SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013 – Page 115

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 17:4

17:4a

Even if he sins against you seven times in a day: The phrase Even if introduces a situation that might happen. It does not refer to a situation that has actually occurred. Some other ways to translate this are:

Your brother might sin against you seven times in one day. If he does….
-or-
Suppose that your friend sins against you seven times in one day

sins against you seven times in a day: As in 17:3b, the word sins refers here to something wrong or bad that one person does to another person. The phrase sins against you seven times in a day does not necessarily refer to doing the same sin each time. It could refer to seven different sorts of sin.

seven times: Jesus used the number seven to emphasize that the person continued to sin against the same person a number of times. The number seven does not imply that a disciple should not forgive his brother the eighth time he sinned. Jesus probably did not want his disciples to count each time the person sinned!

If a literal translation may imply that wrong meaning, it may be helpful to use a more general expression. For example:

even if he sins against you many times a day

If you decide to translate literally, you may want to include a footnote in your translation to make the meaning clear. For example:

Jesus’ point is that we should forgive others unconditionally as many times as they sin against us. Also see Matthew 18:21–35. (Translator’s Reference Translation)

in a day: The phrase in a day means “during one day” or “within a single day.” A day here refers to one twenty-four hour period.

17:4b

and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent’: In some languages it may not be natural to repeat the words seven times. It may be more natural to use a more general expression. For example:

and each time he comes to you saying, “I repent…” (Good News Translation)

returns: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as returns is literally “turns around” or “turns back.” The context implies that after some minutes or hours, the person who sinned regrets his sin. The Greek word may indicate that he turns again to the offended believer or it may imply that he goes somewhere and then returns. Some ways to translate this are:

and…returns to you (NET Bible)
-or-
and comes back to you (God’s Word)
-or-
and turns to you (Revised Standard Version)

to say, ‘I repent’: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I repent is the same Greek word as in 17:3c. Here Jesus used it to quote what a person might say to express his repentance to the person whom he offended.

In many languages, there are certain specific things that a person says when he asks someone to forgive him. If that is true in your language, you may be able to use such an expression here. It is good to use an expression that implies actual repentance, not merely polite apology. For example:

and says, “I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

In some languages, it will be more natural to use indirect speech here. For example:

and says that he is sorry (God’s Word)
-or-
and asks you to forgive him

17:4c

you must forgive him: The phrase you must forgive him is a command. Here is another way to translate this:

forgive him (New Century Version)

The word forgive also occurs in 17:3c.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 17:36

17:36

There is a textual issue with this verse. Many Greek manuscripts do not have this verse, and most English versions do not include it. It is good to include this verse only as a footnote. An example footnote is:

Some Greek manuscripts include 17:36, which reads, “Two men will be working in the field; one will be taken and the other left.”

If the major language version in your area includes this verse in the text, you may want to include it in brackets. The New American Standard Bible does this. The Display has the text in 17:36a and 17:36b in double full square brackets. The parallel passage is Matthew 24:40. The words in the Display are from the Berean Standard Bible footnote.

If you put this verse in a footnote, here are several ways to number the verses:

• Put the numbers 35 and 36 together at the beginning of 35. Put the footnote marker at the end of 35. For example:

35–36Two women will be together grinding wheat, but only one will be taken. The other will be left. ‡ (Contemporary English Version)

• Put in the number 36 after the last word of 17:35, and have the footnote marker after it. For example:

35…one will be taken and the other will be left. 36‡ 37The followers asked… (New Century Version)

• Do not include the number 36. For example:

35Two women will be grinding grain together. One will be taken, and the other one will be left. ‡ 37They asked him… (God’s Word)

17:36a

Two men will be in the field: This clause implies that the men will be working together. In some languages it will be helpful to include this information. For example:

Two men will be ⌊working together⌋ in the field

17:36b

One will be taken and the other left: This part of the verse is the same as 17:35b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 18:31

Section 18:31–34

Jesus again predicted his death

Jesus had told his disciples in 9:22 and 9:44 that people would kill him and that he would rise from the dead after three days. In this section Jesus again told the disciples that these things would happen to him. This time he gave more details about how these events would happen.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it. Some other examples of headings for this section are:

Jesus Again Predicts His Death (New International Version)
-or-
Jesus continues his journey toward suffering and death in Jerusalem

Refer to your section title for Section 9:43b–45. If you used a phrase that means “the second time” there, you should use a phrase that means “the third time” here. For example:

For the Third Time Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life (God’s Word)

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 20:17–19 and Mark 10:32–34.

Paragraph 18:31–34

18:31a

Then: Jesus said the words in this section sometime as he and his disciples were traveling to Jerusalem. Scholars are not sure if he said them immediately after the events of the last section or at a later time. In some languages it may be natural to begin the section with a time word or phrase that is not too specific. The Berean Standard Bible does this by translating the Greek conjunction that begins this verse as Then. Other ways to introduce this section are:

As Jesus and his disciples were traveling to Jerusalem
-or-
After this

Jesus took the Twelve aside and said to them: The phrase took…aside indicates that Jesus led the twelve disciples away from the crowd that was following them. He wanted to speak with his disciples privately.

In some languages it may be natural to express this action with a direct or an indirect quote. For example:

Jesus said to the twelve ⌊disciples⌋, “Let’s go over there so I can tell you something.” ⌊When they had moved/gone away from the crowd,⌋ he told them….
-or-
Jesus told the twelve ⌊disciples⌋ to come with him so he could be alone with them.

the Twelve: The phrase the Twelve refers to the twelve disciples/apostles whom Jesus had selected as his special helpers.

18:31b

Look: In Greek the clause in 18:31b begins with a word that draws attention to what Jesus was about to say. The Berean Standard Bible translates this word as Look. Sometimes it is translated in English as “Behold” (Revised Standard Version) or “Listen” (Good News Translation). Here is another way to translate this:

We are now… (Revised English Bible)

Use a natural way in your language to indicate that Jesus wanted the disciples to pay special attention to what he was about to say.

we are going up to Jerusalem: The clause we are going up to Jerusalem indicates that Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem. They had already started on their journey, and Jerusalem was their destination.

Jerusalem is higher in elevation than the surrounding land, so people often spoke of going up to Jerusalem. If that is not natural in your language, you may translate in a more general way. For example:

We are going/traveling to Jerusalem
-or-
We are on our way to Jerusalem

18:31c

everything the prophets have written: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as everything the prophets have written is passive, literally “everything written by the prophets.” In some languages it may be more natural to use an active verb. For example:

Everything that the prophets wrote (Contemporary English Version)

This phrase refers to the writings of the prophets in the OT Scriptures. These writings are mentioned several times in Luke, including in 16:16.

The prophets whom Jesus referred to here lived and wrote their messages hundreds of years before he was born. In some languages it may be helpful to make this explicit. For example:

Everything that the prophets wrote ⌊long ago⌋

the prophets: The prophets were men and women who spoke on behalf of God. They told people what God revealed to them. Here Jesus referred to the prophets whose words were later written and included in the OT Scriptures. See prophet in the Glossary.

about the Son of Man: The messages that the prophets wrote about the Son of Man described what he would do and what people would do to him.

The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Son of Man is literally “the Son of the human/person.” Jesus used this title to imply that:

(a) he was a true human being, and he represented all people.

(b) he came from God and had authority from God.

Try to use an expression that implies both meanings. Some expressions that translators have used are:

the Man whom God Sent
-or-
the True Man from God/Heaven
-or-
the Representative of Mankind
-or-
the Older Brother of All People

In some languages it may be necessary to use a form like “I” or “me” to indicate that Jesus was referring to himself. For example:

me, the Son of Man
-or-

I who became man/human

This term first occurs in Luke at 5:24a. See also “Son of Man” in Key Biblical Terms.

18:31d

will be fulfilled: The verb will be fulfilled means “will be accomplished or completed.” In this context it refers to events that will happen just as the prophets predicted. The prophets wrote that certain things would happen to the Son of Man. In this verse Jesus was saying that those things would happen to him, just as the prophets wrote. The things would happen after he and his disciples arrived in Jerusalem. Some ways to translate this are:

Everything that the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will happen there. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
…everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Everything that the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will occur just as they wrote/predicted.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 19:20

Paragraph 19:20–27

19:20a

Then another servant came and said: This servant was another one of the ten servants who received money from the master. The other seven servants are not mentioned. Some ways to introduce this servant are:

The third came and said (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Then another came, saying (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
When the last came, he said (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

19:20b

Master: The word Master was also used in 19:16 and 19:18. See the note at 19:16b for translation suggestions.

here is your mina: This servant took the same money that his master had given him and gave it back to his master. He did not use it to gain more money.

The actions of this servant contrast with the first two servants who reported to the king. In some languages it may be natural to indicate this contrast explicitly here. For example:

But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master…’ (New Living Translation (2004))

Notice that the New Living Translation (2004) uses indirect speech here to translate the clause here is your mina. Use direct and indirect speech in this story in a way that is natural in your language.

19:20c

which I have laid away in a piece of cloth: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as laid away refers to putting something away to store it or keep it safe. This servant had not invested the money as the master had told him to do. He had only wrapped it in cloth and put it somewhere. This was not even a good way to keep it safe as the servant implied. Some other ways to translate this action are:

I kept it hidden in a handkerchief (Good News Translation)
-or-
I kept it wrapped up in a handkerchief (Revised English Bible)
-or-
I’ve kept it in a cloth for safekeeping (God’s Word)

a piece of cloth: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a piece of cloth refers to a face cloth or a neck cloth. People used it to protect themselves from the sun and to wipe the sweat off their faces.

In some languages there is a specific word for such an item, like the English word “handkerchief.” In other languages, it is better to use a general expression, as in the Berean Standard Bible.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 20:4

20:4

John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?: This question means, “Who gave John the authority to baptize people? Did God give it to him or did men give it to him?” The question or from men expresses a general meaning like “was it a human idea (in contrast to an idea from God)?” The answer could be that John himself decided to baptize or that other people sent him to do it. Here is another way to translate this:

Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin (New Revised Standard Version)

The Berean Standard Bible, like the Greek text, has placed the phrase John’s baptism at the beginning of the question. This emphasizes it as the new topic.

Some other ways to translate this question are:

…did John’s right to baptize come from God or from human beings? (Good News Translation)
-or-
Who gave John the right to baptize? Was it God in heaven or merely some human being? (Contemporary English Version)

Notice that the Contemporary English Version example uses two questions. Translate this verse in a natural way in your language.

John’s baptism: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as John’s baptism refers to John’s practice of baptizing people. In this context baptism refers to a ceremonial washing to purify people from sin. It was an initiation that marked the beginning of the baptized person’s life as one of God’s purified people.

Some ways to translate the phrase John’s baptism are:

• As a descriptive term. For example:

ritual washing that John gave ⌊people⌋
-or-
John purified/initiated ⌊people⌋

• Use a term for a similar ritual that is already used in your culture. You may need to indicate that in this context it has a special connection with God. For example:

When John purified ⌊people⌋ with God’s ceremonial bath
-or-
John’s washing ⌊people⌋ in God’s initiation water

• Use a term that is already accepted by the local churches. In some areas this term may have been borrowed from the national language or transliterated from Greek or English. For example:

John baptized ⌊people⌋

See how you translated baptism in 3:3. See also baptize, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

from heaven: In this context the phrase from heaven means “from God.” The Jews often referred indirectly to God in order to show their great respect for his name.

See heaven, Meaning 3, in the Glossary.

from men: The phrase from men means “from people” or “from a human source.” In this context it is in contrast to “from heaven/God.”

General Comment on 20:3–4

The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “Tell me” occur at the end of 20:3. In some languages it may be more natural to place them at the end of 20:4. For example:

3He replied, “I will also ask you a question, 4‘Was John’s baptism from heaven, or from men?’ 3Tell me.”

In other languages it may be more natural to leave these words implied. For example:

3Jesus replied, “I want to ask you a question. 4Who gave John the right to baptize? Was it God in heaven or merely some human being?” (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 20:36

20:36

See the General Comment on 20:36a–d following 20:36c–d for ways to reorder the clauses in this verse.

20:36a–b

In fact, they can no longer die, because they are like the angels: In 20:36a–b Jesus explained why people do not marry in the resurrection (20:35). The reason is that they will live forever like the angels. They will not need to marry and have children to ensure that human beings will continue to exist. The clause they can no longer die tells the way that people in the resurrection are like the angels. The angels do not die, and they also will not die.

Some other ways to translate 20:36a–b are:

Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels (New American Standard Bible)

In some languages it may be helpful to change the order of these clauses. For example:

36bIn that life they are like angels 36aand cannot die. (New Century Version)

In fact…because: In the Greek text, 20:36a and 20:36b each begin with the conjunction that is often translated as “for.” The Berean Standard Bible translates these words as In fact and because. The conjunction indicates that Jesus was explaining what he said in 20:35. Many English versions do not use a conjunction like “for” in either 20:36a or 20:36b, because the context already implies that 20:36a–b explains 20:35. Translate the explanation in a natural way in your language. See the examples in the next note.

they are like the angels: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as like the angels means “angel-like” or “equal to angels.” In this context the meanings are almost the same. The humans of the next age are like angels or equal to angels because they will not die. There are other ways in which they differ from angels. Be sure that your translation makes clear that the way they are like angels is that they do not die.

The word angels occurred in Luke 16:22. See how you translated it there. For more information, see angel, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

20:36c–d

And since they are sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God: The phrase sons of God is used in a figurative sense here. In this context it indicates that the people who rise from death are God’s sons because they will live forever with him. Some ways to translate the connection between 20:36c and 20:36d are:

and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
they are children of God, because they share in the resurrection (Revised English Bible)

In some languages it may be helpful to change the order of 20:36c and 20:36d. For example:

36dfor being children of the resurrection, 36cthey are the sons of God (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

sons…sons: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as sons refers to both men and women.

General Comment on 20:35–36

In 20:35 the Greek verbs are future forms, as in the Berean Standard Bible. In 20:36 the verbs are present forms. However, Jesus continued to talk about the future time of the resurrection. In some languages it may be more natural to use future verbs in both verses. For example:

35But in the future world no one who is worthy to rise from death will either marry 36or die. They will be like the angels and will be God’s children, because they have been raised to life. (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 20:36a–d

In some languages it may be helpful to change the order of the clauses in this verse. For example:

36cThey have ⌊already⌋ risen from death 36aand they cannot die again. 36bIn this way, they are like the angels. 36dThey are God’s children.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 21:21

21:21a

Then: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then is a time word. It introduces what the people of Israel should do when enemy armies begin to surround Jerusalem. Here is another way to translate this:

At that time (New Century Version)

let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains: This clause is a command. It means that any of Jesus’ disciples who are in Judea at that time must run away and hide in the mountains. This was the only way that they could escape the enemy soldiers. Other ways to translate this command are:

You(plur) who are in ⌊the region of⌋ Judea must escape to the mountains ⌊and hide⌋
-or-
Then those who are in Judea must run away to the hills (Good News Translation)
-or-
If you are in Judea, hurry to the hills and hide

Judea: Judea was a province in the Roman Empire. It was part of the land that God promised to give Abraham and his descendants, the Jewish people. Many Jews lived in Judea, and the city of Jerusalem was located there. A Roman governor ruled Judea under the authority of the Roman emperor. However, Jewish leaders were allowed some authority to enforce laws for their own people.

In some languages it may be necessary or helpful to include a word that tells what the name Judea refers to. If that is true in your language, use an appropriate term to refer to a state, province, or district within a country.

mountains: Jesus probably referred here to the mountains and hills located in the southern part of Judea surrounding the Dead Sea.

21:21b

let those in the city get out: This clause is another command. It means that people who are in the city of Jerusalem at that future time must leave it. People usually felt safer in a city like Jerusalem because walls surrounded it. However, at this future time, the city of Jerusalem will be destroyed, and many people will be killed. To be saved, people will have to leave the city and run away.

Other ways to translate this command are:

You who are in the city must leave it.
-or-
Those of you who are in the city must escape from it.
-or-
If you are inside Jerusalem, get out of the city.

21:21c

let those in the country stay out of the city: This clause is a command that tells people what they must do. It means that anyone who is in the countryside must not come into the city. People who lived in the villages and fields around Jerusalem often tried to get inside the city in a time of danger. But at the future time when armies surround the city, people must not go into it.

Other way to translate this command are:

You who are in the fields must not enter the city.
-or-
If you are in the countryside, do not come into Jerusalem.
-or-
Those of you in the countryside must not come to the city.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 22:15

22:15a

I have eagerly desired: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I have eagerly desired is more literally “With desire I have desired,” as in the King James Version. This idiom emphasizes how intensely Jesus had desired to eat this Passover meal with his apostles.

Some other ways to translate the emphasis are:

• Use a different idiom in your language that has the same meaning. For example:

With all my heart I have longed (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

• Use a different way to express the emphasis in your language. For example:

How earnestly I have desired
-or-
I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing (New Living Translation (1996))

Translate this idiom in a natural and emphatic way in your language.

22:15b

to eat this Passover with you: In Greek this phrase is more literally “this Passover to eat with you.” Jesus was eager to eat this Passover meal with his apostles. Another way to translate it is:

that we(incl) should eat this Passover ⌊meal⌋ together

before My suffering: In this context the phrase before My suffering refers to Jesus’ death and to all the sufferings that he would endure before and during it. It is good to translate the phrase in a way that can refer to various types of suffering and also refer to death. For example:

before the agony that I ⌊must endure⌋
-or-
after that, I will suffer.
-or-
before I suffer ⌊and die⌋ (Translator’s Reference Translation)

The verb suffering also occurred in 9:22. See how you translated it there.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013