OET interlinear LUKE 7:22

7:22

Jesus did not ignore the question that John’s disciples asked (7:20). He wanted them to see the miracles that he was doing (7:21). It was on this basis that he replied to them here in 7:22.

7:22a

7:22b

7:22a–b

So: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as So is often translated as “and.” Here it introduces what Jesus did next. He answered the messengers from John. He used the miracles that he had been doing as the basis for his answer. Some English versions translate this connection as “And” (RSV) or “Then” (NLT). Some other English versions do not translate it (GNT). Connect this verse to 7:21 in a way that is natural in your language.

He replied: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as He replied is literally “replying, he said to them.” Your language may require you to specify to whom Jesus replied. You could say “them,” or you could use another word or expression to clarify that this refers to the men whom John had sent. In your translation, use an expression that clearly refers to the two men mentioned in 7:18b and 7:20a. Other ways to translate this are:

he replied to the messengers (NIV)

he told John’s disciples (NLT)

7:22c

The blind receive sight: The phrase The blind receive sight means “people who were blind can now see.”

the lame walk: The phrase the lame walk means “people who could not walk can now walk.”

lame: A lame person is someone who is permanently unable to walk.

7:22d

the lepers are cleansed: This clause is passive. Some other ways to translate it are:

those who have leprosy become well

lepers receive cleansing/healing

People who have leprosy are being healed (CEV)

lepers: The Greek word that the BSB translates as lepers could describe people who had several different skin diseases. Scholars disagree as to whether these diseases included what modern medicine calls leprosy (Hansen’s disease). They agree that in New Testament times the Greek word referred to dreaded skin diseases. People believed that these diseases were spread by contact with someone who had the disease. A person who had one of these diseases was also considered ritually unclean. Some ways to translate this word are:

• Use a general phrase that describes the nature or significance of the disease. For example:

  dreaded skin diseases (GNT)

  serious skin diseases

  contagious skin diseases

• Use a term that refers specifically to leprosy. For example:

  leprosy

  something like leprosy

A term that refers specifically to leprosy may be appropriate in areas where readers are already familiar with the term “leprosy.” If you decide to use a word that means “leprosy,” it is recommended that you add a footnote to give more information. For example:

The disease that is mentioned here refers to various contagious and dreaded skin diseases. A person who had one of these diseases was considered ritually unclean. According to the Jewish law, he was not allowed to associate with other people or to worship in the Temple.

See the notes on 4:27a and 5:12b.

cleansed: The Greek word that the BSB translates literally as cleansed refers to the lepers’ status under the Law of Moses. People who had leprosy were ritually unclean or impure. They were not allowed to participate in public religious ceremonies or to worship God in the temple. They had to live away from other people who did not have this disease. When they were healed, they became ritually clean, and then they were allowed to enter the temple again and participate in community activities.

Here are several ways to translate the word cleansed here:

• Translate both the idea of healing and the idea of becoming ritually pure. For example:

  healed and ritually cleansed

• Translate only the idea of healing here. For example:

  cured (NIV)

• Translate only the idea of becoming ritually pure. For example:

  made ritually clean/pure

See the notes on 4:27b and 5:12d.

7:22e

the deaf hear: The phrase the deaf hear means “deaf people become able to hear again.”

the dead are raised: This clause is passive. In some languages it may be necessary to translate this without using a passive verb. For example:

people who have died become alive again

dead people have come back to life

7:22f

the good news is preached to the poor: This is a passive clause. Some other ways to translate it in this context are:

poor people hear the Good News (GW)

the poor have good news proclaimed to them (NET)

I am telling good news to poor people

Jesus told good news to poor people. The clause good news is preached to the poor occurs in a list that mostly includes miracles. Jesus listed different things that the Old Testament said that the Messiah would do. See Isaiah 61:1–2 and Luke 4:18–19. Jesus implied that he was showing that he was the Messiah by doing those things.

preached: The word preached here means to proclaim or tell good news. Use a word in your language that is natural for telling good news to people. Do not use a word that refers only to what a preacher does in church.

the poor: The Greek word that the BSB translates as the poor normally refers to people who lack enough food, clothing, or other necessities. It can also refer to people who are needy in other ways. They may lack status, or they may be oppressed by other people. In the Bible the poor often refers to people who know that they need God to help them.

In this context, Jesus referred to the people that he preached to. These people were poor in different ways. If possible, use a word that can refer to different types of poverty, including spiritual needs. If your usual term for poor people is not used in other senses, you might choose a more general term. For example:

those in need (JBP)

those who are in want

those who are without resources

See how you translated poor in 6:20b.