Translation commentary on Luke 11:25

Exegesis:

heuriskei sesarōmenon kai kekosmēmenon ‘he finds (the house) swept clean and in order,’ with oikon understood. That the house is also untenanted may be fairly inferred.

saroō (also 15.8) ‘to sweep clean,’ ‘to clean.’

kosmeō (also 21.5) ‘to put in order,’ or ‘to decorate,’ here preferably the former.

Translation:

He finds it swept, or, ‘sees/discovers that it is swept,’ cf. on 7.10. Explanation of the metaphorical use of ‘house’ in v. 24 may lead here to something like, ‘he finds that man like a house swept’ (Dios Habla Hoy). Swept, or, “swept clean” (New English Bible, adding the result), “cleaned” (An American Translation, substituting the result). The verb is often a derivation of, or a phrase containing, ‘broom/brush.’ The implied agent is ‘people,’ ‘somebody.’

Put in order, i.e. all things (in it) put in their right place.

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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