Discovery BoxLuke 15:6-8 
Context15:6 Returning 1 home, he calls together 2 his 3 friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 15:7 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner 4 who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people 5 who have no need to repent. 6
15:8 “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins 7 and loses 8 one of them, 9 does not light a lamp, sweep 10 the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it?
1 tn Grk “And coming into his…” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
2 sn A touch of drama may be present, as the term calls together can mean a formal celebration (1 Kgs 1:9-10).
3 tn Grk “the”; in context the article is used as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215). It occurs before “neighbors” as well (“his friends and his neighbors”) but has not been translated the second time because of English style.
4 sn There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. The pursuit of the sinner is a priority in spite of the presence of others who are doing well (see also Luke 5:32; 19:10). The theme of repentance, a major Lukan theme, is again emphasized.
5 tn Here δικαίοις (dikaioi") is an adjective functioning substantivally and has been translated “righteous people.”
6 tn Or “who do not need to repent”; Grk “who do not have need of repentance.”
7 sn This silver coin is a drachma, equal to a denarius, that is, a day’s pay for the average laborer.
8 tn Grk “What woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses.” The initial participle ἔχουσα (ecousa) has been translated as a finite verb parallel to ἀπολέσῃ (apolesh) in the conditional clause to improve the English style.
9 tn Grk “one coin.”
10 tn Grk “and sweep,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
