SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013 – Page 5

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 22:68

22:68

if I ask you a question: Jesus did not say what questions the council members would not answer. So it is good to translate the clause if I ask you in a general way. For example:

if I ask you a question (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
if I question you (New Revised Standard Version)

However, in some languages a general translation may imply a wrong meaning here. It is likely that Jesus referred to questions about what they knew or believed about the Messiah, as in 20:41, 44. They did not answer when he asked them that question.

If it is necessary to supply implied information, phrase it in a general way. For example:

if I ask you a question ⌊about this⌋
-or-
if I ask you anything ⌊about the Messiah⌋

you will not answer: In Greek the statement you will not answer is emphatic. They would certainly not answer him. Other ways to translate this are:

you will not answer me (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
you would not answer anyway

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 23:30

23:30

This verse has parallel parts. Parts a–b and c–d have the same meaning:

aAt that time they will say to the mountains,

b“Fall on us!”

cand to the hills,

d“Cover us!”

In some languages it may be more natural to combine the parallel parts so that the introductions and the two quotations are combined. For example:

a,cThen they will say to the mountains and hills, b,d“Fall on us and cover us!”
-or-
At that time, people will speak to the hills like this: “Fall on us, hills! Cover us, stones!”

23:30a–b

At that time ‘they will say…’: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as At that time ‘they will say is literally “Then they will begin to say.” Scholars are not sure what the word “begin” adds to the meaning of the verb say here. It probably emphasizes the coming time to which the phrase At that time refers. For example:

That will be the time when people will say (Good News Translation)
-or-
At that time everyone will say (Contemporary English Version)

Some English versions do not translate the word “begin.” Do what is natural here in your language.

At that time: The phrase At that time introduces a quotation from Hosea 10:8 in the Old Testament. In some languages it may be helpful to introduce this quotation more explicitly. For example:

At that time, ⌊as the Scripture says/prophecies⌋
-or-
Then ⌊it will happen as a prophet wrote in God’s Word⌋

The Berean Standard Bible marks this quotation with single quote marks (‘…’) beginning in 23:30a and ending in 20:30d. You should mark this quotation in the same way as you mark other quotations from the Old Testament in your translation. You may also include a footnote or cross reference.

they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”: Here Jesus predicted what the people will wish for in the future time of trouble. They will wish that the mountains and hills will fall on them. Some ways to translate the wish are:

• As direct speech:

they will beg the mountains, “Fall on us!”
-or-
they will call out to the mountains, “Fall on us!”

• As indirect speech:

they will beg the mountains to fall on them

• As a wish or hope:

they will wish/hope that the mountains would fall on them

Translate the wish in a natural way in your language.

they: The word they is used in the same way as the word “people” in 23:29b. It refers to people in general, especially the people in Jerusalem. You can translate it here in the same way or a similar way as you translated “people” in 23:29b.

23:30b

Fall on us!: The clause Fall on us! probably indicates that people will wish that the dirt or stones of the mountains would come down on them and kill them. It implies that people will suffer so terribly that they will wish that they could die. If the mountains fell on them, they would die quickly. They would not have to endure the terrible sufferings of that time.

In some languages people do not speak of mountains “falling.” If that is true in your language, describe it in natural way in your language. Some ways to do this are:

will plead that the mountains will landslide in order to bury/cover them
-or-
will say, “Why doesn’t this mountain cover me?”

23:30c–d

and to the hills, “Cover us!”: There is an ellipsis here. The full form is, “and they will say to the hills, ‘Cover us.’” It has almost the same meaning as the wish in 23:30a–b. The difference between hills and “mountains” is only that hills are smaller than mountains. If the hills covered the people, they would be buried alive and die. Another way to translate 23:30c–d is:

And they will say also to the hill, “Cover us up.”

As in 23:30a–b, Jesus predicted what the people will wish in the future. You may translate this part of the verse in a similar way as you did there. See the note on “they will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’” at 23:30a–b for translation suggestions.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 24:6

24:6

He is not here; He has risen: There is a textual issue concerning the words He is not here; He has risen:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts have these words. For example:

Jesus isn’t here! He has been raised from death. (Contemporary English Version)

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

(2) Other Greek manuscripts do not have these words.

(Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It is supported by the great majority of ancient Greek manuscripts. Also, most English versions support this option.

24:6a

He is not here: The phrase He is not here indicates that Jesus was not there in the tomb. Other ways to translate this are:

He is no longer here
-or-
Jesus is not here ⌊in the tomb⌋ anymore!

24:6b

In Greek this part of the verse begins with a conjunction that indicates a contrast between 24:6a and 24:6b. Jesus was no longer in the tomb, instead he had come back to life. In English, this contrast is implied without a conjunction, but some versions also have a conjunction. For example:

He is not here, but has been raised! (NET Bible)

There is another implied connection between 24:6a and 24:6b. The phrase “He has risen” in 24:6b explains why Jesus was no longer in the tomb. In some languages it may be helpful to make this connection explicit. For example:

He’s no longer here, because he has risen from the dead.

He has risen: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as has risen is passive, literally “has been raised.” It is God who raised him from death. That statement means that God caused him to live again. It also implies the active meaning “Jesus lives again,” or “Jesus rose ⌊from death⌋.”

The statement He has risen indicates that Jesus’ body and spirit were both alive. He was not a ghost, since he was living again in his body. Be sure to translate this statement in a way that clearly shows that Jesus came alive again as a real human being.

There are several ways to translate this statement:

• Use a passive clause. For example:

He has been raised from death. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
He has been brought back to life! (God’s Word)

• Use a clause that emphasizes Jesus’ life. For example:

He lives again!

• Use an active verb and supply God as the subject. For example:

⌊God⌋ has raised him to life.
-or-

⌊God⌋ has caused him to live again.

This is a very important statement. Translate it in a natural and emphatic way in your language.

24:6c

Remember how He told you: The phrase Remember how He told you introduces what Jesus said to the women sometime before his death. The men quoted what Jesus said in 24:7. They quoted this to remind the women of what Jesus had told them. Another way to translate the phrase is:

Remember what he said to you (Good News Translation)

24:6d

while He was still in Galilee: Some English versions word the Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as while He was still in Galilee in a way that makes clear that the women were also in Galilee at that time. For example:

while he was still with you in Galilee (New International Version)
-or-
when you were all still in Galilee

General Comment on 24:6c–d

In some languages it may be helpful to reorder the clauses in 24:6c and 24:6d. For example:

^6cRemember how ^6dwhen he was still in Galilee ^6che told you

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 24:38

24:38a

“Why are you troubled,” Jesus asked: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Jesus asked are more literally “and he said to them.” The Berean Standard Bible places these words in the middle of what Jesus said. This is good English style. However, in some languages, it may be necessary to put these words where they are in the Greek, at the beginning of 24:38a. For example:

He said to them, “Why are you troubled…” (New International Version)

Why are you troubled: This is a rhetorical question. It indicates that there was no reason for the disciples to be troubled. It is a gentle way to say that they should not be troubled. Some ways to translate the rhetorical question are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

How is it that you are troubled/frightened?
-or-
Is there any reason for you to be afraid? ⌊No!⌋

• As a statement or command. For example:

There is no reason for you to be afraid.
-or-
Do not be troubled/frightened.

Translate the meaning in a way that is natural in your language.

Jesus asked: This clause introduces Jesus’ response to the disciples’ fear. Jesus asked them two rhetorical questions. Some other ways to introduce these questions are:

Then he said to them (NET Bible)
-or-
But Jesus said (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
He asked them (God’s Word)

Notice that the Contemporary English Version example begins with “But.” This implies that the disciples’ fear contrasts with the faith and joy that they should be feeling when they saw Jesus. Introduce the rhetorical questions in a natural way in your language.

24:38b

and why do doubts arise in your hearts?: This is a rhetorical question. It implies that there was no reason to doubt that he was really alive. They could now see him with their own eyes. It is a gentle way to say that they should stop doubting that he is alive.

Some ways to translate this rhetorical question are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

How is it that you have these doubts?
-or-
Is there any reason for you to doubt ⌊me⌋?

• As a statement or command. For example:

There is no reason for you to have these doubts.
-or-
Do not continue to doubt ⌊that I am alive⌋.

Translate the meaning in a way that is natural in your language.

doubts arise in your hearts: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as doubts arise in your hearts is an idiom. It has the same meaning as the verb “doubt.” Some ways to translate it are:

• Translate the meaning directly without using an idiom. For example:

you doubt (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
you doubt what you see (New Century Version)

• Use an idiom that has the same meaning in your language. For example:

your hearts filled with doubt (New Living Translation (2004))

Translate the meaning in a natural way in your language.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 1:15

1:15a

for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reasons why Zechariah and many other people would be happy about John’s birth (1:14). These reasons are given in 1:15–17. The main reason is that John would prepare the way for the Lord. Express these reasons in a natural way in your language.

he will be great in the sight of the Lord: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he will be great in the sight of the Lord is an idiom. It means that God would consider John to be a very important man. God would think highly of him. Some other ways to translate this are:

The Lord will consider him to be very great
-or-
He will be very important in the Lord’s estimation/view
-or-
The Lord will recognize/esteem him as a great man

in the sight of the Lord: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in the sight of the Lord is literally “before the Lord.” The phrase “before the Lord” or “before God” is used four other times in Luke 1 (1:17, 1:19, 1:75, 1:76).

Lord: For further discussion of the term Lord, see the Note at 1:6b. See also Lord, Context 2, in the Glossary.

1:15b

He shall never take wine or strong drink: This is a command. John must not drink wine or any other drink that could make him drunk. A requirement like this is described in Numbers 6:1–4. It would be a sign to that person and to others that he was dedicated to the Lord in a special way. In some translations it may be helpful to include a footnote about this. For example:

John was dedicated to the Lord to fulfill a very important purpose. As a sign of that dedication, the Lord commanded that John should not drink wine.

never: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as never means “definitely not.” The angel meant that John must not ever drink these things.

take: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as take is literally “drink.” Most English versions say “drink.”

wine or strong drink: The Jews had two basic terms for alcoholic drinks. The Berean Standard Bible translates these terms as wine and strong drink. In some languages it may be necessary to use one general term for all alcoholic drinks. For example:

all fermented/alcoholic drinks
-or-
any drink that causes someone/people to become drunk

wine: The word wine refers to an alcoholic drink. It is made from the juice of a fruit called grapes. When grape juice ferments, it becomes wine.

In some areas, people may not be familiar with grapes or with wine. If that is true in your area, some other ways to translate wine are:

• Use a specific term for another alcoholic drink made from fruit. For example:

pomegranate wine
-or-
palm wine

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

fermented fruit juice/water
-or-
grape juice
-or-
fermented grape juice

strong drink: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as strong drink refers to alcoholic beverages other than wine that the Jews made from either fruit or grain. The most common of these was beer made from barley or from barley and millet.

Some ways to translate this are:

• Use a term for an alcoholic drink made from grain, even if it is not made from barley or millet.

• Use a general term for alcoholic drinks.

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

other drinks that make (people) drunk

1:15c

he will be filled with the Holy Spirit: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as filled with the Holy Spirit is a common figure of speech in the New Testament. It implies that the Holy Spirit would guide or control John and give him the power to do all that God wanted him to do. Some ways to translate this are:

the Holy Spirit will guide/empower him
-or-
he will be full of the Holy Spirit
-or-
the power of the Holy Spirit will be with him (Contemporary English Version)

The verb will be filled is passive. Notice that the examples above do not use passive verbs. Translate the clause in a natural way in your language.

The context indicates that John would be “filled” during his entire life. This figure also occurs in 1:41b and 1:67a, but there the “filling” is momentary.

the 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 divine. He is perfect in every way and is completely pure and sinless. Because of these qualities, he is worthy of awe.

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.

See holy, sense A2, in Key Biblical Terms.

even from his mother’s womb: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as even from his mother’s womb is literally “even from/out-of his mother’s womb/belly.” Scholars interpret the phrase “from his mother’s womb” in one of two ways:

(1) It refers to the time when John was in his mother’s womb. This means before he was born. For example:

while yet in his mother’s womb (New American Standard Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It refers to the time when John was born. For example:

From his very birth (Good News Translation)

(New International Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Century Version, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

English versions that use the phrase “from his mother’s womb” are somewhat ambiguous (New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, Revised Standard Version). In some languages it may be possible to use a general expression that could be interpreted in either way. If that is true in your language, it is good to use that term. If you must choose one of the interpretations, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 1:47

1:47

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!: The clause my spirit rejoices in God my Savior indicates that Mary was joyful as she thought of God her Savior. She was full of joy because of his character and actions. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

My spirit finds its joy in God, my Savior (God’s Word)
-or-
I am delighted with God, my Savior

my spirit: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as spirit refers here to Mary’s spiritual being. In this context there is no real difference in meaning between the Greek words for “soul” (1:46) and spirit (1:47). These two words occur here because it was good style for poetry in that culture. Be sure that your word for spirit does not imply that Mary is referring to a different spirit, such as a ghost or the spirit of a dead person.

The phrase my spirit here again refers to Mary herself. In some languages it may be necessary to translate this meaning directly. For example:

I rejoice in God.

rejoices: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rejoices also means “to be glad” or “to be full of joy.” For example:

is glad (Good News Translation)
-or-
finds its joy (God’s Word)

my Savior: The phrase my Savior means “the one who saves me.” It refers to God as the one who would rescue Mary. The text does not specify what Mary would be rescued from. She may have thought of both physical and spiritual danger. If you have a term that could imply either, consider using it here. For example:

my Savior ⌊from evil⌋
-or-
who rescues/saves me ⌊from evil⌋

If you cannot use an ambiguous term, you may be able to use a general expression. For example:

my Savior ⌊from harm/danger⌋
-or-
who rescues me from ⌊evil people and actions⌋
-or-
who saves me ⌊from destruction⌋

If you use a term such as one of these, it should refer to things that people fear or that are very harmful or destructive. Mary was probably not thinking of being preserved from every small harm or danger. See save in the Glossary (see the note on Savior).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 1:79

1:79a

to shine on those who live in darkness: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to shine on means “to appear to” or “to give light to.” This part of the verse continues the figure of speech in 1:78b. The sun rises and brings light to places that were dark. In the same way, the Messiah would bless or help people who were living in spiritual darkness. So another way to translate this is:

to bless/help people living in ⌊spiritual⌋ darkness

Darkness and light are a common figure of speech in the Bible. The word darkness can be used to refer to sin, separation from God, lack of spiritual understanding, ignorance, and unbelief. In some languages it may be helpful to include a footnote about this. For example, the TRT suggests this footnote:

Darkness represents sin, evil, spiritual blindness/ignorance, unbelief, hopeless despair, and separation from God (who is light; 1 John 1:5). Compare Ephesians 5:8.

1:79b

and in the shadow of death: The phrase the shadow of death is another figure of speech. It refers to people who are troubled and grieved as they think about death.

These are the same people as those described as “living in darkness.” Zechariah was describing them in a different way. These were people who knew that they and others would have to die, and they were troubled, grieved, and afraid.

General Comment on 1:78b–79b

Another way to express the images of 1:78b–1:79b is:

As the rising sun dispels darkness, so the Lord/Messiah will come from God to help those who live in spiritual darkness and fear of death.

1:79c

to guide our feet into the path of peace: The expression to guide our feet into the path of peace is a figure of speech. In this context, the path of peace has a similar meaning to “salvation” in 1:71a–b and 1:77. In this context Zechariah implied that the Messiah would save his people and enable them to live in peace and well-being.

In 1:71 Zechariah mentioned salvation from enemies. In 1:77 he mentioned salvation through God forgiving people’s sins. Try to translate peace here in a way that could describe this type of freedom or salvation from both enemies and sins.

He will guide us into the way of peace. (God’s Word)
-or-
He will show us how to live in harmony/rest.
-or-
He will ⌊save⌋ us so that we can live in peace/wholeness.

peace: In Jewish culture the word peace has a very broad meaning. It describes a situation of well-being that can include safety, wholeness, health, and prosperity. It often describes harmony and friendship between God and people or between individuals or groups of people. This harmony is in contrast to war, hostility, or conflict.

Some other ways to translate peace here are:

harmony
-or-
freedom

In English the word peace is a noun. In some languages it may be more natural to translate peace with a verb or in another way. For example:

be whole/free/peaceful
-or-
live peacefully/well

See peace, Meaning 6, in the Glossary.

General Comment on 1:79c

This is the end of Zechariah’s prophecy. Try to make this clear in your translation.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2:31

2:31

which You have prepared: The word which refers back to the word “salvation” in 2:30. The word prepared refers to God planning and preparing to save the world through Jesus.

in the sight of all people: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in the sight of all people is literally “before the face of all peoples.” This indicates that both Jews and Gentiles would see God’s salvation. God’s plan to save mankind would not take place in secret, nor would it be for the Jews only. God had prepared events so that the Savior would come to the earth where people could see him.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013