Luke 23:56

23:56 Then ¹  they returned and prepared aromatic spices ²  and perfumes. ³ 

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. ⁴ 

Luke 15:29

15:29 but he answered ⁵  his father, ‘Look! These many years I have worked like a slave ⁶  for you, and I never disobeyed your commands. Yet ⁷  you never gave me even a goat ⁸  so that I could celebrate with my friends!

[23:56]  ¹ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[23:56]  ² tn On this term see BDAG 140-41 s.v. ἄρωμα. The Jews did not practice embalming, so these preparations were used to cover the stench of decay and slow decomposition. The women planned to return and anoint the body. But that would have to wait until after the Sabbath.

[23:56]  ³ tn Or “ointments.” This was another type of perfumed oil.

[23:56]  ⁴ sn According to the commandment. These women are portrayed as pious, faithful to the law in observing the Sabbath.

[15:29]  ⁵ tn Grk “but answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “but he answered.”

[15:29]  ⁶ tn Or simply, “have served,” but in the emotional context of the older son’s outburst the translation given is closer to the point.

[15:29]  ⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to bring out the contrast indicated by the context.

[15:29]  ⁸ sn You never gave me even a goat. The older son’s complaint was that the generous treatment of the younger son was not fair: “I can’t get even a little celebration with a basic food staple like a goat!”