OET interlinear LUKE 24:30

24:30a

In Greek, 24:30a begins with a phrase that means “Then/And it happened that.” Luke used this phrase to introduce what happened in this verse. In this context the phrase may imply that some time passed before they sat down to eat. It may also imply that the events in 24:30b–c are important in this section. Introduce the verse in a natural way in your language.

While He was reclining at the table with them: The clause that the BSB translates as He was reclining at the table with them indicates that Jesus was about to eat with his two followers.This clause is more literally “he was reclining with them.” In that culture people often lay down around a low table to eat a formal meal. However, the word “reclining” is also used as a more general expression for eating together. It was used this way in 9:14–15, where Jesus fed a crowd of more than 5000 people. It is also used in 7:36 and 14:8. If people in your culture do not recline to eat, it is best to use a natural way in your language to refer to eating together. In Greek there is no word for table here, but it is fine to include it if it is natural in your language. Some other ways to translate the clause are:

While he was at the table with them (GW)

After a while, as he was about to eat with them

He sat down to eat with them (GNT)

24:30b

24:30b–c

The four actions in 24:30b–c are very similar to the ones in 9:16 and 22:19. In 9:16 where Jesus fed more than five thousand people, he did these actions. He did them again in 22:19 when he gave the bread to his disciples at the Passover meal. You should translate 24:30b–c in a way similar to the way you translated those verses.

In the context of 24:30, Jesus was a guest in the disciples’ house. It was the custom for the host to thank God for the bread and then distribute it. The disciples probably asked Jesus to do this to honor him. They realized that he was a religious teacher because he had explained the Scriptures to them (24:27).

He took bread: The clause He took bread indicates that Jesus took bread from the table and lifted it in his hands. Some other ways to translate it are:

He took some bread in his hands

He took bread from the table

He took a loaf of bread

This same phrase occurs in 22:19. You may translate it in a similar way here.

bread: The text does not specify what type of bread was used here. It may have been unleavened bread as it was in 22:19. However, since the festivals of Passover and Unleavened Bread were over, it may not have been unleavened. If you have a general word for bread, you may use it here.

spoke a blessing: The Greek word that the BSB translates as spoke a blessing is literally “blessed,” as in 9:16. It is different from the word that the BSB translated as “gave thanks” in 22:19. However, it refers to the same action. It indicates that Jesus prayed to God and thanked him for the bread. He may have said a special blessing over it. Some other ways to translate the word here are:

when he had thanked God for it

spoke a prayer of thanksgiving

For more information, see bless, Meaning 5, in the Glossary.

24:30c

and broke it: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as broke refers to dividing or tearing bread into two or more parts. Jesus used his hands to break the bread, rather than a knife. In that culture, it was the custom for the host to divide bread into several pieces to distribute to the guests. The two disciples had probably asked Jesus to take this role. Translate it in a similar way as you did in 22:19.

and gave it to them: The phrase and gave it to them indicates that Jesus was handing the pieces of bread to the disciples when they recognized him (24:31).Luke did not specify what caused the disciples to recognize Jesus when he gave them the bread. Morris (p. 371) suggests that it may have been something about the way that Jesus did the familiar action “or perhaps they saw the nail-marks in Jesus’ hands for the first time. Or perhaps it was just God’s time.” Marshall (p. 898) says that the language of 24:30 “points irresistibly to the action of Jesus at the last supper (and at the feeding of the multitudes), and serves to identify the stranger to the disciples; their eyes are opened…by God to see the significance of the action and thus to recognise Jesus (contrast 24:16).” Some English versions supply the word “began” to imply the connection between these actions. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

Then he gave it to them. (CEV)

and offered it to them (REB)

and began giving it to them (NASB)