Luke 19:31: Grammatical Ambiguity and the Lord’s Need
This exegetical study of Luke 19:31 is based on a b-greek discussion from November 14, 2006. The initial query highlights the grammatical ambiguity of the phrase ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ χρείαν ἔχει (“The Lord has need of it/him”). Specifically, the question arises whether the object of χρείαν ἔχω (“to have need of”) is explicitly stated in the phrase, and how the use of οἱ κύριοι αὐτοῦ (“its owners”) in the subsequent verses (19:33-34) might inform the interpretation of ὁ κύριος in verse 31.
The main exegetical issue revolves around the precise referents of ὁ κύριος and αὐτοῦ within the statement provided by Jesus as a response to potential questioners. The ambiguity concerns whether ὁ κύριος refers to Jesus as “the Lord” or to the actual “owner” of the colt, and consequently, whether αὐτοῦ refers to the colt itself or possibly, through a less direct interpretation, to the village or its authorities. This ambiguity, if intended by the author, could serve rhetorical or narrative purposes, influencing how the original audience understood Jesus’s claim over the animal.
καὶ ἐάν τις ὑμᾶς ἐρωτᾷ, “Διατί λύετε;” οὕτως ἐρεῖτε ὅτι “Ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ χρείαν ἔχει.” (Nestle 1904)
Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):
- ἐάν (Nestle 1904) vs. ἐὰν (SBLGNT 2010): A minor orthographic variation (iota subscript vs. adscript). No substantive difference in meaning.
Textual Criticism (NA28) and Lexical Notes:
The textual critical apparatus of NA28 (28th edition) for Luke 19:31 shows no significant variants for the phrase ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ χρείαν ἔχει that would alter its meaning or introduce different interpretative possibilities. The textual integrity of the passage is well-attested, suggesting that the interpretative challenge is primarily grammatical and contextual rather than textual.
Lexically, several terms warrant attention:
- κύριος (kyrios): This noun is highly polysemous in the New Testament. According to BDAG, it can denote “the possessor or disposer of something, owner, master,” or “one who is in a position of authority, lord, master,” or, most significantly in the gospels, “Lord,” referring to God or Jesus. KITTEL further elaborates on its usage as a title of respect and divinity. The ambiguity in Luke 19:31 stems directly from these diverse meanings.
- χρείαν ἔχει (chreian echei): This idiom means “to have need of” or “to need.” It typically takes a genitive object to specify *what* is needed.
- αὐτοῦ (autou): This is a genitive singular pronoun, which can be masculine or neuter. Grammatically, its most immediate and natural antecedent in the preceding verse (19:30) is πῶλον (pōlon, “colt”), which is masculine. Thus, αὐτοῦ would mean “of it” (the colt). The possibility of it referring to κώμην (kōmē, “village”) from v. 30, as suggested in the discussion, faces a significant gender disagreement (feminine κώμην vs. masculine/neuter αὐτοῦ) and is therefore grammatically improbable for a direct referent.
Translation Variants and Grammatical & Rhetorical Analysis
The grammatical structure of Luke 19:31 presents a crucial ambiguity regarding the identity of ὁ κύριος and the referent of αὐτοῦ. This verse forms part of Jesus’s instructions to his disciples concerning the procurement of a colt for his entry into Jerusalem. The instruction is to tell any questioner that “Ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ χρείαν ἔχει.”
The core of the interpretative challenge lies in two main possibilities:
- Ὁ κύριος refers to Jesus as “the Lord,” and αὐτοῦ refers to the πῶλον (colt) from v. 30. This would translate to “The Lord (Jesus) has need of it (the colt).” This interpretation aligns with Luke’s frequent use of ὁ κύριος as a title for Jesus, particularly in the latter half of the Gospel. It also presents Jesus with divine foreknowledge and authority to command the use of private property.
- Ὁ κύριος refers to the “owner” of the colt, and αὐτοῦ again refers to the πῶλον. This would translate to “The owner (of the colt) has need of it (the colt).” This rendering is grammatically plausible on its own but creates a narrative conundrum. Why would stating that the owner has need of his own animal be a satisfactory reason for *others* to untie it? This interpretation implies a situation where the disciples are taking the colt on behalf of its actual owner, an unstated arrangement.
The ensuing discussion in the b-greek forum explored these possibilities. One participant noted that statistically, χρείαν ἔχω rarely appears without an explicit or clearly understood object, reinforcing that αὐτοῦ *must* specify what is needed. Another participant, emphasizing direct grammatical concord, argued that the obvious antecedent for αὐτοῦ is πῶλον from the preceding verse. The phrase οἱ κύριοι αὐτοῦ in vv. 33-34, referring to “the owners of the colt,” further clarifies that αὐτοῦ refers to the animal.
The most compelling argument against the second interpretation comes from vv. 33-34, where the *actual owners* of the colt confront the disciples, asking “Τί λύετε τὸν πῶλον;” (“Why are you untying the colt?”). The disciples respond with Jesus’s exact words: “Ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ χρείαν ἔχει.” If ὁ κύριος in this response referred to the animal’s owner, the reply would be tautological and nonsensical from the owners’ perspective: “The owner has need of it.” Such a response would not logically satisfy the owners unless “the Lord” referred to someone *other* than themselves, someone whose authority they recognized. Therefore, the narrative context strongly suggests that ὁ κύριος is meant to refer to Jesus, thereby asserting his divine authority or mastership over the animal. The “owners” of the animal in vv. 33-34 are thus depicted as recognizing Jesus’s claim implicitly.
Some participants explored the rhetorical possibility of a “clever” ambiguity or wordplay, where the statement might be *initially* ambiguous to the bystanders but clearly understood by Luke’s informed audience to refer to Jesus. However, the internal logic of the narrative, particularly the interaction in vv. 33-34, resolves much of this potential ambiguity for the careful reader.
Conclusions and Translation Suggestions
Based on the grammatical analysis and the immediate narrative context, particularly the exchange in Luke 19:33-34, the most robust exegetical conclusion is that ὁ κύριος refers to Jesus as “the Lord” and αὐτοῦ refers to the colt (πῶλον). The owners’ acceptance of this statement, without further challenge, implies their recognition of Jesus’s authority, whether through prior knowledge or a sense of awe. The potential for initial ambiguity serves to highlight Jesus’s sovereign claim.
The following translation suggestions attempt to capture these nuances:
- “And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you are to say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.'”
This translation prioritizes a literal rendering of the Greek, maintaining the direct grammatical connection between “the Lord” and “it” (the colt), allowing the reader to infer Jesus as “the Lord” from the broader narrative context. - “And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you must reply: ‘The Master [Jesus] needs it [the colt].'”
This version clarifies the implied referents, explicitly identifying Jesus as “the Master” (a common meaning for κύριος) and “it” as the colt, thus resolving potential ambiguity for a modern audience while reflecting the exegetical conclusion. - “And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ you will say, ‘Its Lord requires it.'”
This translation emphasizes the possessive relationship indicated by αὐτοῦ (as “its”), subtly asserting Jesus’s ultimate ownership or claim over the animal, and also using a stronger verb “requires” to convey the imperative nature of Jesus’s need.