Discovery BoxLuke 7:12-16 
Context7:12 As he approached the town gate, a man 1 who had died was being carried out, 2 the only son of his mother (who 3 was a widow 4 ), and a large crowd from the town 5 was with her. 7:13 When 6 the Lord saw her, he had compassion 7 for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 8 7:14 Then 9 he came up 10 and touched 11 the bier, 12 and those who carried it stood still. He 13 said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 7:15 So 14 the dead man 15 sat up and began to speak, and Jesus 16 gave him back 17 to his mother. 7:16 Fear 18 seized them all, and they began to glorify 19 God, saying, “A great prophet 20 has appeared 21 among us!” and “God has come to help 22 his people!”
1 tn Grk “behold.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).
2 tn That is, carried out for burial. This was a funeral procession.
3 tn Grk “and she.” The clause introduced by καί (kai) has been translated as a relative clause for the sake of English style.
4 sn The description of the woman as a widow would mean that she was now socially alone and without protection in 1st century Jewish culture.
5 tn Or “city.”
6 tn Grk “And seeing her, the Lord.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. The participle ἰδών (idwn) has been taken temporally.
7 sn He had compassion. It is unusual for Luke to note such emotion by Jesus, though the other Synoptics tend to mention it (Matt 14:14; Mark 6:34; Matt 15:32; Mark 8:2).
8 tn The verb κλαίω (klaiw) denotes the loud wailing or lamenting typical of 1st century Jewish mourning.
9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
10 tn Grk “coming up, he touched.” The participle προσελθών (proselqwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
11 sn The act of having touched the bier would have rendered Jesus ceremonially unclean, but it did not matter to him, since he was expressing his personal concern (Num 19:11, 16).
12 sn Although sometimes translated “coffin,” the bier was actually a stretcher or wooden plank on which the corpse was transported to the place of burial. See L&N 6.109.
13 tn Grk “And he.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
14 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of Jesus’ command.
15 tn Or “the deceased.”
16 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
17 tn In the context, the verb δίδωμι (didwmi) has been translated “gave back” rather than simply “gave.”
18 tn Or “Awe.” Grk “fear,” but the context and the following remark show that it is mixed with wonder; see L&N 53.59. This is a reaction to God’s work; see Luke 5:9.
19 tn This imperfect verb has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.
20 sn That Jesus was a great prophet was a natural conclusion for the crowd to make, given the healing; but Jesus is more than this. See Luke 9:8, 19-20.
21 tn Grk “arisen.”
22 tn Grk “visited,” but this conveys a different impression to a modern reader. L&N 85.11 renders the verb, “to be present, with the implication of concern – ‘to be present to help, to be on hand to aid.’ … ‘God has come to help his people’ Lk 7:16.” The language recalls Luke 1:68, 78.
