LUKE 5:33 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Then the religious leaders complained, “Yohan’s followers often fast and bring their needs to God, as do the Pharisees, but your followers are eating and drinking.”

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Then they said to him, “The disciples of John often fast and make prayers, and likewise the ones of the Pharisees. But the ones of yours eat and drink.”

UST Those Jewish leaders responded to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptizer often abstain from food and pray. The disciples of the Pharisees do that too. But your disciples keep on eating and drinking! Why do they not fast like the others?”

BSB Then they said to Him, “John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray, but Yours keep on eating and drinking.”

MSB Then they said to Him, “Why [do][fn] John ’s disciples and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray, but Yours keep on eating and drinking?”

BLB And they said to Him, "The disciples of John fast often and make prayers; likewise also those of the Pharisees; but Yours eat and drink."

AICNT And they said to him, “[[Why do]][fn] the disciples of John [[and the disciples of the Pharisees]][fn] {often fast and offer prayers, likewise also the Pharisees},[fn] but {yours eat and drink}.”[fn]

5:33, Why do: Some manuscripts include. ℵ(01) A(02) C(04) D(05) BYZ TR ‖ Absent from 𝔓4 B(03) W(032) Latin(a b e ff²) NA28 SBLGNT THGNT.

5:33, and the disciples of the Pharisees: Included in D(05).

5:33, often fast and...: Some manuscripts read “and the disciples of the Pharisees fast often and make prayers.” D(05) Latin(it)

5:33, yours eat and drink: Some manuscripts read “your disciples do none of these things.” D(05) Latin(e).

OEB ‘John’s disciples,’ they said to Jesus, ‘Often fast and say prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, while yours are eating and drinking!’

WEBBE They said to him, “Why do John’s disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?”

WMBB They said to him, “Why do Yochanan’s disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?”

NET Then they said to him, “John’s disciples frequently fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours continue to eat and drink.”

LSV And they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make supplications—in like manner also those of the Pharisees—but Yours eat and drink?”

FBV “Well, John's disciples often fast and pray, and the Pharisees' disciples do so as well. But your disciples don't—they go on eating and drinking,” they told him.

TCNT Then they said to him, “[fn]Why is it that the disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees, but yoʋrs eat and drink?”

5:33 Why is it that the … drink? ¦ The … drink. CT

T4T Those Jewish leaders said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptizer often abstain from food to show that they want to please God, and the disciples of the Pharisees do that, too. But your disciples keep on eating and drinking! Why do not they fast like the others?”

LEB ¶ And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and make prayers—likewise also the disciples[fn] of the Pharisees—but yours are eating and drinking!”

5:33 *The word “disciples” is not in the Greek text but is implied

BBE And they said to him, The disciples of John frequently go without food, and make prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees; but your disciples take food and drink.

Moff He was told, "The disciples of John fast frequently and offer prayers, as do the disciples of the Pharisees; but your adherents eat and drink."

Wymth Again they said to Him, "John's disciples fast often and pray, as do also those of the pharisees; but yours eat and drink."

ASV And they said unto him, The disciples of John fast often, and make supplications; likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink.

DRA And they said to him: Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees in like manner; but thine eat and drink?

YLT And they said unto him, 'Wherefore do the disciples of John fast often, and make supplications — in like manner also those of the Pharisees — but thine do eat and drink?'

Drby And they said to him, Why do the disciples of John fast often and make supplications, in like manner those also of the Pharisees, but thine eat and drink?

RV And they said unto him, The disciples of John fast often, and make supplications; likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink.
(And they said unto him, The disciples of John fast often, and make supplications; likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine/your eat and drink. )

SLT And they said to him, Wherefore do the disciples of John fast frequently, and make prayers, and likewise they of the Pharisees; and they to thee eat and drink.

Wbstr And they said to him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?

KJB-1769 ¶ And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
(¶ And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine/your eat and drink? )

KJB-1611 ¶ And they said vnto him, Why doe the disciples of Iohn fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees: but thine eat and drinke?
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps And they sayde vnto hym: Why do the disciples of Iohn fast often, & pray, and the disciples of the pharisees also: but thyne eate and drynke?
(And they said unto him: Why do the disciples of Yohn fast often, and pray, and the disciples of the Pharisees also: but thine/your eat and drink?)

Gnva Then they said vnto him, Why do the disciples of Iohn fast often, and pray, and the disciples of the Pharises also, but thine eate and drinke?
(Then they said unto him, Why do the disciples of Yohn fast often, and pray, and the disciples of the Pharisees also, but thine/your eat and drink? )

Cvdl But they sayde vnto him: Wherfore fast ye disciples of Iho so of, & praye so moch, & the disciples of the Pharises likewyse, but yi disciples eate and drynke?
(But they said unto him: Wherefore fast ye/you_all disciples of Iho so of, and pray so much, and the disciples of the Pharisees likewise, but ye/you_all disciples eat and drink?)

TNT Then they sayde vnto him: Why do the disciples of Iohn fast often and praye and the disciples of the Pharises also: and thine eate and drinke?
(Then they said unto him: Why do the disciples of Yohn fast often and pray and the disciples of the Pharisees also: and thine/your eat and drink? )

Wycl And thei seiden to hym, Whi the disciplis of Joon fasten ofte, and maken preieris, also and of Farisees, but thine eten and drynken?
(And they said to him, Why the disciples of Yohn fasten ofte, and making prayers, also and of Pharisees, but thine/your eaten and drinking?)

Luth Sie aber sprachen zu ihm: Warum fasten Johannes Jünger so oft und beten so viel, desselbigengleichen der Pharisäer Jünger, aber deine Jünger essen und trinken?
(They/She but said to/for him: Why fasten Yohannes disciple so oft and pray so many, the_same the/of_the Pharisees disciple, but your disciple eat and drink(v)?)

ClVg At illi dixerunt ad eum: Quare discipuli Joannis jejunant frequenter, et obsecrationes faciunt, similiter et pharisæorum: tui autem edunt et bibunt?[fn]
(But them they_said to him: Why students Yoannis yeyunant frequenter, and obsecrationes they_do, likewise and pharisæorum: yours(sg) however edunt and bibunt? )

5.33 Quare discipuli. BEDA. Matthæus dicit ipsos discipulos hoc quæsisse. Sed sciendum, quia utrique quæsierunt. ID. Spiritualiter: discipuli Joannis et Pharisæorum jejunant, quia qui opera legis, etc., usque ad manducat cum peccatoribus, ut gratiam et potestatem intelligas.

5.33 Why students. BEDA. Matthew he_says themselves disciples this whichsisse. But sciendum, because utrique whichsierunt. ID. By_Spiritaliter: students Yoannis and of_the_Pharisees yeyunant, because who/which works law, etc., until to eats when/with sinners, as grace and power intelligas.

UGNT οἱ δὲ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτόν, οἱ μαθηταὶ Ἰωάννου νηστεύουσιν πυκνὰ, καὶ δεήσεις ποιοῦνται, ὁμοίως καὶ οἱ τῶν Φαρισαίων, οἱ δὲ σοὶ ἐσθίουσιν καὶ πίνουσιν.
(hoi de eipan pros auton, hoi mathaʸtai Yōannou naʸsteuousin pukna, kai deaʸseis poiountai, homoiōs kai hoi tōn Farisaiōn, hoi de soi esthiousin kai pinousin.)

SBL-GNT Οἱ δὲ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτόν· ⸀Οἱ μαθηταὶ Ἰωάννου νηστεύουσιν πυκνὰ καὶ δεήσεις ποιοῦνται, ὁμοίως καὶ οἱ τῶν Φαρισαίων, οἱ δὲ σοὶ ἐσθίουσιν καὶ πίνουσιν.
(Hoi de eipan pros auton; ⸀Hoi mathaʸtai Yōannou naʸsteuousin pukna kai deaʸseis poiountai, homoiōs kai hoi tōn Farisaiōn, hoi de soi esthiousin kai pinousin.)

RP-GNT Οἱ δὲ εἶπον πρὸς αὐτόν, Διὰ τί οἱ μαθηταὶ Ἰωάννου νηστεύουσιν πυκνά, καὶ δεήσεις ποιοῦνται, ὁμοίως καὶ οἱ τῶν Φαρισαίων· οἱ δὲ σοὶ ἐσθίουσιν καὶ πίνουσιν;
(Hoi de eipon pros auton, Dia ti hoi mathaʸtai Yōannou naʸsteuousin pukna, kai deaʸseis poiountai, homoiōs kai hoi tōn Farisaiōn; hoi de soi esthiousin kai pinousin;)

TC-GNT Οἱ δὲ [fn]εἶπον πρὸς αὐτόν, [fn]Διὰ τί οἱ μαθηταὶ [fn]Ἰωάννου νηστεύουσι πυκνά, καὶ δεήσεις ποιοῦνται, ὁμοίως καὶ οἱ τῶν Φαρισαίων· οἱ δὲ σοὶ ἐσθίουσι καὶ πίνουσιν;
(Hoi de eipon pros auton, Dia ti hoi mathaʸtai Yōannou naʸsteuousi pukna, kai deaʸseis poiountai, homoiōs kai hoi tōn Farisaiōn; hoi de soi esthiousi kai pinousin; )

5:33 ειπον ¦ ειπαν CT

5:33 δια τι ¦ — CT

5:33 ιωαννου ¦ ιωανου WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:33–39: Jesus explained why his disciples did not fast

In this section, some people made a comment to Jesus about fasting. Their comment implied that they were criticizing the disciples. It also implied the question, “Why do your disciples act differently from the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees?” Jesus explained the difference in their actions. In his explanation, he compared himself to a bridegroom, and he compared his disciples to wedding guests. The disciples could not fast while he was with them, just as wedding guests do not fast while the bridegroom is with them.

After he had explained this different attitude towards fasting, he told them that he was teaching a new way to live for God. His new way would not fit into the old traditions. To illustrate this, Jesus used three comparisons:

He compared the old traditional ways to an old garment. He compared his new way to cloth taken from a new garment. No one would sew the new cloth onto an old garment.
He compared the old traditional ways to old wineskins. He compared his new way to new wine. When new wine is put into old wineskins, both are ruined.
Jesus concluded with a saying that rebuked those who wanted to keep to the old traditions. Jesus said that people who had drunk old wine did not want to drink new wine. He was really talking about people who were content with the old ways and teaching of the Jewish religion. He said that they were unwilling to consider the new ways and teaching that he had brought.

This section can be difficult for people to understand because Jesus used comparisons to illustrate what he was teaching. He did not make what he was teaching explicit. If you need to make the meaning clearer, you should explain it in a footnote.

In this section, there are some ideas that may not be familiar in certain cultures. For example:

fasting
Jewish wedding customs about bridegrooms
sewing patches onto cloth
new wine and old wine
wineskins

Consider carefully how to translate each of these ideas in a meaningful way in your language. The notes for this section will give suggestions.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Jesus taught that his new way was different from Jewish traditions

Jesus’ new way and the old ways

This story also occurs in Matthew 9:14–17 and Mark 2:18–22.

Paragraph 5:33–35

This paragraph tells about how the religious leaders continued to disagree with Jesus. In 5:30, the religious leaders had accused Jesus of associating with the wrong kind of people. In this paragraph, they accused Jesus and his disciples of not keeping the Jewish traditions.

In this paragraph it is important for readers to know what “fasting” meant in the Jewish culture. Fasting meant to not eat food for a certain time for religious reasons. There were many reasons for fasting. For example, people fasted:

to express their grief and sorrow during times of mourning;
to show that they were sorry for their sins;
to strengthen their prayers that God would help or guide them.

John the Baptizer’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples followed these Jewish customs.

5:33a

Then they said to Him, “John’s disciples

¶ Some people said to Jesus, “John the Baptizer’s disciples
¶ Then some people said to Jesus, “The followers of John the Baptizer
¶ Then some people said to Jesus that John’s disciples

Then: This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “and.” Some English versions, such as the ESV, translate it that way. Other versions, such as the NIV, do not translate this conjunction. Since this story apparently took place soon after the events of the previous section, still other English versions, including the BSB and the NET, introduce this story with the word “then.” Another way to introduce the story is:

At that time

Connect this story to the previous one in a way that is natural in your language.

they said to Him: The text does not explicitly say to whom the pronoun they refers. It may refer to the Pharisees and scribes who were mentioned in 5:30. However, if you need to make the subject explicit, it is probably best to use a general subject. For example:

Some people said to Jesus (GNT)

John’s disciples: The phrase John’s disciples refers to the people who had followed John the Baptizer. They continued to follow his teaching even after he died.

Both John and Jesus had disciples. The word is the same in both cases. See the note on disciples at 5:30a for advice on translating the word disciples.

John: The name John refers here to John the Baptizer. (He is first mentioned in 3:2b.) Since more than one John is mentioned in Luke, it may be necessary to state explicitly which John this is. For example:

John the Baptizer

John, the one who baptized people

5:33b

and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray,

and the Pharisees’ disciples fast and pray regularly.
and the followers of the Pharisees often do not eat for a period of time and talk with God during that time.
and also the Pharisees’ disciples often fasted and prayed.

and those of the Pharisees: The phrase and those of the Pharisees means “the people who follow what the Pharisees teach.”

There are at least two options for translating the term those in this context:

Use the same term for “disciples” as you used for the disciples of Jesus and of John. (See the note on “disciples” at 5:30a.) This is probably best unless your term for “disciple” would not be possible to use with a group like the Pharisees.
Use a different expression or term for “disciples” of the Pharisees than you used for disciples of Jesus. For example:
people who obeyed the Pharisee-group teachings

the Pharisees: See the note on Pharisees at 5:17b for advice on translating this term.

frequently fast and pray: The phrase frequently fast and pray refers to praying while fasting. It also refers to doing this regularly. The Jewish people often fasted at times when they were very serious about praying to God. Some ways to make this clear could be:

fast and pray during that time

fast and say prayers (GW)

fast: The Greek word that the BSB translates as fast means “deliberately abstain from eating for some time.” If fasting for religious reasons is not a familiar idea in your language, you can translate this word with a descriptive phrase. For example:

often give up eating for a certain time (NCV)

going without food to pray/meditate

not eating food for a certain length of time to pray

It is also possible to put some information about fasting in a footnote.

5:33c

but Yours keep on eating and drinking.”

But your disciples always eat and drink as usual.”
So why do your followers continue to eat and drink and never fast?”
Then the people asked him why his disciples ate and drank all the time.

but Yours keep on eating and drinking: The phrase Yours keep on eating and drinking is an ellipsis. In this context it means “your disciples go on eating and drinking and do not fast.” (See Mark 2:18.)

keep on eating and drinking: The phrase keep on eating and drinking indicates that Jesus’ disciples regularly ate and drank. They did not skip a meal to fast. Some other ways to translate this are:

eat and drink all the time (NCV)

continue to eat and drink (NET)

never go without eating or drinking (CEV)

General Comment on 5:33c

What the people said to Jesus in 5:33 implied a criticism of Jesus’ disciples. These people were indirectly accusing Jesus’ disciples of not showing serious devotion to God because they did not fast. In some languages, this criticism may be more natural if asked as a rhetorical question. For example:

Why are your disciples always eating and drinking? (NLT)

(In the same story in Matthew 9:14 and Mark 2:18c–d, this criticism is in the form of a question.)

General Comment on 5:33a–c

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of the parts of this verse. For example:

^33cWhy are your disciples always eating and drinking ^33awhen John’s disciples ^33band the Pharisees’ disciples ^33aoften fast and pray?

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

οἱ δὲ εἶπαν

they the_‹ones› the_‹ones› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἱ Δέ εἶπαν πρός αὐτόν Οἱ μαθηταί Ἰωάννου νηστεύουσιν πυκνά καί δεήσεις ποιοῦνται ὁμοίως καί οἱ τῶν Φαρισαίων οἱ δέ σοί ἐσθίουσιν καί πίνουσιν)

The pronoun they refers to the Pharisees and scribes. Alternate translation: [Then the religious leaders said]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

Ἰωάννου

˱of˲_John

The Pharisees and scribes assume that Jesus will know that they are referring to John the Baptist. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: [John the Baptist]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οἱ δὲ σοὶ ἐσθίουσιν καὶ πίνουσιν

There is an implied challenge and question in this observation. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state it explicitly. Alternate translation: [But your disciples do not fast, and we want you to tell us why]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / merism

ἐσθίουσιν καὶ πίνουσιν

˓are˒_eating (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἱ Δέ εἶπαν πρός αὐτόν Οἱ μαθηταί Ἰωάννου νηστεύουσιν πυκνά καί δεήσεις ποιοῦνται ὁμοίως καί οἱ τῶν Φαρισαίων οἱ δέ σοί ἐσθίουσιν καί πίνουσιν)

The Pharisees are using the two components of a meal to mean an entire meal. Alternate translation: [continue to have meals]