Luke 4:17

An Exegetical Analysis of Luke 4:17: The Semantics of Jesus’ Engagement with the Isaiah Scroll

The passage of Luke 4:17 presents an intriguing exegetical challenge concerning Jesus’ actions within the synagogue at Nazareth. The ambiguity revolves around the precise meaning of the verb describing Jesus’ handling of the Isaiah scroll and its implication for whether he read a predetermined passage or actively selected a text of his own choosing. This analysis will explore the textual variants, lexical nuances of key terms, and their grammatical and rhetorical implications, culminating in a synthesized understanding of Jesus’ agency in this pivotal narrative.

καὶ ἐπεδόθη αὐτῷ βιβλίον τοῦ προφήτου Ἠσαΐου καὶ ἀναπτύξας τὸ βιβλίον εὗρεν τὸν τόπον οὗ ἦν γεγραμμένον,

Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):

• The SBLGNT reads Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου instead of τοῦ προφήτου Ἠσαΐου (a minor word order variation).
• The SBLGNT employs ἀνοίξας instead of ἀναπτύξας, which is a significant lexical variant central to the exegetical question.

Textual Criticism and Lexical Notes

The primary textual issue in Luke 4:17 concerns the verb describing Jesus’ action with the scroll: ἀναπτύξας versus ἀνοίξας. While the provided text uses ἀναπτύξας, the Nestle-Aland 28th edition (NA28) and the SBLGNT prefer ἀνοίξας, placing ἀναπτύξας in the apparatus as a significant variant. Manuscripts supporting ἀνοίξας include significant early uncials such as P⁷⁵, Vaticanus (B), and Sinaiticus (א). Conversely, ἀναπτύξας is supported by Alexandrinus (A), D, and other important witnesses. The preference for ἀνοίξας in critical editions often reflects its wider manuscript support and perhaps a perceived generality that would encompass the action.

Lexically, the distinction between these two verbs is crucial:

• ἀναπτύσσω (anaptyssō): This verb literally means “to unroll, unfold.” In the context of a scroll (βιβλίον), it specifically refers to the act of unrolling it. BDAG (s.v. ἀναπτύσσω) defines it as “to unroll,” with Luke 4:17 being its sole occurrence in the New Testament. The implication is an active manipulation of the scroll to reveal a different section.
• ἀνοίγω (anoigō): This is a more general verb meaning “to open.” BDAG (s.v. ἀνοίγω) lists various applications, including opening doors, eyes, mouths, and books/scrolls. When applied to a scroll, it can denote the initial act of making it ready for reading or the broader act of unrolling it to a particular place. Its semantic range is wider than ἀναπτύσσω, potentially encompassing the latter.

The subsequent phrase, εὗρεν τὸν τόπον (he found the place), further informs the interpretation. The verb εὑρίσκω (heuriskō), “to find, discover, find out” (BDAG), inherently suggests an act of seeking and locating, rather than passively encountering. The noun τόπος (topos) here refers to a specific passage of Scripture (BDAG s.v. τόπος, 3.b.γ).

Therefore, regardless of whether ἀναπτύσσω (unrolled) or ἀνοίγω (opened) is preferred, the combination with εὗρεν τὸν τόπον strongly implies that Jesus did not merely read the passage that was already exposed or pre-selected for him. Instead, he engaged in a deliberate act of seeking out and locating a particular section of the scroll. If ἀναπτύξας is chosen, the physical act of unrolling to search is explicitly stated. If ἀνοίξας is preferred, the verb is more general, but the subsequent “he found the place” still necessitates a degree of searching or intentional selection beyond a merely passive engagement.

Translation Variants and Grammatical & Rhetorical Analysis

Grammatically, both ἀναπτύξας and ἀνοίξας are aorist active participles, agreeing with the implicit subject Jesus, and function adverbially, describing the manner or preceding action to the main verb εὗρεν (he found). The construction highlights Jesus’ initiative. The relative clause οὗ ἦν γεγραμμένον (where it was written) specifies the nature of the “place” found.

Rhetorically, the choice of verb and the phrase εὗρεν τὸν τόπον carry significant weight for understanding Luke’s portrayal of Jesus. Synagogue customs in the Second Temple period likely involved a designated reader, often reading a set portion of the Torah and Prophets. However, the explicit “finding” of the place suggests Jesus departed from simply reading a pre-arranged text. This emphasizes his active role and prophetic authority, as he deliberately chose the passage that spoke to his mission and the immediate context (Isaiah 61:1-2). Luke presents Jesus as not merely fulfilling custom but enacting a purposeful, divinely guided moment.

Different translations reflect the tension between “unrolling” and “opening” and the degree of emphasis on Jesus’ search:

• Some translations, following the ἀνοίξας variant, render it as “he opened the scroll.” This is a general term that could imply either preparing it for reading or unrolling it to a specific spot.
• Translations that reflect ἀναπτύξας or wish to emphasize the search will use “unrolled.”
• The critical element remains εὗρεν τὸν τόπον, which invariably implies an intentional selection, regardless of the precise “opening” verb. Jesus’ action is presented as a deliberate choice of Scripture rather than a passive recitation of the lectionary.

Conclusions and Translation Suggestions

The exegetical analysis of Luke 4:17 indicates that Jesus’ interaction with the Isaiah scroll was characterized by intentionality and agency. While textual criticism points to ἀνοίξας (“opened”) as the more probable reading over ἀναπτύξας (“unrolled”), the subsequent phrase εὗρεν τὸν τόπον (“he found the place”) strongly implies a deliberate act of searching and selecting a particular passage. This suggests that Jesus did not merely read the customary portion but actively chose the text that would inaugurate his public ministry, thereby asserting his authority and prophetic role.

Based on this analysis, the following translation suggestions offer nuanced perspectives:

1. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and after opening the scroll, he purposefully located the passage where it was written. This translation emphasizes Jesus’ active cognitive and physical engagement in seeking out a specific text, even with the more general verb “opening.”
2. And he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, and unrolling the scroll, he found the specific section where it was written. This translation leans into the more specific meaning of ἀναπτύσσω, highlighting the physical action of unrolling as part of the search for a particular text.
3. And the scroll of Isaiah the prophet was given to him, and having opened it, he deliberately sought out and discovered the place where it was inscribed. This translation combines the “opened” variant with an amplified sense of “found,” stressing Jesus’ deliberate choice and the significance of his discovery.