Translation commentary on Susanna 1:33

If integrated into the book of Daniel: 13.33.

Her family and friends is literally “those with her.” This is the same problematic construction found in Mark 3.21, where the original Revised Standard Version translated “his friends” and later editions translated “his family.” It may mean either or both. Here it may well imply “those who were on her side [or, who were sympathetic with her].” “Her family” is a better choice than “her friends” since we have been told in verse 30 that her family is present. For the whole verse Contemporary English Version has “Susanna’s family was crying, and so was everyone else.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.

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