OET interlinear LUKE 7:29

7:29–30

There are two views about who was speaking in these verses:

1. Jesus continued to speak. (GW, UBS)

2. Luke inserted his own comments here. (BSB, RSV, NIV, GNT, NJB, NASB, REB, NET, NLT, NCV, CEV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1),This is a difficult issue, and scholarly opinion is divided. The position that these verses continue Jesus’ discourse is supported by commentators such as Arndt, Lenski, Hendriksen, Plummer, and the UBS Translator’s Handbook on Luke. Commentators that see these verses as a parenthetical comment given by Luke include Alford, Bock, Fitzmyer, Marshall, and Nolland. While English versions generally side with this being Luke’s narration, other language versions (French versions in particular) favor this being part of Jesus’ discourse. The main argument in favor of this being Luke’s narration is the assertion that style and language choice best accords with narration. For example, Bock suggests that second person forms would be more natural than the third person forms (tax collectors, all the people, Pharisees, etc.) if Jesus were speaking. Arguments for the position that these verses continue the words of Jesus (the position taken in the Notes) include the following: (a) If Luke’s narration were breaking into the middle of Jesus’ discourse here, we would expect that to be signaled in some way. (b) The conjunctions (και at the beginning of 7:29 and, in particular, ουν at the beginning of 7:31) fit much better with this being part of Jesus’ discourse. The words “to what will I compare/liken this generation” also fit better if Jesus has just commented on the Jewish leadership that had rejected God’s purpose. (c) This view is internally coherent. Set in the context of John’s preaching and baptism, the majority of the people acknowledged that God’s way was right and just, as demonstrated by the fact that they accepted John’s baptism. The Jewish leaders contrast with this group in parallel fashion. They rejected God’s plan/purpose for them in that they refused John’s baptism. (d) The content of these verses corresponds closely in thought to Jesus’ words in Matthew 21:31–32. as the GW and the UBS Translator’s Handbook do. Although other English versions follow interpretation (2), French versions and many commentaries follow interpretation (1). This interpretation fits the context and the similar passage in Matthew 21:29.

The Notes and Display for these verses are based on the GW.

7:29a

(GW) All the people: (GW) All the people here refers to the majority of the ordinary people, who had accepted John’s preaching. Jesus used the word All to emphasize that most of the common people agreed with him, but the majority of the Jewish leaders did not.

(GW) including tax collectors: The phrase including tax collectors indicates that tax collectors were part of “all the people.” Jesus mentioned them specifically in order to emphasize them. In English, this kind of emphasis can be indicated by the words “even” or “especially.” For example:

even the tax collectors (NIV)

and especially the tax collectors (GNT)

(GW) tax collectors: The phrase tax collectors refers to people who received taxes from their own people to give to the government that ruled them. If you do not have a word in your language for tax collectors, you may need to use a descriptive phrase. For example:

people who collected taxes for the government

people who took money from people to pay something to a conqueror

gatherers of something paid to a conqueror

You may want to include a footnote to explain the meaning of this word. You may also want to explain it in a glossary. For example:

The people despised the tax collectors because they worked for a government that they hated. Tax collectors were also despised because they often cheated the people by overcharging them.

See the notes at 5:27b and 3:12a.

(GW) heard John: The Greek word that the GW translates as heard John is literally “hearing.” What the people heard is not identified.Some English versions interpret this to mean that the people heard what Jesus had just said about John (BSB, RSV, NIV, NASB, REB, NET, NLT, NCV). However, other language versions often interpret this as referring to what John had said in his preaching to people. French versions, in particular, make John the object. The Notes take the view that they heard what John had preached to the people. He told them to repent from their sins and be baptized. In some languages you may need to translate this with a phrase such as:

what John said/preached

7:29b

(GW) They admitted that God was right: The Greek clause that the GW translates as They admitted that God was right is more literally “they justified God.” It indicates that the people said that God was just and that what he said and did was right. In this context it implies that God was right to say that the people were sinners. He was also right to say that they needed to repent and prepare themselves for the Christ/Messiah. God said these things by sending John as his messenger to say them to the people.

In some languages it may be more natural to use direct speech here. For example:

All the people…said, “God is right/just.”

7:29c

(GW) by letting John baptize them: The Greek phrase that the GW translates as by letting John baptize them is literally “having been baptizedThe verb form is an aorist passive participle. (with) the baptism of John.” Languages have different ways to express the connection between this phrase and the fact that the people admitted that God’s way was right: