8:9 Then 17 his disciples asked him what this parable meant. 18
1 tn Grk “And,” but with clearly contrastive emphasis in context.
2 tn Grk “his mother answering, said.” The combination of participle and finite verb is redundant in English and has been simplified to “replied” in the translation.
3 tn This future passive indicative verb has imperatival force and thus has been translated “he must be named.”
4 sn “No! He must be named John.” By insisting on the name specified by the angel, Elizabeth (v. 60) and Zechariah (v. 63) have learned to obey God (see Luke 1:13).
5 tn Grk “And everyone.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
6 tn Or “hometown” (so CEV).
7 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Simeon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
8 tn Grk “and said.” The finite verb in Greek has been replaced with a participle in English to improve the smoothness of the translation.
9 sn A winnowing fork is a pitchfork-like tool used to toss threshed grain in the air so that the wind blows away the chaff, leaving the grain to fall to the ground. The note of purging is highlighted by the use of imagery involving sifting though threshed grain for the useful kernels.
10 tn Or “granary,” “barn” (referring to a building used to store a farm’s produce rather than a building for housing livestock).
11 sn The image of fire that cannot be extinguished is from the OT: Job 20:26; Isa 34:8-10; 66:24.
12 tn Grk “the”; the Greek article has been translated here and in the following clause (“out of the evil”) as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215).
13 sn Mention of the heart shows that Jesus is not interested in what is done, but why. Motives are more important than actions for him.
14 tn The word “treasury” is not repeated in the Greek text at this point, but is implied.
15 sn What one utters from one’s mouth is especially singled out as the example of this principle. James seems to have known this teaching (Jas 1:26; 3:1-12).
16 tn Grk “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
17 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
18 tn Grk “what this parable might be” (an optative after a secondary tense, in keeping with good Koine style).
19 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of the son’s decision to return home. Greek style often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” but English style generally does not.
20 tn Grk “a long way off from [home].” The word “home” is implied (L&N 85.16).
21 tn Or “felt great affection for him,” “felt great pity for him.”
sn The major figure of the parable, the forgiving father, represents God the Father and his compassionate response. God is ready with open arms to welcome the sinner who comes back to him.
22 tn Grk “he fell on his neck,” an idiom for showing special affection for someone by throwing one’s arms around them. The picture is of the father hanging on the son’s neck in welcome.
23 tn Grk “him”; the referent (the son) has been specified in the translation for clarity.