Walter Vogels: A Semiotic Study of Luke 7: 11-17Eglise et Théologie, 14 (1983), 273-92A text both reveals and conceals, it does not easily give up all its secrets. Each new reading may bring outaspects which were not noticed before. It is nearly impossible to exhaust the richness of a text. Theappearance of new methods in biblical studies is therefore a welcome contribution to a better understandingof the Word of God. It is reasonable to expect therefore that a semiotic study of Lk 7: 11-17 will enlightenthis text in a new way. We will first present some methodological reflections on how this text is understoodand commented on by exegetes. This may bring out more clearly what the option of semiotics is. In thesecond part we will apply the method of semiotics to this story and, we hope, provide some new insights intothis particular biblical text.1I. METHODOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS ON THE EXEGESIS OF LUKE 7: 11-17It is not our intention to present a complete survey of everything that has been said about Lk 7:11-17. Fromthe work of the last 50 years, we have selected 21 commentaries and translations in different languages,drawn from different Christian traditions.2 This selection is thus representative enough to give us a good ideaof present day exegesis. It will show us how exegetes work, what questions are raised about this text and theanswers that are given. These translations and commentaries offer different types of information.I. HlSTORICAL INFORMATIONThe reader of this Gospel story may have all kinds of "historical" questions concerning the geography, theculture, the customs of that time and the like. Commentaries provide answers to such questions.The event happens in "Nain" (v.11). Since this place can be unknown to the reader, the exegete will give himdata such as: "A village (modern Nein), not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, 2 or 3 hours by foot SE ofNazareth and about 8 to 9 hours SW of Capernaum. Rock graves are found just E of the city".3 Such acomment helps ...