔσται γάρ ἀνάγκη μεγάλη ἐπί τῆς γῆς καί ὀργή τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ)

If the word land means the people who live in the land (See: note below), then these two phrases mean basically the same thing. Jesus may be using repetition for emphasis. If it would be helpful in your language, you could combine these phrases. Alternate translation: [God will angrily punish the people who live in this land by making them suffer greatly]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἔσται & ἀνάγκη μεγάλη ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς

The term land could be: (1) a figurative reference to the people who live there. Alternate translation: [the people who live in this land will suffer greatly] (2) literal. Alternate translation: [there will be physical disasters in the land]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἔσται & ἀνάγκη μεγάλη ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun distress with a verb such as “suffer.” Alternate translation: [the people who live in this land will suffer greatly]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

καὶ ὀργὴ τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ

Jesus is using the word wrath to mean what God will do in his wrath. Alternate translation: [and God will angrily punish this people]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. And
2. -
3. 11610
4. S
5. de
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y33
11. 58347
1. woe
2. -
3. 37590
5. ouai
6. I-·······
7. woe
8. woe
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58346
1. to the women
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. R-····DFP
7. ˱to˲ the ‹women›
8. ˱to˲ the ‹women›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58348
1. having child
2. -
3. 21920
5. eχō
6. V-PPA·DFP
7. having ‹child›
8. having ‹child›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58351
1. in
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58349
1. womb
2. -
3. 10640
5. gastēr
6. N-····DFS
7. womb
8. womb
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58350
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58352
1. to the women
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. R-····DFP
7. ˱to˲ the ‹women›
8. ˱to˲ the ‹women›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58353
1. nursing
2. -
3. 23370
5. thēlazō
6. V-PPA·DFP
7. nursing
8. nursing
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58354
1. in
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58356
1. those
2. -
3. 15650
5. ekeinos
6. E-····DFP
7. those
8. those
9. -
10. Y33; R58336
11. 58357
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····DFP
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58358
1. days
2. time
3. 22500
5. hēmera
6. N-····DFP
7. days
8. days
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58359
1. because/for
2. because
3. 10630
5. gar
6. C-·······
7. for
8. for
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58361
1. will be
2. -
3. 15100
5. eimi
6. V-IFM3··S
7. will_be
8. will_be
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58360
1. great
2. -
3. 31730
5. megalos
6. A-····NFS
7. great
8. great
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58367
1. hardship
2. -
3. 3180
5. anagkē
6. N-····NFS
7. hardship
8. hardship
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58366
1. on
2. -
3. 19090
5. epi
6. P-·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58368
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58369
1. land
2. -
3. 10930
5. gē
6. N-····GFS
7. land
8. land
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58370
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58371
1. severe anger
2. severe anger
3. 37090
5. orgē
6. N-····NFS
7. severe_anger
8. wrath
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58372
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····DMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58374
1. on
2. people
3. 29920
5. laos
6. N-····DMS
7. ˱on˲ people
8. ˱on˲ people
9. -
10. Y33; F58378; F58385
11. 58375
1. this
2. -
3. 37780
5. houtos
6. E-····DMS
7. this
8. this
9. -
10. Y33
11. 58376
1. people
2. people
3. 29920
5. laos
6. N-····DMS
7. ˱on˲ people
8. ˱on˲ people
9. -
10. Y33; F58378; F58385
11. 58375

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.