19:30a

saying The word saying introduces the details of what Jesus told these disciples to do. Use an appropriate way in your language to express this.

Go into the village ahead of you: The phrase the village ahead of you refers to a village that was near the disciples or across from them. The phrase may imply that the disciples could see it from where they were standing. Other ways to translate it are:

the next village (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
that village over there (New Living Translation (2004))

you: The word you refers to the two disciples whom Jesus sent in 19:29. If your language uses a dual form, you could use it here.

19:30b

and as you enter it, you will find a colt: The clause and as you enter it refers to the two disciples coming into the village. In this context the verb find indicates that they would see a colt. It does not imply that they would have to search for it. Here is another way to translate this:

As you enter it, you will see a young donkey (New Living Translation (2004))

a colt: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a colt refers to a young horse or donkey. Here it refers to one that would be big enough for a man to ride on. The parallel passages in Matthew and John (Matthew 21:2, John 12:14–15) make it clear that this was a young donkey. The Jewish people used donkeys to ride on and for carrying loads. The Greek text of Matthew 21:5 indicates that it was a male donkey.

If donkeys are not known in your area, you may use a more general term. For example:

a young riding animal ⌊called a donkey⌋
-or-
a young animal upon which people ride

You should not use a term that refers to an animal that was recently born or that is less than a year old.

tied: People tied their animals to a tree or post so they would not walk away when no one was using them. It was probably tied with the rope around its neck. You should not imply that its legs were bound so that it could not move.

Luke does not say where the colt was tied, but Mark 11:4 says that it was tied to a door. It was probably either tied to the doorpost or to a post near the door. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

tied ⌊by a cord⌋ ⌊to a post⌋

there: The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the word there to make it clear that the disciples would see the colt as soon as they entered the village. You may not need to supply this word. Here is another way to translate this:

you will find a colt tied up (Good News Translation)

19:30c

on which no one has ever sat: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as on which no one has ever sat is more literally “on which no one among people has ever sat.” It describes the colt in 19:30b. In some languages it may be more natural to express the clause as a complete sentence. For example:

No one has ever ridden it.

General Comment on 19:30b–c

In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of some phrases in 19:30b–c. For example:

30bAs you enter the village, you will find a colt 30cthat no one has ever ridden. 30bIt will be tied ⌊to a post⌋.

19:30d

Untie it and bring it here: Here Jesus told the two disciples to untie the colt and bring it to him. The context implies that the disciples did not ride the colt. They led it to Jesus. Another way to translate this is:

Untie that colt, and lead it here ⌊to me⌋.

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