Luke 1:38

1:38 So ¹  Mary said, “Yes, ²  I am a servant ³  of the Lord; let this happen to me ⁴  according to your word.” ⁵  Then ⁶  the angel departed from her.

Luke 18:34

18:34 But ⁷  the twelve ⁸  understood none of these things. This ⁹  saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp ¹⁰  what Jesus meant. ¹¹ 

[1:38]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[1:38]  ² tn Grk “behold.”

[1:38]  ³ tn Traditionally, “handmaid”; Grk “slave woman.” Though δούλη (doulh) is normally translated “woman servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free woman serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times… in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v. δοῦλος). The most accurate translation is “bondservant,” sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος (doulos), in that it often indicates one who sells himself or herself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.

[1:38]  ⁴ tn Grk “let this be to me.”

[1:38]  ⁵ sn The remark according to your word is a sign of Mary’s total submission to God’s will, a response that makes her exemplary.

[1:38]  ⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[18:34]  ⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast.

[18:34]  ⁸ tn Grk “they”; the referent (the twelve, v. 31) has been specified in the context for clarity.

[18:34]  ⁹ tn Grk “And this.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[18:34]  ¹⁰ sn This failure of the Twelve to grasp what Jesus meant probably does not mean that they did not understand linguistically what Jesus said, but that they could not comprehend how this could happen to him, if he was really God’s agent. The saying being hidden probably refers to God’s sovereign timing.

[18:34]  ¹¹ tn Grk “the things having been said.” The active agent, Jesus, has been specified for clarity, and “said” has been translated as “meant” to indicate that comprehension of the significance is really in view here.