SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013 – Page 25

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 9:56

9:56

And: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And here introduces the next action in the story. Other ways to introduce the next clause are:

Then they went to another town. (New Century Version)
-or-
So they went to another village. (God’s Word)

He and His disciples: For clarity, the Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek pronoun “they” (which is implicit in the verb form “went”) as He and His disciples. It may be helpful in your language to make this reference explicit. For example:

Jesus and his disciples (Good News Translation)
-or-
they all (Contemporary English Version)

went on to another village: The text does not say whether the village they went to next was Samaritan or Jewish. You should not specify either one in your translation.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 10:26

10:26a

What is written in the Law?: Jesus responded to the law expert’s question about eternal life by asking him another question. Jesus’ question contains implied information:

What is written in the Law ⌊about what a person must do to inherit eternal life⌋?

In some languages it may be necessary to supply some of this implied information. For example:

What ⌊answer⌋ is written in the Law?
-or-
What is written ⌊concerning this⌋ in the Law?

is written in the Law: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as is written is a passive verb. The text does not say who wrote the words in the Law, but the Jews knew that God caused Moses to write them. Some ways to translate this clause are:

What did ⌊God⌋ cause to be written in the Scriptures?
-or-
What did ⌊Moses⌋ write in the Law ⌊concerning this⌋?
-or-
What does the law of Moses say? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
What do the Scriptures say? (Good News Translation)

in the Law: The term the Law can refer specifically to the first five books of the Old Testament, which Moses wrote. But it can also refer more generally to the Old Testament Scriptures. You may use either sense to translate this term here.

In Greek, the phrase in the Law is emphasized in this verse. Jesus wanted the expert to think specifically about what the Law said concerning the question that he had asked. You may want to use a method in your language to emphasize the Law.

Jesus replied: The Berean Standard Bible has placed the phrase Jesus replied in the middle of the two questions in this verse. In Greek it occurs before the two questions. You should place this phrase wherever is most natural in your language.

The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Jesus replied is more literally “he replied.” The Berean Standard Bible has used the name Jesus to identify the speaker more clearly. Some languages may be able to follow the Greek here and say “he replied.” Use a natural way in your language to refer to Jesus here.

10:26b

How do you read it?: Here Jesus was probably asking the expert to summarize or explain what he thought the Law said about the issue. Some other ways to translate this question are:

What do you read there? (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
How do you understand it? (NET Bible)
-or-
How do you interpret them? (Good News Translation)

This question is very similar to Jesus’ first question in 10:26a. Notice that the law expert answered both questions with a single answer.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 11:16

11:16

others: The word others refers to yet a different group in the crowd. This group addressed Jesus directly. Introduce this other group in a way that is natural in your language.

tested Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as tested means “to examine in order to determine certain characteristics.” Here certain people wanted to examine Jesus to determine whether he came from God and whether his power came from God. They did this by asking him for a sign from heaven.

In the context of 11:17a, these people were probably not trying honestly to determine the truth about Jesus’ authority. They were probably trying to discredit him. In some languages, it may be clearer to express this negative aspect of “tested.” For example:

Others wanted to trap Jesus (Good News Translation)

by demanding: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as demanding is literally “seeking.” Another way to translate this is:

asking for (New International Version)

a sign from heaven: Here the word heaven is a euphemism for God. So the phrase a sign from heaven means “a sign from God.” For example:

a sign from God (Contemporary English Version)

Some other ways to translate a sign from heaven are:

a miraculous sign from heaven (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
a miracle to show that God approved of him (Good News Translation)

See heaven, Meaning 3, in the Glossary.

These people wanted Jesus to do a miracle to prove to them that he drove out the demon by God’s power. One way to translate this would be:

Others tested him by asking him to do a miracle ⌊to show that his power came⌋ from God.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 11:48

11:48a

So: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as So introduces the conclusion to be drawn from 11:47b–c. Other ways to introduce this conclusion are:

Thus/Therefore
-or-
In this way (New Jerusalem Bible)

you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers is more literally:

you are witnesses and you approve of the deeds of your fathers (New American Standard Bible)

Another way to translate this is:

you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did (New International Version)

Whether the noun “witnesses” or the verb “testify” is used, this word refers here to their actions, not words that they said. By their actions in building the tombs, the law experts showed that they approved of what their ancestors had done in killing the prophets.

Some other ways to translate this entire clause are:

you show that you approve of what your ancestors did (New Century Version)
-or-
by doing this you prove/show that you agree that what your ancestors did was right

11:48b

They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs: Luke 11:48b says the same things as 11:47b–c. Jesus was continuing to speak ironically or sarcastically. He was saying that the law experts were continuing the work of their ancestors. They built grave memorials to make it look as if they were honoring the prophets whom their ancestors had murdered. In fact, they continued doing the same things as their ancestors had done—refusing to obey God’s prophets, not believing their words, and persecuting them.

Consider how you might show that Jesus was speaking ironically here.

General Comment on 11:47–48

One possible way to make 11:47–48 clearer is to change the order of some of the phrases and supply some implied information. For example:

47cIt was your ancestors who murdered the prophets, 47band ⌊now⌋ you build fine monuments ⌊to honor⌋ those prophets. 48aSo ⌊by doing this⌋ you show that you approve of what your ancestors did. 48b⌊That is to say,⌋ they killed the prophets and you build the prophets’ tombs! 47aGod will punish you severely for this!

If the meaning still seems unclear to people, you have the following options:

• Provide a footnote. For example:

The experts in the law wanted people to think that they were honoring the prophets by building the tombs. But since they did not follow the teaching of the prophets, they proved that they were no better than their ancestors who killed the prophets.

• Make your translation even more explicit. For example:

47cIt was your ancestors who ⌊did not obey the message of the prophets. Instead, they⌋ killed the prophets. 47b⌊Now⌋ you build fine monuments ⌊to honor⌋ those prophets, ⌊but you also do not obey their message⌋. 48aSo, ⌊by doing that⌋ you show that you approve of what your ancestors did. 48b⌊That is,⌋ they killed the prophets and you ⌊continue their work by⌋ building tombs for those prophets! 47aGod will punish you severely for this!

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 12:26

12:26

So: In Greek, this verse begins with a conjunction that many English versions translate as “then.” This conjunction introduces a conclusion to Jesus’ third reason. The Berean Standard Bible uses the word So. Other versions do not translate this word. Another way to introduce this conclusion is:

Therefore if you cannot do…

if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest?: This is another rhetorical question. It functions as a mild rebuke. It also emphasizes that worrying is useless. By worrying, a person cannot even do something small such as make his life one hour longer. So a person should not worry about other things either.

Some ways to translate this rebuke are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

If you cannot do a small thing like that, why worry about other things?
-or-
And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? (New Living Translation (2004))

• As a statement. For example:

Since you cannot do even a small thing like that by worrying, then you should not worry about other things either.
-or-
Worrying cannot do a small thing like lengthen your life. So do not worry about bigger issues.

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

such a small thing: The phrase such a small thing refers to adding a short length of time to how long a person would live.

the rest: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the rest refers to other things or problems that people worry about. Some other ways to translate this are:

the other things (Good News Translation)
-or-
everything else (Contemporary English Version)

It is implied that the rest contrasts with the “small thing.” It may be helpful to make this explicit. For example:

bigger things (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 12:58

Paragraph 12:58–59

In this paragraph Jesus continued to speak to the crowd. He used a parable to warn the people that they should reconcile with God before the time of judgment arrived. If your readers will not understand the figurative meaning of the parable, you may wish to explain the meaning briefly in a footnote. An example of a possible footnote is:

Jesus told the people this parable/illustration to warn them that they needed to make peace with God before the time came for him to judge them.

12:58

In Greek, this verse begins with a conjunction that can be translated as “for.” Some English versions translate it that way. This conjunction here introduces an example that illustrates the importance of making a good decision. See the examples in the note below for ways to introduce this illustration.

12:58a

Make every effort: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Make every effort is more literally “make an effort.” Some English versions, such as the Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible, translate it that way. It refers here to making a serious effort. Other ways to express this meaning are:

try (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
do your best (God’s Word)

to reconcile with your adversary: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to reconcile with your adversary is more literally “to reach a settlement.” It means in this context that the accused person will try to settle the problem of his debt with the person who has accused him. Other ways to express this phrase are:

to settle the dispute (Good News Translation)
-or-
to make an agreement with him

adversary: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as adversary refers here to a person who plans to accuse someone in court.

12:58b

while you are on your way to the magistrate: This clause describes a situation that could happen. It is not a story about something that was actually happening. It describes a person who is traveling to court with the person who plans to accuse him there. If your language has a natural way to indicate that Jesus was not talking about an actual situation, you may want to use it here. For example:

For instance, when an opponent brings you to court in front of a ruler (God’s Word)
-or-
If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court (Good News Translation)

It is implied from 12:59 that the accused person will be accused of not paying a debt. In some languages it may be helpful to introduce this implied information earlier in the story. For example:

Let’s suppose that someone plans to bring charges against you in court ⌊because you owe him money⌋.

while you are on your way: In this context, the phrase while you are on your way refers literally to being on the journey to the court. However, if you have a more general expression that refers to making an out-of-court settlement, you may use it here. For example:

out of court
-or-
before you(dual/plur) arrive there

you: The Greek word for you is in the singular. Jesus was describing a situation that any one of his listeners might face.

magistrate: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as magistrate is a general word for a ruler or person in authority. In this context it refers to a judge who decides civil disputes in a court of law.

12:58c

Otherwise: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Otherwise is literally “lest” (meaning “so-that-not”). Some English versions, such as the Revised Standard Version, translate it that way. It introduces a negative purpose, but most versions translate it as a negative consequence. It implies: “If you do not reach an agreement, this is what will happen.” Other ways to introduce the next clause are:

If you don’t, you will be dragged (Contemporary English Version)
-or-

or your adversary may drag you off (New International Version)

he may drag you off to the judge: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he may drag you off means “he may force/compel you.” It refers to taking someone somewhere he does not want to go.

the judge: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as judge is not the same word as the word translated as “magistrate” in 12:58a. However, in this context it probably refers to the same person. It is a more specific word for the person in charge of a law court.

12:58d

and the judge may hand you over to the officer: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hand you over means “put you into the power/authority of.”

officer: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as officer refers to the official who carried out the judge’s orders. It was probably the policeman or jailor in charge of the prison. Other ways to translate this word are:

the jailer (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the police (Good News Translation)

12:58e

and the officer may throw you into prison: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as throw you here means “put you against your will.” Another way to translate this is:

and you will be locked up (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 13:31

Section 13:31–35

Jesus grieved for the people in Jerusalem

In this section Jesus spoke about how he would die in Jerusalem, as many other prophets had. He mourned that the people of Jerusalem would not turn to him so that he could save them from the coming destruction.

Some other headings for this section are:

Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem (New International Version)
-or-
Jesus’ Love for the Residents of Jerusalem

There is a parallel passage for this section in Matthew 23:37–39.

Paragraph 13:31–33

In this paragraph some Pharisees warned Jesus that Herod wanted to kill him. Jesus replied that he intended to finish the work he was doing, even though that meant that he would die in Jerusalem.

13:31a

At that very hour: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as At that very hour means that the Pharisees came to Jesus immediately after he taught in 13:24–30. One way to express this is:

Right when Jesus said that

some Pharisees: Pharisees were members of a Jewish religious group or party. It was very important to them to obey all of the Jewish religious laws. They were generally opposed to Jesus. These particular Pharisees may have been sincere in warning Jesus about the danger he was in or they may have simply wanted him to leave the area.

Here are some ways to translate the word Pharisees:

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

Farisi members
-or-
Parise adherents

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

people belonging to the Farise religious sect/group
-or-
members of the religious group called the Farasi

This word first occurs in 5:17b.

13:31b

Leave this place and get away: In some languages it may be more natural to combine these two clauses into one, as the Revised Standard Version has done:

Get away from here.

Notice that the Pharisees were advising Jesus about how he could keep himself safe. The Berean Standard Bible has translated this verse part as a command, as do other versions such as the Revised Standard Version, but you should consider how a courteous warning is normally expressed in your language. In some languages it may be more natural to say:

We advise you to leave here and go to a different place.

13:31c

because: In Greek, 13:31c begins with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because. It introduces the reason for the advice in the previous verse part. Another way to translate this is:

for (Revised Standard Version)

Herod: The Pharisees were referring here to Herod Antipas, the governor/ruler of Galilee. See the note on 9:7a. In some languages it may be necessary to specify who Herod was. For example:

Herod Antipas (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Governor Herod

However, when the Pharisees spoke to Jesus, there was no confusion about which Herod they meant. In some translations it may be better to put this information in a footnote or include a cross-reference to 9:7.

wants to kill You: This phrase means “desires/intends/plans to have you killed.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 14:28

Paragraph 14:28–30

In Greek, this paragraph (14:28–30) begins with a conjunction that many versions, such as the Revised Standard Version, translate as “For.” It introduces an example that illustrates what Jesus said in the previous paragraph. Jesus taught that becoming his disciple was a serious commitment. The illustration shows that a person should think carefully about the difficulties and cost before making such a serious commitment.

The Berean Standard Bible does not translate this connection explicitly. In some languages you may need to make the connection more explicit. This may be done in different ways. For example:

But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building…? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

⌊You must think first about this before you become my disciple. Just as…⌋

14:28

Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?: In Greek, verse 14:28 is a single rhetorical question, as in the Berean Standard Bible. Another way to translate this is:

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? (Revised Standard Version)

The function of the rhetorical question is to emphasize that of course someone would estimate the cost before starting to build a tower. He would never start building a tower without knowing if he had enough money to finish it.

The New International Version and New Living Translation (2004) translate this question in two parts: an introductory statement and a shorter rhetorical question. Other ways to translate this verse are:

• With a combination of statements and rhetorical questions. For example:

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. What is the first thing you will do? Won’t you sit down and figure out how much it will cost and if you have enough money to pay for it? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
For example, if one of you wants to build a tower, what will you do? You will surely sit down first to figure out how much that would cost. You need to know if you have enough money to complete it.

• As one or more statements. For example:

If one of you is planning to build a tower, you sit down first and figure out what it will cost, to see if you have enough money to finish the job. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Suppose you want to build a tower. You would first sit down and figure out what it costs. Then you would see if you have enough money to finish it. (God’s Word)

14:28a

tower: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tower may refer here to a tall observation tower from which men guarded a vineyard. But the parable implies a large, expensive building, so it may be better to translate in a general way. In languages that do not have a word for tower, here is another way to translate this term:

high building/house

See how you translated this word in 13:4a.

14:28b

sit down: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as sit down implies here that the person will take the time to make a careful estimate. In some languages it may not be necessary to make the sitting posture explicit. For example:

he will first carefully estimate
-or-
he will take the time to estimate

count the cost: The phrase count the cost means to calculate or compute how much money something will cost. The man would add up the cost of the different building materials he would use and the wages of the men who would work for him.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013