Exegesis:
idōn de Simōn Petros ‘and when Simon Peter saw it.’ The object of idōn is to be understood from the preceding: the facts which vv. 6 and 7 describe. de is transitory. The two names Simōn Petros occur only here and in 6.14 together. The latter place refers explicitly to the fact that Jesus gave Simon the name Peter. This is, as it were, anticipated here.
prosepesen tois gonasin Iēsou ‘he fell down at Jesus’ knees,’ taking Iēsou as a genitive (cf. Plummer, Schlatter). The expression means that Peter knelt down, either bowing till his head was on a level with Jesus’ knees, or clasping Jesus’ knees in supplication (cf. Plummer, and L-Sc, s.v. prospiptō III). The former is preferable. gonu also 22.41.
exelthe ap’ emou lit. ‘go out of me,’ or ‘go away from me,’ preferably the former, since it is consistent with Luke’s use of the phrase elsewhere (cf. e.g. 4.35, 41).
hoti anēr hamartōlos eimi ‘because I am a sinful man,’ motivates the preceding imperative. The meaning of the clause depends on the interpretation of hamartōlos, which is best understood in a general sense and refers to a class or group of people “who were not so careful in their observance of the Law … as were the Pharisees”. Simon knew that he belonged to that class and that he could not bear the presence of the one who had manifested his supernatural power beyond doubt.
kurie ‘lord’ (cf. on 1.6), stronger and more respectful than epistata ‘master’ in v. 5.
Translation:
Simon Peter raises a problem in Tboli, because the second name would always be the father’s name; hence, ‘Simon the one Jesus named Peter.’
He fell down at Jesus’ knees. In this context “to fall down” and its synonym “to fall on the face” mean ‘to kneel down bowing the face towards the ground’; hence, ‘to kneel (down),’ ‘to bow deep (down)’ (Pohnpeian), or a comparable idiom such as ‘to throw himself against’ (Santili), are possible renderings. Technical terms or phrases are usually available in Muslim countries, because the attitude in question occurs in the Muslim daily prayer. The phrase at the knees of, and its more common synonym ‘at the feet of,’ may have to coincide in such renderings as ‘before,’ ‘in front of’ (which in Ekari idiom becomes ‘at the nose of’) Y.
Depart from me, or, as advocated in Exegesis, ‘go out of me,’ using a term that suggests the cessation of a mental state, i.e. the being under the spell of Jesus’ spirit.
Lord, see on 1.6, sub (d).
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.
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