Lukas 17:7-10

17:7 “Would any one of you say ¹  to your slave ²  who comes in from the field after plowing or shepherding sheep, ‘Come at once and sit down for a meal’? ³  17:8 Won’t ⁴  the master ⁵  instead say to him, ‘Get my dinner ready, and make yourself ready ⁶  to serve me while ⁷  I eat and drink. Then ⁸  you may eat and drink’? 17:9 He won’t thank the slave because he did what he was told, ⁹  will he? ¹⁰  17:10 So you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, ‘We are slaves undeserving of special praise; ¹¹  we have only done what was our duty.’” ¹² 

[17:7]  ¹ tn Grk “Who among you, having a slave… would say to him.”

[17:7]  ² tn See the note on the word “slave” in 7:2.

[17:7]  ³ tn Grk “and recline at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away. See BDAG 70 s.v. ἀναπίπτω 1.

[17:8]  ⁴ tn The question includes a Greek particle, οὐχί (ouci), that expects a positive reply. The slave is expected to prepare a meal before eating himself.

[17:8]  ⁵ tn Grk “he”; the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[17:8]  ⁶ tn Grk “and gird yourself” (with an apron or towel, in preparation for service).

[17:8]  ⁷ tn BDAG 423 s.v. ἕως 2.b, “to denote contemporaneousness as long as, while… w. subjunctive… Lk 17:8.”

[17:8]  ⁸ tn Grk “after these things.”

[17:9]  ⁹ tn Grk “did what was commanded.”

[17:9]  ¹⁰ tn The Greek construction anticipates a negative reply which is indicated in the translation by the ‘tag’ at the end, “will he?” Thanks are not required.

[17:10]  ¹¹ tn Some translations describe the slaves as “worthless” (NRSV) or “unworthy” (NASB, NIV) but that is not Jesus’ point. These disciples have not done anything deserving special commendation or praise (L&N 33.361), but only what would normally be expected of a slave in such a situation (thus the translation “we have only done what was our duty”).

[17:10]  ¹² tn Or “we have only done what we were supposed to do.”