Discovery BoxLuke 19:28-38
Context19:28 After Jesus 1 had said this, he continued on ahead, 2 going up to Jerusalem. 3 19:29 Now 4 when he approached Bethphage 5 and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, 6 he sent two of the disciples, 19:30 telling them, 7 “Go to the village ahead of you. 8 When 9 you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden. 10 Untie it and bring it here. 19:31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs 11 it.’” 19:32 So those who were sent ahead found 12 it exactly 13 as he had told them. 19:33 As 14 they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, 15 “Why are you untying that colt?” 19:34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.” 19:35 Then 16 they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks 17 on the colt, 18 and had Jesus get on 19 it. 19:36 As 20 he rode along, they 21 spread their cloaks on the road. 19:37 As he approached the road leading down from 22 the Mount of Olives, 23 the whole crowd of his 24 disciples began to rejoice 25 and praise 26 God with a loud voice for all the mighty works 27 they had seen: 28 19:38 “Blessed is the king 29 who comes in the name of the Lord! 30 Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
[19:28] 1 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:28] 2 tn This could mean “before [his disciples],” but that is slightly more awkward, requiring an elided element (the disciples) to be supplied.
[19:28] 3 sn This is yet another travel note on the journey to Jerusalem. See also Luke 18:31; 19:11. Jesus does not actually enter Jerusalem until 19:45.
[19:29] 4 tn Grk “And it happened that when.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
[19:29] 5 sn The exact location of the village of Bethphage is not known. Most locate it on the southeast side of the Mount of Olives and northwest of Bethany, about 1.5 miles (3 km) east of Jerusalem.
[19:29] 6 tn Grk “at the mountain called ‘of Olives.’” This form of reference is awkward in contemporary English, so the more familiar “Mount of Olives” has been used in the translation.
[19:30] 8 tn Grk “the village lying before [you]” (BDAG 530 s.v. κατέναντι 2.a).
[19:30] 9 tn Grk “in which entering.” This is a continuation of the previous sentence in Greek, but because of the length and complexity of the construction a new sentence was started here in the translation.
[19:30] 10 tn Grk “a colt tied there on which no one of men has ever sat.”
[19:31] 11 sn The custom called angaria allowed the impressment of animals for service to a significant figure.
[19:32] 12 tn Grk “sent ahead and went and found.”
[19:32] 13 sn Exactly as he had told them. Nothing in Luke 19-23 catches Jesus by surprise. Often he directs the action.
[19:33] 14 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[19:33] 15 tn Grk “said to them.”
[19:35] 16 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
[19:35] 17 tn Grk “garments”; but this refers in context to their outer cloaks. The action is like 2 Kgs 9:13.
[19:35] 19 tn Although ἐπεβίβασαν (epebibasan) is frequently translated “set [Jesus] on it” or “put [Jesus] on it,” when used of a riding animal the verb can mean “to cause to mount” (L&N 15.98); thus here “had Jesus get on it.” The degree of assistance is not specified.
[19:36] 20 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[19:36] 21 tn The disciples initiated this action (since in 19:35 and 37 they are the subject) but the other gospels indicate the crowds also became involved. Thus it is difficult to specify the referent here as “the disciples” or “people.”
[19:37] 22 tn Grk “the descent of”; this could refer to either the slope of the hillside itself or the path leading down from it (the second option has been adopted for the translation, see L&N 15.109).
[19:37] 23 sn See the note on the name Mount of Olives in v. 29.
[19:37] 24 tn Grk “the”; the Greek article has been translated here as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215).
[19:37] 25 tn Here the participle χαίροντες (caironte") has been translated as a finite verb in English; it could also be translated adverbially as a participle of manner: “began to praise God joyfully.”
[19:37] 26 sn See 2:13, 20; Acts 2:47; 3:8-9.
[19:37] 27 tn Or “works of power,” “miracles.” Jesus’ ministry of miracles is what has drawn attention. See Luke 7:22.
[19:37] 28 tn Grk “they had seen, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
[19:38] 29 sn Luke adds the title king to the citation from Ps 118:26 to make clear who was meant (see Luke 18:38). The psalm was used in looking for the deliverance of the end, thus leading to the Pharisees’ reaction.
