Translation commentary on Luke 5:38

Exegesis:

blēteon ‘one must put,’ verbal adjective of ballō. It is used here as an impersonal verb with object (oinon neon).

The meaning of vv. 37f is more general than that of v. 36: it says that old forms and new contents cannot go together; new contents require new forms.

Translation:

Must be put. If an active construction is required it will usually be the positive counterpart of the construction used for ‘no one tears/puts’ in vv. 36 and 37.

Fresh wineskins. The adjective, in the Greek identical with the one rendered “new” in v. 36, refers to the strength and elasticity of the wineskins. Problems of specificity versus synonymity are similar to those in v. 37.

Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.

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