SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013 – Page 15

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 5:10

5:10a

his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee: This is the first time that Luke specifically mentioned the names of some of Simon’s partners. (James and John were among the “partners” mentioned in 5:7.) He told us three things about them: their names, the name of their father, and their relationship to Simon (see the note below on his partners).

As you translate this verse, you will need to think about these questions:

(a) How are new characters introduced in a way that is natural in your language?

(b) What is the most natural order in your language for this information?

Another way to translate this part of the verse is:

Simon had two partners whose names were James and John. Their father was Zebedee. They too were amazed at what had happened.

his partners: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as partners indicates that James and John worked together with Simon as fishermen. It may indicate even more specifically that they were business partners. James and John may have owned the fishing business along with Simon.

This Greek word is different from the word that was translated as “partners” in 5:7a. However, the two words have very similar meanings. You can use the same word in your language for both Greek words. Or you could use a more specific word here that means “business partners.”

the sons of Zebedee: James and John were brothers, and Zebedee was their father.

General Comment on 5:8a–10a

Simon’s reaction in 5:8 was based on the miraculous catch of fish described in 5:6–7. The feelings behind his reaction are then explained in 5:9. In some languages, it may be a more natural order to first give Simon’s feelings, and then the reaction that resulted from his feelings. If this is true in your language, you might consider reordering these verses. For example:

8aWhen Simon Peter saw what had happened, 9he was astonished. 8bHe fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9All the men with Simon, 10aincluding James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners, 9were likewise astonished.

5:10b–c

From now on: Other ways to translate the phrase From now on are:

starting from this time
-or-
from this day forward

you will catch men: The clause you will catch men is a figure of speech. It relates the ideas of fishing and “catching men.” Jesus was saying that Peter would leave his normal work of fishing. He would start bringing people into God’s kingdom.

Do not imply that Peter was going to “catch men” to do forced labor. Do not imply that he was going to catch criminals.

You may need to make the connection to fishing explicit in your translation. For example:

⌊You used to catch fish.⌋ From now on you will catch men.

If possible, use a word for catch in your language that could apply to both men and fish. In many languages the word normally used for catching fish will have a negative connotation such as “kill” or “capture.” This will not be appropriate for Jesus’ meaning in connection with men. In those languages you may need to say something like:

you will gather people ⌊to follow me⌋ ⌊instead of gathering fish to sell⌋
-or-
you will bring in people instead of fish (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
you will be bringing people to me ⌊instead of fishing for fish⌋

you: The pronoun you is singular. Jesus was talking specifically to Simon. However, other men who also wanted to be Jesus’ disciples heard these words.

will catch: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will catch is literally “will be catching” in Greek. Jesus is using the future tense to imply a gentle command. Jesus told Simon what Simon would do. He implied that this is what he should or must do. Use a form in your language that implies a similar meaning.

The verb form used in Greek implies doing something repeatedly or habitually. It implies that catching men is something that Simon would do many times. This idea is already present in the phrase “From now on.” Some ways to make this meaning clear in English are:

you will be catching men (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
your occupation will be to catch men

men: In this context the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as men means people. It does not refer only to males. There is a contrast here between people and fish. Be sure to make this contrast clear in your translation. Another way to translate this is:

you will catch people instead of fish (God’s Word)

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 6:3

6:3–4

In 6:3–4 Jesus responded to the Pharisees’ accusation by referring to a story about King David, who had lived long before.

This story is found in 1 Samuel 21:1–6. This story was a good illustration for what Jesus wanted to say to the Pharisees. David was fleeing from King Saul. He and his men were hungry.

They came to the tabernacle, and David asked the high priest for food. The only food available was the consecrated bread. Only priests were allowed to eat that bread. However, the high priest gave the bread to David and his men to eat. Even though David did something that was not allowed, God did not punish him or his men.

In order for people to understand this story, they need to know this background information. It may be necessary to include footnotes in your translation to explain it. You may also need to make some of the implied information explicit in the text. The notes on these verses will give suggestions.

In Greek, 6:3–4 is one long question. It is a rhetorical question.

Some English versions translate 6:3–4 as one long, rhetorical question. For example:

3And Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” (Revised Standard Version)

The Berean Standard Bible and other English versions translate 6:3–4 as a rhetorical question and a statement. For example:

3Jesus answered them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his men were hungry? 4He went into the house of God, took the bread offered to God, ate it, and gave it also to his men. Yet it is against our Law for anyone except the priests to eat that bread.” (Good News Translation)

You should translate this long, rhetorical question in a way that is natural in your language.

6:3a

Jesus replied: In this verse, Jesus answered the question that the Pharisees asked his disciples in 6:2. Jesus understood that the Pharisees were criticizing him when they asked the disciples about their picking grain. Therefore, even though the Pharisees did not mention Jesus in 6:2, Jesus responded to their question.

You should introduce Jesus’ answer in a natural way in your translation. You may need to make explicit that Jesus heard the question. For example:

⌊Hearing their question,⌋ Jesus, said to them

6:3b

Have you not read what David did: The clause Have you not read what David did introduces the rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to rebuke the Pharisees. He rebuked them because they accused the disciples of breaking the Sabbath laws. The Pharisees had knowledge about the law but not a true understanding of it.

Some ways to translate the beginning of this rhetorical question are:

• As a question. For example:

Haven’t you ever read what David did…? (God’s Word)
-or-
Didn’t you understand what you read about ⌊the time when⌋ David…?

• As a statement. For example:

You surely have read what David did (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
You speak as if you have never read what David did
-or-
It cannot be that you have not read in the Scriptures about what King David did

Translate the rhetorical question in an appropriate way in your language for this context.

read: Jesus referred to something the Pharisees would have read in the Scriptures. If your readers would not understand that this story is in the Scriptures, you may need to supply this information. For example:

Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did…? (New Living Translation (2004))

David: David was a king of Israel. He lived many years before Jesus and the Pharisees. The Pharisees and the other Jewish people had great respect for David. This story happened in David’s early life, before he became king. If your readers are not familiar with the life of David, you should include some information about him in a footnote.

6:3c

when he and his companions were hungry: This clause introduces a particular situation in David’s life. David and his companions were hungry and needed food. Jesus wanted the Pharisees to compare that situation with his disciples picking grain on the Sabbath.

his companions: David’s companions were the men who were with him at the time. Some other ways to translate this are:

his men (God’s Word)
-or-
his followers (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
those with him (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 6:35

6:35a

But: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But introduces a contrast. The contrast is between the way sinners behave and the way that the disciples should behave.

Some other ways to translate this contrast are:

Rather (God’s Word)
-or-
Instead (New Jerusalem Bible)

Show this contrast in a natural way in your language. In some languages, no conjunction is necessary.

love your enemies: This is the same phrase as in 6:27b.

6:35b

do good to them: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as do good is the same word as in 6:33a. In Greek, the word “them” does not occur. It is implied that the object is “your enemies,” just as in 6:35a. The Berean Standard Bible has made this explicit by supplying the pronoun them. Some other ways to translate this are:

be good to them (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
help them (God’s Word)

6:35c

lend to them: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as lend is the same word as in 6:34a. In Greek, the word “them” does not occur. It is implied that the object is “your enemies” just as in 6:35a. The Berean Standard Bible has made this explicit by supplying the pronoun them.

In some languages, it may be necessary to supply a direct object and make explicit what the disciples were to lend. For example:

lend ⌊money⌋ to them

6:35d

expecting nothing in return: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as expecting…in return also means “hoping to receive from.” This verb has the same root as the verb “expect” in 6:34a. Disciples should lend money even when they do not hope/expect that the money will be returned.

Some other ways to translate this are:

without expecting to be paid back (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
without hoping to get anything back (New Century Version)
-or-
and expect nothing back (Good News Translation)

6:35e

Then: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then here introduces the result or consequence of obeying Jesus’ commands. Some other ways to introduce 6:35e are:

If you do this, then
-or-
As a result

Some English versions (such as the New Jerusalem Bible) do not translate this conjunction. Connect 6:35e to 6:35a–d in way that is natural in your language to express a result.

your reward will be great: This is a passive clause. God is the one who will reward the disciples. Some other ways to translate this are:

you will get a great reward (Contemporary English Version)
-or-

⌊God⌋ will give you a great reward

reward: A reward is normally something good that people receive because of something that they have done. In this verse, the meaning of reward focuses on being honored for following Jesus faithfully. Some other ways to translate the word reward are:

you will be greatly honored
-or-
you will receive great honor

This same word occurs in 6:23b.

6:35f

This is the second result of obeying the commands of 6:35a–d. Connect this second result in a natural way in your language.

you will be sons of the Most High: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sons of the Most High is an idiom. It implies a relationship with God. Jesus was saying that when his disciples love their enemies, they are acting the way their Father, God, acts. They are acting the way people/children worthy of God’s name should act.

Some other ways to translate the phrase sons of the Most High are:

you will be like the Most High
-or-
you will show/prove that you are sons/children of the Most High
-or-
you will be the true children of God in heaven (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
you will truly be acting as children of the Most High (New Living Translation (2004))

sons: Here the word sons refers to both men and women. It does not refer only to men or boys. It also includes Jesus’ disciples who were women. It does not refer to a physical relationship. Another way to translate sons is:

children (New Living Translation (2004))

the Most High: The phrase the Most High is a title for God. Jesus followed the Jews’ custom of not speaking the name of God. This showed that they respected God’s name.

Some ways to translate this title are:

the Most High God (Good News Translation)
-or-

⌊God,⌋ the One who is the Most High
-or-
God in heaven (Contemporary English Version)

This title does not refer to literal height or size.

6:35g

for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason for the commands in 6:35a–d. We should love our enemies, do good to them, and lend to them because God is also kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Some other ways to translate this conjunction are:

since
-or-
after all

He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked: The word kind here means “to act in a good manner toward someone.” It does not mean that God is merely courteous, friendly, or helpful.

Some ways to translate this are:

He is good (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
He shows grace/mercy

ungrateful: The word ungrateful means “not thankful.” It refers to people who do not thank God for the good things they receive from him. For example:

people who are unthankful (Contemporary English Version)

wicked: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wicked also means “evil.” For example:

evil people (God’s Word)
-or-
full of sin (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 7:18

Section 7:18–35

John the Baptizer sent messengers to Jesus

At the time when the events in this section happened, John the Baptizer was in prison (3:20). He sent two of his disciples to Jesus to ask Jesus whether he was the Messiah. He referred to the Messiah as “the coming one” whom he and the people were expecting. Jesus’ answer implied that he was the Messiah.

After John’s messengers had left, Jesus talked about what a great man John was. But he also implied that the coming kingdom would be greater. It would be so great that people who would experience it and its benefits would have even greater privileges and blessings than John had. Finally, Jesus showed that the Jewish religious leaders rejected the plan of God, since they rejected both John and 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 responds to the messengers of John the Baptizer and speaks about John to the crowd
-or-
Jesus speaks to the people about John the Baptizer
-or-
Jesus teaches about John the Baptizer

There is a parallel passage for this section in Matthew 11:3–19.

Paragraph 7:18–20

7:18a

Then John’s disciples informed him about all these things: John is in focus in this paragraph. In some languages it may be more natural to make John the subject of the sentence here. For example:

John heard about all these things from his disciples.

John’s: The name John here refers to John the Baptizer. In 7:20b the full title “John the Baptizer” is used. It may be more natural to use this full title here where John is first mentioned.

We know from Luke 3:20 and Matthew 11:2 that John was in prison when the events in this section happened. You could consider giving this information in a footnote or making it explicit in this verse. For example:

John’s disciples told him about all these things ⌊while he was in prison⌋.

disciples: For help in translating the word disciples, see the note on disciples at 5:30a. See also disciple in the Glossary for more information.

all these things: The phrase all these things refers to all the things that Jesus had been doing, including the miracle at Nain (7:11–17) and other miracles.

7:18b–19c

There is an issue here about where to place the verse number for 7:19. Most English versions begin 7:19 with the clause “(John) sent them to the Lord.…” Some other versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, place the verse number for 7:19 earlier, at the beginning of the clause “And (John) called two of them…”

You may want to follow a major language version in your area and place these words in the same position as that version does. Another possibility would be to combine verses 18 and 19 and number them as “18–19.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 7:50

7:50a

In this verse Jesus finished what he was saying to the woman in 7:48. He did not respond to what the people were thinking in 7:49. Introduce Jesus’ words to the woman in a way that is natural in your language. You may want to say something like:

He/Jesus continued to say to the woman…

Your faith has saved you: The word faith here refers to trust or reliance on God. See believe, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.

In some languages it may be necessary to translate faith as a verb. For example:

You are saved because you believe/trust ⌊in me⌋.
-or-

⌊God⌋ has saved you because you believe ⌊in me⌋.

saved: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as saved means “to rescue someone from danger or trouble.” In this context it refers to rescuing someone from the spiritual dangers of sin and the punishment that results from sin. Because of the woman’s faith, God rescued the woman from her sinful life and would not punish her for it. See save, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.

In your translation, you may want or need to make explicit what the woman was saved from. For example:

your faith has saved you ⌊from sin⌋
-or-
your faith has rescued you ⌊from sin and its punishment⌋

7:50b

go in peace: The clause go in peace was a common blessing that a Jewish person would give to someone who was leaving. This blessing means “may you go with peace.” It strongly implies to Jewish people that God is the one who gives that peace. Jesus used this blessing here to reassure the woman. Other ways to say this are:

Go and may God ⌊continue to⌋ give you his peace.
-or-
You may go home now with the blessing of God’s peace.
-or-
Go and may the peace of God rest upon you.
-or-
You may go home now, ⌊knowing that you are⌋ at peace ⌊with God⌋.

This same expression occurs in 8:48b. See also peace, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.

peace: In Jewish cultures the word peace refers to serenity and absence of conflict. It often indicates a relationship with God and all the benefits that come from that relationship, such as security, health, and prosperity. Here Jesus’ blessing of peace focuses on health and the relationship with God that the woman had because she was no longer ritually impure.

See peace, Meaning 6, in the Glossary.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 8:32

8:32a

In 8:32a Luke gave the background information that a herd of pigs was grazing nearby. In some languages there may be a special way to introduce the pigs into the story and to indicate that they were already grazing nearby. Use a natural way in your language to introduce this important background information.

There on the hillside: Matthew 8:30 says the herd of pigs were “some distance away.” So they were not on or near the lakeshore where Jesus and the man with the demons were. However, Jesus and the man could see them from the lakeshore. Because this is the first time that hills or the hillside have been mentioned, you may want to say something like:

On a hillside not far away
-or-
On a nearby hillside

a large herd of pigs: The phrase a large herd of pigs refers to a large group of pigs. The number of pigs is given in Mark 5:13 as “about two thousand.”

pigs: The animals known as pigs are also called “hogs” or “swine” in English. These were domestic pigs, not wild pigs. Jews considered pigs to be ritually unclean, and they did not eat their meat. If you do not raise pigs in your area and you do not have a word in your language for them, here are possible ways to translate pigs:

• Use a general expression for farm animals. For example:

livestock
-or-
domestic animals

• Use a general expression along with the word for pigs from another language. For example:

farm animals called “pigs”

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

farm animals that are ritually unclean

You may also want to have a picture of pigs in your translation.

was feeding: The word feeding indicates that the pigs were eating whatever food they could find on the hillside. If your language has a specific word that describes the way pigs eat, you should use that here. For example:

grazing
-or-
rooting
-or-
foraging

8:32b

So: This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “and.” Several English versions, such as the English Standard Version, NET Bible, and New Living Translation (2004), translate it that way. Other versions, such as the New International Version, do not translate this conjunction. But since the demons’ request was a result of the herd of pigs being nearby, the Berean Standard Bible translates this conjunction as So. Some other English versions (Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, New King James Version) also translate it as “so.” Connect 4:4a to 4:3b in a way that is natural in your language.

the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs: The phrase to let them enter the pigs is a request that Jesus would allow the demons to control the pigs as they had controlled the man. The demons were not implying that they preferred the pigs to the man. They were implying that if they were forced to leave the man, they wanted to enter the pigs.

In some languages it may be necessary to make that explicit. For example:

that ⌊if he would not allow them to stay in the man,⌋ he would allow them to go into the pigs ⌊instead⌋

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

…begged Jesus, “Let us enter into the pigs.”
-or-
…begged Jesus, “Send us into the pigs.” (See Mark 5:12)
-or-
…said to Jesus, “⌊Please⌋ allow us to go into the pigs ⌊over there,⌋ ⌊if we cannot stay in this man⌋.”

begged: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as begged means to “plead for” something. This verb was also used in 8:31, and you can translate it in a similar way here. However, the verb form does not indicate repeated action here, as it did in 8:31.

to let them enter the pigs: The demons asked Jesus to allow them to control (possess) the pigs. In some languages it may not be natural to use the same expression to describe an unclean spirit controlling both animals and people. Use a natural expression in your language. For example:

go/be upon them
-or-
go behind them
-or-
fasten upon them

8:32c

and: This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “and.” Most English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, translate it that way. However, since in 8:32c Jesus responded to what the unclean spirits requested in 8:32b, some English versions (English Standard Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004)) introduce the request with the connector “so.” Connect 8:32c to 8:32b in a way that is natural in your language for this context.

He gave them permission: Jesus gave the demons permission to go to the pigs and control them. In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit what permission Jesus gave the demons:

he gave them permission ⌊to do that⌋
-or-
he said that they might ⌊enter them⌋

If your language prefers direct speech in this context, you may use it here. (See Matthew 8:32.) For example:

So he said to them, “You may.”
-or-
He said to them, “Go.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 9:8

9:8a

others that Elijah had appeared: A second group of people said that Jesus was really the prophet Elijah. They thought that Elijah had come back from heaven as the person Jesus. Another way to translate this is:

other people said that ⌊Jesus was⌋ Elijah, who had appeared again ⌊on earth⌋

Elijah: Elijah was a prophet who lived more than five hundred years before Jesus. If people in your area do not know about Elijah, you may want to:

• Include some implied information in the text. For example:

Elijah ⌊the prophet⌋

• Include a footnote to give information about him. An example of a footnote is:

Elijah was a prophet who lived more than five hundred years before Jesus. Jews thought that Elijah would return before the Messiah came. They based this belief on Malachi 4:5–6. Elijah had not died, because God took him to heaven in a chariot (2 Kings chapter 2). This is probably why Luke used the phrase “had appeared” instead of the phrase “had come back from the dead.”

9:8b

still others: The phrase still others introduces a third group of people who had another wrong idea about who Jesus was.

a prophet of old: A third group of people said that Jesus was another prophet who had lived and died many years before Jesus was born. Their statement implied that Jesus was not Elijah. Since Elijah was also one of the prophets of long ago, it may be necessary to translate this as:

another prophet from long ago

prophet: A prophet was a person who spoke on behalf of God. He told people what God revealed to him. God gave some prophets power to work miracles. These miracles helped people realize that God sent the prophet. Some ways to translate prophet are:

a spokesman for God
-or-
a man who speaks God’s words
-or-
God’s message-speaker

This word also occurs in 7:39b. See also prophet in the Glossary.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 9:40

9:40

I begged Your disciples to drive it out: The father had already pleaded with the other disciples to cast out the demon. This apparently happened before Jesus and the three disciples came back down the mountain.

disciples: The word disciples also occurs in 9:14b. See the note there for a more complete description of this term.

to drive it out: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to drive it out is literally “to cast/throw it out.” To drive out an unclean spirit means to cause an evil spirit to stop controlling a person. Jesus (or the disciples) did this by commanding the spirit/spirits to leave. See the note at 9:1b for more information.

but they were unable: The phrase they were unable means that the disciples were not able to make the demon leave the man’s son. They tried, but they were not successful.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013