Translation commentary on Luke 15:2 – 15:3

Exegesis:

diegogguzon ‘grumbled,’ presumably in Jesus’ presence.

diagogguzō (also 19.7) ‘to murmur,’ ‘to grumble,’ synonymous with gogguzō (cf. on 5.30).

hoi te Pharisaioi kai hoi grammateis ‘the Pharisees and the experts in the law,’ cf. on 5.17 and 21. By te … kai they are represented as belonging very closely together.

houtos ‘this man,’ contemptuously.

hamartōlous prosdechetai ‘welcomes sinners,’ i.e. into his company. For the inarticulate hamartōlous cf. on v. 1.

sunesthiei autois ‘and eats with them,’ presumably at their invitation and in their homes.

(V. 3) eipen de pros autous tēn parabolēn tautēn ‘then he told them this parable,’ i.e. as an answer to their grumbling. Strictly speaking Jesus does not tell them one parable, but two parables in question-form, which closely resemble each other and from which the same application is drawn in vv. 7 and 10.

Translation:

Murmured, cf. on 5.30.

For receives see 9.5. In this context Sranan Tongo has: ‘sides (lit. keeps/holds) with,’ Bible en français courant: fait bon accueil à.

For eats with them see 7.36; for parable see 8.4.

Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 15:2

15:2a

So: This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that many English versions translate as “and.” The Berean Standard Bible translates it as So because it introduces what the Pharisees’ said as a result of what was happening. The Contemporary English Version also translates it as “So.” Jesus accepted people whom the Pharisees had rejected as sinners. They did not like this and they complained about it. Consider what conjunction would be natural here in your language. In some languages a conjunction may not be needed.

the Pharisees: The Pharisees were members of a religious group that emphasized obeying Moses’ Law. Here are some ways to translate this word:

• Transliterate the word Pharisees and indicate that it refers to a group of people. For example:

Farisi members
-or-
Parise adherents

• Transliterate the word Pharisees and indicate that it refers to a group of people with certain beliefs. For example:

people belonging to the Farise religious sect/group
-or-
members of the religious group called the Farasi

This word first occurs in 5:17b. See also the note at 11:37b.

scribes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as scribes refers to men whose most important work at the time of Jesus was to study, interpret, and teach the Law of Moses. This word is sometimes translated as “scribes” by versions such as the Revised Standard Version. That is because the original work of these men was to copy the laws of Moses by hand. In New Testament times, this was no longer their main task.

Some ways to translate this term are:

teachers of the Law of Moses (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
teachers of religious law
-or-
experts in the law (NET Bible)

The term scribes also occurs at 9:22b. See also teacher of the law in the Glossary.

began to grumble: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as began to grumble here means “complained.” The religious leaders expressed to each other their disapproval or criticism of what Jesus was doing. The following context implies that they spoke loudly enough for Jesus to hear them.

The form of the Greek verb here may also be translated as an action that was beginning or continuing. For example:

started grumbling (Good News Translation)
-or-
were grumbling (New Revised Standard Version)

15:2b

This man welcomes sinners: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as This man welcomes sinners is a complaint or criticism. The religious leaders were not pleased that Jesus was friendly to people whom they considered to be worthless sinners.

This man: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as This man refers to Jesus. When the religious leaders referred to Jesus in this way, they showed that they disliked and disapproved of him. People in your culture may have a different way to indicate that they do not approve of someone they are referring to. In some languages it may be natural to use a separate phrase or a separate sentence. For example:

As for this fellow/person, he welcomes
-or-
Look at that Jesus/guy! He welcomes

welcomes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as welcomes means “to receive in a friendly way.” In this context it refers to an action that Jesus did as a habit. He showed that he was happy to have sinners around him. He regularly talked with them in a friendly way.

sinners: This is the same word as in 15:1.

eats with them: The phrase eats with them again refers to an action that Jesus often did. He often ate at the home of people whom others despised as sinners.

General Comment on 15:2a–b

In some languages it may be more natural to express what the Jewish leaders said as an indirect quote. For example:

This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! (New Living Translation (2004))

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