OET interlinear LUKE 7:33

7:33a

For: Verses 7:33–34 explain how “the people of this generation” are like the children of 7:32. The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For here indicates this connection. Use a natural way in your language to make this connection clear. For example:

In the same way (TRT)

In some languages it may be necessary or helpful to make this connection more explicit. For example:

This generation of people is like them because

These children represent how people are acting today. I say this because

John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine: This part of the verse indicates that John did not eat normal food during the time when he was living and preaching in the wilderness. He lived like that in order to express his dedication to God.

In this context the word came is used in a general way to describe the time when John was preaching in the wilderness. It introduces the way John usually lived. It does not indicate that John the Baptizer came to a particular place. In some languages a literal translation may imply a wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, here are some other ways to translate this:

For John the Baptist had the custom of not eating bread or drinking wine

John the Baptist did not go around eating and drinking (CEV)

neither eating bread: There are two ways to interpret the word bread and the meaning of the phrase neither eating bread in this context:

1. The word bread refers to the usual daily food of the Jews, which was bread. So the phrase neither eating bread indicates that John did not eat normal food. Mark 1:6 records that he ate locusts and wild honey. One way to translate this is:

   not eating the usual food (BSB, RSV, NIV, NJB, NASB, KJV, REB, NET, GW, NCV)

2. The word bread refers to food in general. So neither eating bread refers to his custom of frequent fasting. This does not mean that John never ate food. For example:

   he fasted (GNT) (GNT, NLT96)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), since it is followed by the majority of English versions. Also, the Pharisees also fasted, so it would not be a likely reason for them to say, “He has a demon!”

If bread is not the usual food of ordinary people in your culture, it may be necessary to add some implied information. For example:

he did not eat normal food such as bread

However, in some languages this example might wrongly imply that John ate better or more expensive food than bread. If that is true in your language, you may need to say something like:

he chose to eat the simplest of food and did not even eat bread or drink wine

he chose to go without even bread and wine

wine: The word wine refers to an alcoholic drink. It is made from the juice of a fruit called grapes. When grape juice ferments, it becomes wine.

In some areas, people may not be familiar with grapes or with wine. If that is true in your area, some other ways to translate wine are:

• Use a general term for an alcoholic drink.

• Use a specific term that can also be used to refer to alcoholic drinks in general. For example:

  millet beer

  palm wine

  something like palm wine

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

  fruit juice/water

  grape juice

  fermented grape juice

Wine was a common drink among the Jews. But too much wine could make a person drunk. The angel Gabriel had told John’s father that John must never drink wine. (See 1:15.)

7:33b

and: The word and here has the meaning “and as a result.” John’s custom of not eating bread or drinking wine is what caused these people to conclude that he had a demon. Translate this connection in a way that is natural in your language.

you say, ‘He has a demon!’: The form of the Greek verb that the BSB translates as you say is plural. In this part of the verse, Jesus spoke directly to the people who rejected him and John.

The words He has a demon indicate that the people rejected John. They did not believe that he was God’s messenger. If this is not clear in your language, you may need to make it explicit. For example:

…you rejected him saying, ‘He has a demon.’

The words He has a demon are a quotation within another quotation. In some languages, it may be more natural to use indirect speech. For example:

you say that he has a demon

He has a demon: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as He has a demon usually indicates that an evil spirit controlled a person’s thoughts and actions. When the religious leaders said that John had a demon, they meant that he did not act like a normal person. In this context the meaning is not that he was evil.

Some ways to translate this are:

• Translate the literal meaning that a demon was controlling him. Use a natural expression in your language. For example:

  He’s possessed by a demon. (NLT)

  He has a demon in him! (GNT)

  An evil spirit has fastened on him.

  An evil spirit is riding him.

• Translate the expression in a more general way. For example:

  He acts as if a demon is controlling him.

  He is insane.

demon: The Greek word that the BSB translates as demon has the same meaning as the phrase that is often translated literally as “evil spirit.” The term “evil spirits” occurred earlier in this chapter at 7:21. See the note on “evil spirits” at 7:21a.