Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent, [1886], at sacred-texts.com
Luke Chapter 8
Afterward (ἐν τῷ καθεξῆς)
Rev., soon afterward. See on Luk 7:11.
Throughout every city and village (κατὰ πόλιν καὶ κώμην)
Lit., by city and village. See on Luk 8:4.
Preaching (κηρύσσων)
Or proclaiming, as a herald. Compare Luk 4:18, and see on Pe2 2:5.
And the twelve were with him
The were is supplied by the translators. Better, "he himself went about," etc., "and the twelve (went) with him;" or, as Rev., and with him the twelve.
Steward (ἐπιτρόπου)
From ἐπιτρέπω, to turn toward; thence to turn over to, transfer, and so commit or intrust to. The word thus literally means, one to whom the management of affairs is turned over.
Out of every city (κατὰ πολίν)
City by city.
Were come (ἐπιπορευμένων)
The present participle denoting something in progress. They kept coming. Rev., resorted.
To sow
See on Mat 13:3.
His seed
Peculiar to Luke.
By the way-side
See on Mat 13:4.
Was trodden down
A rendering which would apply better to standing grain. Render, as Rev., trodden under foot. Peculiar to Luke.
The rock (τὴν πέτραν)
Matthew has the rocky place, and Mark the rocky ground.
Sprung up (φυὲν)
Lit., having sprung up. Rev., better, grew. Sprung up is Matthew's ὲξανέτειλεν. Only here and Heb 7:15, where it is a quotation from the Septuagint. See on Mat 13:7.
Moisture (ἱκμάδα)
Only here in New Testament. Matthew and Mark have depth of earth. The word is the medical expression for juices of the body, of plants, and of the earth. Aristophanes, metaphorically, the juice of thought ("Clouds," 233). Hippocrates uses this and the preceding word together, comparing the juices of the body with those of the earth.
Among (ἐν μέσῳ)
In the midst. Stronger than the simple ἐν, in, as giving more prominence to the danger.
Sprung up with it (συμφυεῖσαι)
Only here in New Testament. See on Luk 8:6, and Mat 13:7. The technical word among physicians for closing of wounds or ulcers, and the uniting of nerves or bones. Dioscorides uses it, as here, of plants growing in the same place: "The hellebore grows together with the vines."
Choked (ἀπέπνιξαν)
Lit., choked off. Matthew has the simple ἔπνιξαν, choked; and Mark συνέπνιξαν; the σύν, together, emphasizing the idea of compression. Luke is very fond of compounds and sonorous words. See on Luk 23:51.
A hundred-fold.
Omitting the thirty and sixty of Matthew and Mark. See on Mat 13:8.
Mysteries
See on Mat 13:11.
Understand (συνιῶσιν)
See on understanding, the kindred noun, Mar 12:33.
The parable is this
According to its interpretation.
For awhile believe
See on Mat 13:21. Matthew and Mark have endureth, or endure for a while.
In time of temptation
Matthew and Mark have, when tribulation or persecution cometh.
Fall away
Lit., withdraw or stand aloof. Matthew and Mark have stumble.
Go forth (πορευόμενοι)
The present participle. Much better Rev., "they that have heard, and as they go on their way are choked," etc.
Choked with (ὕπο, under)
Implying the impulse under which they pursue their course.
Bring (no fruit) to perfection (τελεσφοροῦσιν)
Only here in New Testament. Matthew and Mark have, it becometh unfruitful. The verb literally means to bring to an end or accomplishment.
These are they which (οὗτοί εἰσιν οἵτινες)
Which denotes them as belonging to a class. Hence Rev., rightly, such as.
Honest and good heart
Peculiar to Luke. Honest; lit., fair, noble. Honest, not in the popular sense, but in the sense of the Latin honestus ; noble, virtuous, worthy.
Keep (κατέχουσιν)
Much better Rev., hold it fast, giving the force of the compound verb.
With patience
Or in patience. Peculiar to Luke. In contrast with fall away, Luk 8:13.
Candle (λύχνον)
Rev., properly, lamp. See on Mar 4:21.
Candlestick (λυχνίας)
Correctly, as Rev., a stand. See on Mat 5:15.
Nothing is secret - manifest
Correctly rendered in A. V., but not so the parallel passage, Mar 4:22, on which see note.
How ye hear (τῶς)
The manner of hearing. Mark has τί, what ye hear; the matter.
Seemeth (δοκεῖ)
Peculiar to Luke. Rev. renders "thinketh he hath," as Jam 1:26, on which see note. Wyc., guesseth; Tynd., supposeth.
Let us go over unto the other side of the lake
Wyc. has, pass we over the standing water. On lake, see on Luk 5:1.
Launched forth (ἀνήχθησαν)
See on Luk 5:3. The verb literally means to lead up; hence to lead up to the high sea, or take to sea; put to sea. It is the word used of Jesus' being led up into the wilderness and the mount of temptation (Mat 4:1; Luk 2:22); also of bringing up a sacrifice to an idol-altar (Act 7:41). Often in Acts in the accounts of Paul's voyages.
He fell asleep (ἀφύπνωσεν)
Very graphic. He fell off (ἀπό) into sleep.
Came down (κατέβη)
More vivid than either Matthew or Mark, who have there arose. The word describes the action of the sudden storms which literally come down from the heights surrounding the lake. See on Mat 8:24.
Storm (λαιλαψ)
See Mar 4:37. Matthew has σεισμὸς, a shaking. See on Mat 8:24.
They were filling with water (συνεπληροῦντο)
Used by Luke only. Mark, as usual, goes into minuter detail, and describes how the waves beat into the boat. Note the imperfects: they were filling; they were beginning to be in danger, contrasted with the instantaneous descent of the storm expressed by the aorist came down.
Master
See on Luk 5:5.
Rebuked
Compare the more detailed narrative of Mar 4:39, and see notes there. Wyc., blamed.
The raging (κλύδωνι)
See on Jam 1:6.
Arose (διεγερθεὶς)
Wrong. It is the word used just before, awoke. Lit., having been thoroughly awakened. Rev., correctly, he awoke. Luke is especially fond of compounds with διά.
A calm
Matthew and Mark have "a great calm."
He commandeth
Peculiar to Luke.
They arrived (κατέπλευσαν)
The verb means literally to sail down from the sea to the shore. Compare launched forth, Luk 8:22. Only here in New Testament. The two prepositions, up and down, are used in our nautical terms bear up and bear down. See Introduction, on Luke's variety of words for sailing. Matthew and Mark have came (ἐλθόντος, ἦλθον).
Gerasenes
The texts vary, some reading Gadarenes, as A. V., others Gergesenes.
Over against (ἀντιπέρα)
Only here in New Testament.
There met him out of the city
The words out of the city belong rather with a certain man. So Rev.
Which had devils long time
The best texts insert καὶ, and, after devils (demons), and read "who had demons, and for a long time he had worn," etc. Long (ἱκανῷ). See on Luk 7:6.
Tombs
See on Mat 8:28. Compare Mar 5:4-6.
Fell down (προσέπεσεν)
Mark has προσεκύνησεν, which often implies religious or superstitious feeling, as Mat 4:9, Mat 4:10. This is the prostration of abject terror.
Cried out (ἀνακράξας)
The compound verb with ἀνά, up, implies what is conveyed by our phrase, lifting up the voice. See on Mar 5:5.
What have I to do with thee?
See on Mar 5:7.
Torment (βασαμίσῃς)
See on Mat 4:24. Luke never uses the word of sickness, as Mat 8:6. See on Luk 4:41.
He had commanded (παρήγγελλεν)
Imperfect tense. Rev. does not improve by reading he commanded. The imperfect expresses the simultaneousness of the exorcism and the cry torment me not. Better, for he was commanding. So the Am. Rev.
It had seized (συνηρπάκει)
Used by Luke only. See Act 6:12; Act 27:15. The verb literally means to snatch and carry away with (σύν).
He was kept bound (ἐδεσμεύετο φυλασσόμενος)
Lit., he was bound, being guarded. Rev., was kept under guard and bound. The A. V. does not sufficiently bring out the vigilance with which he was attended.
Chains and fetters
See on Mar 5:4.
Breaking (διαρρήσσων)
Compare Mar 5:4, and see note there.
Was driven, etc
Peculiar to Luke.
Many devils were, etc
Compare Mar 5:9.
Command them
The plural, referring to the legion.
The deep (ἄβυσσον)
Lit., the bottomless. Transcribed into our abyss, as Rev. Mark has a quite different request, that he would not send them out of the country (Mar 5:10). In Rom 10:7, used of Hades, to which Christ descended; and in Revelation always of the bottomless pit. The demons refer to their place of abode and torment.
Ran violently (ὥρμησεν)
Rev., more neatly, rushed. Only Mark gives the number of the swine, two thousand.
A steep place
See on Mat 8:32.
He that was possessed with devils
Expressed in the Greek by two words, ὁ δαιμονισθείς, the demonized.
Was healed (ἐσώθη)
See on Luk 6:19.
They were taken (συνείχοντο)
See on Luk 4:38. The same word as of the fever.
Besought (ἐδέετο)
Imperfect: was beseeching. See on prayers, Luk 5:33. Rev., prayed. Beseech is used to render παρακαλέω (Mar 5:10). See on consolation, Luk 6:24. Παρακαλέω, beseech, is used of prayer to God in only one instance, Co2 12:8, where Paul besought the Lord to remove the thorn in the flesh. Frequently or requests to Christ while on earth. Δεομαι, to pray, often of prayer to God (Mat 9:38; Luk 10:2; Act 8:22). It is noticeable that in Luk 8:28, where the demons address Christ as the Son of the highest God, they say δέομαι, I pray. In Luk 8:31, Luk 8:32, where they ask not to be sent away, and to be allowed to enter into the swine, they say παρακαλέω, I beseech. The restored man, recognizing Jesus' divine power, prayed (ἐδεῖτο) to be with him. The distinction, however, must not be closely pressed. The two words seem to be often used interchangeably in the New Testament.
Shew (διηγοῦ)
Rather relate, recount, with the idea of telling the story throughout (διά). See on declaration, Luk 1:1.
Throughout the whole city
Mark says in Decapolis.
How great things (ὅσα)
Lit., how many things, and thus according with recount. Declared all things throughout, as many as Jesus had done.
Jairus
The name of one of the Israelite chiefs, Jair, who conquered and settled Bashan (Num 32:41; Jos 13:30). "His name lingered down to the time of the Christian era, when, in the same region as that which he conquered, we find a ruler of the synagogue named Jair" (Stanley, "Jewish Church").
Thronged (συνέπνιγον)
With the idea of pressing together (σύν) upon him: stifling. The simple verb is that rendered choke, as in Luk 8:7, Luk 8:33.
Had spent (προσαναλώσασα)
Only here in New Testament. Some texts omit who had spent all her living upon physicians. Luke, with professional sensitiveness, omits Mark's statement that she had suffered many things from many physicians, and was not bettered but made worse.
Hem
See on Mat 9:20.
Stanched (ἔστη)
A common medical term.
Who touched (τίς ὁ ἁψαμενός)
Lit., who is he that touched ? Rev., who is it that.
Throng and press (συνέχουσιν - ἀποθλίβουσιν)
On the former word, see Luk 8:37, and Luk 4:38. Rev. renders the latter, which occurs here only, more literally, crush. It means to squeeze out, as wine from grapes. See on tribulation, Mat 13:21.
Hath touched (ἥψατο) - I perceive (ἔγνων)
Rev. renders the two aorists strictly: did touch, and I perceived, with reference to Jesus' knowledge of the touch at the moment it was applied.
Virtue (δύναμιν)
Rev., power. The evangelists use the word frequently of miracles - mighty works. It is used here in the sense of virtue, according to its use by naturalists and physicians. Still, too much stress must not be laid upon it as a mark of Luke's professional accuracy, as Dean Plumptre in "The Expositor," iv., 139; since Mark uses it in his narrative of the same incident, and in the same sense (Mar 5:30).
Falling down
Not in worship, but in terror. See on fell down, Luk 5:8.
In peace
See on Luk 7:50.
From the ruler of the synagogue's house
A. V. and Rev. properly supply house, as the ruler himself is present with Jesus.
Dead
Placed first in the Greek order, for emphasis. "Dead is thy daughter."
Trouble
See on Mat 9:36; and Mar 5:35. Tyndale renders dis-ease, in the old verbal sense of disturb.
Wept and bewailed
Both imperfects, were weeping and bewailing. So, rightly, Rev. Compare on bewailing, Mar 5:38.
Maid (ἡ παῖς)
Instead of the unclassical κορασίον, damsel, of Matthew and Mark.