Luke 7:11–17

Raising a Widow’s Son

7:11 Soon35 afterward36 Jesus37 went to a town38 called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. 7:12 As he approached the town gate, a man39 who had died was being carried out,40 the only son of his mother (who41 was a widow42), and a large crowd from the town43 was with her. 7:13 When44 the Lord saw her, he had compassion45 for her and said to her, “Do not weep.”46 7:14 Then47 he came up48 and touched49 the bier,50 and those who carried it stood still. He51 said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 7:15 So52 the dead man53 sat up and began to speak, and Jesus54 gave him back55 to his mother. 7:16 Fear56 seized them all, and they began to glorify57 God, saying, “A great prophet58 has appeared59 among us!” and “God has come to help60 his people!” 7:17 This61 report62 about Jesus63 circulated64 throughout65 Judea and all the surrounding country.

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35	tn Grk “And it happened that soon.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
36	tc Several variants to ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ (egeneto en tō) are found before the adverb ἑξῆς (hexēs), all of them clarifying by the use of the feminine article that the next day is meant (τῇ [tē] in D; ἐγένετο τῇ in W; ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ in א* C K 565 892 1424 pm). But these readings are decidedly secondary, for they are more specific than Luke usually is, and involve an unparalleled construction (viz., article + ἡμέρα [hēmera] + ἑξῆς; elsewhere, when Luke uses this adverb, the noun it modifies is either implied or after the adverb [cf. Luke 9:37; Acts 21:1; 25:17; 27:18)]. The reading adopted for the translation is a more general time indicator; the article τῷ modifies an implied χρόνῳ (chronō), with the general sense of “soon afterward.”
37	tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
38	tn The term πόλις (polis) can refer to a small town, which is what Nain was. It was about six miles southeast of Nazareth.
39	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).
40	tn That is, carried out for burial. This was a funeral procession.
41	tn Grk “and she.” The clause introduced by καί (kai) has been translated as a relative clause for the sake of English style.
42	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.
43	tn Or “city.”
44	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 (idōn) has been taken temporally.
45	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).
46	tn The verb κλαίω (klaiō) denotes the loud wailing or lamenting typical of 1st century Jewish mourning.
47	tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
48	tn Grk “coming up, he touched.” The participle προσελθών (proselthōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
49	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).
50	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.
51	tn Grk “And he.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
52	tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of Jesus’ command.
53	tn Or “the deceased.”
54	tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
55	tn In the context, the verb δίδωμι (didōmi) has been translated “gave back” rather than simply “gave.”
56	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.
57	tn This imperfect verb has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.
58	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.
59	tn Grk “arisen.”
60	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.
61	tn Grk “And this.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
62	sn See Luke 4:14 for a similar report.
63	tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
64	tn Grk “went out.”
65	tn Grk “through the whole of.”

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