Luke 16:19-21

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Luke 16:19 sn Purple describes a fine, expensive dye used on luxurious clothing, and by metonymy, refers to clothing colored with that dye. It pictures someone of great wealth.
2. Luke 16:19 tn Or “celebrated with ostentation” (L&N 88.255), that is, with showing off. Here was the original conspicuous consumer.
3. Luke 16:20 tn The passive verb ἐβέβλητο (ebeblēto) does not indicate how Lazarus got there. Cf. BDAG 163 s.v. βάλλω 1.b, “he lay before the door”; Josephus, Ant. 9.10.2 (9.209).
4. Luke 16:20 sn This is the one time in all the gospels that a figure in a parable is mentioned by name. It will become important later in the account.
5. Luke 16:20 tn Or “was covered with ulcers.” The words “whose body” are implied in the context (L&N 23.180).
6. Luke 16:21 tn Grk “to eat his fill,” but this phrase has been simplified as “to eat” for stylistic reasons.
7. Luke 16:21 tn The term κύνες (kunes) refers to “wild” dogs (either “street” dogs or watchdogs), not house pets (L&N 4.34).
8. Luke 16:21 sn When the dogs came and licked his sores it meant that he was unclean. See the negative image of Rev 22:15 that draws on this picture.