Luke 7:11-17

Luke 7:11-17
A Women’s Lectionary 13

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11 ASoon afterwards he wentB to a townC calledD Nain,E

Notes on verse 11a

A {untranslated} = 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.
B “went” = poreuomai. From poros (ford, passageway). This is to go, travel, journey, or die. It refers to transporting things from one place to another and focuses on the personal significance of the destination.
C “town” = polis.  This is a city or its inhabitants. It is a town of variable size, but one that has walls. This is where “metropolis” and “police” come from.
D “called” = kaleo. Related to keleuo (to command, order, direct); from kelomai (to urge on). This is to call by name, invite, to name, bid, summon, call aloud.
E “Nain” = Nain. 1x in NT. From Hebrew related to naah (to be at home and so pleasant, beautiful). This is Nain, meaning “pleasant” or “beauty.” See https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Nain.html#.X-uRL9hKhPY.

and his disciplesF and a largeG crowdH went withI him. 

Notes on verse 11b

F “disciples” = mathetes. From matheteuo (to make a disciple of); from manthano (to learn key facts, gain knowledge from experience; generally implies reflection as part of the learning process); from math– (thinking things through). This is a disciple, learner, or student. It is where we get “mathematics” from.
G “large” = polus. This is much, often, plenteous – a large number or a great extent.
H “crowd” = ochlos. Perhaps from echo (to have, hold, possess). This is a crowd, the common people, a rabble. Figuratively, it can refer to a riot.
I “went with” = sumporeuomai. Related to “went” in v11. 4x in NT. From sun (with, together with) + poreuomai (see note B above). This is to journey together or assemble.

12 As he approachedJ the gateK of the town,L a man who had diedM was being carried out.N

Notes on verse 12a

J “approached” = eggizo. From eggus (nearby or near in time). This is extremely close by – approaching, at hand, immediately imminent.
K “gate” = pule. 10x in NT. This is gate, large entrance to a city or a fortress. It is often used for an exit way. Figuratively, it can refer to authority and power.
L {untranslated} = idou. From eido (to be aware, see, know, remember, appreciate). This is see! Lo! Behold! Look! Used to express surprise and or draw attention to the statement.
M “died” = thnesko. 9x in NT. This is to die or be dead in a spiritual or literal sense.
N “carried out” = ekkomizo. 1x in NT. From ek (from, from out of) + komizo (to carry, convey, recover); from komeo (to take care of). This is to carry out (as in out of the gate of the city).

He was his mother’sO onlyP son,Q and she was a widow;R and with her was a largeS crowd from the town. 

Notes on verse 12b

O “mother’s” = meter. This is mother in a literal or figurative sense.
P “only” = monogenes. Related to {untranslated} in v11. 9x in NT. From monos (alone, only, solitary, sole, mere, desolate); {probably from meno (to stay, remain, wait, continue, endure)} + genos (family, offspring, kin – in a literal or figurative sense); {from ginomai (see note A above)}. This is only begotten, unique, one and only, one of a kind.
Q “son” = huios. This is son, descendant – a son whether natural born or adopted. It can be used figuratively for other forms of kinship.
R “widow” = chera. Perhaps from the base of chasma (chasm, gap, gulf); from chasko (to yawn). This is widow literally or figuratively.
S “large” = hikanos. From hikneomai (to reach, come to, attain). This is sufficient, suitable, adequate, competent, ample.

13 When the LordT sawU her, he had compassionV for her and said to her, “Do not weep.”W 

Notes on verse 13

T “Lord” = kurios. From kuros (authority, supremacy). This is a respectful address meaning master or sir. It refers to one who has control or power greater than one’s own. So, it was also applied to God and Jesus as Master or Lord.
U “saw” = horao. To see, perceive, attend to, look upon, experience. Properly, to stare at and so implying clear discernment. This, by extension, would indicate attending to what was seen and learned. This is to see, often with a metaphorical sense. Can include inward spiritual seeing.
V “had compassion” = splagchnizomai. 12x in NT– 8x of Jesus having compassion on people or crowds. From splanxnon (inner organs, entrails; seen as the root of emotions). This is moved to compassion from deep within oneself – visceral empathy or sympathy, being deeply moved.
W “weep” = klaio. This is to weep, lament, or sob. It is weeping aloud.

14 Then he came forwardX and touchedY the bier,Z and the bearersAA stood still.BB

Notes on verse 14a

X “came forward” = proserchomai. From pros (for, at, towards) + erchomai (to come, go). This is to approach, draw near, come up to. It is also used figuratively to mean worship.
Y “touched” = haptomai. From hapto (to touch, handle, kindle, lay hold of). This is a touch that has an impact on what is being touched – it has an influence on the recipient so that the recipient is changed.
Z “bier” = soros. 1x in NT. Perhaps akin to soreuo (to load, pile up literally or figuratively); from soros (a heap). This is something that holds a body for a funeral – either an urn or a coffin. Here, by analogy, it refers to the bier bearing the receptacle.
AA “bearers” = bastazo. Perhaps from the base of basis (step, hence foot; a pace); from baino (to walk, to go). This is to lift in a literal of figurative sense. It can also mean take up, carry, bear, or remove. Figuratively, it can mean declare, endure, or sustain.
BB “stood still” = histemi. This is to stand, place, establish, appoint, stand ready, be steadfast.

And he said, “Young man,CC I sayDD to you, rise!”EE 

15 The deadFF man sat upGG and beganHH to speak, and Jesus gaveII him to his mother. 

Notes on verses 14b-15

CC “young man” = neaniskos. 11x in NT. From neanias (youth, young man; someone in their prime to the age of 40); from neos (young, new, youth, person). This is a youth or young man in their prime up to 40.
DD “say” = lego. This is to speak, say, name, call, command. It is generally to convey verbally.
EE “rise” = egeiro. This is to awake, raise up or lift up. It can be to get up from sitting or lying down, to get up from sleeping, to rise from a disease or from death. Figuratively, it can be rising from inactivity or from ruins.
FF “dead” = nekros. Perhaps from nekus (corpse). This is dead of lifeless, mortal, corpse. It can also be used figuratively for powerless or ineffective. It is where the word “necrotic” comes from.
GG “sat up” = anakathizo. 2x in NT– Jesus raising the Widow’s son at Nain in Luke 7:15 & Peter raising Tabitha in Acts 9:40. From ana (up, again, back, anew) + kathizo (to sit, set, appoint, stay, rest); {from kathezomai (to sit down, be seated); {from kata (down, against, according to, among) + hezomai (to sit); {from aphedron (a seat, a base)}}. This is to sit up or set up.
HH “began” = archomai. From archo (to rule, begin, have first rank or have political power). This is to begin or rule.
II “gave” = didomi. To give, offer, place, bestow, deliver. This is give in a literal or figurative sense.

16 FearJJ seizedKK allLL of them; and they glorifiedMM God,NN

Notes on verse 16a

JJ “fear” = phobos. From phebomai (to flee, withdraw, be put to flight). This is panic flight, fear, fear being caused, terror, alarm, that which causes fear, reverence, respect.
KK “seized” = lambano. It does not refer to passive receiving of something, but active acceptance or taking of something whether it is offered or simply nearby. It focuses on individual decision and action.
LL “all” = pas. This is all or every.
MM “glorified” = doxazo. From doxa (glory, opinion, praise, honor, renown; particularly used as a quality of God or manifestation of God – splendor); from dokeo (to have an opinion, seem, appear, suppose; a personal judgment; to think); from dokos (opinion). This is to render or hold something as glorious, to glorify, honor, magnify, or celebrate. This is ascribing weight to something by recognizing its true value or essence.
NN “God” = Theos. From Proto-Indo-European origins, meaning do, put, place. This is God or a god in general.

saying, “A greatOO prophetPP has risen among us!” and “God has looked favorablyQQ on his people!”RR 

Notes on verse 16b

OO “great” = megas. This is big in a literal or figurative sense – great, large, exceeding, abundant, high, mighty, perfect, strong, etc.
PP “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.
QQ “looked favorably” = episkeptomai. 11x in NT. From epi (on, upon, at, what is fitting) + the base of skopos (a mark or goal like the marker at the end of a race; figuratively, other goals or destinations; also, a watch or sentry); {from skeptomai (to peer out, consider, gaze carefully); perhaps related to skapto (to dig or excavate)}. This is to look at, look out for, see, select, visit.
RR “people” = laos. This is the people or crowd – often used for the chosen people. This is where the word “laity” comes from.

17 This wordSS about him spreadTT throughoutUU JudeaVV and all the surrounding country.

Notes on verse 17

SS “word” = logos. Related to “say” in v14. From lego (see note DD above). This is word, statement, speech, analogy. It is a word that carries an idea or expresses a thought, a saying. It could refer to a person with a message or reasoning laid out in words. By implication, this could be a topic, line of reasoning, or a motive. It can be used for a divine utterance or as Word – Christ.
TT “spread” = exerchomai. Related to “came forward” in v14. From ek (from, from out of) + erchomai (see note X above). This is to go out, depart, escape, proceed from, spread news abroad.
UU “throughout” = en + holos. Holos is whole, complete, or entire. It is a state where every member is present and functioning in concert. This is the root of the word “whole.”
VV “Judea” = Ioudaia. From Hebrew Yehudah (Judah, son of Jacob, his tribal descendants, a name for the southern kingdom. Literally, it means praised); probably from yadah (to throw one’s hands into the air in a gesture of praise); from yad (hand). This is Judea, which was a Roman province.


Image credit: “Raising of the Son of the Widow of Nain” from the Church of St. Michael, 1010-1020.

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