Luke 4:27-29

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Luke 4:27 sn The ancient term for leprosy covers a wider array of conditions than what is called leprosy today (Hansen’s disease). In the OT the Hebrew term generally referred to a number of exfoliative (scaly) skin diseases (when applied to humans). A person with one of these diseases was totally ostracized from society until he was declared cured (Lev 13:45-46). In the NT the Greek term also refers to a number of skin diseases, but there is some evidence that true leprosy (Hansen’s disease) could be referred to, since that disease began to be described by Greek physicians in Alexandria, Egypt around 300 B.C. and thus might have been present in Judea and Galilee just before the time of Jesus.
2. Luke 4:27 sn On Elisha see 2 Kgs 5:1-14.
3. Luke 4:27 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast.
4. Luke 4:27 sn The reference to Naaman the Syrian (see 2 Kgs 5:1-24) is another example where an outsider and Gentile was blessed. The stress in the example is the missed opportunity of the people to experience God’s work, but it will still go on without them.
5. Luke 4:28 tn The words “the people” are not in the Greek text but have been supplied.
6. Luke 4:29 tn Grk “cast.”
7. Luke 4:29 tn Or “city.”
8. Luke 4:29 tn The Greek conjunction ὥστε (hōste) here indicates their purpose.
9. Luke 4:29 sn The attempt to throw him down the cliff looks like “lynch law,” but it may really be an indication that Jesus was regarded as a false prophet who was worthy of death (Deut 13:5). Such a sentence meant being thrown into a pit and then stoned.