Lukas 9:7-17
Konteks9:7 Now Herod 1 the tetrarch 2 heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, 3 because some people were saying that John 4 had been raised from the dead, 9:8 while others were saying that Elijah 5 had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen. 6 9:9 Herod said, “I had John 7 beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” So Herod wanted to learn about Jesus. 8
9:10 When 9 the apostles returned, 10 they told Jesus 11 everything they had done. Then 12 he took them with him and they withdrew privately to a town 13 called Bethsaida. 14 9:11 But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He 15 welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, 16 and cured those who needed healing. 17 9:12 Now the day began to draw to a close, 18 so 19 the twelve came and said to Jesus, 20 “Send the crowd away, so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging 21 and food, because we are in an isolated place.” 22 9:13 But he said to them, “You 23 give them something to eat.” They 24 replied, 25 “We have no more than five loaves and two fish – unless 26 we go 27 and buy food 28 for all these people.” 9:14 (Now about five thousand men 29 were there.) 30 Then 31 he said to his disciples, “Have 32 them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 9:15 So they did as Jesus directed, 33 and the people 34 all sat down.
9:16 Then 35 he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks 36 and broke them. He gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 9:17 They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over 37 was picked up – twelve baskets of broken pieces.
[9:7] 1 sn Herod refers here to Herod Antipas. See the note on Herod Antipas in 3:1.
[9:7] 2 sn See the note on tetrarch in 3:1.
[9:7] 3 tn Or “was very confused.” See L&N 32.10 where this verse is given as an example of the usage.
[9:7] 4 sn John refers to John the Baptist, whom Herod had beheaded (v. 9).
[9:8] 5 sn The appearance of Elijah would mean that the end time had come. According to 2 Kgs 2:11, Elijah was still alive. In Mal 4:5 it is said that Elijah would be the precursor of Messiah.
[9:8] 6 sn The phrase had risen could be understood to mean “had been resurrected,” but this is only a possible option, not a necessary one, since the phrase could merely mean that a figure had appeared on the scene who mirrored an earlier historical figure. The three options of vv. 7-8 will be repeated in v. 19.
[9:9] 7 tn Grk “John I beheaded”; John’s name is in emphatic position in the Greek text. The verb is causative, since Herod would not have personally carried out the execution.
[9:9] 8 tn The expression ἐζήτει ἰδεῖν αὐτόν (ezhtei idein auton, “was seeking to see him”) probably indicates that Herod, for curiosity’s sake or more likely for evil purposes, wanted to get to know Jesus, i.e., who he was and what he was doing. See I. H. Marshall, Luke (NIGTC), 357. Herod finally got his wish in Luke 23:6-12, with inconclusive results from his point of view.
[9:10] 9 tn Grk “And when.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[9:10] 10 tn The participle ὑποστρέψαντες (Jupostreyante") has been taken temporally.
[9:10] 11 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[9:10] 12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
[9:10] 13 tc There is a seeming myriad of variants for this text. Many
[9:10] tn Or “city.”
[9:10] 14 sn Bethsaida was a town on the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee. Probably this should be understood to mean a place in the vicinity of the town. It represents an attempt to reconcile the location with the place of the miraculous feeding that follows.
[9:11] 15 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[9:11] 16 sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus. It is a realm in which Jesus rules and to which those who trust him belong. See Luke 6:20; 11:20; 17:20-21.
[9:11] 17 sn Again the combination of word (spoke to them) and healing (cured, compassionate deed) is what summarizes Jesus’ ministry: See Luke 4:38-44; 6:17-19; 7:22 (as also the disciples, 9:6).
[9:12] 18 tn Grk “the day began to decline,” looking to the approach of sunset.
[9:12] 19 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate that the disciples’ request was related to the approach of sunset.
[9:12] 20 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[9:12] 21 tn That is, find someone to show them hospitality. L&N 34.61 has “find lodging,” using this verse as an example.
[9:12] 22 tn Or “in a desert” (meaning a deserted or desolate area with sparse vegetation). Here ὧδε (Jwde) has not been translated.
[9:13] 23 tn Here the pronoun ὑμεῖς (Jumeis) is used, making “you” in the translation emphatic.
[9:13] 24 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
[9:13] 26 tn This possibility is introduced through a conditional clause, but it is expressed with some skepticism (BDF §376).
[9:13] 27 tn The participle πορευθέντες (poreuqente") has been taken as indicating attendant circumstance.
[9:13] 28 sn Not only would going and buying food have been expensive and awkward at this late time of day, it would have taken quite a logistical effort to get the food back out to this isolated location.
[9:14] 29 tn The Greek text reads here ἄνδρες (andres) – that is, adult males. The actual count would be larger, since the use of this Greek term suggests that women and children were not included in this number (see the parallel in Matt 14:21).
[9:14] 30 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.
[9:14] 31 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
[9:14] 32 tn Or “Make” (depending on how the force of the imperative verb is understood). Grk “cause them to recline” (the verb has causative force here).
[9:15] 33 tn Grk “And they did thus.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate that the disciples’ action was a result of Jesus’ instructions. The adverb οὕτως ({outw", “thus”) has been expanded in the translation to “as Jesus directed” to clarify what was done.
[9:15] 34 tn Grk “and they”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[9:16] 35 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
[9:16] 36 sn Gave thanks adds a note of gratitude to the setting. The scene is like two other later meals: Luke 22:19 and 24:30. Jesus gives thanks to God “with respect to” the provision of food. The disciples learn how Jesus is the mediator of blessing. John 6 speaks of him in this scene as picturing the “Bread of Life.”
[9:17] 37 sn There was more than enough for everybody, as indicated by the gathering of what was left over.
