6:38a

Give: Jesus was saying that his disciples should be generous. They should help people who need something. The text does not say explicitly what Jesus’ disciples should give, nor to whom they should give it. Translate this as generally as possible.

If your language requires that you state to whom something is given, you could say:

Give ⌊to others/people⌋
-or-
If you give to others (Contemporary English Version)

If your language requires that you state what is given, you could say:

give ⌊whatever is needed⌋
-or-
give ⌊things to help others⌋

6:38b

it will be given to you: The clause it will be given to you is a passive clause. Some ways to translate this are:

• As a passive clause. For example:

it will be given to you

• As an active clause. For example:

you will receive (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
God will give to you (Good News Translation)

In some languages, it may be more natural to begin this sentence with an “if” clause. For example:

⌊If you give,⌋ then it will be given to you.

it: As with the word “give” above, the thing that will be given is not identified. If your language requires that you identify the object, here you could say:

⌊what you need⌋ will be given to you
-or-

⌊things that help you⌋ will be given to you

6:38c–g

A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap: This is a metaphor. It describes a merchant selling grain or something similar. Because buying grain in the market is common, most cultures will probably understand this metaphor.

The point of the metaphor is the generosity of the merchant. He presses the grain down in the measuring container. He then shakes it so it will settle, and he continues filling it until the grain heaps up and overflows the container.

This metaphor further explains the phrase “it will be given to you” (6:38a). If you give generously, you will receive generous gifts in return.

The metaphor does not identify the one who would give generously in return. It could be people, or God, or both. Try to keep your translation general so God or people could be understood. If you have made God explicit in 6:37–6:38a, you could refer to him explicitly here also. For example:

⌊God⌋ will give you a good measure, pressed down…
-or-

⌊God will give generously to you like a good merchant who⌋ presses down…

6:38c

A good measure: The phrase A good measure refers to a full measure such as a generous merchant gives. Some other ways to translate this are:

a full measure (Good News Translation)
-or-
A large quantity (God’s Word)
-or-
You will be given much (New Century Version)

Use a general word to describe the measuring container or a measured quantity of grain. If you do not have a general word, use a word for a specific container that is used for measuring grain in your culture. For example:

a full cup/bowl/tin

6:38d

pressed down: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pressed down indicates that the merchant pressed or pushed down the grain. He did this so that it would take up as little space as possible. Then the merchant could pour more grain into the container. Some other ways to translate this are:

pressed together (God’s Word)
-or-
It will be packed down (Contemporary English Version)

6:38e

shaken together: The merchant shakes the container and the grain in it. In that way, he makes sure that the grain settles and the container is completely full. Some other ways to translate this are:

shaken down (God’s Word)
-or-
shaken together to make room for more (New Living Translation (2004))

6:38f

running over: The phrase running over means that the merchant put so much grain into the container that it began to spill over the sides. Some other ways to translate this are:

flowing over
-or-
spilling over
-or-
heaped over the top

6:38g

will be poured into your lap: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will be poured into your lap is literally “they will pour into your lap.” “They” here refers to the merchant. Some other ways to translate this are:

it will then be poured into your lap/basket
-or-
he will then pour the grain into your lap/basket

lap: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as lap refers to a pocket or pouch made by folding one’s robe. It was the custom for a person who bought grain to fold his robe (outer clothes) to make a pocket. The merchant would pour the grain into this fold or pocket. That is the way the buyer would carry it away.

If this is not the custom in your culture, you could translate using a general word for a grain container such as a basket.

6:38h

Luke 6:38h is a common proverb that Jews would often repeat. Jesus used it here to emphasize what he had just said in 6:37a–38g. It summarizes the way his disciples are to act. It reinforces the fact that the disciples’ behavior determines how God and others will behave towards them.

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces a proverb. Some translations do not explicitly translate this conjunction (for example, Good News Translation). If your language uses proverbs to teach principles, think about how you would introduce the proverb. Connect this proverb in that way.

Some other ways in English to introduce this proverb are:

After all
-or-
Remember

with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you:
As in 6:38c, the word measure here refers to a measuring container or a measured quantity of grain. Jesus was saying that the type of measuring container that Jesus’ disciples use with other people is the same type of measuring container that God will use with them.

In this context Jesus’ saying means that if the disciples are generous with other people, God will be generous with them. This applies in a figurative way as well as in a literal way. If the disciples are generous and kind in the way they judge or treat other people, God will also be kind in the way he judges or treats them.

Some other ways to translate this proverb are:

Whatever type of measure you use ⌊with/for others⌋, that same measure will be used with/for you.
-or-
The way you treat others is the way you will be treated. (Contemporary English Version)

it will be measured back to you: The phrase it will be measured back to you is passive. Some ways to translate this are:

• As a passive clause. For example:

by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
The standards you use for others will be applied to you. (God’s Word)
-or-
The way you treat others is the way you will be treated. (Contemporary English Version)

• As an active clause. The person who will measure is God. For example:

The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you. (Good News Translation)

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