Translation commentary on Luke 10:17

Exegesis:

hupestrepsan de hoi hebdomēkonta [duo] ‘the seventy [two] returned,’ without indication of the time elapsed since Jesus sent them out. A period of some weeks may be safely assumed to have passed.

kurie ‘lord,’ or, taking up ho kurios in v. 1, ‘Lord,’ preferably the former, cf. on 1.6 and on 5.8.

kai ta daimonia hupotassetai hēmin ‘even the demons subject themselves to us.’ kai ‘even,’ because they had not explicitly been sent to cast out demons (cf. v. 9). hupotassetai may be rendered (1) “are made obedient” (Translator’s New Testament), passive; (2) ‘subject themselves,’ or “submit” (An American Translation, New English Bible), middle; (3) “are subject” (Revised Standard Version), indicating a state of being. (2) is preferable (also in v. 20).

Translation:

The seventy returned with joy. The reference to the return has transitional force in that it serves to bridge the time that has elapsed since the departure of the seventy. This is in some cases better brought out by changing the pattern of subordination, e.g. ‘the seventy returned and rejoiced,’ ‘on the return of the seventy sent-ones they all were glad’ (Balinese). Some versions prefer to indicate the interval otherwise, e.g. ‘later the seventy (disciples) came back full of joy’ (cf. Phillips, Bahasa Indonesia 1968).

Demons, see references on 4.35.

Are subject to us, preferably, ‘submit themselves to us’ (see Exegesis), or, ‘drop themselves for us’ (Sranan Tongo), ‘bow to us’ (Balinese). The pronoun is best taken as exclusive.

In your name, see on 9.49. A verbal clause is sometimes preferable, e.g. ‘when we use/mention your name,’ ‘when we name you’ (Tboli), or a shift to a causative construction, cf. ‘your name makes even evil spirits obey us’ (Shona 1966).

Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.

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