Did He Recline or Sit at the Passover Meal?
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There is a variation among the many versions as to the position of Yahshua took at the table for the Passover supper as it appears in Matthew 26: 20, Mark 14: 18, and Luke 22: 14. In some versions, part of the information appears in the next verse. Although this comparison is concentrating on the position, there is reference to points in succeeding verses because of implications raised in considering the position. Some of these points are dealt with more extensively in the topical study, The Lost Supper.

Sixty-seven versions have been examined, with examples of the variations being quoted. Complete verses are not quoted, but only the parts under consideration. I hope to show, beginning with the position taken by Yahshua and His apostles, that this was a Jewish event in its entirety and that Christian elements have replaced it. Examine the texts carefully and note their implications.

Versions Compared
AAT An American Translation (Beck)
AIV An Inclusive Version
ANCJ Aramaic New Covenant
CENT Common English New Testament
CLNT Concordant Literal New Testament
CNT Cassirer New Testament
CTNT Centenary Translation of the New Testament
DHB Darby Holy Bible
EDW The Emphatic Diaglott
EVD English Version for the Deaf
GTNT Godbey Translation of the New Testament
IB Interlinear Bible
IV Inspired Version
LBP Lamsa Bible
MCT McCord's New Testament Translation
MNT Moffat New Translation
NAB New American Bible
NAS New American Standard
NBV New Berkeley Version
NNT Noli New Testament
ONT The Original New Testament
RcV Recovery Version
RNT Riverside New Testament
SISR The Scriptures (ISR)
SNB Restoration of Original Sacred Name Bible
SSBE The Sacred Scriptures, Bethel Edition
TCNT The Twentieth Century New Testament
WTNT William Tindale Newe Testament

 

Other Versions
AB Amplified Bible
ANT The Authentic New Testament
BNT Barclay New Testament
CEV Contemporary English Version
EBR The Emphasized Bible
GW God's Word
HBME The Holy Bible in Modern English
HBRV Holy Bible, Revised Version
JWNT John Wesley New Testament
KJV King James Version
KTC Knox Translation
LB Living Bible
MRB Modern Readers Bible
MSNT The Modern Speech New Testament
NCV New Century Version
NEB New English Bible
NET New Evangelical Translation
NIV New International Version
NJB New Jerusalem Bible
NKJ New King James Version
NLV New Life Version
NLT New Living Translation
NRS New Revised Standard Version
NSNT Norlie's Simplified New Testament
NWT New World Translation
PRS Phillips Revised Students Edition
REB Revised English Bible
RSV Revised Standard Version
SARV Standard American Edition, Revised Version
SGAT An American Translation (Smith-Goodspeed)
SV The Scholars Version
TBR The Bible Reader
TEV Today's English Version
TJB The Jerusalem Bible
TM The Message
WAS Worrell New Testament
WET Wuest Expanded Translation
WMF The Word Made Fresh
WNT Williams New Testament

The Accounts

Matthew 26: 20
Mark 14: 18
Luke 22: 14

A Form of Recline Used in the Three Gospels

CENT ..., he reclined at table with the twelve.
And they were reclining at table, and eating, ... .
..., he reclined at table, and the apostles with him.
EDW ..., he reclined at table with the TWELVE; ... .
And as they were reclining at table, and eating, ... .
..., he reclined and the APOSTLES with him.
IB ..., He reclined with the Twelve.
And as they were reclining and eating, ... .
..., He reclined and the twelve apostles with Him.
NAS ..., He was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.
And as they were reclining at the table and eating, ... .
... He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.
RcV ..., He reclined at table with the twelve.
And as they were reclining at table and eating, ... .
..., He reclined at table, and the apostles with Him.
RNT ..., he was reclining at table with the twelve disciples.
As they were reclining and eating, ... .
..., he reclined at table and the apostles with him.
Others: EBR, HBME, NET, NIV, NWT, WAS, WET.

A Form of Recline Used in Two Gospels

LB ..., he was reclining with his twelve disciples.
And when they were reclining and eating, ... .
... Jesus came and sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
NAB ..., he reclined at table with the Twelve.
And as they reclined at table and were eating, ... .
..., he took his place at table with the apostles.
ONT ... he reclined at table with the twelve.
... he arrived with the twelve. As they reclined and ate ... .
... he took his place in company with the envoys.
Others: AB, ANT, SV.

A Form of Recline Used in One Gospels

CNT ..., he reclined at table in the company of his twelve disciples and, while partaking of their food, ... .
While they were at table, having their food, ... .
..., Jesus took his place at table, and his apostles were with him.
CTNT ... he reclined at table with the Twelve; and as they were eating, ... .
While they were at the table, eating, ... .
... he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him, ... .
SSBE ..., he was reclining at table with the twelve disciples; ... .
And as they sat and were eating, ... .
..., he sat down, and the apostles with him.
Others: [None.]

Synonyms of Recline Used

AAT ... He lay down with the twelve for supper.
While they were still lying down and eating, ... .
..., He and the apostles lay down for the meal.
ANCJ ..., he is reposing with the twelve disciples... .
..., and when reposing and eating, ... .
... Yah Shua reposes and the twelve apostles with him: ... .
CLNT ..., He was lying back at table with the twelve disciples.
And at their lying back at table and eating, ... .
..., He leans back at table, and the twelve apostles with Him.
DHB ... he lay down at table with the twelve. And as they were eating ... .
And as they lay at table and were eating, ... .
... he placed himself at table, and the [twelve] apostles with him.
MNT ..., he lay at table with the disciples, and as they were eating ... .
As they were at table eating, ... .
He took his place, with the apostles beside him.
Others: [None.]

Footnotes Used

NBV ..., He sat at the table with the twelve disciples and, while they were eating, ... .
As they were sitting and eating, ... .
Footnote: See note at chapter 2:15.
..., He and His disciples sat together at the table, ... .
Footnote: See note at Mark 2:15.
Footnote to Mark 2:15: In N. T. times dining custom was different from what it now is. One did not sit down at a table to eat but reclined on a couch beside a table. While leaning on one elbow he used the other hand for eating. To accord with present-day usage the Greek word for "recline," "reclining," and "reclined" are rendered "sit," "sitting," "sat," and "seated" in this translation.
SNB ..., He was reclining with the twelve disciples; ... .
Footnote: sitting down with.
And as they were reclining and eating, ... .
Footnote: sitting
..., He reclined, and the apostles with Him.
Footnote: sat
Others: [None.]

Other Words Used

AIV ..., Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve; ... .
And when they had taken their places and were eating, ... .
... Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles with him
EVD ... Jesus was sitting at the table with the twelve followers.
While they were eating, ... .
... . Jesus and the apostles were sitting at the table.
GTNT He sat down at the table with the twelve.
And they sitting and eating, ... .
..., He sat down and the apostles along with Him.
IV ..., he sat down with the twelve. [verse 16 in this version]
And as they sat and did eat, ... . [verse 16 in this version]
..., he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
MCT ... he was sitting with the twelve.
... he came with the twelve.
..., and Jesus sat at the table with his apostles.
NNT ... he sat down at the table with the twelve Apostles.
As they were at the table eating, ... .
..., he sat at the table with his Twelve Apostles.
SISR ..., He sat down with the twelve.
And as they sat and ate, ... .
..., He sat down, and the twelve emissaries with Him.
TCNT Jesus took his place with the twelve disciples, and, while they were eating, ... .
..., and, when they had taken their places and were eating, ... .
..., Jesus took his place at table, and the Apostles with him.
WTNT ..., he sat down with the twelve, and as they did eat, ... .
And as they sat at board and ate, ... .
..., he sat down and the twelve apostles with him.
Others: BNT, CEV, GW, HBRV, JWNT, KJV, KTC, LB, MRB, MSNT, NCV, NEB, NJB, NKJ, NLT, NLV, NRS, NSNT, PRS, REB, RSV, SARV, SGAT, TBR, TEV, TJB, TM, WMF, WNT.

The Greek Text

 

Emphatic Diaglott: (EDW)
      ... anekeito meta ton dodeka.
      Kai anakeimenon auton kai esthionton, ... .
      ... anepese kai oi dodeka apostoloi sun auto.

Interlinear Bible: (IB)
      ... anekeito meta ton dodeka.
      Kai anakeimenon auton kai esthionton, ... .
      ... anepese kai oi dodeka apostoloi sun auto.

In each of the three Gospels, the bold italicized word is translated by some form of the verb "recline." Each version has exactly the same Greek. Neither the verb "sit" nor any other verb comes from the Greek.

The Jewish Custom

 

Alfred J. Kolatch, in The Jewish Book of Why states, "The custom of eating the Seder [Passover] meal in a reclining position is of Persian origin and symbolizes freedom and independence. Greek and Roman patricians also followed this practice, and Jews who lived in their midst adopted it as a meaningful expression of their desire to lead a free, unharried existence. The Mishna (Pesachim 10:1) requires that even the poorest person in Israel must not eat on the first night of Passover unless he reclines." (pp. 196-197). The footnote in the New Berkeley Version really tells what copyists and translators have done in regard to the verb "recline."

Paintings

 

There are a number of drawings illustrating the text of Robert de Lisle's Psalter, which was prepared in England in the late thirteenth century. One shows the "Last Supper." Yahshua is pictured sitting erect behind a table with one disciple on each side of him. The concept of reclining has been eliminated. Also, surrounding Yahshua's head is a halo, or nimbus, which is a symbol of sun-god worship.

The most famous painting of this event is "The Last Supper," by Leonardo da Vinci, begun in 1496. The scene depicts Yahshua and his disciples just after He announced who would betray Him. Yahshua is sitting upright in the centre of the picture, behind a long table. Six disciples are on each side of Him. It would be very difficult to place couches in this particular setting. Again, the concept of reclining has been eliminated. This famous painting may have had some effect on later translations of the Gospels.

Versions with Headings

 

The various versions state that this was a Passover meal. The versions listed below indicate specifically or imply in headings or in footnotes that the event was divided into two parts: the Passover meal at the start and the Lord's Supper or Eucharist at the end. This was the ending of the Old Covenant and the beginning of the New Covenant. It will be noted that in Matthew, Mark, and 1 Corinthians Yahshua took the cup once, while in Luke, He took it once during the meal and once after the meal had been completed. At the end, the men sang a song.

Anyone who is familiar with the Passover meal knows that the cup is taken four times, with the last two being after the meal. Bread is broken and taken after the meal, also. Then a hymn, consisting of several of the Psalms, is sung.

The versions, as mentioned above are as follows:
AAT, ANCJ (Matthew only), CTNT, CEV, EBR, GW, HBME, KJV (some editions), MRB (Matthew and Luke only), MSNT, NAB, NAS, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NKJ, NLT,NLV, NNT, NSNT, PRS, RcV (in footnotes to Mark and Luke), REB (Luke only), SARV (Mark and Luke only), SV, TBR (Matthew and Luke only), TEV, TJB, WAS.

Commentary

 

This was a Passover meal only. There appears to have been changes made in the records some time after the event, as is evident in 1 Corinthians 11. First, the reclining position was changed to a sitting position. Then, omissions were made in regard to the cup. Why does Luke read differently? Instead of two or more cups, it has been changed to one cup. Instead of one event, Passover, a change was made to Passover and Communion or Eucharist.

We know from history that the early Christians wanted to distance themselves from the Jews. This was formalized after the church at Rome became the leading body of Christians. What appears to be an insignificant change in regard to the position at the table has turned into a doctrinal change. Here is replacement theology.

Some versions say "at table," while others say "at the table." In the Greek, the article is omitted. Should it be included or not? Using "reclining at table" implies a custom. Including "the" places emphasis on the table rather than on the custom. Thus, those versions which use a form of "recline" and omit "the" are in keeping with the Jewish custom of participating in the Passover meal. Those that separate the event into two distinct observances are following the practice of eliminating the Jewishness from the Scriptures.

In John 13, there is an account of Yashua's washing the feet of His disciples after the meal. This custom can be traced back to the time of Abraham (Genesis 18: 4). This acts shows that Yashua kept the Jewish rituals. His example shows also that they were to continue. With few exceptions, the ritual of washing the feet is not a part of the modern Christian service. Also, the Passover meal is generally not kept, except by Jews and Messianic Christians.

My observations are not in agreement with the traditional Christian customs and practices. I challenge my reader to examine what really happened on that night as opposed to what Christianity says that happened. Luke seems to have implied another Passover meal in the future. If he has done so, has the Passover really been eliminated? If there is still one to come, what is the place of the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion or the Eucharist in Christian services? In my opinion, something has been removed from the account in each of the Synoptic Gospels and in 1 Corinthians, and something has also been added to all of these.