John Kilgallen, «Luke 20,13 and i1swj», Vol. 89 (2008) 263-264
Many translations understand the father of the vineyard (parable in Luke 20, 9-19) to think that he will send his beloved son to the vineyard workers because they possibly might accept him; this seems faulty reasoning on the part of the father. It seems better to re-read i1swj (v. 13) in accord with its basic sense, which in turn allows the father a proper logic: “they will give my son a treatment that is equal to his dignity as my beloved son”.
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- «The Strivings of the Flesh
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264 John J. Kilgallen
Take my advice, O king… then your prosperity will be long (NAB)
(Dan 4, 24; LXX Dan [TH] 4,27).
Here the word i[sw" means to assure the king that there will be no “maybe†or
“perhaps†about his prosperity being long (3).
3. “Isw" read in Luke 20,13
The argument developed above looks to two factors, 1. the meaning and
use of the Greek word i[sw" (i[so") and 2. suitable reasoning in regard to the
father’s sending his son, his beloved son. Since there are examples in the LXX
(and elsewhere) which do use i[sw" in a more “certain†sense than “perhapsâ€,
it seems reasonable to understand the Greek adverb accordingly. The basic
sense of the source for this adverb is i[so", a term which makes us read Luke
20,13 along the lines of “equal†or “similarâ€. We turn, then, to the father’s
soliloquy. Understanding the father’s proposal, it seems more correct to think
that the father thinks that the vinedressers will indeed treat this son according
to his status as beloved son, and not just “perhapsâ€: they will give him
treatment equal to what his sonship deserves. It is on this assessment that the
father depends when he sends his son into a proven hostile situation. The
verbal link between the status of the son and the respect the father expects to
be given his son is expressed in the Greek adverb i[sw". Here is a sense of
equal for equal, and the conclusion “They will respect him†becomes, for the
father, a moral surety and solid basis for his son’ success. The father does not
ask his son to undertake a task the success of which is only “perhaps†assured.
Thus it seems linguistically reasonable and more reasonably probable to
conclude that Luke 20,13 should be understood to reflect confidence which
underlies the father’s logic and action: my son will receive a reception equal to
(i[sw") his dignity as my son.
Pontificio Istituto Biblico John J. KILGALLEN
Via della Pilotta, 25
I-00187 Roma
SUMMARY
Many translations understand the father of the vineyard (parable in Luke 20, 9-19)
to think that he will send his beloved son to the vineyard workers because they
possibly might accept him; this seems faulty reasoning on the part of the father. It
seems better to re-read i[sw" (v. 13) in accord with its basic sense, which in turn
allows the father a proper logic: “they will give my son a treatment that is equal to
his dignity as my beloved sonâ€.
(3) Not wishing to propose here a list of translations I might contest, let me choose
just one, that of Jer 26,(2)-3.
“The Lord’s command: ‘Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak… all the
words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word’†(Jer 26,2). “It may
be they will listen…†(Jer 26,3). “It may be†traditionally is the preferred understanding
here, but it seems reasonable to say that also legitimate is the understanding “surelyâ€.
Thus, God is pictured as confident that those who come to His House will obey Him.