SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013 – Page 137

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 14:1

Section 14:1–6

Jesus healed a sick man on the Sabbath

In this section Jesus healed a man whose arms and legs were swollen. He performed this miracle on a Sabbath day in the house of a Pharisee. This event did not necessarily happen after the events of the previous section. It occurs only in Luke.

Another possible heading for this section is:

Jesus Heals a Sick Man (Good News Translation)

The next two sections, 14:7–14 and 14:15–24, also occur in the house of the Pharisee. English versions have divided 14:1–24 into sections in different ways. For example:

• The God’s Word has one section for 14:1–24. The section heading is:

Jesus attends a banquet

• The New International Version has two sections. They are:

Jesus at a Pharisee’s House (14:1–14)

The Parable of the Great Banquet (14:15–24)

It is good to read these sections before you decide where to make the section breaks. You should divide the sections in a way that will be appropriate in your language.

Paragraph 14:1–3

14:1a

In the Greek text this section begins with a phrase that often introduces a new event. Many modern English translations do not translate this phrase explicitly (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation). If it is natural in your language, you may translate it with a phrase that introduces a new incident. For example:

Now it happened that (New Jerusalem Bible)

One Sabbath: The phrase One Sabbath gives the time setting for this incident. Use a natural way in your language to introduce this background information. For example:

On a certain rest day

In some languages it may be more natural to use a general expression at the beginning of the sentence and specify later that it was the Sabbath day. This would connect the information that it was the Sabbath more closely to the statement in 14:1b that Jesus was being watched. For example:

On one occasion, when Jesus…to eat a meal on the sabbath (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
One day, Jesus went…. It was the day for resting.

Sabbath: The word Sabbath is the name of the seventh and last day of the week for the Jews. This was the special day in the week when they rested and worshiped God. Some ways to translate Sabbath are:

the ⌊Jewish⌋ rest day
-or-
the day for resting
-or-
the day to rest and worship God

If the word Sabbath is already known in your area, you may write it according to the sounds of your language. You may also want to include a phrase to explain the meaning. For example:

the Sabat, the ⌊Jews’⌋ rest day

The word Sabbath also occurs in 13:10.

Jesus went to eat: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to eat is literally “to eat bread.” Bread was the main food that was eaten at meals in that culture. Another way to translate this is:

to eat a meal (Good News Translation)

The context implies that Jesus was invited to this meal along with other guests. In some languages it may be natural to make this information explicit here. For example:

a leader of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat ⌊with others⌋ at his home

in the home of a leading Pharisee: There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a leading Pharisee:

(1) It refers to a leader of other Pharisees or an important person among them. For example:

a leader of the Pharisees (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
an important Pharisee (Contemporary English Version)

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

(2) It refers to a Pharisee who was a leader of the Jews. For example:

a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with the majority of English versions.

Pharisee: A Pharisee was a member of the Pharisee party, a religious group that emphasized obeying the Law of Moses. Here are some ways to translate this word:

• Transliterate the word Pharisee according to the sounds of your language and indicate that it refers to a person. For example:

Farisi member
-or-
Parise adherent

• Transliterate the word Pharisee and indicate that it refers to a group of people with certain beliefs. For example:

person belonging to the Farise religious sect/group
-or-
member of the religious group called the Farasi

See how you translated Pharisee in 11:37a. The word first occurs in Luke in 5:17b.

14:1b

those in attendance were watching Him closely: In Greek, the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as those in attendance were watching Him closely is literally “they were watching him closely.” The word “they” is an indefinite pronoun. If your language would not use an indefinite pronoun in this way, you may:

• Translate this as a passive verbal phrase. For example:

he was being carefully watched (New International Version)

• Supply a general subject, as the Berean Standard Bible does: those in attendance. For example:

the other people present closely watched him
-or-

Jesus’ enemies observed him carefully

• Use a specific subject from 14:3a. For example:

the Pharisees and the law experts watched him carefully

In this context, the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as were watching Him closely implies that the other people who came to the dinner were watching Jesus suspiciously or with hostility. The other people at the dinner included Pharisees and experts in the Jewish religious laws (see 14:3). They wanted to be able to accuse Jesus of breaking one of these laws.

In some languages there may be idioms that suggest a hostile reason for watching someone. One English idiom that expresses this is:

they had their eyes on him

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 14:33

14:33

In the same way: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as In the same way literally says “So therefore.” Some English versions, such as the Revised Standard Version, translate it that way. It refers back to what Jesus said in 14:26–27. There Jesus said that a person who wanted to become his disciple must value loyalty to Jesus more than any other loyalty. The phrase does not connect directly with the two preceding parables (14:28–30 and 14:31–32). Those two parables illustrate the need to think carefully before making an important decision.

If it is not clear in your language that Jesus is referring to what he said in 14:26–27, it may be necessary to make it explicit. For example:

In the same way, ⌊each of you must decide whether you are ready to be my disciple, because⌋…
-or-
So then, ⌊if you want to become my followers, you must first consider the requirements/difficulty⌋.

Another option is to make this connection clear in a footnote.

any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple: The two negatives in this verse may be confusing. In some languages it may be clearer to translate this as:

none of you can be my disciple unless you give up everything you have (Good News Translation)
-or-
you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own (New Living Translation (2004))

In other languages it may be more natural to translate this as a positive statement. For example:

you must give up everything you have to be my follower (New Century Version)

give up everything he has: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as give up everything he has is more literally “renounce all his possessions.” It means that a person must not keep anything that would hinder him from being a disciple. Other ways to translate this idea are:

leave behind everything that he has
-or-
turn his back on all his possessions
-or-
say good-bye to everything he owns

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 15:30

15:30a

But: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But here introduces a contrast with the previous verse. The older son implied that his father had not treated him in the generous way that he had treated the younger son.

this son of yours: The older son was referring to his brother, but because he was very angry with him he did not want to call him “my brother.” Consider in what way in your culture a man might refer to a brother with whom he was angry. Notice that the older brother was also a son to the same father, and so it may be necessary to say:

this ⌊other⌋ son of yours

returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes: The older son accused the younger son of wasting his father’s money by paying prostitutes to have sex with him. See the note on “squandered his wealth” in 15:13c. Although all the Greek words are different, the two phrases have the same meaning.

prostitutes: The word prostitutes refers to women who earned money by having sex with men who were not their husbands. Many languages have expressions to refer to these women. For example:

bad women
-or-
women with bad reputations
-or-
women who sell their womanhood

This is a long sentence. In some languages it may need to be reordered and broken into two sentences. For example:

This other son of yours wasted your money on prostitutes. And now that he has come home… (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
But now this other son of yours has come home. He threw away your wealth on bad women, but now…

15:30b

you kill the fattened calf for him!: This is an exclamation that is also a protest or an accusation. Some other ways to express this are:

you have a special feast for him and kill our fattest calf!
-or-
Why should you celebrate by killing our best animal for him?

Express this accusation in a natural way in your language.

General Comment on 15:30a–b

It is fairly common in English to use present tense when talking about completed actions. This helps to create vividness. Notice that in 15:30 the actions “comes home” and “you kill” are expressed in present tense. In some languages it may be more natural to use past tense for all the actions. For example:

But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came home, you killed the fattened calf for him. (God’s Word)

Consider what is natural in your language.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 16:30

16:30a

No: The word No in this context implies “No, that is not enough/sufficient.” The rich man believed that hearing or reading the words of Moses and the Prophets would not cause his brothers to repent. He thought that they needed something more. In some languages it may be helpful to make this information explicit, with or without the word No. For example:

No, that’s not enough! (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
That is not enough (Good News Translation)

he said: The Berean Standard Bible has placed the phrase he said in the middle of what the rich man was saying. Place it where it is most natural in your language.

16:30b–c

but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent: The rich man was thinking that if someone from the place of the dead visited his brothers, that would cause them to repent. Some other ways to translate this are:

There must be a dead person who lives again to go talk to them, and only then will they repent from their sins!
-or-
If there were someone who went from the place of the dead to go to them, they would repent of their sins.

someone is sent to them from the dead: It is possible that the phrase someone is sent to them from the dead refers to someone who comes back to life. For example:

if someone were to rise from death (Good News Translation)

Although the next verse clearly refers to someone rising from the dead, this phrase (16:30b) is more ambiguous. It could refer to a messenger from the dead or to a spirit who took the form of a person who had died. It could also refer to a dream about a dead person. If possible, you should translate in a general way that would allow for these different possibilities.

is sent to them: It is implied but not stated explicitly that the visitor from the dead would go to speak to the brothers and warn them to repent. In some languages it will be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

goes ⌊and speaks⌋ to them

The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as is sent to them is literally “goes to them.” While the idea of sending is not explicit in the Greek text, it is present implicitly, since the rich man is requesting Abraham to send Lazarus (16:27). If you wish to express this idea in your translation, it may be natural to use an active form. For example:

but if you send someone from the dead

16:30c

they will repent: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as repent means that a person will “change his mind, heart, or will.” In the Bible, it refers specifically to a person’s changing his mind and heart about sin and about God. When a person repents, he is sorry for his past sins. He decides to stop sinning and obey God.

Some ways to translate repent in this context are:

they will change their thinking/mind/heart
-or-
they will reject their sins
-or-
they would turn from their sins (Good News Translation)
-or-
they will turn to God and change the way they think and act (God’s Word)

This word also occurs in 15:7b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 17:31

Paragraph 17:31–33

In this paragraph Jesus told his disciples that they must not delay to take any of their possessions when he returns. There are two ways to interpret this instruction:

(1) Jesus was speaking in a figurative way. He warned that a person must not be concerned about possessions when he (Jesus) returns.

(2) Jesus was speaking literally. Jesus warned that they must not delay to take their possessions, but instead, they must flee from danger that is coming.

English versions are ambiguous. It is recommended that you also translate in an ambiguous way so that either interpretation may be understood. If that is not possible, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This context in Luke is different from the one in Mark, where Jesus’ disciples should flee from the destruction of Jerusalem. Here in Luke, Jesus is returning, and no one can run from him.

17:31a–b

On that day: The phrase On that day refers to the day when God reveals the Son of Man, mentioned in the previous verse. Another way to translate it is:

When that happens

let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve his possessions: Here Jesus warned his disciples that no one who is on his roof should go back into his house to get any of his possessions. Someone who was on a roof would in fact have to come down, but he should not go back into his house to get anything. Be sure to make this clear in your translation. For example:

a person who is on the roof should not go down into his house to get any of his things from there

on the housetop: The Jews built houses with flat roofs and stairs on the outside. They liked to sit and talk or rest on the roof, especially in the late afternoon when it was cool. These flat roofs were also mentioned in 5:19 and 12:3. Refer to your translation of those verses.

to retrieve his possessions: The phrase to retrieve his possessions is literally “and his possessions in the house.” It refers to someone whose belongings are not with him on the roof but are inside the house. The Berean Standard Bible translates this phrase in a way that describes why a person would “come down” from the roof and go inside the house. Another way to translate this is:

go down into the house to pack (New Living Translation (2004))

possessions: The word possessions includes anything in the house, for example, household furnishings, clothing, food, and other possessions.

17:31c

Likewise: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Likewise means “in the same way.” The person on his roof should not get his things out of his house (17:31a–b). In the same way, the person in the field should not go back to get his things.

let no one in the field return for anything he has left behind: This clause indicates that a person should not take the time to go back to his house. He should not delay at all. The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the words for anything, which are not in the Greek text. Other ways to translate the clause are:

anyone who is out in the field must not go back to the house (Good News Translation)
-or-
A person who is in the field should not go back home. (New Century Version)

no one in the field: The phrase no one in the field refers to anyone working out in the fields or farms. These fields would be some distance from the cities or towns.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 18:26

Paragraph 18:26–30

18:26a

Those who heard this: The phrase Those who heard this refers to the people who were listening to Jesus.

asked: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as asked is literally “said.” It introduces a rhetorical question. If you translate it as a statement, it may be more natural to use a verb like “said.”

The text does not specify to whom the people were speaking. They may have been speaking directly to Jesus or more generally to anyone who was listening. If you must say whom the people were asking, you may want to supply a general phrase. For example:

The people who heard this asked ⌊each other⌋

18:26b

Who then can be saved?: This is probably a rhetorical question. It is an emphatic way to say, “If that is true, no one can be saved!” It expresses the people’s surprise at what Jesus said in 18:25.

Some ways to translate this to express emphasis and surprise are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

How can anyone ever be saved? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Then can anyone be saved? ⌊It is impossible!⌋

• As a statement. For example:

Then ⌊we do not know⌋ how anyone can possibly be saved!
-or-

⌊If that is true,⌋ then God will not save anyone.

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

then: In this context the conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as then could also be translated as “in that case” or “if that is so/true.”

be saved: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be saved means “to be rescued or preserved from harm.” In this context it refers to God allowing someone to enter his kingdom (18:25) and to receive eternal life.

In some languages, it may be necessary to make explicit what the person was saved from. For example:

saved ⌊from his sins that would prevent him from entering God’s kingdom⌋
-or-
rescued ⌊from God’s judgment/punishment⌋ ⌊and allowed to enter God’s kingdom⌋

The verb be saved is a passive verb. In some languages it is more natural to use an active verb and supply a subject. The implied subject is God. For example:

Whom then will ⌊God⌋ save?

See save, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 19:15

Paragraph 19:15–19

19:15

In the Greek text this verse is one long sentence. It mentions several events that happened after the event in 19:14:

The nobleman was appointed king.

He returned home.

He called his servants.

He asked them what profit they had made with the money he gave them.

In many languages, it will be helpful to use shorter clauses or sentences. See the examples in the following notes.

19:15a

When he returned from procuring his kingship: This statement tells two events. In Greek the events are in the opposite order, literally: “And it happened upon his return, having received the kingdom….” The Berean Standard Bible follows this order. Some versions relate the events in the order in which they happened. For example:

He was made king, however, and returned home (New International Version)

Use a natural order in your language. Some versions translate this part of the verse as an introductory clause. For example:

When he returned, having received royal power (New Revised Standard Version)

from procuring his kingship: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as from procuring his kingship indicates that the emperor appointed him to be king of his country. The phrase procuring his kingship is similar to the phrase “lay claim to his kingship” in 19:12c. You may be able to use a similar phrase here.

19:15b

Versions such as the New International Version and God’s Word add the conjunction “then” to introduce the next event. However, there is no conjunction in the Greek text after the introductory clause in 19:15a. Other ways to connect the events in 19:15a and 19:15b are:

After the prince had been made king, he returned and called in his servants. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
But the man became king. When he returned home, he said, ‘Call those servants….’ (New Century Version)

he summoned the servants: The clause he summoned the servants indicates that the nobleman called for the servants to come to him. He may have spoken to them directly or he may have told another servant to summon them. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

he ordered that these slaves…be called to him (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
he sent for the servants (New International Version)
-or-
he told ⌊someone⌋ to call the servants
-or-
he told the servants…, “Come, see me!”

the servants to whom he had given the money: The phrase to whom he had given the money identifies which servants the king called. It refers back to the action in 19:13b. There the nobleman gave each of these servants some money to manage for him while he was away. He did not give it to them to own.

Refer back to these servants in a natural way in your language. In some languages it may be more natural not to repeat the identifying phrase. For example:

his servants (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version)

the money: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the money is literally “the silver.” It refers back to the minas in 19:13b. See how you translated the phrase there and refer back to this money in a natural way in your language.

19:15c

to find out what each one had earned: This phrase tells the purpose for which the king called his servants. He called them to hear what profit they had gained from doing business with his money. Some ways to translate the purpose are:

He wanted to know how much they had earned by trading. (NET Bible)
-or-
…so I can know how much they earned with it. (New Century Version)
-or-
He wanted to find out what their profits were. (New Living Translation (2004))

what each one had earned: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as what each one had earned refers to additional money that the servants may have earned from trading with their master’s money.

General Comment on 19:15b–c

In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of 19:15b and 19:15c. For example:

15cIntending to find out how much money they had made, 15bhe summoned the servants to whom he had given the money.

In some languages it may be more natural to use direct speech here. For example:

Then he said, ‘Call those servants to whom I gave money. I want to know how much each one has made by investing.’ (God’s Word)
-or-
He thought, “I want to know how much money the servants have made,” so he called them.
-or-
He called for the servants and he asked them, “What ⌊money⌋ have you gained with the money I gave you?”

In some languages it may be natural to have direct speech within direct speech. For example:

Then he said, “Call those servants to whom I gave money and tell them, ‘Come and report to the master what you have earned from the money he entrusted to you.’”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 19:47

Paragraph 19:47–48

This paragraph provides background information for the events in chapter 20. Use a natural way in your language to translate this as background information.

19:47a

Jesus was teaching at the temple every day: The verb form that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Jesus was teaching describes a continual or repeated action. In the short period between Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his arrest, his main activity each day was teaching in the temple courts. One way to say this could be:

He spent/passed his days teaching in the temple.
-or-
…he taught daily in the Temple. (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Each day, Jesus kept on teaching in the temple. (Contemporary English Version)

In some languages, it may be necessary to make explicit what Jesus taught and whom he taught. For example:

He was teaching ⌊God’s message/word⌋ ⌊to the people⌋ in the temple every day.

at the temple: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as temple here is the same word that was translated as “temple courts” in 19:45a. It refers to the temple courtyard, not the temple building. See the note on “the temple courts” at 19:45a for more information and suggestions for translating temple.

19:47b–d

but the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people were intent on killing Him: The Berean Standard Bible begins this clause with the conjunction but to indicate a contrast between what Jesus was doing and what the leaders were doing. Jesus was teaching in the temple, and the leaders were trying to find a way to kill him. Many English versions do not have a conjunction here. Begin the statement in a natural way in your language.

the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people: Three groups of people are mentioned here. Together they represent the leaders of the Jewish people.

chief priests: A Jewish “priest” was a man who offered sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. He also performed other rituals for them. The phrase chief priests refers to the leaders among these priests. They were important officers of the temple and served as part of a permanent temple staff. Some ways to translate chief priests are:

the leading/ruling priests
-or-
the elders among the Jewish sacrificers
-or-
the most prominent priests

See how you translated chief priests in 9:22. See also priest in the Glossary for more information.

scribes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as scribes refers to men who studied, interpreted, and taught the law of Moses. This word is sometimes translated as “teachers of the law,” as in the New International Version. The original work of these men was to copy the laws of Moses by hand. In New Testament times, this was no longer their main task.

Some ways to translate this term are:

teachers of the Law of Moses (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
teachers of religious law (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
experts on the law

See how you translated scribes in 15:2.

leaders of the people: This probably refers to a group of leaders in Jewish society. They were the heads of important families. They are probably the same group that is described as “elders” in 9:22, 20:1, and 22:52.

Some ways to translate this are:

elders
-or-
leading/important men among the people

were intent on killing Him: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as were intent on killing Him indicates that the leaders were trying to think of a way to kill Jesus that would not cause the ordinary people to oppose them. The New International Version and New American Standard Bible say that they were “trying” to kill Jesus, but this does not mean they had already attempted to kill him but had been unsuccessful.

The tense of the verb in Greek implies continuing action. They continually searched for a way to do this. Some English versions make this explicit. For example:

The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him (New Revised Standard Version)

killing Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as killing here means “causing to be killed.” The Jewish leaders probably did not intend to kill Jesus themselves, but rather to find a way to make the Roman authorities want to execute him. It may be clearer to say:

bring about his death (Revised English Bible)
-or-
have him killed (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
cause him to be killed

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013