Luk 13:29 | NET2full | STEP | Then people will come from east and west , and from north and south , and take their places at the banquet table in the kingdom of God .

‏ Luke 13:29

29 Then ^{▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events in the discourse.} people ^{▼▼tn Grk “they”; the referent (people who will come to participate in the kingdom) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet table ^{▼▼tn Grk “and recline at table,” as first 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. The phrase “take their places at the banquet table” has been used in the translation to clarify for the modern reader the festive nature of the imagery. The banquet imagery is a way of describing the fellowship and celebration of participation with the people of God at the end. Cf. BDAG 65 s.v. ἀνακλίνω 2, “In transf. sense, of the Messianic banquet w. the idea dine in style (or some similar rendering, not simply ‘eat’ as NRSV) Mt 8:11; Lk 13:29.”} in the kingdom of God. ^{▼▼sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus’ teaching. See the note on this phrase in v. 18.}