Luk 12:37-38 | NETfull | 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 ^{▼▼ See the note on the word “slave” in 7:2.} whom their master finds alert ^{▼▼ 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, ^{▼▼ Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”} he will dress himself to serve, ^{▼▼ See v. 35 (same verb).} have them take their place at the table, ^{▼▼ 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 ^{▼▼ The participle παρελθών (parelqōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.} and wait on them! ^{▼▼ 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 ^{▼▼ 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, ^{▼▼ 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! ^{▼▼ Grk “blessed are they”; the referent (the watchful slaves, v. 37) has been specified in the translation for clarity.}