Luke 12:36-38

12:36 be like people ¹  waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration, ²  so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 12:37 Blessed are those slaves ³  whom their master finds alert ⁴  when he returns! I tell you the truth, ⁵  he will dress himself to serve, ⁶  have them take their place at the table, ⁷  and will come ⁸  and wait on them! ⁹  12:38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night ¹⁰  and finds them alert, ¹¹  blessed are those slaves! ¹² 

[12:36]  ¹ tn That is, like slaves (who are mentioned later, vv. 37-38), although the term ἀνθρώποις (anqrwpoi") is used here. Since in this context it appears generic rather than gender-specific, the translation “people” is employed.

[12:36]  ² sn An ancient wedding celebration could last for days (Tob 11:18).

[12:37]  ³ tn See the note on the word “slave” in 7:2.

[12:37]  ⁴ tn Or “watching”; Grk “awake,” but in context this is not just being awake but alert and looking out.

[12:37]  ⁵ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[12:37]  ⁶ tn See v. 35 (same verb).

[12:37]  ⁷ tn Grk “have them 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.

[12:37]  ⁸ tn The participle παρελθών (parelqwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[12:37]  ⁹ sn He…will come and wait on them is a reversal of expectation, but shows that what Jesus asks for he is willing to do as well; see John 13:5 and 15:18-27, although those instances merely foreshadow what is in view here.

[12:38]  ⁵ sn The second or third watch of the night would be between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. on a Roman schedule and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on a Jewish schedule. Luke uses the four-watch schedule of the Romans in Acts 12:4, so that is more probable here. Regardless of the precise times of the watches, however, it is clear that the late-night watches when a person is least alert are in view here.

[12:38]  ⁶ tn Grk “finds (them) thus”; but this has been clarified in the translation by referring to the status (“alert”) mentioned in v. 37.

[12:38]  ⁷ tn Grk “blessed are they”; the referent (the watchful slaves, v. 37) has been specified in the translation for clarity.