SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013 – Page 46

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 24:40

Paragraph 24:40–43

24:40

There is a textual issue here:

(1) Most Greek manuscripts contain this verse. For example:

As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet. (New Living Translation (2004))

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

(2) Some Greek manuscripts do not contain this verse.

(Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) and include this verse. It has early and strong manuscript support, and the majority of English versions follow this option.

And when He had said this: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And when He had said this is more literally “and saying this” or “and having said this.” It introduces what Jesus did as he said the words in 24:39 (or immediately after he said those words). He showed the disciples his hands and feet. Some other ways to introduce the next action are:

As he said this (God’s Word)
-or-
After Jesus said this (Contemporary English Version)

He showed them His hands and feet: This clause indicates that Jesus held out his hands and feet so that the disciples could clearly see the wounds in them. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

…he held out his hands for them to see, and he showed them his feet. (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
And he showed them where the nails had passed through his hands and feet.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 1:6

1:6a

Both of them: The phrase Both of them refers to Elizabeth and Zechariah. In some languages, it may be helpful to refer to them by name here. For example:

Zechariah and Elizabeth (God’s Word)

righteous in the sight of God: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as righteous in the sight of God is literally “righteous before God” (as in the Revised Standard Version). This phrase means that God considered them to be righteous. He approved of both of them. The phrase indicates that Elizabeth and Zechariah both did what was right according to God’s standards.

Some other ways to translate this are:

God saw that they were righteous people.
-or-
They did what God regarded as right and good.

God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as God refers here to the eternal spirit who created everything. He is more powerful than any other spirit, and he is perfectly good and wise. In many languages, there is already an established term for God. If that is not true in your language, here are some ways to translate God:

• Use a name or title for God that people in your culture already use.

• Use a descriptive term that fits the truth about God that is revealed in the Bible. For example:

Creator
-or-
Great Spirit
-or-
Ruler of the universe

• Use a borrowed word from the national or trade language Bible.

Choose a term that is acceptable to the believers and churches in your area. For more detailed information, see God in the Glossary.

1:6b

walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord means “obeying all the commandments and regulations that the Lord had given/made.” Another way to say this is:

obeying everything that the Lord commanded and ordered

The words commandments and decrees have basically the same meaning. They refer here to the laws and rules in the Old Testament. God told the Jewish people to obey these laws and rules. In some languages it may be more natural to express the meaning of these two words with one word or phrase. For example:

…obeying all that he had commanded (Contemporary English Version)

blamelessly: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blamelessly means “without fault.” Zechariah and Elizabeth obeyed God’s rules fully and completely. No one could say that they had broken God’s law.

Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord means “master, one who has authority over others.” The word Lord was one of the terms that the Jews used to refer to God. This is the first time in Luke that the word Lord occurs. Remember that in 1:6a Luke used the word God to refer to him.

In some languages, it may not be clear that the word Lord refers to God in this context. If that is true in your language, you should make it clear in some way. For example:

• Use your word for God.

• Use your word for God along with the word for Lord. For example:

God the Lord
-or-
Master God

If you include the word for God in your translation of Lord, you may want to include a footnote to give the literal Greek meaning. For example:

Here the Greek text is literally “Lord.”

See Lord, Context 2, in the Glossary.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 1:38

1:38a

In the Greek text, Mary begins her answer with a word that introduces and emphasizes the response that she would give to the angel. It is the same word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “now” in 1:20, as “Behold” in 1:31, and as “Look” in 1:36. The Berean Standard Bible does not translate the word here, and some other English versions also do not explicitly translate the word. But since Mary was agreeing to what the Lord wanted, some English versions include that idea here. Some ways to translate it are:

Yes… (NET Bible)
-or-
Here am I… (New Revised Standard Version)

Translate the word in a way is natural in your language for this context. In some languages it may not be necessary to translate it explicitly. See the notes at 1:20a and 1:31a, which discuss the way this word introduces those verses.

I am the Lord’s servant: The phrase I am the Lord’s servant means “I belong to the Lord as his servant.” Mary said this to express her humble submission to whatever the Lord said. Her response showed that she believed what the angel told her and accepted the role of being the mother of the Lord’s son (Jesus). The word Lord refers to God.

servant: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as servant refers to a female slave. This word refers to a woman who was owned by another person. She served and obeyed her master or mistress. She probably was not paid, but she received food and a place to live.

In some cultures, slaves may not be known. In other cultures, the word for slave may imply different customs than in biblical culture. If that is true in your language, some ways to translate this are:

person who belonged to someone else
-or-
owned person
-or-
person who serves someone
-or-
worker/servant

Mary answered: The Berean Standard Bible has placed the words Mary answered in the middle of what Mary said. Place them where it is natural in your language.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible has translated as answered is the common word that means “said.” Use the word that is most natural in your language to introduce Mary’s response to what the angel said.

1:38b

May it happen to me according to your word: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as May it happen is a form that often expresses a hope, wish, or prayer. Mary wanted or requested that the Lord would do to her exactly what the angel had said. The English word May does not express any doubt here. Some English versions use “Let it be.” This also expresses a hope or request that God would cause his will to happen to her.

Some other ways to translate May it happen to me according to your word are:

I am willing to accept whatever he wants. (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Let everything you’ve said happen to me. (God’s Word)

according to your word: The phrase according to your word refers back to what the angel said in 1:31–37. He said that Mary would conceive a child without being married.

1:38c

Then the angel left her: After Mary said the words in 1:38a–b, the angel left.

angel: See the note at 1:11a for suggestions about how to translate the word angel. See also angel, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 1:70

1:70

as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past: This verse applies both to the verses before it and the verses after it. Long before Zechariah was born, God spoke through his holy prophets that he would provide salvation for his people. This salvation is mentioned in both 1:69 and 1:71.

Some English versions connect 1:70 to 1:69, while others connect it to 1:71. You should connect the verse to the context in a natural way in your language. In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of some of the clauses in 1:68–71. See the General Comment on 1:68b–71 at the end of the notes on 1:71 for suggestions.

He spoke through His holy prophets: The pronoun He refers to the Lord, the God of Israel (1:68a). The phrase He spoke through His holy prophets means that God said things to his prophets, and the prophets told these things to other people.

Some ways to translate He spoke through His holy prophets are:

the Lord promised by the words of his holy prophets (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he said these things to his holy prophets and they proclaimed them to people
-or-
just as he promised through his holy prophets (New Living Translation (2004))

through His holy prophets: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as through His holy prophets is literally “through the mouth of his holy prophets.” The “mouth” represents the prophets speaking. Another way to translate this is:

through what his holy prophets said

His holy prophets: The word prophets refers to men and women who spoke on behalf of God. They told people what God revealed to them. The word holy indicates that they were dedicated to God. It also implies that they lived in a righteous way that pleased him. Some ways to translate His holy prophets are:

God’s own spokesmen
-or-
righteous men and women who spoke God’s words
-or-
God’s message-speakers

When you translate the word “prophet,” it is good to use a general term that does not focus only on foretelling the future. Although prophets did foretell the future, they also gave people other messages from God. They especially told them to stop sinning and to obey God.

When you choose a term for “prophet,” consider how you will distinguish prophet from other words which are similar in meaning such as “angel,” “apostle,” and “preacher.”

This word has the same root as the word “prophesied” in 1:67b. See also prophet in the Glossary.

those of ages past: The phrase those of ages past, literally “from the ages,” refers to prophets who lived hundreds of years before Zechariah was born.

Some other ways to translate this are:

who lived a long time ago
-or-
who lived/prophesied many centuries ago

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2:22

Paragraph 2:22–24

There are two main events in this paragraph:

(a) Mary was purified after she gave birth to Jesus (2:22a and 2:24). In 2:22a this event was introduced. In 2:24 Luke gave details about the sacrifice for Mary’s purification.

(b) Jesus was presented to the Lord (2:22b–23).

Notice that the purification of Mary is mentioned in 2:22a and also in 2:24. The presentation of Jesus (2:22b–23) separates the two places where Mary’s purification is mentioned. In some languages, it may be clearer to reorder these verses. For example:

22aWhen Mary and Joseph’s days of purification ended according to the Law of Moses, 22bthey went to Jerusalem. 24aThey went there to offer the sacrifice of 24btwo doves or two young pigeons. 24aThis was to obey what the Law of the Lord says. 22bThey also went to Jerusalem with Jesus to present him to the Lord, 23abecause the Law of the Lord also says, 23b“Whenever a mother’s first child is a son, he must be set apart to be holy to the Lord.”

2:22a

And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete: The Law that God gave to the Israelites through Moses said that when a Jewish woman gave birth to a baby, she became “unclean.” In order to become ritually “clean” (or pure) again after giving birth to a baby boy, she had to do two things:

(a) wait for a period of forty days after the birth;

(b) offer a sacrifice.

The period of forty days was called “the time of her purification.” At the end of that time, she was required to offer a sacrifice, and then she was clean again.

Some other ways to translate this are:

After the days required by Moses’ Teachings to make a mother clean had passed (God’s Word)
-or-
When the necessary days had passed in order for a mother to become clean again, as the Law of Moses teaches

the time of purification:
The Greek text speaks literally of “their” purification. (The Berean Standard Bible does not translate this pronoun.) The term “their” probably refers to Joseph and Mary. Some English versions make this explicit. For example:

The time…for Joseph and Mary to perform the ceremony of purification (Good News Translation)

The Law that God gave to the Israelites through Moses did not require Joseph to be purified. But because purification was a family matter, he was included. In some cultures, it may be more natural to say only that the mother needed to become pure or clean. If that is true in your language, you can say:

The waiting period for ⌊Mary⌋ to become pure again ended

purification: The word purification refers to becoming ritually pure or clean according to religious customs.

Law of Moses: The Law of Moses is the law that God gave to the Israelites through Moses.

2:22b

Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem for two reasons. The first reason is here in 2:22b. They went to present Jesus to the Lord. The second reason is in 2:24a.

to Jerusalem: Joseph and Mary took Jesus to God’s temple, which was located in the city of Jerusalem. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

to the temple in Jerusalem (Contemporary English Version)

to present Him to the Lord: In this context, the phrase to present Him to the Lord indicates that they took Jesus to the priest to acknowledge that Jesus belonged to God. This action is explained further in 2:23a and 2:23b. You may want to consider how to translate “consecrated” in 2:23b at the same time as you think about how to translate present Him to the Lord. See also Lord, Context 2, in the Glossary.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 3:2

3:2a

during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas is literally “upon Annas [being] the high priest and Caiaphas.” It means “during the time when Annas was the high priest, and Caiaphas.” (See note below for why two men are named.) The high priest was the leader of all the Jewish priests. In New Testament times, he was also the leader of the Jewish supreme court. He was the chief judge and had great power and influence.

The Greek noun that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as high priesthood is singular, even though Luke mentioned two men. Use a form that is natural in your language. For example:

when Annas and Caiaphas served as high priest(s)
-or-
when Annas and Caiaphas led all the Jewish priests
-or-
Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests (New Living Translation (2004))

Annas and Caiaphas: Annas and Caiaphas are the names of two men. Annas became high priest in A.D. 7. According to the Jewish custom, he was to be the high priest for as long as he lived. But the Roman governor removed Annas from his position as high priest. Later the governor appointed Annas’s son-in-law Caiaphas to be the high priest. Apparently, Luke followed the Jewish custom. He still referred to Annas as the priest, even though Caiaphas was by then the official high priest.

3:2b

the word of God came to John: The phrase the word of God came to John means “God spoke to John” or “God communicated a message to John.” God gave John the Baptizer the message he wanted him to preach.

God: For help in translating the word God, see the note at 1:6a.

son of Zechariah: Zechariah was first mentioned in 1:5.

wilderness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wilderness refers to a wild, desolate area where few people lived. Many English versions translate this term as “desert.” But although this kind of area was often very dry, it was not just barren sand and rock. Some wild grasses and bushes grew there. The focus here is not on how dry this place was, but rather that it was uninhabited. Translate wilderness the same way here as you did in 1:80b.

General Comment on 3:1–2

These verses introduce John as a major person in this section. In some languages, it may be more natural to introduce him before giving the information about the political situation at that time. To do this, it is necessary to change the order of information in these verses. There are different ways to do this. Here are two examples:

2bGod gave a message to Zechariah’s son, John, while John was in the desert. 1a⌊This happened⌋ in the fifteenth year that Tiberius was emperor at Rome. 1bAt that time Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, 1cand Herod was tetrarch of Galilee. 1d⌊Herod’s⌋ brother Philip was tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, 1eand Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene. 2aAnnas and Caiaphas held the high priesthood.
-or-

1aIn the fifteenth year that Tiberius was emperor at Rome, 2bGod spoke a message to John, son of Zechariah, while John was in the desert. 1b⌊At this time⌋ Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea. 1cHerod was ruler of Galilee, 1dhis brother Philip was ruler of Iturea and Traconitis, and 1eLysanias was ruler of Abilene. 2aThe high priests were Annas and Caiaphas.

Use a natural way in your language to present the information in these verses.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 4:7

4:7a

So: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces the conclusion to all that Satan said in 4:6. The New American Standard Bible translates this conjunction as:

Therefore

if You worship me: The phrase if You worship me is the sin that the devil was tempting Jesus to commit. The devil promised to give Jesus authority over the nations, but only if Jesus worshiped him. The devil wanted Jesus to acknowledge him to be his leader. He wanted to gain control over Jesus.

worship me: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as worship refers to bowing down before someone or something. In biblical times, people bowed down, knelt, or lay on the ground before their kings and their idols. In this way, they showed respect, reverence, and humility.

Some other ways to translate this are:

bow down and worship me (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
kneel down before me

4:7b

it will all be Yours: The phrase it will all be Yours means “all the authority over the nations will be yours.” Satan was telling Jesus that if Jesus would worship him, then Satan would cause Jesus to control the world. Some other ways to translate this are:

I will give it all to you (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
you can control the whole world
-or-
you will rule every nation

Satan was lying. Luke did not imply that the devil was telling the truth. He simply reported what the devil said.

General Comment on 4:7a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of 4:7a and 4:7b. For example:

7bI will give it all to you 7aif you will bow down and worship me. (New Living Translation (1996))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 4:39

4:39a

He stood over her: There are at least two ways to interpret the clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He stood over her:

(1) It means that Jesus leaned or bent over her. For example:

He bent over her (God’s Word)

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

(2) It means that Jesus stood by her side. For example:

stood at her bedside (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

This clause implies that Jesus walked over to the woman who was lying down.

rebuked the fever: The verb rebuked means “spoke forcefully to.” In this context, it means that Jesus commanded the fever to leave the woman. For example:

ordered the fever to leave (God’s Word)

In some languages, a person cannot speak to a sickness. If that is true in your language, you should find another way to translate rebuked the fever. For example:

Jesus caused the fever to leave her.
-or-
Jesus caused the fever to cool/diminish.
-or-
Jesus said that the sickness must end.
-or-
Jesus spoke words to heal her.

4:39b

and it left her: The phrase and it left her means “the fever left her.” This means that the woman’s temperature went back to normal again. Some other ways to translate this are:

The fever left her (Good News Translation)
-or-
and immediately her temperature returned to normal (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
she was healed
-or-
she became healthy

4:39c

And she got up at once: The phrase she got up at once means that the woman was able to get out of bed immediately. She was not weak, as a person recovering from a fever usually is. For example:

Right then she was able to get up (Contemporary English Version)

and began to serve them: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as began to serve them is literally “she was serving them.” It means that as soon as the woman got up, she started to prepare a meal for Jesus and his disciples. For example:

She got up immediately and prepared a meal for them. (God’s Word)

This shows that as soon as Jesus had healed Simon’s mother-in-law, she was strong enough to serve the food.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 24:40

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 1:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 1:38

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 1:70

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2:22

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 3:2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 4:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 4:39

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