SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013 – Page 133

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 18:3

18:3a

And there was a widow in that town: The clause And there was a widow in that town introduces the other main character in the story. Other ways to introduce her are:

In that same town there was also a widow
-or-
And a certain widow also lived in that town

Introduce her in a natural way in your language.

widow: A widow is a woman whose husband has died. In that culture, when a woman’s husband died, she often had no one to provide for her financially. She also usually had no one to defend her or make sure that people treated her justly. Another way to translate widow here is:

a woman whose husband had died

in that town: The phrase in that town means “in the town where the judge lived.” In some languages it may be possible to translate this as:

in the same town ⌊as the judge⌋

General Comment on 18:2a–3a

In some languages it may be more natural to not mention the town where the judge lived until 18:3a. For example:

2aThere once was a judge 2bwho neither feared God nor respected people. 3aA widow lived in the same town as he did…

18:3b–c

who kept appealing to him: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as who kept appealing to him is literally “and she was coming to him saying.” It implies that the widow came many times to present her request to the judge. There was probably a certain place where the judge heard such requests. In some languages there may be a special term to refer to bringing a formal request to a judge. Other ways to translate this are:

She often came before him to present her request/petition
-or-
She often came to him to plead with him
-or-
A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying (New Living Translation (2004))

appealing: The Greek uses the word “saying” to introduce what the widow said to the judge. Versions such as the Good News Translation translates this word literally. Several versions join this word with the phrase “kept coming to him.” For example:

a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying (English Standard Version)

Here is another way to translate this:

with the plea (New International Version)

The Berean Standard Bible combines the meaning of “coming” and “saying” into the term appealing.

Give me justice against my adversary: This request indicates that the widow wanted the judge to make her enemy treat her fairly. It was common in that culture for people to cheat widows and take their money or property. Some other ways to translate the request are:

Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Make my opponent do what is right toward me
-or-
Please help me so that my enemy does not treat me unfairly/wrongly

This widow probably spoke respectfully, in a way that was proper for a poor person to present a request to an important official. Introduce and translate her words in a way that is natural in your language for such a request. For example:

begging him, “Please grant me justice…”
-or-
saying, “⌊Honorable Judge,⌋ I beg you to grant me justice…”

In some languages it may be necessary to introduce the adversary before presenting the request. For example:

An enemy is treating me unfairly. Please help me.

against my adversary: An adversary is an enemy or opponent. In this context it refers to a specific enemy. That enemy was the person who was against her in the dispute that she wanted the judge to settle.

General Comment on 18:3a–c

In this verse the widow’s request is a direct quote. In some languages it may be more natural to translate it as indirect speech:

…and in the same city there was a widow who kept coming before him to demand justice against her opponent. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, appealing for justice against someone who had harmed her. (New Living Translation (1996))

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 18:35

Section 18:35–43

Jesus healed a blind beggar

As Jesus and his disciples continued their journey to Jerusalem, they came to Jericho. A blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. He asked Jesus to make him able to see again. Luke does not mention the beggar’s name, but Mark mentions that his name was Bartimaeus. Jesus healed him and told him that the reason he could now see was because he believed in Jesus.

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

Jesus Heals a Blind Man (New Century Version)
-or-
Jesus gives sight to a blind man

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 9:27–31, 20:29–34 and Mark 10:46–52.

Paragraph 18:35–39

18:35a

As Jesus drew near to Jericho: This verse begins with a Greek word that means “it came about.” It introduces this new event. Here is another way to translate this:

Now it happened that as he drew near to Jericho (New Jerusalem Bible)

The Berean Standard Bible and many other English versions do not translate this word. The word may indicate that the events in this section did not happen immediately after those of the preceding section. Introduce the section in a natural way in your language.

The context shows that Jesus was not traveling alone. His disciples were with him, and other people were also traveling with them. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

Jesus ⌊and those who were with him⌋ were coming near Jericho

Jericho: Jericho was a city that was between Jerusalem and the Jordan River. It was located about twenty four kilometers (12.5 miles) northeast of Jerusalem. It was mentioned in 10:30. Herod the Great had built several huge public buildings there before Jesus was born. Here is another way to translate this:

the city of Jericho (New Century Version)

18:35b

a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging: In this verse the blind man was sitting by the road because many people traveled on this road on their way to Jerusalem. It was a good place to beg people for help. Here is another way to translate this:

a blind man sat begging beside the road (Contemporary English Version)

begging: The word begging indicates here that the blind man was humbly requesting something. In New Testament times, blind people sometimes had to ask people for food or money in order to stay alive. In some languages it is necessary to indicate what he was requesting and from whom he was requesting it. For example:

The blind man was begging ⌊the people who passed by on the road⌋ ⌊to give him money/something⌋.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 19:24

19:24a

Then he told those standing by: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as those standing by refers to other people who were standing nearby as the king was talking to his servants. These people probably also served the king, since he gave them a command in 19:24b. A king usually had servants near him at all times. The text does not mention a specific category of servants. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

some other servants standing there (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
his attendants (NET Bible)
-or-
his men (God’s Word)
-or-
those who were standing there (Good News Translation)

19:24b

Take the mina from him: In this clause the king told men to take the servant’s mina from him. The word mina refers to the valuable coin that the master had entrusted to his servant. It actually still belonged to the master. Here is another way to translate this:

Take the money from this servant (New Living Translation (2004))

and give it to the one who has ten minas: Here the king told the men to give the coin to the servant who earned ten coins (19:16). That servant would probably use it, along with the other ten coins, to make more money for the king.

General Comment on 19:24a–b

In some languages it may be more natural to translate the command in this verse as indirect speech. For example:

24aThen he ordered his men 24bto take the coin away from that servant and give it to the servant who had ten coins.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 20:8

20:8a–b

And Jesus replied: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And Jesus replied is literally, “And Jesus said to them.” The Revised Standard Version and several other English versions translate it that way. It introduces Jesus’ response to what the leaders said in 20:7b. Some other ways to translate it are:

Then Jesus said to the leaders
-or-
So Jesus replied

Introduce Jesus’ response in a natural way in your language.

Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things: Jesus refused to answer the question that the Jewish leaders had asked him.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Neither indicates here that Jesus would not tell the leaders where he got his authority. Jesus said this because the leaders would not say where John got his authority. Some other ways to translate this are:

⌊You refuse to tell me what right John had to baptize.⌋ So I too will not tell you what right I have to do these things.
-or-
I also will not tell you who gave me the authority to do these things, ⌊because you will not say who gave John his authority⌋.
-or-
Then I won’t tell you who gave me the right to do what I do. (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 20:40

20:40

And they did not dare to question Him any further: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And here often introduces a reason or explanation. In this clause it may explain why the scribes did not argue with Jesus in 20:39. They only told Jesus that he had answered well. They did not dare to ask him any more questions. Other ways to translate the connection are:

For they did not dare ask him any more questions. (Good News Translation)
-or-

From that time on, no one dared to ask him another question. (God’s Word)

In some languages a conjunction is not needed. For example:

No one was brave enough to ask him another question. (New Century Version)

Translate the connection with 20:39 in a natural way in your language.

they did not dare to question Him any further: People were afraid to test Jesus with any more hard or tricky questions, because he was very skillful at answering questions wisely.

they: The Berean Standard Bible literally represents the Greek text here. It probably refers here to people in general. It does not refer only to the scribes. Remember that the Sadducees and the scribes were different groups of people. The Sadducees had asked Jesus the question, and some scribes were there listening. Use a subject in your language that can refer to people in general, including the Sadducees and the scribes.

dare: The word dare indicates that no one felt bold enough to ask Jesus any more difficult questions. They felt unable to trick him because he had answered every question so wisely.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 21:25

Paragraph 21:25–28

21:25a

There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars: The word signs here refers to unusual and significant sights or events that will happen to the sun, moon, and stars. These signs will indicate that God will soon do something very important. The text implies that the signs will cause people to be afraid. For more information, see the note on “sign” in 21:7b.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Miraculous signs will occur in the sun, moon, and stars. (God’s Word)
-or-
Strange things will happen to the sun, moon, and stars. (Contemporary English Version)

The parallel passages in Matthew 24:29 and Mark 13:24–25 say that the sun and moon will become dark and the stars will fall from the sky. See also Isaiah 34:4 and Joel 2:30–31.

21:25b

and on the earth: The phrase on the earth refers to the whole earth, the world in general.

dismay among the nations: This phrase uses an ellipsis. The words “will be” are implied from 21:25a. For example:

and on the earth dismay ⌊will be⌋ among the nations…

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as nations is the same word that it translated as “nations” in 21:24b and “Gentiles” in 21:24c–d. Here it refers to the people in these countries all around the world.

21:25c

bewildered: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bewildered refers to being severely anxious, distressed, and confused. This type of anxiety is often caused when a person does not know how to overcome a situation or danger. In this context people will feel helpless in their anguish and fear because they will not know what to do.

Some ways to translate bewildered are:

deeply troubled and confused (God’s Word)
-or-
they won’t know what to do (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
perplexed (New Living Translation (2004))

by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves gives the reason why people will be perplexed and anxious. The sea will be making loud noises, and there will be high waves on its surface. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

because of the roaring and tossing of the sea (God’s Word)
-or-
over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves (NET Bible)
-or-
not knowing which way to turn from the roar and surge of the sea (Revised English Bible)

In some languages it may be necessary to translate roaring and surging as main verbs and say, for example:

at the way the sea roars and ⌊its waves⌋ toss/crash

roaring: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as roaring refers to the loud sound that the sea makes during a storm. Other ways to translate this word are:

loud noise
-or-
thunderous roar
-or-
loud crashing sound

surging: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as surging refers to the movement of the sea during a storm. It refers to the waves made by the wind. other ways to translate this word are:

big pounding ⌊waves⌋
-or-
surging ⌊waves⌋

In some languages it may be necessary to translate the word surging with a phrase such as:

how the sea/water rises and falls

Refer to this action in a natural way in your language. In some languages there may be an idiom to express it.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 22:19

Paragraph 22:19–20

In these verses Jesus gave bread and wine from the Passover meal a new meaning. He revealed to his disciples that he would soon sacrifice himself for them and for all the people of the world. This meal began the Christian custom of observing the Lord’s supper regularly.

22:19a

And He took the bread: The clause And He took the bread indicates that Jesus took bread from the table. The verb took was also used in 22:17 of taking the wine. It probably implies that he lifted the bread from the table instead of receiving it from someone. Translate it in a similar way as you translated 22:17a. For example:

Jesus took some bread in his hands (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Jesus took bread ⌊from the table⌋

the bread: In this context the bread was made without yeast, since that was customary at Passover meals. It was flat and round. In some languages it may be necessary to include a word that refers in general to a quantity of bread. For example:

some bread (New Century Version)
-or-
a loaf of bread (New Revised Standard Version)

22:19b

gave thanks: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gave thanks is literally “having given thanks.” Here it indicates that Jesus thanked God for the bread. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

gave thanks to God (Good News Translation)
-or-
when he had thanked God for it (New Living Translation (1996))

22:19c

broke it: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as broke refers to dividing or tearing bread into two or more parts. Jesus used his hands to break the bread, rather than a knife. The text does not say whether Jesus broke the flat bread into two parts or into many parts.

gave it to them: After Jesus broke the bread, he distributed it among the disciples so that each of them could eat part of it. In some languages it may be necessary to specify that he gave it to them to eat. For example:

He gave/passed/handed it…to them…⌊to eat⌋ (Translator’s Reference Translation)

22:19d

saying: In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit that Jesus was speaking to the disciples. It may also be more natural to start a new sentence here. For example:

He said to them

This is My body: The word This refers to the bread that Jesus gave to his disciples. Here is another way to translate this:

This ⌊bread⌋ is My body (Translator’s Reference Translation)

Churches have different views about exactly what the words This is My body imply. Because of this, it is probably best to translate in a literal way.

My body, given for you: In this context the term My body refers to Jesus’ living body. It does not refer to his dead body or corpse. The phrase given for you implies that Jesus will sacrifice his life for them by dying for them. In this context of Passover, it implies that Jesus will die so that they can be saved. In some languages there may be a special idiom to use when a person says that he will die a sacrificial death for someone.

Some other ways to translate My body, given for you are:

my body, which is/will-be-offered for you
-or-
My body which will be sacrificed for you (Translator’s Reference Translation)

The verb given is passive. In some languages it is necessary to translate the phrase with an active verb. For example:

my body, which I offer as a sacrifice on your behalf
-or-
my body, which I will give for your sakes
-or-
This bread that I offer to you, this is my body that I offer to redeem you.

for you: The phrase for you means “for your benefit” or “on your behalf.” In this context it has the special meaning “as a sacrifice for you” or “to save/redeem you.” The phrase for you also occurs in 22:20 about Jesus’ blood poured out for them. See the translation examples in the note above.

you: The word you refers to the apostles and also to all people who will trust in Jesus. The apostles represent all of God’s people.

22:19e

do this in remembrance of Me: In this context Jesus used the phrase do this to indicate that his disciples should establish the action in this verse as a custom. They should eat unleavened bread together in a special ceremony to remember Jesus with honor and gratitude. They would especially remember the sacrifice that he made to save them.

Some other ways to translate Jesus’ instruction here are:

Do this to remember me. (God’s Word)
-or-
Do this custom in order to remember me.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 22:51

22:51a

But: This verse begins with a common Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But. Jesus responded to the action in 22:50 in an unexpected way. Several versions do not introduce the verse with a conjunction. Introduce it in a natural way in your language.

Jesus answered: In this context the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as answered means “responded.” Jesus responded to what one of his disciples had done. He was not answering the question that they asked in 22:49b. Use an appropriate verb in your language. For example:

Jesus said
-or-
Jesus responded

No more of this!: The Greek idiom that the Berean Standard Bible translates as No more of this! is more literally “allow/stop until this.” The verb “allow/stop” is a plural command to the disciples standing there. But the meaning of the command is uncertain. Almost all English versions interpret it as the Berean Standard Bible does: Jesus was telling his disciples to stop fighting or to let the crowd arrest him. Translate this meaning in a natural way in your language. Some other ways to translate it in English are:

Enough of this! (Good News Translation)
-or-
…Don’t resist anymore. (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Stop! Do not ⌊fight⌋ anymore!

22:51b

And He touched the man’s ear and healed him: This clause does not indicate exactly how Jesus healed the man’s ear. It also does not indicate which part of the ear Jesus touched. Translate the clause in a natural way to indicate clearly that Jesus healed the man so that his ear was normal again.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013