SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013 – Page 139

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 1:31

1:31a

Behold: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Behold literally means “look” or “see.” It focuses attention on what follows and indicates that this is important or amazing. Here Gabriel used it to introduce his amazing message to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus.

Some ways to translate the word in this context are:

look/listen
-or-
take note of this
-or-
pay attention to this

The same Greek word occurred at 1:20a (where the Berean Standard Bible translated it as “now”).

you will conceive: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you will conceive is literally “you will conceive in your womb/belly.” It means, “You will become pregnant.” In some languages you may have an idiom to express this. The text implies that Mary would become pregnant very soon, before she married Joseph. Some ways to translate this in English are:

You will be with child (New International Version)
-or-
You will become pregnant (NET Bible)

give birth to a son: Two other ways to say this are:

have a baby boy
-or-
bear a male child

1:31b

you are to give Him the name Jesus: The Greek verb in the clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you are to give Him the name Jesus is literally “you will call his name Jesus.” In this context it functions as a command. It implies that Mary should or must give him the name Jesus. See the similar expression at 1:13d.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 1:63

Paragraph 1:63–66

1:63a

In this verse Zechariah wrote on a writing tablet. The text does not state explicitly that someone brought him the tablet, but it is implied. In some languages it may be helpful to make this explicit. For example:

⌊Someone brought him the tablet,⌋ and ⌊then⌋

Zechariah asked for a tablet: The verb asked for here means “indicated that he wanted.” Zechariah showed his visitors that he wanted something to write on. He could not yet talk, so he motioned, probably with his hands, to show that he wanted to write something.

tablet: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tablet refers to a small wooden board that someone had covered with wax. People could write by making marks in the wax with a pointed object that was shaped like a pen.

1:63b

And they were all amazed: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they were all amazed means “all the people ⌊who saw what Zechariah wrote⌋ were amazed.” The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as amazed also occurs in 1:21. See the note in 1:21b on “wondering why he took so long in the temple.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2:15

Paragraph 2:15–20

2:15a

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven: This part of the verse is more literally “when the angels went from them to heaven.” It indicates that the angels left the shepherds and went (back) to heaven. The Greek text uses only one verb in this clause. There are two ways to translate the clause:

• Use one verb, For example:

When the angels had returned to heaven (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
After the angels had gone back to heaven

• Supply a second verb. For example:

After the angels had left them and returned to heaven (Revised English Bible)
-or-
When the angels left them and went back to heaven (New Century Version)

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

heaven: Here, the word heaven means “the place where God lives.” See heaven, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.

2:15b

the shepherds said to one another: The shepherds discussed what to do and decided together to go to Bethlehem (2:15c). Other ways to translate this part of the verse are:

the shepherds said among themselves
-or-
the shepherds said to each other

In some languages it may be more natural to translate 2:15b–c as indirect speech. See the General Comment on 2:15b–c at the end of the notes on 2:15c for an example.

2:15c

Let us go: The form of the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Let us go indicates that the shepherds were suggesting to each other that they should go. They were not asking each other for permission. Another way to say this is:

We should/must go

Use a natural way in your language to talk about a group of people deciding to go somewhere together.

this thing that has happened: The phrase this thing refers to Jesus’ birth. He was the Christ whom God had promised.

which the Lord has made known to us: The clause which the Lord has made known to us refers to the message that God had given to the shepherds through his angel.

General Comment on 2:15b–c

In some languages it may be more natural to translate 2:15b–c as indirect speech. For example:

The shepherds agreed together to go to Bethlehem and see the thing that had happened, which the Lord had told them about through the angel.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2:47

2:47

And all who heard Him: The clause all who heard Him indicates that other people gathered around to listen to the conversation between Jesus and the teachers. It was so interesting that people in the temple stopped to listen.

astounded: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as astounded is a very strong word. It means more than just surprised. For example:

his answers stunned everyone who heard him (God’s Word)
-or-
all who heard Jesus were astonished (NET Bible)

His understanding: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as understanding can refer to the ability to understand something or to the content of what is understood. Because of this, the word may also be translated as “intelligence” (as in the Revised English Bible and the New Jerusalem Bible).

His answers: The phrase His answers implies that the teachers were also asking Jesus questions. They were amazed because he answered their questions so well.

In some languages, it may be more natural to make this explicit. For example:

the answers he gave (Revised English Bible)
-or-
the way he answered the questions that the teachers asked him

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 3:38

3:38

the son of Adam, the son of God: Adam was not the son of God in the same sense that each of the other people in the list was a son of his father. Adam was God’s son in the sense that God created him directly.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 4:32

4:32a

They were astonished: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as They were astonished means “they were overwhelmed” or “they were astounded.” Another way to translate this is:

they were amazed (New International Version)

at His teaching: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as His teaching probably refers primarily to Jesus’ manner or style of teaching (See also the note for 4:32b). For example:

at the way he taught (Good News Translation)

The phrase His teaching may also include the content and power of what Jesus taught.

4:32b

His message had authority: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as His message had authority is literally “his word was with authority.” Jesus spoke as someone who knew that what he said was true. He spoke with confidence and certainty. Another way to translate this is:

he spoke with authority

General Comment on 4:32a–b

In some languages it may be natural to change the order of 4:32a and 4:32b. For example:

32bHis message had authority, 32athat’s why the people were amazed at his teaching.
-or-

32bHe delivered his message with such authority 32athat the people were astounded.

Another possibility is to combine 32a–b and say:

When Jesus taught the people, they were astonished at the authority with which he spoke.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 5:20

Paragraph 5:20–24

5:20a

When Jesus saw their faith: The phrase Jesus saw their faith means “Jesus realized that they had faith.” Jesus saw what the men did and understood from it that they had confidence in him. They trusted him to heal the paralyzed man.

their faith: The phrase their faith probably refers to the faith of the whole group who had come to Jesus. It probably includes both the faith of the man on the mat and the faith of his friends who had brought him.

faith: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as faith refers here to the action of believing and trusting Jesus. The men believed that Jesus would heal the paralyzed man. In some languages, it may be more natural to translate faith as a verb. If that is true in your language, you may also need to say what they believed. For example:

Jesus realized that the paralytic and those who brought him believed ⌊that he could heal the paralytic⌋
-or-
When Jesus understood that they trusted in him ⌊to heal the paralyzed man⌋

See believe, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.

5:20b

Friend: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Friend is literally “man.” It was a general term that one man might use to address another. It does not mean that the paralyzed man was already a friend of Jesus. Some other ways to translate it are:

• Use a term of address in your language that is fairly neutral in terms of status, familiarity, and politeness.

• Use a term that is polite and indicates a good relationship between the speakers, if you do not have a neutral term.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

Young man (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
My friend (Contemporary English Version)

your sins are forgiven: The clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as your sins are forgiven is literally “your sins have been forgiven to you.” This clause is a passive clause. Jesus was implying that he had authority from God to forgive the paralyzed man’s sins. If it is more natural in your language to use an active verb you can say:

I forgive your sins

In some languages, it is more natural to say that a person is forgiven, rather than that his sins are forgiven. If this is the case in your language, you may need to say:

you are forgiven for/of all your sins
-or-
I forgive you for the sins you have committed

your sins: In this context the phrase your sins refers to the paralyzed man’s offenses against God. Jesus used the word in a general way. He was not implying that the paralyzed man had offended him personally.

If this is not clear in your language, it may be necessary to make it explicit. For example:

your sins ⌊against God⌋

sins: The word sins refers to offenses against God or another person. Sins include acts, thoughts, and attitudes that are not what God wants or approves. A person can also offend God by not doing what God wants him to do.

Translate sins with a general term that can include any offense against God. Here are problems to avoid:

(a) The term should not imply that only serious crimes like murder or stealing are sins. Other offenses like gossip and greed are also sins.

(b) The term should not include accidents or mistakes that are not against God’s will.

Some ways to translate sins are:

wrong acts
-or-
offenses ⌊against God⌋
-or-
evil deeds

In some languages it may be natural to translate sins with a phrase that includes a verb. For example:

wrong things that ⌊you⌋ have done

are forgiven: In this context the verb are forgiven indicates that as Jesus spoke, he canceled the paralyzed man’s sins. The verb form emphasizes a state of being forgiven. God would not punish the man for his sins. God would treat him as though he had not offended him in any way.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

are taken away
-or-
are canceled
-or-
are pardoned

In many languages there may be an idiom for this. For example:

are erased
-or-
are wiped away

For more information, see forgive in Key Biblical Terms.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 6:13

6:13a

When daylight came: The phrase When daylight came introduces what Jesus did after praying all night. Some other ways to translate this are:

The next morning (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
When it was day (God’s Word)

He called His disciples to Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as called…to Him is literally “summoned.” It implies that Jesus asked the disciples to gather around him in order to tell them something. He did this to announce the decision that he had made as a result of his night of praying.

disciples: The word disciples refers here to the larger group of Jesus’ followers. It was out of this larger group that Jesus called twelve disciples to be apostles.

This same word occurs in 6:1b. For translation advice, see the note on disciples at 5:30a. See also disciple in the Glossary.

6:13b

and chose twelve of them: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as chose means “selected.” Jesus chose twelve men from among the group of his followers.

whom He also designated as apostles: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as designated is literally “named.” Some other ways to translate whom He also designated as apostles are:

whom he named apostles (New Century Version)
-or-
to be his apostles (Contemporary English Version)

also: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as also indicates an additional role. They were already disciples. Jesus also gave them the role of apostles.

apostles: The Greek word that English versions translate as apostles means “those who are sent.” It refers to the people whom someone sends with authority to accomplish a mission or a particular task.

Some ways to translate apostles are:

• Translate the meaning of the Greek word apostles. For example:

people sent ⌊to speak/act for him⌋
-or-

⌊special⌋ messengers
-or-
representatives
-or-
men with authority from Jesus

• Indicate the role or function of apostles. For example:

chief leaders ⌊of Jesus’ work⌋
-or-
people who are in charge ⌊of Jesus’ work⌋

Be careful to choose different terms for “apostles,” “angels,” “elders,” and “prophets.”

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013