laborers reclining for dinner

ἀνάκειμαι impf. ἀνεκείμην (s. κεῖμαι; Pind., Hdt.+; ins, pap, LXX; TestJob 15:4 [for ἐνέκειντο]; ParJer 9:9 [of deceased Jer.]; Jos., Ant. 3, 38 al.; Ath. 37, 1 ἀνακείσθω … ὁ λόγος of Ath.’s apologetic statement ‘suffice, be concluded’), functions as pass. of ἀνατίθημι.

① gener. (opp. ἑστηκέναι, of one who appears to be dead ParJer 9:9) lie, recline Mk 5:40 v.l.; Hv 3, 12, 2. (Most ancient writers prefer κεῖμαι in this sense, s. Phryn. in 2.)

② otherw. always of reclining at table, equals dine (Aristot. and Diphilus [300 B.C.] in Athen. 1, 23c; Polyb. 13, 6, 8; 1 Esdr 4:11; for discussion on proper usage s. Phryn. 216f Lob. A character in a drama cited Ath. 1, 23c sarcastically asks in ref. to a banquet scene whether statues were being entertained on the couch.) αὐτοῦ ἀνακειμένου ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ as he was dining in the house Mt 9:10.—26:7; Mk 14:18; 16:14; Lk 7:37 v.l. ἀ. μετά τινος Mt 26:20. σύν τινι J 12:2; ἀ. ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ τινός lean on someone’s chest=take the place of honor, if it was the chest of the head of the house 13:23 (cp. Lk 16:23, where sc. ἀνακείμενον [some mss. supply ἀναπαυόμενον]; Pliny, Epist. 4, 22, 4 cenabat Nerva cum paucis; Veiento proximus atque etiam in sinu recumbebat). ἐργάτας ἀνακειμένους GJs 18:2 (not pap) laborers reclining for dinner—ὁ ἀνακείμενος the one who is reclining, the guest Mt 22:10f; Mk 6:26 (v.l. συνανάκειμαι q.v.); Lk 22:27 (opp. ὁ διακονῶν); J 6:11; 13:28.—On the v.l. κατάκειμαι s. GKilpatrick, JTS n.s. 17, ’66, 67–69; For pictures on ancient reliefs and vases s. e.g. JJung, Leben u. Sitten d. Römer I 1883, 24; ABaumeister, Denkmäler d. klass. Altert. I 1885, 365f.—DELG s.v. κεῖμαι. M-M. TW.