SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013 – Page 124

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 11:18

11:18

The examples of a kingdom and a family that Jesus used in 11:17 also apply to Satan and his unclean spirits. In Greek, 11:18 is literally “If Satan also is divided.” Many English versions include the word “also.” To make this meaning clear, it may be necessary in some languages to begin 11:18 as follows:

It is the same also with Satan.
-or-
In the same way…

In some languages it may be clearer to reorder 11:18a–c. See the General Comment on 11:18a–c at the end of the note on 11:18c for an example.

11:18a

If Satan is divided against himself: The word Satan here is a figurative reference to Satan’s kingdom. It refers to the demons over which he rules. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this figurative meaning clear. For example:

If Satan’s ⌊kingdom⌋ is divided against/within itself
-or-
If Satan’s ⌊followers⌋ are divided against themselves
-or-
If Satan fights against his fellow demons

Satan: The word Satan is the Hebrew name of the chief/leader of all the unclean 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 unclean 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 10:18a–b.

11:18b

how can his kingdom stand?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that Satan’s kingdom will certainly not stand.

Some ways to translate this emphasis are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

how can his kingdom stand? ⌊It certainly cannot!⌋

• As a statement. For example:

his kingdom will certainly not stand
-or-
his kingdom will not continue (New Century Version)

Translate this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

his kingdom: The phrase his kingdom here refers to “Satan’s rule” or “his power/authority.”

In the Greek language, the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “stand” goes together with words such as “kingdom” and “government.” This is a figure of speech that means “continues to exist.” You should use whichever verb in your language naturally goes together with kingdom. Some other examples in English are:

how can his kingdom survive (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
how can it last (Good News Translation)
-or-
he wouldn’t be able to continue ruling (Translator’s Reference Translation)

11:18c

After all: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as After all is literally “because” or “for.” Most English versions translate it that way. The New International Version and several other English versions also supply the words “I say this” before “because.” They supply these words to help indicate that 11:18c is the reason why Jesus said what he did in 11:17b–18b.

you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul: Jesus was referring to what the people said in 11:15, that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul.

demons: This is the same word as in 11:15c.

Beelzebul: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible transliterates as Beelzebul is again Beelzebul, as in 11:15b. You should use the same name as you did there.

General Comment on 11:18a–c

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder 11:18a–c. For example:

18cYou say I am empowered by the prince of demons. But 18aif Satan is fighting against himself 18cby empowering me to cast out his demons, 18bhow can his kingdom survive? (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-

18cYou say that it is Satan ⌊the prince of demons⌋ who gives me ⌊the power⌋ to drive out demons. 18aSo, if ⌊this is true, it means that⌋ Satan is fighting against himself! 18b⌊Therefore,⌋ will his rule continue? ⌊It certainly will not!⌋

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 11:50

11:50a–c

In some languages it may be more natural to reorder the clauses of 11:50. See the General Comment on 11:50a–c at the end of 11:50c for a way to reorder this verse.

11:50a

In 11:49c Jesus ended his quotation of what God said. In 11:50 he began again to speak directly without a quotation. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. Two ways to do this are:

• Supply a quote formula at the end of 11:49c. For example:

“…they will persecute.” ⌊That is what God said.⌋

• Supply a quote formula at the beginning of 11:50a. For example:

⌊Jesus continued,⌋ “Therefore…”

Express this in a way that is most natural in your language.

As a result: Scholars have interpreted the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as As a result in two different ways:

(1) It indicates result and introduces what would happen to the Jews as a result of their persecution of God’s messengers. For example:

So the people living now will be charged with the murder of every prophet (God’s Word)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Century Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It indicates purpose and introduces the purpose of God in sending messengers. For example:

so that the blood of all the prophets…may be charged against this generation (New American Standard Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, and probably King James Version and Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you choose interpretation (1). It fits better with the change of speaker from God to Jesus. Jesus began to speak in his own words and told what would be the result of what happened. (The Contemporary English Version and New Living Translation (2004) do not translate this word.)

this generation: The phrase this generation refers to the people living at the time when Jesus was on earth. But it refers in particular to the Jews. Another way to translate this is:

the people of this time (Good News Translation)

Because this included the people to whom Jesus was talking, some versions translate this as “you.” For example:

you who live now (New Century Version)

The phrase “this generation” last occurred in 11:32a.

will be charged: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will be charged means “will be declared guilty of.” It means that God will consider these people responsible for the murder of his prophets. He will require them to answer to him for what had happened. It is also implied that they were in some way guilty of these murders and that God would punish them. One way to make this explicit is:

will be punished (Good News Translation)

11:50b

with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed: In this context blood is a figure of speech that refers to a violent death. Jewish people shed (or spilled, or poured out) the blood of the prophets when they killed them. God was going to punish the Jewish people of Jesus’ generation for these murders.

If you need to supply a subject and say who shed their blood, you could supply “your ancestors.” For example:

for the deaths of all the prophets ⌊that your(plur) ancestors⌋ killed

11:50c

since the foundation of the world: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the foundation of the world can also be translated as “the creation of the world.” In this context it refers to the time when God created the first people.

General Comment on 11:50a–c

In some languages, it will be more natural to change the order of certain parts of 11:50. For example:

50cFrom the creation of the world, 50bthe blood of the prophets has been shed. 50aThis generation will be held responsible for these deaths.
-or-

50cFrom the time God created the world, 50byour ancestors have killed the prophets. 50aYou people of today will be held responsible for their/these deaths.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 12:28

12:28

In Greek this verse is one long sentence. In it, Jesus taught his disciples what the beauty of wildflowers shows about God. God gives even unimportant wild plants great beauty, so he will certainly provide clothes for his own children.

There are many ways to translate the clauses in this verse. In some languages it may be natural to change the order of some of the parts. See the General Comment on 12:28a–d at the end of the notes for 12:28d for translation suggestions.

12:28a

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field: In this context If introduces a fact that is certainly true and can be used as evidence for the statement in 12:28b. There is no doubt that God clothes the grass of the field in a beautiful way. Consider how to express such evidence in your language. Some other ways to do this in English are:

Since God clothes the grass in the field like that
-or-
That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field…. So… (God’s Word)

To “clothe” the grass is a figure of speech like the one in 12:27c. It implies that God makes the wild grass beautiful. If you have a similar figure of speech in your language, you may be able to use it here. If not, you may translate the meaning without this figure of speech. See the examples at the end of the next note.

the grass of the field: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the grass of the field usually refers to green grass or other small, uncultivated plants that grow in a field or meadow. In this context it is used in a more general way that includes the wildflowers in 12:27. Such flowers look like tall grass during much of the year. They produce flowers only for brief periods. The word grass probably emphasizes that such flowers are insignificant and temporary compared to the disciples.

In some languages a translation such as grass or “plants” is confusing because those things are not considered beautiful. If that is true in your area, you may be able to use an expression that refers to an uncultivated plant that has flowers that last only a short time. For example:

If God cares so wonderfully for wild flowers and other weeds/grasses
-or-
since God gives ⌊insignificant⌋ plants in the fields ⌊great beauty⌋ like this

12:28b

which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace: These two clauses describe the short life of wild flowering grasses. Their beauty is unexpected since they last such a short time. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. (God’s Word)
-or-
even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow (Contemporary English Version)

which is here: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as which is here is literally “being.” It refers to the existence of the grass. Other ways to translate it are:

which is alive (New Century Version)
-or-
which exists

today and tomorrow: The words that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as today and tomorrow emphasize the temporary life of wildflowers. They do not mean that such plants live for only one day. If a literal translation would cause this misunderstanding, you may wish to say something like:

which live/bloom for a little while and then

is thrown into the furnace: In the summer in Israel, plants dried up quickly because of the heat. Then people often used the dried-up plants along with wood as fuel for a fire.

The verb is thrown is passive. If it is more natural in your language to use an active verb, you may supply a general subject. For example:

people put them into their cooking fires for fuel

thrown into the furnace: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as furnace refers to a clay oven in which people baked bread. They burned wood and grass as fuel to heat the oven before they put in the bread to bake. Some ways to translate the phrase thrown into the furnace are:

• Use a general expression. For example:

tossed into the fire
-or-
used as fuel/kindling

• Use a more specific expression. For example:

thrown into the oven (Revised Standard Version)

12:28c

how much more will He clothe you: The clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as how much more will He clothe you is literally “how much more you.” The Berean Standard Bible has supplied “will He clothe” from the context. This clause is an exclamation that implies: “it is much more ⌊certain⌋ that God will provide clothes for you ⌊whom he values more than flowers⌋.”

Some other ways to translate this exclamation are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Won’t he be all the more sure to clothe you? (Good News Translation)

• As an emphatic statement. For example:

he will certainly care for you (New Living Translation (2004))

Translate this exclamation in a way that is most natural in your language.

12:28d

O you of little faith!: This part of the verse is one word in Greek, literally “little-faith-ones.” Jesus used this word as a description to address his disciples. In some languages it may be necessary to translate it as a clause: For example:

You have such little faith.

This description is a criticism. It implies that they should have more faith in God. Consider how to express this in your language. For example:

Don’t have so little faith! (New Century Version)
-or-
You should have more faith!

In some languages it may be necessary to translate faith more specifically. For example:

You trust ⌊God⌋ so little.
-or-
Your faith ⌊in God⌋ is too small!

In some languages it may be more natural to express this criticism with a rhetorical question. For example:

Why do you have so little faith? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Why don’t you trust God more?

General Comment on 12:28a–d

In some languages it may be helpful to reorder the parts of this verse. For example:

28dListen, you people who have so little faith! 28aGod clothes the wild plants so ⌊wonderfully⌋, 28b⌊even though⌋ they live only a day or two and are then burned up. 28cEven more certainly will he provide clothing for you!
-or-

28bThis grass lives only a day or two, and then people throw it into the fire, 28abut God clothes it with such beauty. 28dSo you should have more faith in him! 28cHe is certainly going to clothe you!

Another possible way to translate 12:28 is:

The wild plants that are alive today will soon be ⌊dry and dead⌋. ⌊Then people will burn them⌋ in the fire. Even though ⌊they last such a short time⌋, God still causes them to appear beautiful. Since he does this for the plants, he will certainly ensure that you ⌊his people⌋ have the clothes you need. Why is your faith ⌊in him⌋ so lacking?

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 13:1

Section 13:1–5

Everyone must repent

In this section Jesus continued his teaching about God judging people by saying that people needed to repent. Pilate’s soldiers had recently murdered some people from Galilee. Other people had died when a tower fell on them. The crowd that was listening to Jesus thought that all these people had died because they had been evil and God was punishing them. But Jesus told the crowd that they themselves needed to repent just as much as those people who died had needed to repent.

Other possible headings for this section are:

Jesus told people to repent or they would die
-or-
Turn from your sins or die (Good News Translation)

This teaching occurs only in Luke.

Paragraph 13:1–5

13:1a

This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that introduces a new incident in the story. While some English versions (New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New International Version) translate it as “Now,” it is not a time word. Most English translations, including the Berean Standard Bible, do not translate it explicitly.

At that time: The phrase At that time refers to the same time as the events at the end of chapter 12, when Jesus had been teaching the crowd.

Consider where it is most natural in your language to put the time setting for a story. The Berean Standard Bible and several other English versions place it at the beginning of the sentence. For example:

About this time Jesus was informed (New Living Translation (2004))

some of those present: There are two ways to interpret the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as some of those present in this context:

(1) It indicates that some people were already present. They had been standing there listening to Jesus. For example:

some people were there (New Century Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, New Century Version, Good News Translation, NET Bible)

(2) It indicates that some people arrived. They may have heard what Jesus had just said, but they had not been part of the crowd originally. For example:

some people arrived (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible)

A number of versions translate this clause ambiguously. For example:

some people reported (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus was informed (New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you translate ambiguously, if possible. Both interpretations are well supported. Choosing one or the other does not affect the meaning of the rest of the section. If you cannot translate ambiguously, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most English versions.

told Jesus: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as told means to inform or report about something that has happened. See the examples from the God’s Word and New Living Translation (2004) quoted earlier in this part of the verse.

about the Galileans: The phrase the Galileans refers to some Jewish people, probably men, who were from the province called Galilee. At the time when they were killed, they were not in Galilee. They were at the temple in Jerusalem. We do not know how many people were involved, but it may have been as few as two or three.

13:1b

whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices: The clause whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices is a figure of speech. It means that Pilate had ordered his soldiers to kill the Galileans. The soldiers killed them while they were offering sacrifices. As a result, their blood mixed with the blood of the animal sacrifices.

In some languages it may be necessary to translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

whom Pilate ⌊ordered his soldiers⌋ to kill. The soldiers killed them while they were offering sacrifices

When you translate this verse part, be careful not to imply that Pilate ordered the soldiers to kill the Galileans while they were in the act of sacrificing. It is more likely that Pilate ordered the Galileans to be killed, and the soldiers found them at the Temple sacrificing and killed them.

Pilate: Pilate was the Roman governor.

sacrifices: The word sacrifices here refers to the animals that the Galileans were killing as an offering to God. For example:

they were offering sacrifices to God (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 13:1a–b

Another way to translate this verse is to combine the verse parts. For example:

About this same time Jesus was told that Pilate had given orders for some people from Galilee to be killed. ⌊His soldiers⌋ had killed the people while they were offering sacrifices.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 13:33

13:33a

Nevertheless: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Nevertheless introduces a contrast with the statement that Jesus would soon complete his work (13:32c). Some other ways to introduce this contrast are:

Yet (Good News Translation)
-or-
However (Revised English Bible)
-or-
But (God’s Word)

However, 13:33a does not contrast with 13:32b. Instead, it repeats the information there. So in some languages it may be more natural to indicate that in 13:33a Jesus was restating for emphasis what he had said in 13:32b. Here is another way to begin this verse:

Yes (New Living Translation (2004))

I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day: In Greek, this clause is literally “it-is-necessary for-me to travel/go today and tomorrow and the following.” The verb “it is necessary” implies here that it was necessary for Jesus to keep going for a time ⌊to fulfill God’s plan⌋.

keep going: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as keep going refers not only to Jesus’ literal travel toward Jerusalem but also to his progress in accomplishing all his purposes. Both aspects of the meaning should be clear in your translation if possible.

today and tomorrow and the next day: These three terms are used figuratively. They probably refer to the same period of time as the three terms in 13:32b–c. The New International Version uses a dash at the end of this verse part. Most English versions do not.

13:33b

for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason for what Jesus had said in 13:33a.

it is not admissible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem: Here Jesus was using a figure of speech called irony. Jerusalem was the city that God had chosen for his temple. It was supposed to be the holy city, so it would be reasonable to think that the people of Jerusalem would welcome God’s prophets. However, the people of Jerusalem had killed so many prophets that Jerusalem had developed a reputation as a place where prophets were murdered. Jesus was stating this in an exaggerated, sarcastic way. He did not mean literally that every prophet died in Jerusalem.

It can be very difficult to translate irony and sarcasm meaningfully. Some ways to translate this statement in English are:

After all, Jerusalem is the place where prophets are killed. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Surely it cannot be right for a prophet to be killed anywhere except in Jerusalem. (New Century Version)
-or-
it would never do for a prophet to meet his death outside Jerusalem! (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

By saying this, Jesus implied that he also was a prophet, and that people would kill him in Jerusalem. In some languages it may be necessary to make some of this information explicit. See the last two meaning lines in the Display for 13:33b.

prophet: This is the same word as in 13:28b and 13:34b. See also prophet in the Glossary.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 14:30

14:30

saying: The verb saying introduces an example of the things that people might say in this situation. It does not imply that everyone said the same words or that they spoke at the same time. One way to make this clear is:

They will say things like

This man: In this context, the expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as This man is a mocking way to refer to someone. Try to use an expression in your language that shows that people are ridiculing someone. Various English versions use expressions such as “fool” and “this fellow” (New Revised Standard Version) and “that guy.” See the Display for some further suggestions.

could not finish what he started to build: In some languages it may be necessary to supply an object for at least one of the verbs. For example:

began to build ⌊this tower⌋

In other languages, it may be more natural to say only “began it” and leave the words “to build” implied. Consider what is clear and natural in your language.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 15:27

15:27a

Your brother has returned: The word brother refers here to the younger brother. The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as has returned is literally “is here/present.” Other ways to translate this verb are:

has come home (God’s Word)
-or-
has returned/arrived

he said: The Berean Standard Bible has placed the phrase he said in the middle of what the servant said. In Greek this phrase occurs at the beginning of the verse. You should place it where it is natural in your language.

15:27b

and: The conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and introduces what the father did because his son returned home. Another way to translate this is:

So (God’s Word)

your father has killed the fattened calf: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as your father has killed the fattened calf means that the father had given orders to the servants and they had killed the fattened calf. One way to make this information explicit is:

your father ordered us to kill the best calf (Contemporary English Version)

fattened calf: See the note on 15:23a.

15:27c

because he has him back: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he has him back means “he has received/gotten him back” or “he has been reunited with him.”

him: The pronoun him refers back to “your brother” in 15:27a.

safe and sound: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as safe and sound means “healthy” and refers to being in good bodily health.

In some languages it may be difficult to translate the idea of getting a person back in good health. Some English versions have made the reference to the father implicit in this part of the verse. For example:

your brother came home safely (New Century Version)
-or-
to celebrate your brother’s safe return (God’s Word)

Other ways to translate this idea are:

your brother has rejoined him and nothing bad has happened to him
-or-
he has come home to him without harm

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 16:27

Paragraph 16:27–31

16:27a–b

‘Then I beg you, father,’ he said: In this context the clause he said means that the rich man replied to Abraham. In some languages it may be natural to make the subject and object more explicit. For example:

The rich man replied ⌊to Abraham⌋

Then: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then here introduces an alternative request. Since Abraham could not send Lazarus to him, the rich man asked him to send Lazarus somewhere else instead. Another way to translate this conjunction is:

If that is true
-or-
In that case

I beg you: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I beg you introduces a request. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

I ask you (God’s Word)
-or-
please (New Century Version)

he said: The Berean Standard Bible has placed the phrase he said after the start of what the rich man said. In the Greek text, this phrase is at the beginning of the verse, before the quotation. Place it wherever it is natural in your language.

father…send Lazarus to my father’s house: The first time the word father occurs here, it refers to Abraham, but the second time, it refers to the rich man’s own father. In some languages this may be confusing. If this is so in your language, you can:

• Use a different term of respect for Abraham. For example:

honorable sir/ancestor

• Translate my father’s house in another way that is natural in your language. For example:

my parents’ house

my father’s house: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as my father’s house probably refers literally to the house that had been owned by the rich man’s father. It is possible that the father had died, since only the brothers are included in the warning in 16:28b. Probably the five brothers had not divided the property and they still lived together in that house.

Sometimes the phrase my father’s house was used to refer to the members of one’s family, even if they were not all still living in the same house. As the next verse part makes clear, the rich man was thinking of his brothers. If adult brothers do not live together in one home in your culture, you may wish to translate this as:

my family

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013