Luke 7:11-17
Soon afterwards ( εν το εξης ). According to this reading supply χρονω, time. Other MSS. read τη εξης (supply ημερα, day). Hεξης occurs in Luke and Acts in the N.T. though old adverb of time.That ( Hοτ ). Not in the Greek, the two verbs εγενετο and επορευθη having no connective (asyndeton).
Went with him ( συνεπορευοντο αυτω ). Imperfect middle picturing the procession of disciples and the crowd with Jesus. Nain is not mentioned elsewhere in the N.T. There is today a hamlet about two miles west of Endor on the north slope of Little Hermon. There is a burying-place still in use. Robinson and Stanley think that the very road on which the crowd with Jesus met the funeral procession can be identified.
Behold ( κα ιδου ). The κα introduces the apodosis of the temporal sentence and has to be left out in translations. It is a common idiom in Luke, κα ιδου.
There was carried out ( εξεκομιζετο ). Imperfect passive indicative. Common verb in late Greek for carrying out a body for burial, though here only in the N.T. ( εκκομιζω ). Rock tombs outside of the village exist there today.
One that was dead ( τεθνηκως ). Perfect active participle of θνησκω, to die.
The only son of his mother ( μονογενης υιος τη μητρ αυτου ). Only begotten son to his mother (dative case). The compound adjective μονογενης ( μονος and γενος ) is common in the old Greek and occurs in the N.T. about Jesus (Joh 3:16, 18). The "death of a widow's only son was the greatest misfortune conceivable" (Easton).
And she was a widow ( κα αυτη ην χηρα ). This word χηρα gives the finishing touch to the pathos of the situation. The word is from χηρος, bereft. The mourning of a widow for an only son is the extremity of grief (Plummer).
Much people ( οχλος ικανος ). Considerable crowd as often with this adjective ικανος. Some were hired mourners, but the size of the crowd showed the real sympathy of the town for her.
The Lord saw her ( ιδων αυτην ο κυριος ). The Lord of Life confronts death (Plummer) and Luke may use Κυριος here purposely.
Had compassion ( εσπλαγχθη ). First aorist (ingressive) passive indicative of σπλαγχνιζομα. Often love and pity are mentioned as the motives for Christ's miracles (Mt 14:14; 15:32, etc.). It is confined to the Synoptics in the N.T. and about Christ save in the parables by Christ.
Weep not ( μη κλαιε ). Present imperative in a prohibition. Cease weeping.
Touched the bier ( ηψατο του σορου ). An urn for the bones or ashes of the dead in Homer, then the coffin (Ge 5:26), then the funeral couch or bier as here. Only here in the N.T. Jesus touched the bier to make the bearers stop, which they did ( stood still, εστησαν ), second aorist active indicative of ιστημ.
Sat up ( ανεκαθισεν ). First aorist active indicative. The verb in the N.T. only here and Ac 9:40. Medical writers often used it of the sick sitting up in bed (Hobart, Med. Lang. of St. Luke, p. 11). It is objected that the symmetry of these cases (daughter of Jairus raised from the death-bed, this widow's son raised from the bier, Lazarus raised from the tomb) is suspicious, but no one Gospel gives all three (Plummer).
Gave him to his mother ( εδωκεν αυτον τη μητρ αυτου ). Tender way of putting it. "For he had already ceased to belong to his mother" (Bengel). So in Lu 9:42.
Fear seized all ( ελαβεν δε φοβος παντας ). Aorist active indicative. At once.
They glorified God ( εδοξαζον τον θεον ). Imperfect active, inchoative, began and increased.
This report ( ο λογος ουτος ). That God had raised up a great prophet who had shown his call by raising the dead.
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