OET interlinear LUKE 7:37

7:37a

When a sinful woman from that town: This part of the verse introduces the woman into the story. Consider how to introduce her in a natural way in your language. For example:

And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner (NASB)

In Greek, this part of the verse begins with a word that many English versions translate as “behold.” It draws attention to what follows it. Here it probably draws attention to the woman and her surprising actions toward Jesus. Many English versions do not translate it. Consider whether you have a word or phrase in your language that would fit here. Some ways to translate it in English are:

look

listen

a sinful woman from that town: The Greek word that the BSB translates literally as sinful implies that this woman had been immoral. She may have been a prostitute. However, because this is not certain, you should use a more general expression that can include this type of sin. For example:

a woman…who had a bad name in the town (NJB)

a woman from that town who had a bad reputation

The point of this statement is that the people in the room considered the woman to be a “sinner.”

7:37b

learned that Jesus was dining there: The word learned here indicates that the woman heard in some way that Jesus was in the Pharisee’s house.

was dining: The Greek word that the BSB translates as was dining is literally “was lying/reclining.” See the note on “reclined at the table” at 7:36b. The position is not in focus here, so it is fine to use a more general expression. For example:

was at table (RSV)

was eating (NIV)

was a guest (REB)

7:37c

an alabaster jar of perfume: In this phrase the perfume is most important, not the alabaster jar. Your translation should keep the perfume in focus. For example:

she brought perfume in an alabaster jar

alabaster jar: An alabaster jar was a small, expensive container like a vial or bottle. It was made from a beautiful white and yellow stone called alabaster that came from Egypt.The Greek word αλαβαστρον came to refer to any perfume vial or flask in general, since they were most commonly made of alabaster. (See Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, pp. 439–440 including the footnote on p. 439.)

Some ways to translate the word alabaster are:

• Borrow the word from a major language version and add a descriptive phrase. For example:

  a flask/bottle made of alabaster

  a jar/bottle made of a beautiful stone called alabaster

• Use a descriptive phrase that describes the significance of alabaster in the context. For example:

  a beautiful bottle/vial

• Use a general term. For example:

  a bottle (GW)

If you use a descriptive phrase, be sure that it is not so complex that it distracts people. You should not substitute a different material for “alabaster,” because this verse describes a real event.

of perfume: The word perfume here refers to a scented oil.We are not told what type of perfumed oil this was, and so we cannot be sure of the value. Some scholars assume this would have been an expensive perfume such as nard, possibly by analogy with Matthew 26:6–13 (parallel to Mark 14:3–9) and John 12:1–8. Edersheim (Messiah, pp. 439–440) suggests this probably was a locally made perfumed oil with a mixture of scents “known in antiquity as foliatum” and which was “so common among Jewish women.” He also mentions scented oils made locally from roses and irises. Henri Daniel-Rops (Daily Life in the Time of Jesus, p. 305) also mentions that an imitation of the expensive nard was made from a local plant and that scented oils were made from a variety of flowers including lily, rose, and jasmine. If you do not have a general word in your language for this, you could:

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

  sweet-smelling oil

  that which makes you smell nice

• Describe this as like something that people in your culture use to cause a person’s body to smell nice. For example:

  something like coconut oil