Luk 12:37-38 | NET2full | STEP | Blessed are those slaves whom their master finds alert when he returns ! I tell you the truth , he will dress himself to serve , have them take their place at the table , and will come and wait on them !

‏ Luke 12:37-38

37 Blessed are those slaves ^{▼▼tn See the note on the word “slave” in 7:2.} whom their master finds alert ^{▼▼tn Or “watching”; Grk “awake,” but in context this is not just being awake but alert and looking out.} when he returns! I tell you the truth, ^{▼▼tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”} he will dress himself to serve, ^{▼▼tn See v. 35 (same verb).} have them take their place at the table, ^{▼▼tn Grk “have them recline at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.} and will come ^{▼▼tn The participle παρελθών (parelthōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.} and wait on them! ^{▼▼sn He…will come and wait on them is a reversal of expectation, but shows that what Jesus asks for he is willing to do as well; see John 13:5 and 15:18-27, although those instances merely foreshadow what is in view here.} 38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night ^{▼▼sn The second or third watch of the night would be between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. on a Roman schedule and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on a Jewish schedule. Luke uses the four-watch schedule of the Romans in Acts 12:4, so that is more probable here. Regardless of the precise times of the watches, however, it is clear that the late-night watches when a person is least alert are in view here.} and finds them alert, ^{▼▼tn Grk “finds (them) thus,” but this has been clarified in the translation by referring to the status (“alert”) mentioned in v. 37.} blessed are those slaves! ^{▼▼tn Grk “blessed are they”; the referent (the watchful slaves, v. 37) has been specified in the translation for clarity.}