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Luke Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24
Luke 7 V1 V3 V5 V7 V9 V11 V13 V15 V17 V19 V21 V23 V25 V27 V29 V31 V33 V35 V37 V41 V43 V45 V47 V49
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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) When the Pharisee who had invited Yeshua saw this, he said to himself, “If that man was a prophet, he’d know who she is and what kind of woman it is that’s touching him, because she breaks God’s laws.”![]()
OET-LV And the Farisaios_party_member, the one having_invited him having_seen, he_spoke by himself saying:
This one if he_was a_prophet, would was_knowing who and what_kind_of the woman, who is_touching against_him, because she_is a_sinner.
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SR-GNT Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Φαρισαῖος, ὁ καλέσας αὐτὸν, εἶπεν ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων, “Οὗτος εἰ ἦν προφήτης, ἐγίνωσκεν ἂν τίς καὶ ποταπὴ ἡ γυνὴ, ἥτις ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν.” ‡
(Idōn de ho Farisaios, ho kalesas auton, eipen en heautōi legōn, “Houtos ei aʸn profaʸtaʸs, eginōsken an tis kai potapaʸ haʸ gunaʸ, haʸtis haptetai autou, hoti hamartōlos estin.”)
Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
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 And the Pharisee who had invited him, having seen this, he said to himself, saying, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and of what type is the woman who is touching him, that she is a sinner.”
UST When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw what the woman was doing, he thought, “If this man really were a prophet, he would have known who this woman is who is touching him. He would have known what kind of person she is, that she is a sinner.”
BSB When the Pharisee who had invited [Jesus] saw [this], he said to himself, “If this [man] were a prophet, He would know who [this is] and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”
MSB When the Pharisee who had invited [Jesus] saw [this], he said to himself, “If this [man] were a prophet,[fn] He would know who [this is] and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”
7:39 WH the prophet
BLB And the Pharisee, the one having invited Him, having seen, spoke within himself, saying, "If this were a prophet, He would have known who and what the woman is who touches Him; for she is a sinner."
AICNT {But when}[fn] the Pharisee {who had invited him}[fn] saw this, he said to himself [saying],[fn] “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”
7:39, But when: Some manuscripts read “Seeing this.” D(05)
7:39, who had invited him: Some manuscripts read “who was reclining with him.” D(05) Latin(e)
7:39, saying: Absent from D(05).
OEB When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, ‘Had this man been “the prophet,” he would have known who, and what sort of woman, this is who is touching him, and that she is an outcast.’
WEBBE Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”
WMBB (Same as above)
NET Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.”
LSV And the Pharisee who called Him, having seen, spoke within himself, saying, “This One, if He were a prophet, would have known who and of what kind [is] the woman who touches Him, that she is a sinner.”
FBV When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this he said to himself, “If this man was really a prophet he would know who this woman was who's touching him, and what kind of person she was—that she's a sinner!”
TCNT When the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were [fn]a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
7:39 a prophet ¦ the Prophet WH
T4T When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw that, he thought, “Prophets know about other people’s lives, so if Jesus were a prophet, he would have known who this woman is who is touching him, and what kind of a person she is. He would have known that she is a prostitute! [EUP]”
LEB Now when[fn] the Pharisee who invited him saw this,[fn] he spoke to himself, saying, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.”
7:39 *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
7:39 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
BBE Now when the Pharisee in whose house he was saw it, he said to himself, This man, if he was a prophet, would be conscious what sort of woman this is who has put her hands on him, that she is a sinner.
Moff When his host the Pharisee noticed this, he said to himself, "If he was a prophet he would know what sort of a woman this is who is touching him; for she is a sinner."
Wymth Noticing this, the Pharisee, His host, said to himself, "This man, if he were really a Prophet, would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching him—and would know that she is an immoral woman."
ASV Now when the Pharisee that had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner.
DRA And the Pharisee, who had invited him, seeing it, spoke within himself, saying: This man, if he were a prophet, would know surely who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner.
YLT And the Pharisee who did call him, having seen, spake within himself, saying, 'This one, if he were a prophet, would have known who and of what kind [is] the woman who doth touch him, that she is a sinner.'
Drby And the Pharisee who had invited him, seeing it, spoke with himself saying, This [person] if he were a prophet would have known who and what the woman is who touches him, for she is a sinner.
RV Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is which touched him, that she is a sinner.
SLT And the Pharisee having called him, seeing, said within himself, This, if he were a prophet, had known who and what race of woman which had touched him: for she is sinful.
Wbstr Now when the Pharisee who had invited him, saw it , he spoke within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who, and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, for she is a sinner.
KJB-1769 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
(Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth/touches him: for she is a sinner. )
KJB-1611 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him, saw it, he spake within himselfe, saying, This man, if he were a Prophet, would haue knowen who, and what maner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)
Bshps When the pharisee which had bydden hym, sawe, he spake within hym selfe, saying: If this man were a prophete, he woulde surely knowe who, & what maner of woman this is, that touched hym, for she is a sinner.
(When the pharisee which had bydden him, saw, he spake within himself, saying: If this man were a prophet, he would surely know who, and what manner of woman this is, that touched him, for she is a sinner.)
Gnva Nowe when the Pharise which bade him, saw it, he spake within himselfe, saying, If this man were a Prophet, hee woulde surely haue knowen who, and what maner of woman this is which toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
(Now when the Pharise which bade him, saw it, he spake within himself, saying, If this man were a Prophet, he would surely have known who, and what manner of woman this is which toucheth/touches him: for she is a sinner. )
Cvdl But whan the Pharise which had called him sawe that, he spake within himself, and sayde: Yf this ma were a prophet, he wolde knowe who, & what maner of woman this is that toucheth him, for she is a synner.
(But when the Pharise which had called him saw that, he spake within himself, and said: If this man were a prophet, he would know who, and what manner of woman this is that toucheth/touches him, for she is a sinner.)
TNT When the pharise which bade him sawe that he spake with in him sylfe sayinge: If this man were a prophete he wolde surely have knowen who and what maner woman this is which toucheth him for she is a synner.
(When the pharise which bade him saw that he spake with in himself saying: If this man were a prophet he would surely have known who and what manner woman this is which toucheth/touches him for she is a sinner. )
Wycl And the Farise seynge, that hadde clepide hym, seide within hym silf, seiynge, If this were a prophete, he schulde wite, who and what maner womman it were that touchith hym, for sche is a synful womman.
(And the Farise seeing, that had called him, said within himself, saying, If this were a prophet, he should wit/know, who and what manner woman it were that toucheth/touches him, for she is a sinful woman.)
Luth Da aber das der Pharisäer sah, der ihn geladen hatte, sprach er bei sich selbst und sagte: Wenn dieser ein Prophet wäre, so wüßte er, wer und welch ein Weib das ist, die ihn anrühret; denn sie ist eine Sünderin
(So but the the/of_the Pharisees saw, the/of_the him/it loaded had, spoke he at/in itself/yourself/themselves himself/itself and said: When this a Prophet were, so I_would_know he, who and which a woman the is, the him/it touches; because/than they/she/them is a/one sinnersin)
ClVg Videns autem pharisæus, qui vocaverat eum, ait intra se dicens: Hic si esset propheta, sciret utique quæ et qualis est mulier, quæ tangit eum: quia peccatrix est.
(Seeing however pharisæus, who/which vocaverat him, he_said inside himself saying: Here/This when/but_if was a_prophet, would_know certainly which and such_as it_is woman, which touches him: because sinsrix it_is. )
UGNT ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Φαρισαῖος, ὁ καλέσας αὐτὸν, εἶπεν ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων, οὗτος εἰ ἦν προφήτης, ἐγίνωσκεν ἂν τίς καὶ ποταπὴ ἡ γυνὴ, ἥτις ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν.
(idōn de ho Farisaios, ho kalesas auton, eipen en heautōi legōn, houtos ei aʸn profaʸtaʸs, eginōsken an tis kai potapaʸ haʸ gunaʸ, haʸtis haptetai autou, hoti hamartōlos estin.)
SBL-GNT ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Φαρισαῖος ὁ καλέσας αὐτὸν εἶπεν ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων· Οὗτος εἰ ⸀ἦν προφήτης, ἐγίνωσκεν ἂν τίς καὶ ποταπὴ ἡ γυνὴ ἥτις ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν.
(idōn de ho Farisaios ho kalesas auton eipen en heautōi legōn; Houtos ei ⸀aʸn profaʸtaʸs, eginōsken an tis kai potapaʸ haʸ gunaʸ haʸtis haptetai autou, hoti hamartōlos estin.)
RP-GNT Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Φαρισαῖος ὁ καλέσας αὐτὸν εἶπεν ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων, Οὗτος, εἰ ἦν προφήτης, ἐγίνωσκεν ἂν τίς καὶ ποταπὴ ἡ γυνὴ ἥτις ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν.
(Idōn de ho Farisaios ho kalesas auton eipen en heautōi legōn, Houtos, ei aʸn profaʸtaʸs, eginōsken an tis kai potapaʸ haʸ gunaʸ haʸtis haptetai autou, hoti hamartōlos estin.)
TC-GNT Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Φαρισαῖος ὁ καλέσας αὐτὸν εἶπεν ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων, Οὗτος, εἰ ἦν [fn]προφήτης, [fn]ἐγίνωσκεν ἂν τίς καὶ ποταπὴ ἡ γυνὴ ἥτις ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἁμαρτωλός ἐστι.
(Idōn de ho Farisaios ho kalesas auton eipen en heautōi legōn, Houtos, ei aʸn profaʸtaʸs, eginōsken an tis kai potapaʸ haʸ gunaʸ haʸtis haptetai autou, hoti hamartōlos esti. )
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
7:36-50 Jesus’ comment in 7:35 is now illustrated by one of “wisdom’s children” (see study note on 7:35), a repentant sinner who shows gratitude for the forgiveness she has received.
In this section a Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to be the guest of honor at a dinner in his home. While Jesus was there, a sinful woman came and washed his feet with her tears. She dried them with her hair, kissed them, and poured scented oil on them. By these unusual actions, the woman honored Jesus and showed that she loved him.
By contrast, Simon neglected common ways to honor a guest. He did not greet Jesus with a kiss or give him water to wash his feet or put oil on his head. Jesus said that the woman’s acts of love showed that her sins had been forgiven. Simon’s failure to show love showed that his sins had not been forgiven.
Certain Jewish customs help to explain some of the actions in this story:
For special meals, the Jews usually ate at low tables and reclined on couches or cushions with their feet extended away from the table. This made it easier for the woman to kiss Jesus’ feet and pour perfume on them. (See the notes at 7:36b.)
When a religious teacher such as Jesus was invited to a feast, he ate with the host and the other invited guests. People who had not been invited were allowed to come in quietly and listen to what the teacher said. They were not supposed to join the invited guests.
Often a slave washed the feet of the guests. People considered feet to be dirty. When the woman washed Jesus’ feet and kissed them, she humbled herself and honored Jesus.
This section is not explicitly connected to the preceding one, but it does illustrate some of the statements in 7:29–35. The woman was a person who “acknowledged God’s justice” (7:29). Simon the Pharisee was one of those who “rejected God’s purpose for themselves” (7:30).
Some other possible headings for this section are:
A sinful woman washes Jesus’ feet at the home of a Pharisee named Simon
Jesus compares a Pharisee and a sinful woman
When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself,
¶ The Pharisee who had asked Jesus to dinner saw this and thought to himself,
¶ When the Pharisee who was the host saw what the woman did, he concluded in his mind:
When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as saw this is literally “seeing.” It refers to seeing what the woman did for Jesus in 7:38.
he said to himself: The phrase he said to himself refers to what the Pharisee thought. He did not speak his thoughts aloud. In many languages it may be more natural to translate this as:
he thought
he said in his head/mind/heart
If this man were a prophet, He would know…she is a sinner: The thoughts that the Pharisee had in 7:39b–d imply that before the woman came, he thought that Jesus might be a prophet. However, after Jesus allowed the woman to touch him in 7:38, the Pharisee thought that Jesus could not really be a prophet. The Pharisee thought this because of certain ideas that he had about prophets:
He believed that God would reveal to a prophet what the prophet needed to know. As a prophet, Jesus would know that the woman was immoral.
He believed that a prophet would never let an immoral woman touch him because that would cause him to be ritually “unclean.”
So the Pharisee believed that Jesus must not know anything about this woman. That caused the Pharisee to wrongly conclude that Jesus was not a prophet.
Another way to translate this is:
This man must not be a prophet because a prophet would know about this woman who is touching him. He would know what kind of woman she is. A prophet would know that she is a sinner. A prophet would never let such a woman touch him, but this man has allowed it.
“If this man were a prophet,
“If this man were really a prophet,
“This man cannot be a prophet. If he were a prophet,
If this man were a prophet: The Greek word that the BSB translates as this man is literally “this (one).” It probably expresses disrespect for Jesus. The whole clause indicates serious doubt that Jesus was a prophet. Here is another way to express this doubt:
If this man really were a prophet (GNT)
prophet: A prophet was a person who spoke on behalf of God. He told people what God revealed to him. God gave some prophets power to work miracles. Some ways to translate this are:
a spokesman for God
a man who speaks God’s words
God’s message-speaker
It is good to use a general term that does not focus only on foretelling the future. Although prophets did foretell the future, they also gave people other messages from God. They especially told people to stop sinning and to obey God.
When choosing a term for prophet, consider how you will distinguish prophet from other words which are similar in meaning such as “angel,” “apostle,” and “preacher.”
See also the note on “prophet” at 1:70 and prophet in the Glossary.
He would know who this is
he would know about who is touching him
he would know about this woman is who is touching him. He would know who she is,
and what kind of woman is touching Him—
and what sort of person she is.
and he would know her reputation/character.
He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching him: The phrase know who this is and what kind of woman is touching him refers to knowing personal information about the woman, such as her name and where she lived. It does not imply that Jesus could not see the woman.
The phrases who this is and what kind of woman is touching him mean the same thing. The Pharisee is using repetition for emphasis. Another way to translate this is:
who this woman is who is touching him (GNT)
what kind of woman is touching Him: The Pharisee assumed that Jesus did not know that this woman had a bad reputation as an immoral person.
touching Him: The phrase touching Him refers specifically to the woman’s actions of kissing Jesus’ feet and anointing them with perfumed oil. Be sure that the expression you use here does not imply any inappropriate action. In some languages you may need to use a more specific expression. For example:
anointing him
for she is a sinner!”
He would know that she is a sinful woman.”
He would know that she is an immoral woman and he would not let her touch him!”
for she is a sinner: There are two ways to interpret the Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as for:
It means that. It introduces something that Jesus would have known if he were a prophet. For example:
that she is a sinner (NET) (NASB, CEV, NCV, NIV, NJB, NET, REB)
It means for or because. It connects with the implied information that a Rabbi would not let a sinful woman touch him: “And he would not let her touch him because she is a sinner.” For example:
for she is a sinner (RSV) (BSB, RSV, KJV; probably GW, NLT)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
sinner: The word sinner refers to someone who habitually offends God. The ways a person may offend God include doing and thinking things that God does not approve. A person may also offend God by his attitudes and by not doing what God wants him to do. Some ways to translate sinner are:
person who sins
someone who does not obey God
wrongdoer
In this context the Pharisee used the word sinner to imply that the woman had committed sexual sins. You may be able to translate it in a similar way as you translated “sinful” in 7:37. See the note on “a sinful woman from that town” in 7:37a.
The Pharisee thought that Jesus should have known:
who the woman was;
what kind of woman she was;
that she was a sinner.
These facts are quite similar and there are various ways to combine them. For example:
…he would know who this woman is who is touching him; he would know what kind of sinful life she lives! (GNT)
…he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner! (NLT)
…he would know that the woman touching him is a sinner! (NCV)
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotemarks
εἶπεν ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων
˱he˲_spoke by himself saying
As noted in [3:10](../03/10.md), Luke often uses the word saying to introduce a quotation. Particularly in cases like this one, if you indicate the quotation in some other way, such as with quotation marks, you do not need to represent this word in your translation.
Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-contrary
οὗτος εἰ ἦν προφήτης, ἐγίνωσκεν ἂν τίς καὶ ποταπὴ ἡ γυνὴ, ἥτις ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἰδών Δέ ὁ Φαρισαῖος ὁ καλέσας αὐτόν εἶπεν ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων Οὗτος εἰ ἦν προφήτης ἐγίνωσκεν ἄν τίς καί ποταπή ἡ γυνή ἥτις ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ ὅτι ἁμαρτωλός ἐστίν)
This Pharisee is making a conditional statement that sounds hypothetical, but he is already convinced that the condition is not true. He has concluded that Jesus must not be a prophet, because he allowed this sinful woman to touch him, and a prophet would have known she was sinful and not allowed that. Alternate translation: [Jesus must not be a prophet, because if he were, he would know that the woman who is touching him is a sinner]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τίς καὶ ποταπὴ ἡ γυνὴ, ἥτις ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν
who (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἰδών Δέ ὁ Φαρισαῖος ὁ καλέσας αὐτόν εἶπεν ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων Οὗτος εἰ ἦν προφήτης ἐγίνωσκεν ἄν τίς καί ποταπή ἡ γυνή ἥτις ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ ὅτι ἁμαρτωλός ἐστίν)
Simon assumed that a prophet would never allow a sinner to touch him. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state his assumption explicitly. Alternate translation: [that this woman is a sinner, and he would not allow her to touch him]