SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013 – Page 37

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2:36

Paragraph 2:36–38

This paragraph begins with background information. It introduces a woman named Anna and tells about her. The event in 2:38 happened immediately after Simeon’s blessing in 2:34–35. Indicate the background information in a natural way in your language. In some languages, you may want to put part of 2:38a at the beginning of the paragraph. For example:

38aAt that very moment a prophetess came up to them. 36aHer name was Anna….

2:36a

a prophetess named Anna: Anna was a prophetess, that is, a woman who was a prophet. She was not just an ordinary person who went to the temple.

A “prophet” was someone whom God chose to speak for him. God revealed things to a prophet that the prophet then told the people.

Some ways to translate prophetess are:

a prophet (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
a spokeswoman for God
-or-
a woman who spoke God’s words
-or-
God’s message speaker

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 3:16

3:16a

John answered all of them: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as answered can also be translated as “replied” or “responded.” However, the text does not say that the people asked John a question. The word answered may indicate here that John answered a question that the people were thinking about. John knew that the people were wondering if he might be the Christ.

In some languages it may not be natural to use a word like answered unless the question has been mentioned. If that is true in your language, you may use a more general word like “said” (as in the Contemporary English Version).

I baptize you with water: The phrase I baptize you with water means “I baptize you using water.” John used the water of the Jordan River to baptize people.

I: The word I is emphatic in Greek. In this context it emphasizes a contrast between John and the Messiah: “I, John, baptize with water, but he….”

baptize: The verb baptize means to purify/wash someone or something with a special ritual that uses water. In this context the ritual was connected with people being purified from sin. The people were not being cleaned to remove dirt. Baptism was an initiation into a new spiritual condition.

Here are some ways to translate “baptize”:

• Use a descriptive term. For example:

⌊ritually⌋ wash
-or-
initiate ⌊people⌋ in/with water

• Use a term for a similar ritual that is already part of your culture. You may need to indicate that it has a special connection with God here. For example:

purify people with God’s ceremonial bath
-or-
wash people in initiation water for God

• Use a term that is already accepted by the local churches. This term may be borrowed from the national language or transliterated from Greek or English.

Luke used a form of the same Greek verb in 3:7a and 3:12a, and the noun form of this word at 3:3c. For more help in translating baptize, see the note for “baptism” in 3:3c and “to be baptized” in 3:7a. Also see baptize, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

you: John used the word you to speak in general about all the people whom he baptized. This included the people who were listening to him at that time. It also included many other people who had come to him at other times. In some languages it may be more natural to translate the pronoun you in a more general way. For example:

I baptize ⌊people⌋ with water
-or-
I baptize with water (New Living Translation (1996))

3:16b

but One more powerful than I will come: The clause One more powerful than I refers to the Christ.

more powerful: The phrase more powerful in this context means “mightier,” “greater,” or “having more authority.” For example:

there is one coming who is greater than I am (New Century Version)

will come: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will come is literally “is coming.” It indicates here that the more powerful person would soon come.

3:16c

the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie: With this statement, John emphasized that the Christ was much greater than he was. In their culture, it was the work of a slave to untie the straps of his master’s sandals. John was saying that the Christ was so great that he, John, was not even worthy to be his slave.

If the meaning of this action is not clear to your readers, here are some other ways to translate it:

• Translate both the action and its meaning. For example:

I feel inadequate to even ⌊serve him like a slave by⌋ loosening the ties of his sandals.

• Translate the action in a more general way and also translate its meaning. For example:

I am not even qualified to take off his shoes.
-or-
Because of his greatness, I would be ashamed to even remove his shoes.

• Translate the meaning without the action. For example:

I am not even worthy to be his slave. (New Living Translation (1996))

In some translations it may be helpful to include a footnote to explain the meaning of untying someone’s sandals. For example, the Contemporary English Version footnote says:

untie his sandals: This was the duty of a slave.

straps: The word straps refers to thongs or strings that tied a sandal onto a person’s foot. The thongs were usually made of leather (animal skin).

sandals: The word sandals refers to a type of shoe. The sandals people wore in that time were usually made from a piece of leather that formed a bottom for the shoe. This leather bottom was tied onto the foot with leather straps or thongs.

I am not worthy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as worthy means “qualified” or “adequate” to do something. John felt that he was not important enough to act as Jesus’ slave. He felt he did not deserve the honor of serving him. He was emphasizing how great Jesus was.

In this context, the focus of worthy is on John’s status, not his character. Do not imply that John was a bad or evil person. Also do not imply that John was not physically able to do this task.

Some other ways to translate the clause I am not worthy are:

I do not deserve the honor of
-or-
I am not important/great enough

3:16d

In 3:16d, John again illustrated that the Christ was greater than he was. The way that the Christ baptized people was greater than the way John baptized them. John baptized people with water, but the Christ would baptize people with the Holy Spirit and fire.

As you translate 3:16d, remember that the word “baptize” has a meaning similar to the words “wash” and “cleanse.” In this part of the verse John used the word “baptize” in a figurative sense. The Christ would cleanse or purify people “with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire: Scholars interpret this sentence in many different ways. Two major views are:

(1) Jesus would baptize God’s people with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

(2) Jesus would baptize God’s people with the Holy Spirit and “baptize” others with the fire of God’s judgment.

You should translate so that people can interpret this part of the verse in either of these ways.

If your word for baptize implies a physical washing that only makes a person’s body clean, then you may have to find another word. However, your translation should try to keep the contrast between John’s baptism and the Christ’s baptism. Some ways to do this are:

When he baptizes you, he will cause the Holy Spirit and fire to initiate/purify you…
-or-
As for his baptism, he will send the Holy Spirit and fire to purify you…

If it is not possible to use your term for “baptize” with the word “fire,” you may need to use a different verb. Some examples are:

He will baptize/cleanse people with the Holy Spirit, and he will also ⌊purify/cleanse⌋ people with fire.
-or-
He will wash/cleanse you with the Holy Spirit, and ⌊purify you⌋ with fire.

See baptize, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

He: In Greek, the pronoun He is emphatic. It refers to the Christ, and contrasts with the pronoun “I” in 3:16a.

you: When John used the pronoun you here, he was referring to people in general (as in 3:16a). In some languages it may be more natural to use a more general term. For example:

He will baptize people

with the Holy Spirit: The word with indicates the means by which the Christ will baptize people. He will baptize them “with” the Holy Spirit. It does not mean that the Christ along with the Holy Spirit will baptize people.

Holy Spirit: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Holy Spirit refers to the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is God, together with God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit is Spirit in the sense that he is a living being who does not have a physical body. He is Holy in the sense that he is God and unique from every other being. He is perfect in every way and is completely pure and sinless.

Some ways to translate Holy Spirit are:

Spirit/Breath of God
-or-
Holy/Sacred Spirit

Do not imply that the Holy Spirit is like the ghost of a dead person or that God has died.

This term also occurs in 1:15c. Translate it here as you did there. See also holy, sense A2, in Key Biblical Terms.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 4:21

4:21a

and He began by saying: The clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He began by saying is literally “and He began to say/speak to them.” It indicates here that Jesus began to teach them. He began to explain the scripture that he had just read to them. This scripture was about him, and it was being fulfilled.

In your translation, you may want to use a more specific word or phrase than by saying or “to speak.” For example:

Then Jesus began to teach them. He said…
-or-
Then Jesus began to explain the words that he had read, saying…

4:21b

Today this Scripture is fulfilled: The phrase Today this Scripture is fulfilled means “That which this scripture talked about is happening today.” With these words, Jesus told them that he was the person whom the prophet Isaiah had written about. He was the one who fulfilled this scripture. God had appointed him to be the Messiah, and the Holy Spirit had empowered him to do all the things in 4:18–19.

Some other ways to translate this are:

Today this scripture has been fulfilled (NET Bible)
-or-
Today…this text has come true. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
This passage came true today (God’s Word)

Jesus was not saying that all the prisoners had been released, that all the blind people cured, or that the other things that he had read about had already happened.

in your hearing: The phrase in your hearing means “while you have been listening.” Some other ways to translate this are:

when you heard me read it. (God’s Word)
-or-
While you heard these words just now (New Century Version)

General Comment on 4:21b

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of some of the parts of 4:21b. For example:

What you have just heard me read has come true today. (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 5:9

5:9

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible and most English versions translate as For introduces the reason why Simon said what he did in 5:8. The miracle of the large catch of fish showed Simon that he was with a holy, powerful man from God.

his companions: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as his companions is literally “all the ones with him.” This refers to his fellow fishermen who were in his boat with him.

Some other ways to translate this are:

everyone who was with him (God’s Word)
-or-
the other fishermen (New Century Version)

astonished: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as astonished usually describes amazement and awe. It is used to describe someone who sees or experiences something very unusual. This unusual thing is often caused by divine power. The fishermen were very surprised, amazed, and even afraid. There was no way to explain the number of fish they had caught apart from a miracle.

Some other ways to translate this are:

amazed (God’s Word)
-or-
completely surprised (Contemporary English Version)

at the catch of fish they had taken: The fishermen were astonished that they had caught fish during the day. They were especially astonished that they had caught so many fish. You may want to make this explicit in your translation. For example:

at the large number of fish they had caught (Good News Translation)
-or-
at the catch of so many fish

at: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as at here means “because of” or “on the basis/account of.” It introduces the reason why Simon Peter and his companions were astonished.

the catch of fish they had taken: Here the word catch is a noun. This word means something that is caught or taken. So it may be redundant in some languages to translate explicitly the clause they had taken. If that is the true of your language, you could consider translating this simply as:

at their enormous catch of fish
-or-
that they had caught ⌊so many⌋ fish

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 6:2

6:2a

But some of the Pharisees asked: This is the first time that the Pharisees are mentioned in this story. In some languages, it will be more natural to introduce the Pharisees in a separate sentence. The context implies that the Pharisees were close enough to see what the disciples were doing.

Some ways to translate this are:

Some Pharisees were there. They said/asked…
-or-
There were some Pharisees ⌊who saw what they did⌋. They asked…
-or-

⌊When⌋ some Pharisees ⌊saw what they did,⌋ ⌊they⌋asked…

the Pharisees: The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group or party. It was very important to them to obey all of the Jewish religious laws very carefully and in detail. Some ways to translate Pharisees are:

• Transliterate the word Pharisees according to the sounds of your language and indicate that it refers to a group of people. 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 Jewish group called the Farasi

You should translate this word in the same way as you did in 5:30a and 5:33b.

6:2b

Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?: This is a rhetorical question. The Pharisees accused the disciples of breaking a law and rebuked them for it. In their opinion, the disciples were breaking the Sabbath rules.

Some ways to translate this rebuke and accusation are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Why are you doing what our Law says you cannot do on the Sabbath? (Good News Translation)
-or-
Why are you breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath? (New Living Translation (2004))

• As an exclamation. For example:

You shouldn’t be doing that! It’s against the law to work by harvesting grain on the Sabbath. (New Living Translation (1996))

• As a rhetorical question and an exclamation. For example:

Why are you picking grain on the Sabbath? You’re not supposed to do that! (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Why are you breaking our laws? You are working on the Sabbath day!

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

you: The word you here is plural. The disciples were the ones eating the grain. So the Pharisees asked them this question. However, Jesus was part of the group too. So the Pharisees were also asking Jesus this question as well. If your language allows it, use a plural form that can include both the disciples and Jesus.

doing what is unlawful: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as unlawful means “not permitted ⌊by the law⌋.” The Pharisees did not want the disciples to pick the grain and rub it. They considered these actions to be harvesting and threshing grain. That was work. Therefore, they believed that the disciples were breaking the law about not working on the Sabbath day.

Some other ways to translate this are:

breaking the law (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
doing something that is not right to do (God’s Word)
-or-
doing what the Law forbids men to do (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

The Pharisees were not accusing the disciples of taking grain that belonged to someone else. (The Law of Moses permitted this. See Deuteronomy 23:25.) This should be clear from the context. But you may want to explain this in a footnote. For example:

Jewish law allowed someone to pick small amounts of grain from another person’s field (Deuteronomy 23:25). So the disciples were not stealing. The Pharisees were accusing them of doing the work of harvesting. The Law of Moses required that no one should work on the Sabbath day.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 6:34

6:34a–b

And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?: This is the third rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to emphasize that you will not receive any credit in this situation. He said that when you lend only to those who can repay you, it is no credit to you.

Translate this emphasis using the same form (question or statement) that you used for the two previous rhetorical questions in 6:32–33.

6:34a

you lend: In some languages, it may be necessary to supply an object for lend. For example:

you lend money (Contemporary English Version)

to those from whom you expect repayment: The phrase those from whom you expect repayment refers to people whom you hope/expect will repay you. Some other ways to translate this are:

only to someone you think will pay you back (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
only to those who can repay you (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
always hoping to get something back (New Century Version)

6:34b

what credit is that to you?: This is the same clause as 6:32a–b.

General Comment on 6:34a–b

In some languages, it may be natural to change the order of 6:34a and 6:34b. For example:

34bWhat credit/praise do you deserve 34afor lending to people whom you expect to repay you?

6:34c

Even sinners lend to sinners: This sentence gives the reason why there is no credit in lending money to people who will repay you. Sinners also lend money to those who will fully repay them. This is not exceptional, and it does not cause a person to deserve special favor. Connect 6:32c to 6:32b in the same way that you connected 6:32c to 6:32a–b.

expecting to be repaid in full: The phrase expecting to be repaid in full is literally “that they may receive in return the equal.” It means “expecting to get back what they loaned.” Some other ways to translate this are:

and expect to get their money back (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
because they think they will get it all back (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
to get back the same amount (Good News Translation)
-or-
for a full return (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 7:17

7:17

And the news about Jesus spread: The phrase the news about Jesus spread means that people went and told many other people what Jesus had done. More and more people learned that Jesus had raised the young man from the dead.

throughout Judea: In this context the word Judea probably includes all the country of the Jews including Galilee and Judea. You could translate this as:

the region of/called Judea
-or-
the country/land of the Jews

all the surrounding region: The phrase the surrounding region refers to the land surrounding the region of Judea. Another way to translate this could be:

throughout Judea and all the land/places around it

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 7:49

7:49a

But: This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “and.” Many English versions do not use a conjunction here. Other versions use various conjunctions to connect the verses: “And” (King James Version), “Then” (Revised Standard Version), and “But” (New Revised Standard Version). This verse tells the reaction of the guests to the statement in 7:48. It comes between two things that Jesus said to the woman in 7:48 and 7:50. Connect these verses in a way that is natural in your language.

those at the table began to say to themselves: This clause introduces the question in 7:49b. There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as say to themselves here:

(1) It refers to thoughts. The guests thought about the question in 7:49b without speaking out loud. For example:

say to themselves (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, Revised English Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, God’s Word)

(2) It refers to spoken words. The guests spoke to each another about the question in 7:49b. For example:

saying to one another (Contemporary English Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New International Version, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This view is favored by the majority of Bible scholars. The same Greek expression is used in 7:39a, where it is clear that the thought was not spoken aloud. Some other ways to translate this are:

asked themselves
-or-
thought (God’s Word)

those at the table: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as those at the table is literally “the ones who were reclining with (him).” This refers to the other men who were guests at the feast. Refer to them in a way that in natural in your language.

7:49b

Who is this who even forgives sins?: This is a rhetorical question. It does not imply that the people did not know who Jesus was. It expresses their surprise and disapproval that Jesus declared that the woman’s sins were forgiven. They believed that only God had the authority to forgive sins. There are two ways to translate this:

• As a rhetorical question that implies surprise or disapproval. For example:

Who does this man think he is, going around forgiving sins? (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Who is this who dares to forgive sins? (Contemporary English Version)

• As an exclamation that implies surprise or disapproval. For example:

This man dares to say that he forgives sins! ⌊That is shocking!⌋
-or-
I cannot understand why/how this man says that he forgives sins!

The people who said this did not believe that Jesus had authority to forgive sins. You may need to make this explicit in your translation by saying something like:

Who is this man who claims the authority ⌊that only God has⌋ to forgive sins?
-or-
I am amazed/shocked that this man believes that he can even forgive sins!
-or-
This man does not have authority to forgive sins! ⌊Only God does.⌋

even: The word even emphasizes the greatness of the authority that Jesus was claiming. He claimed to have authority even to forgive sins. The people thought that only God had that authority, and to claim the authority to forgive sins was like claiming to be God. Since they did not believe that Jesus was God, they were offended. Some other ways to say this could be:

Who is this man who claims such ⌊divine⌋ authority as to forgive sins?
-or-
Who is this man who goes so far as to forgive sins?

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2:36

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 3:16

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 4:21

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 5:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 6:2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 6:34

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 7:17

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 7:49

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