LUKE 3:23 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. Καί
2. kai
3. And
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. PS
10. Y26
11. 40196
1. αὐτός
2. autos
3. himself
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3NMS
7. himself
8. himself
9. -
10. Y26
11. 40197
1. ἦν
2. eimi
3. was
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIIA3··S
7. was
8. was
9. -
10. Y26
11. 40198
1. δέ
2. de
3. -
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. -
11. 40199
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. -
11. 40200
1. Ἰησοῦς
2. iēsous
3. Yaʸsous
4. -
5. 24240
6. N····NMS
7. Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa)
8. Jesus
9. UN
10. Person=Jesus; Y26; F40211
11. 40201
1. ἀρχόμενος
2. arχō
3. beginning
4. -
5. 7570
6. VPPM·NMS
7. beginning
8. beginning
9. -
10. Y26
11. 40202
1. ὡσεί
2. hōsei
3. about
4. about
5. 56160
6. D·······
7. about
8. about
9. -
10. Y26
11. 40203
1. ὡς
2. hōs
3. -
4. -
5. 56130
6. D·······
7. about
8. about
9. -
10. -
11. 40204
1. ἐτῶν
2. etos
3. years
4. -
5. 20940
6. N····GNP
7. years
8. years
9. -
10. Y26
11. 40205
1. τριάκοντα
2. triakonta
3. thirty
4. thirty
5. 51440
6. E····GNP
7. thirty
8. thirty
9. -
10. Y26
11. 40206
1. ἀρχόμενος
2. arχō
3. -
4. -
5. 7570
6. VPPM·NMS
7. beginning
8. beginning
9. -
10. -
11. 40207
1. ὤν
2. eimi
3. being
4. -
5. 15100
6. VPPA·NMS
7. being
8. being
9. -
10. Y26
11. 40208
1. υἱός
2. huios
3. +the son
4. -
5. 52070
6. N····NMS
7. ˓the˒ son
8. ˓the˒ son
9. -
10. Y26
11. 40209
1. ὡς
2. hōs
3. as
4. -
5. 56130
6. C·······
7. as
8. as
9. -
10. Y26
11. 40210
1. ἐνομίζετο
2. nomizō
3. was being thought
4. thought
5. 35430
6. VIIP3··S
7. ˓was_being˒ thought
8. ˓was_being˒ thought
9. -
10. Y26; R40201; Person=Jesus
11. 40211
1. εἶναι
2. eimi
3. -
4. -
5. 15100
6. VNPA····
7. to_be
8. to_be
9. -
10. -
11. 40212
1. υἱός
2. huios
3. -
4. -
5. 52070
6. N····NMS
7. son
8. son
9. -
10. -
11. 40213
1. Ἰωσήφ
2. iōsēf
3. of Yōsaʸf/(Yōşēf)
4. -
5. 25010
6. N····GMS
7. ˱of˲ Yōsaʸf/(Yōşēf)
8. ˱of˲ Joseph
9. U
10. Person=Joseph6; Y26
11. 40214
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. the son
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····GMS
7. the ‹son›
8. the ‹son›
9. -
10. Y26
11. 40215
1. Ἰακώβ
2. iakōb
3. -
4. -
5. 23840
6. N····GMS
7. Yakōb/(Yaˊₐqoⱱ)
8. Jacob
9. U
10. -
11. 40216
1. Ἠλί
2. ēli
3. of Aʸli/(ˊĒlī)
4. -
5. 22420
6. N····GMS
7. ˱of˲ Aʸli/(ˊĒlī)
8. ˱of˲ Eli
9. U
10. Y26
11. 40217

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:23–38: A list of Jesus’ ancestors

There are two lists of names of the ancestors of Jesus in the Gospels. One is here in Luke 3, and the other is in Matthew 1. The two lists are different in several ways.For the lists of names in Matthew and Luke, most names from David to Jesus are different in the two lists. Also, Luke has fifty-seven names between Jesus and Abraham, while Matthew has forty-one. Matthew’s list goes back only to Abraham, but Luke also listed the names back to Adam and mentions that Adam was created by God. Matthew’s list counts forward in time—from ancestor to descendant. Luke’s list counts backward in time—from descendant to ancestor. Matthew’s list shows Jesus as a descendant of the kings in David’s line. Luke’s list shows that Jesus relates to all mankind, going back to Adam. These lists do not contradict each other. Bible scholars have many possible ways to explain these differences. There is not enough information to decide which of the different views of the scholars is correct. It is important to translate each list just as it is.There are textual issues concerning some of the names in 3:24–38: In 3:26, it is recommended that you follow the manuscripts that have “Josech” instead of those that have “Joseph.” In 3:26, it is recommended that you follow the manuscripts that have “Joda” instead of those that have “Judah.” In 3:29 it is recommended that you follow the manuscripts that have “Joshua” instead of those that have “Jose.” In 3:32 there is a textual issue that is discussed in the note on 3:32. In 3:33 there is a textual issue that is discussed in the note on 3:33.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

The Ancestors of Jesus (GW)

The Genealogy of Jesus (NET)

Paragraph 3:23–38

This paragraph contains a list of names of the ancestors of Jesus. Consider how you want to present this list in your translation. In some translations the names of each ancestor may be on a separate line. Present the list in a way that is easy to read and understand.

3:23a-b

Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry.

¶ When Jesus was about thirty years old, he began his public ministry.
¶ When Jesus started to preach, he was about thirty years old.
¶ Jesus began to teach publicly about God when he was about thirty years old.

This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “and.” It introduces background information about Jesus, and so some versions, such as the NIV, translate this conjunction as “now.” However, it does not refer to time. Some other versions, including the BSB, do not translate this word here. Several English versions begin this verse with an introductory clause. For example:

When Jesus began his work (GNT)

Introduce the information in a natural way in your language.

Jesus Himself was about thirty years old: The phrase about thirty years old indicates here that Jesus was approximately thirty years old. Thirty was an approximate number that represents maturity. According to the time period in 3:1–2, Jesus was between twenty-eight and thirty-two years old at that time. It is not clear whether Jesus was exactly thirty years old when he began he public ministry.

when He began His ministry: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as when He began His ministry is literally “Jesus himself beginning.” The BSB has supplied the words “His ministry.” Commentators agree that the phrase refers to the time when Jesus began publicly teaching about God. Before that time, he had worked as a carpenter. When he was approximately thirty years old, he began preaching and teaching publicly.

Some other ways to translate this are:

when he began his public ministry (NLT)

When Jesus began to preach (CEV)

3:23c

He was regarded as the son of Joseph,

People thought that Jesus was the son of Joseph.
Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. (NLT)

He was regarded as the son: In this list, the Greek word that the BSB translates as son occurs explicitly only here. In the rest of the list, this word is only implied.

Note that son can mean sonIn this context, the meaning of son, in addition to physically a son, could also include a son by adoption or by levirate marriage, which was a practice among the Israelites for providing an heir for a dead relative. or “grandson” or “descendant.” For some of the relationships in this list, scholars are not sure what the relationship is. It may be literally father and son or it may be ancestor and descendant.Stated another way, scholars don’t know in every case if the relationship spans just one generation or more than one generation.

regarded as the son of Joseph: Luke has already explained that Joseph was not Jesus’ biological father, but that Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born. However, Joseph was the legal father of Jesus. The phrase regarded as, literally “as it was thought,” means that people thought of Jesus as Joseph’s son. Some people who knew the family may have known that Jesus was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit. Others who knew them may not have known. Either way, people thought of Joseph as his legal father. Some other ways to say this are:

Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. (NLT)

Everyone thought he was the son of Joseph. (CEV)

People thought that Jesus was Joseph’s son. (NCV)

the son of Heli: The BSB has supplied the phrase the son here and throughout the rest of the list. Consider the natural way to express a list of ancestor’s names in your language.

Scholars have different opinions concerning how Luke ties this genealogy to Jesus. Some think this is Mary’s line, and some think it represents Joseph’s.It is beyond the scope of these Notes to outline the thinking that goes into each interpretation.

In some languages it may be necessary to translate it as one or the other. Mary is not explicitly mentioned here. So if you must choose, it is recommended that you translate this with Joseph as the son of Heli. For example:

was the son of Joseph, son of EliHeli and Eli are the same person. These are different ways of spelling the same name. (GW)

Joseph was the son of Heli. (NCV)

3:23d

the son of Heli,

Joseph was the son of Heli.
Joseph’s father was Heli.
Joseph had descended from Heli.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-background

καὶ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί αὐτός ἦν Ἰησοῦς ἀρχόμενος ὡσεί ἐτῶν τριάκοντα ὤν υἱός ὡς ἐνομίζετο Ἰωσήφ τοῦ Ἠλί)

Luke uses the word And to introduce background information about Jesus’ age and ancestors. Alternate translation: [Now]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

αὐτὸς ἦν Ἰησοῦς ἀρχόμενος ὡσεὶ ἐτῶν τριάκοντα

This idiomatic expression could mean: (1) the word beginning is a reference to Jesus starting his own ministry. UST follows this interpretation. Alternate translation: [Jesus himself was about 30 years old when he began his ministry] (2) Luke is saying that Jesus had just turned 30 was when he was baptized. Alternate translation: [Jesus himself was just 30 years old at this time]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ὢν υἱός, ὡς ἐνομίζετο, Ἰωσὴφ

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: [People assumed that he was the son of Joseph]

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

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.