Luke 4:24-26

Luke 4:24-26
NL309

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24 And he said,A “TrulyB I tellC you,

Notes on verse 24a

A “said” = eiron. This is to speak say, answer, command.
B “truly” = amen. From Hebrew amen (verily, truly, amen, truth, so be it, faithfulness); from aman (to believe, endure, fulfill, confirm, support, be faithful, put one’s trust in, be steadfast. Figuratively, this is to be firm, steadfast, or faithful, trusting, believing, being permanent, morally solid). This word is literally firmness, but figuratively fidelity, faithfulness, honesty, responsibility, trust, truth, steadfastness. Properly, it is to be sure, certain, or firm. This is a word of emphasis indicating that something crucial follows.
C “tell” = lego. This is to speak, say, name, call, command. It is generally to convey verbally.

no prophetD isE acceptedF in his hometown.G 

Notes on verse 24b

D “prophet” = prophetes. From pro (before, in front of, earlier than) + phemi (to declare, say, use contrasts in speaking to shed light on one point of view); {from phao (to shine) or phaino (to bring light, cause to appear, shine, become visible or clear)}. This is a prophet or poet – one who speaks with inspiration from God.
E “is” = eimi. This is to be, exist.
F “accepted” = dektos. 5x in NT. From dechomai (to warmly receive, be ready for what is offered, take, accept, or welcome; to receive in a literal or figurative sense). This is favorable, welcome, approved, pleasing.
G “hometown” = patris. 8x in NT. From pater (father in a literal or figurative sense) OR from parasemos (marked on the side, wrongly marked a ship’s figurehead); {from para (beside, by, in the presence of) + semaino (to give a sign, signify, indicate, make known); {from sema (a sign or mark)}}. This is belonging to one’s father or ancestors. It could be hometown, native town, country, or heaven as home.

25 But the truthH is,I there wereJ

Notes on verse 25a

H “truth” = aletheia. From alethes (true, unconcealed; true because it is in concert with fact and reality – attested; literally, what cannot be hidden; truth stands up to test and scrutiny and is undeniable, authentic). {from a (not, without) + lanthano (unnoticed, concealed)}. Truth is literally that which is not or cannot be concealed. This word covers more than the sense of true versus false. It spoke of truth as that which corresponds to reality – reality as opposed to illusion. Thus, it includes, sincerity, straightforwardness, and reality itself.
I “is” = lego. Same as “tell” in v24. See note C above.
J “were” = eimi. Same as “is” in v24. See note E above.

manyK widowsL in IsraelM in the timeN of Elijah,O

Notes on verse 25b

K “many” = polus. This is much, often, plenteous – a large number or a great extent.
L “widows” = chera. Perhaps from the base of chasma (chasm, gap, gulf); from chasko (to yawn). This is widow literally or figuratively.
M “Israel” = Israel. Related to “Elijah” in v25. From Hebrew Yisrael (God strives or one who strives with God; new name for Jacob and for his offspring); {from sarah (to persist, exert oneself, contend, persevere, wrestle, prevail) + El (see note O below)}. This is Israel the people and the land.
N “time” = hemera. Perhaps from hemai (to sit). This is day, time, or daybreak.
O “Elijah” = Elias. From Hebrew Eliyyah (Elijah) {from el (God, god) + Yah (the shortened form of the name of the God of Israel; God, Lord); {from YHVH (proper name of the God of Israel; God, Lord; the self-existent or eternal one); from havah (to become) or hayah (to be, become, happen)}}. This is Elijah, “The Lord is God.”

when the heavenP was shut upQ threeR yearsS and sixT months

Notes on verse 25c

P “heaven” = ouranos. May be related to oros (mountain, hill); probably related to airo (raise, take up, lift, remove). This is the air, the sky, the atmosphere, and heaven. It is the sky that is visible and the spiritual heaven where God dwells. Heaven implies happiness, power, and eternity.
Q “shut up” = kleio. 16x in NT. This is to close, shut, or lock in a literal of figurative sense. Figuratively used for shutting out of the kingdom of heaven or the wedding banquet, the heavens shutting as in there is no rain, and also for heartlessness.
R “three” = treis. This is three.
S “years” = etos. This is year, age.
T “six” = hex. 13x in NT. This is six.

and there wasU a severeV famineW over allX the land,Y 

Notes on verse 25d

U “was” = ginomai. This is to come into being, to happen, become, be born. It can be to emerge from one state or condition to another or is coming into being with the sense of movement or growth.
V “severe” = megas. This is big in a literal or figurative sense – great, large, exceeding, abundant, high, mighty, perfect, strong, etc.
W “famine” = limos. 12x in NT. Probably from leipo (to leave behind, be lacking). This is hunger, famine, or lacking.
X “all” = pas. This is all or every.
Y “land” = ge. This is earth, land, soil, region, country, the inhabitants of an area.

26 yet Elijah was sentZ to none of them except to aAA widow at ZarephathBB in Sidon.CC

Notes on verse 26

Z “sent” = pempo. This is to send, put forth, or dispatch. This often refers to a temporary errand. It is sending someone with a focus on the place they departed from. By contrast, another Greek word, hiemi, emphasizes the destination and yet another word, stello, focuses on the motion that goes with the sending.
AA {untranslated} = gune. Related to “was” in v25. Perhaps from ginomai (see note U above). This is woman, wife, or bride. This is where the word “gynecologist” comes from.
BB “Zarephath” = Sarepta. 1x in NT. From Hebrew Tsarephath (Tsarephath, Zarephath; “melting place” or “refinement”; a city); from tsaraph (to refine, smalt, or fuse metal; the smelter, goldsmith, or silversmith; figuratively, refine in a literal or figurative sense – to test or try, make pure). This is Zarephath or Sarepta, a city that is south of Sidon.
CC “Sidon” = Sidonios. 2x in NT. From Sidon (Sidon, a Phoenician city on the sea); from Phoenician tsydon (Sidon, maybe meaning “fishery” or “fishing town”). This is Sidonian – someone from Sidon. See https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Sidon & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidon


Image credit: “Sent to Sheep without a Shepherd” in the apse of the Basilica of St Thérèse in Lisieux, France.

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