13:16a–c
Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?: This is a rhetorical question. Its function is to emphasize the obvious fact that it was right for Jesus to heal the woman on the Sabbath. It was not wrong.
In Greek, the rhetorical question does not actually start until 13:16c. The following example from starts the question in the same place as the Greek does:
Now, here is a descendant of Abraham. Satan has kept her in this condition for 18 years. Isn’t it right to free her on the day of worship? (God’s Word)
Here are two ways to translate the emphasis in this verse.
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
This woman belongs to the family of Abraham, but Satan has kept her bound for eighteen years. Isn’t it right to set her free on the Sabbath? (Contemporary English Version)
• As a statement. For example:
This woman that I healed, a daughter of Abraham, has been held by Satan for eighteen years. Surely it is not wrong for her to be freed from her sickness on a Sabbath day! (New Century Version)
Translate this emphasis in a way that is most natural in your language.
See the General Comment on 13:16a–c at the end of 13:16c for another way to order the verse parts.
13:16a
Then: This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that many English versions translate as “and.” The Berean Standard Bible translates as Then to show that it introduces a logical conclusion to Jesus’ point in 13:15. It was necessary to set animals free on the Sabbath in order to care for their needs. Therefore, surely it was even more necessary to set a valuable human being free from her bondage on the Sabbath.
this daughter of Abraham: Jesus was implying that as a daughter of Abraham the woman was very precious, much more valuable than the animals. In some languages it may be helpful to make this explicit:
this woman ⌊is⌋ a ⌊valuable/precious⌋ daughter of Abraham
this daughter of Abraham: The phrase daughter of Abraham means “a female descendant of Abraham.” This was a common way to refer to a Jewish woman. Use an expression in your language that will be understood to refer to a descendant, not to a literal daughter. For example:
descendant of Abraham (Good News Translation)
13:16b
Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years: Jesus implied here that Satan had caused this woman to be crippled and had kept her in that condition for eighteen years. Jesus would now set her free from it.
Satan: The word Satan is the Hebrew name of the chief or leader of all the evil spirits. In Hebrew his name means “enemy.” He is the enemy of God and God’s people.
Here are some ways to translate Satan:
• Use a local name or idiom that refers to the chief of all demons.
• Use a descriptive phrase such as:
the chief/leader of the evil spirits
-or-
the spirit enemy of God
• Transliterate the name Satan. If this word is not already known in your area, you may also want to add a descriptive phrase. For example:
Satanas, the ruler of demons
-or-
Shaitan
The word Satan also occurs in 11:18a.
has kept bound: This is a metaphor. It compares the way an animal is tied up to the way Satan had been keeping the woman crippled. If it is not clear or natural to use a metaphor like this about a crippling condition, you may:
• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
Satan has made her unable to move freely as if she were tied/bound
• Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
whom Satan has been causing to be crippled
Remember to use a natural way in your language to describe the woman’s condition. You may want to refer again to the note on “had been disabled by a spirit” in 13:11a.
for eighteen long years: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as eighteen long years is literally “behold eighteen years.” The exclamation “behold” here calls attention to the fact that eighteen years is a surprisingly long time. Another way to translate this expression is:
for a surprisingly/extremely long time—eighteen years!
13:16c
be released: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be released is the same as that translated as “untie” in 13:15c. This is closely related to the metaphor used in 13:16b. As the animals are set free from their ropes, so the woman should be set free from her crippled condition.
In some languages it will not be possible to use the same terms to describe a rope tying an animal and Satan keeping a woman bent over. But try to use a word or phrase that will show the similarity with 13:15c in order to emphasize the point that Jesus was making.
The verb be released is a passive verb. In some languages it may be necessary to use an active verb and to make the subject explicit. For example:
⌊I⌋ will set her free
-or-
for me to set her free
from her bondage: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as from her bondage sometimes refers literally to chains or ropes that tie a person or animal up. But Jesus was not referring to literal chains here. He was referring to the weakness that Satan had caused. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit:
from her bondage ⌊to this illness⌋
-or-
from Satan, who caused this weakness
General Comment on 13:16a–c
In some languages it may be helpful to reorder this verse. For example:
16cSo it is not wrong to set this woman free from her sickness on the Sabbath day. 16aFor she is a ⌊precious/valuable⌋ daughter of Abraham, 16band Satan has trapped/imprisoned her in this condition for eighteen years.
-or-
16cAnd it is good also to free 16athis descendant of Abraham 16con the Sabbath day from the sickness 16bin which Satan has held her captive for eighteen years.
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