OET interlinear LUKE 8:27

8:27a

When Jesus stepped ashore: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Jesus stepped ashore means that Jesus climbed out of the boat onto the land. Some languages may have a specific word for this action. For example:

disembarked (JBP)

You could also simply say that Jesus “stepped/climbed/went out of the boat.”

When Jesus got out of the boat, his disciples probably also got out of it. The author does not mention the disciples here because Jesus is in focus.

However, in some languages not mentioning the disciples might imply that they stayed in the boat. If that is true in your language, here are some ways you could include them:

When Jesus along with the disciples stepped ashore…

When Jesus and the disciples stepped ashore…

8:27b

He was met by a demon-possessed man from the town: This clause describes:

1. the problem that the man had;

2. where he came from;

3. that he came to meet Jesus.

Consider what would be a natural way in your language to introduce a new person in a story. Also consider what is a natural order to give the details about him and what he does. Some other ways to say this are:

There was a man there who was from the city and was demon-possessed. He came to meet Jesus.

a man of the city who had demons met him (NRSV)

He was met by a…man: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as He was met indicates here that the man came to the place where Jesus was. The verb can be used for many contexts, including when people meet to fight or oppose each other. The context implies that the evil spirit in the man was hostile toward Jesus. Your translation should not imply that the man wanted to introduce himself to Jesus or to greet him politely. It should also not imply that Jesus and the man had already decided to meet together. Some English versions simply say:

a man…came to Jesus (NCV)

a man…came towards him (NJB)

a demon-possessed man: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as a demon-possessed man is literally “a man…having demons.” It indicates that many demons controlled the man’s thoughts and actions. Such demons are also described by Greek terms that are literally “evil spirits” or “unclean spirits.” Some ways to translate the word “demons” are:

• Use a general term in your language that refers to spirits that are evil and can control people.

• Use a specific term in your language that refers to spirits that are able to do what is described in this context. Do not use a term that refers to spirits of dead people.

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

  evil/bad spirits

  unclean spirits Be sure that an expression like “unclean spirits” does not imply that the spirits are literally dirty.

Some ways to translate a demon-possessed man are:

a man who was controlled by evil spirits

a man…who had demons (RSV)

The man had demons in him. (CEV)

Use an expression that is natural in your language to refer to demons controlling a person. See demon in the Glossary for more information.

from the town: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as from the town means that the man was formerly from the town of Gerasa. He used to live there, and his family probably still lived there. He himself no longer lived there. This does not mean that the man came from the town that day in order to meet Jesus.

8:27c

8:27d

8:27e

8:27c–e

In 8:27c–e the text gives background information about the man whom Jesus met. It tells three things that had been true about his situation for a long time:

1. He had not worn clothes for a long time;

2. he had not lived in a house for a long time;

3. he had lived in the tombs for a long time.

The facts in (b) and (c) contrast with each other. He did not live in a house but in the tombs. There are different ways to connect these facts and different orders in which to arrange them. For example:

For a long time he had been ^27dhomeless ^27cand naked, ^27eliving in a cemetery outside the town. (NLT)

For a long time ^27che had worn no clothes ^27eand had lived in the burial caves, ^27dnot in a house. (NCV)

The GW expresses the fact that the man was demon-possessed as another part of the background information:There is a textual issue here that relates to the phrase that the BSB translates as “for a long time.” (1) Many Greek manuscripts connect this phrase to the clause “this man had not worn clothes.” Almost all English versions follow these manuscripts. (2) Other Greek manuscripts connect this phrase to the phrase that is literally “having demons.” The KJV is the only major English version that follows these manuscripts. It is recommended that you follow option (1) and the majority of English versions. However, if the major language version in your area follows option (2), you may choose to mention it in a footnote. For example: “Some Greek manuscripts and the [national language version] relate the phrase “for a long time” to the phrase “having demons.”

The man was possessed by demons and had not worn clothes for a long time. He would not stay in a house but lived in the tombs.

Express the background information in a natural way and order in your language.

in the tombs: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the tombs refers to places where people placed dead bodies. In that area, a tomb was either a cave or a small room cut out of a rock hillside. It may be helpful to say something like:

had lived in caves where dead bodies were put

The man probably actually lived in them, not just among them. In some languages it is not natural to say that someone lived in the place where dead people are buried or bones are kept. If this is true in your language, you may need to say that the man lived at that general place. For example:

among the tombs

at the cemetery

at a place where dead bodies are put

You may also want to consider using a footnote to explain the burial practices of the Jews and other peoples who lived nearby. For example:

It was customary for Jews and nearby peoples to put the dead in natural caves or caves that were cut into rock hillsides.