Article July 3, 1937 Issue

Bible Notes

"When the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him" (Luke 22:14)—When the passover was originally instituted, it was made plain that those who partook of it had to eat standing: "Thus shall ye eat it," we read in Exodus 12:11; "with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand;" however, in the course of the years, a certain latitude had come to be allowed in this regard, the rabbis contending, as a reason for abandoning the traditional standing attitude, that such a posture "only suited slaves" (Farrar: St. Luke, Cambridge Greek Testament, p. 370). It may be added that the Greek word rendered "he sat down" in Luke 22:14 means literally "he lay down, or, reclined" (Souter: Greek Lexicon, p. 20). In Jesus' day it was the custom to recline at a meal on couches provided for the purpose.

"With desire I have desired" (Luke 22:15)—The repetition of the word gives emphasis, as in a similar Hebrew idiom. Compare: "Living he shall live," which is idiomatically translated in the Authorized Version: "He shall surely live" (Ezek. 3:21). Thus, in Luke 22:15 Moffatt has: "I have longed eagerly;" Goodspeed: "I have greatly desired;" and Weymouth (fifth edition): "Earnestly have I longed."

"I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God" (Luke 22:16)—The words "any more" are not represented in the original Greek, and so the Revised Version gives the more literal rendering: "I will not eat it until it be fulfilled." Other translators, however, hold that the words "any more," or perhaps "again," are implied at this point, thus supporting the translation found in the Authorized Version. For example, Moffatt has: "I will never eat the passover again till the fulfillment of it in the Reign of God;" and Weymouth: "I certainly shall not eat one again till its full meaning is brought out in the Kingdom of God."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

For the love and joy which I am privileged to have daily...