Luke 14:16-18

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Luke 14:16 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2. Luke 14:16 tn Or “dinner.”
3. Luke 14:16 sn Presumably those invited would have sent a reply with the invitation stating their desire to attend, much like a modern R.S.V.P. Then they waited for the servant to announce the beginning of the celebration (D. L. Bock, Luke [BECNT], 2:1272).
4. Luke 14:16 tn The word “guests” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
5. Luke 14:17 tn Grk “And at.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
6. Luke 14:17 tn Or “dinner.”
7. Luke 14:17 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 7:2.
8. Luke 14:18 tn Or “all unanimously” (BDAG 107 s.v. ἀπό 6). “One after another” is suggested by L&N 61.2.
9. Luke 14:18 sn To make excuses and cancel at this point was an insult in the culture of the time. Regardless of customs concerning responses to invitations, refusal at this point was rude.
10. Luke 14:18 sn I have bought a field. An examination of newly bought land was a common practice. It was this person’s priority.
11. Luke 14:18 sn The expression Please excuse me is probably a polite way of refusing, given the dynamics of the situation, although it is important to note that an initial acceptance had probably been indicated and it was now a bit late for a refusal. The semantic equivalent of the phrase may well be “please accept my apologies.”