SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013 – Page 65

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2:32

2:32

a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel: Scholars interpret this clause differently:

(1) The words revelation and glory are parallel. They both relate to a light (2:32a). This light:

(a) reveals God’s salvation to the Gentiles, and

(b) brings glory to Israel. For example:

a light that will bring revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel (Revised English Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, God’s Word)

(2) The words light and glory are parallel. They both relate to salvation (2:30). The Christ and the salvation that he brings are:

(a) a light to…the Gentiles, and

(b) the glory of Israel. For example:

He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of…Israel! (New Living Translation (2004))

(New International Version (2011), New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004), King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

2:32a

a light: As with “salvation” in 2:30, a light is another way that Simeon referred to “the Lord’s Christ” (2:26b). Simeon described the Christ as a light because he is like a light. Just as light enables people to see things, the Christ will enable people to know things.

for revelation to the Gentiles: In this context the word revelation indicates that the Christ as the light will reveal God and his character (his love, will, truth, and grace). He will reveal this to the Gentiles who are in spiritual darkness.

If your language needs to express the word revelation as a verbal idea, you can say:

⌊He will be like⌋ a light to reveal/show ⌊you⌋ to the Gentiles
-or-
A light to reveal your will to the Gentiles (Good News Translation)

2:32b

for glory to Your people Israel: The Christ as the light will bring glory to God’s people Israel.

glory: Here, the word glory means “honor,” “praise,” or “a high reputation.” In some language this can be expressed as:

he is the pride of your people Israel

Israel received glory and honor because the Christ, the Savior, was an Israelite. See glory, sense A3(c), in Key Biblical Terms.

General Comment on 2:29–32

Luke 2:30–32 gives the reason for 2:29. In some languages, it may be more natural to put 2:30–32 before 2:29. For example:

³⁰My eyes have seen your salvation, ³¹which you have prepared in the sight of all people, ³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. ²⁹⌊So,⌋ Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.

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BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 3:12

Paragraph 3:12–13

3:12a

Even tax collectors: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tax collectors refers to Jewish men who collected tax money from people for the government. Most people hated tax collectors because:

(a) the tax collectors worked for a government that oppressed the people;

(b) tax collectors often collected more money than the law required, and they kept the extra for themselves.

If you do not have a word in your language for “tax collectors,” you could describe them as:

men who collected tax money for the government

came to be baptized: This indicates the purpose of these tax collectors for coming to where John was. They came out to John in order to be baptized.

This is similar to what Luke said about the crowds in 3:7a. There he said that the crowds came “to be baptized by him.” Here in 3:12a, “by him” is only implied. The phrase to be baptized is passive. If it is more natural in your language to use an active verb here, you may indicate that they came for John to baptize them, as it says in 3:7a. For example:

in order ⌊for John to⌋ baptize them
-or-

⌊for him⌋ to baptize them

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to be baptized is a verb form of the Greek noun the Berean Standard Bible translates as “baptism” in 3:3c. See the note there.

3:12b

Teacher: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Teacher was a polite title for a Jewish religious leader. It was a title of respect for a Jewish man who had authority to teach the things about God. Use a title that is an appropriate way to address a religious teacher in your culture. It should not refer only to a school teacher. Some possible titles are:

Sir
-or-
Master

they asked: The Berean Standard Bible has placed the words they asked in the middle of what the tax collectors said. Place these words where it is natural in your language.

what should we do?: This is the same question as in 3:10. However, here it does not include the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates in 3:10 as “then.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 4:17

4:17a

the scroll of the prophet Isaiah: The phrase the scroll of the prophet Isaiah means “the scroll containing the words of the prophet Isaiah.” Isaiah himself had not personally written this particular scroll. This was a copy of the prophecies that he received from God. Isaiah had prophesied about six hundred years earlier.

scroll: In Jesus’ time people used scrolls, not books like the ones people use today. A scroll was a roll of specially prepared animal skins (called parchment) or papyrus paper with writing on it. People wrapped the two ends of the scroll around wooden handles. In order to read from it, a person used these handles to unroll the scroll. People rolled up the scroll and kept it that way when no one was using it. Another way to translate scroll is:

book (Good News Translation)

the prophet Isaiah: The phrase the prophet Isaiah means the same thing as “Isaiah the prophet” in 3:4a. You should translate it the same way in both places.

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

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

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.

Be sure that your term for prophet is different from other words which are similar in meaning such as “angel,” “apostle,” and “preacher.”

This word also occurs in 3:4a. See also prophet in the Glossary.

was handed to Him: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was handed is literally “was given” (as in the Revised Standard Version). This verb is passive. Some ways to translate this verb are:

• As a passive verb. For example:

was given to him (NET Bible)
-or-
was delivered unto him (King James Version)

• As an active verb. In some languages it may be more natural to say who gave the scroll to Jesus. It was probably the same attendant who is mentioned in 4:20b. You may also be able to use a general subject. For example:

⌊Someone⌋ gave him
-or-
The attendant gave him (God’s Word)

4:17b

Unrolling it: The word Unrolling refers to what is done to open a scroll. Jesus opened the scroll in order to read what was written on it. Another way to translate this is:

He opened the book (New Century Version)

4:17c

He found the place: The phrase He found the place indicates that Jesus located a specific Scripture passage that he intended to read. He unrolled the scroll until he came to the correct place. Another way to translate this is:

to the place (New Living Translation (1996))

This place is the Scripture passage that is now known as Isaiah 61:1–2. In Jesus’ time, the books of the Bible were not divided into chapters and verses as they are today.

Luke did not explicitly say that Jesus read that passage aloud. However, that is implied, and it may be necessary to make that explicit. For example:

Jesus found ⌊and read aloud⌋ the passage

where it was written: The phrase where it was written is similar to the phrase “it is written” in 4:4a and 4:8a. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

where it says (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
where this is written (New Century Version)
-or-
where these words are written (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

In some languages it may be more natural to leave the passive verb “was written” implied. For example:

and found the passage which says (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Jesus found ⌊and read aloud⌋ this writing/prophecy

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 5:5

5:5a

Simon was a skilled and experienced fisherman. He did not believe that he and the others with him in the boat would catch any fish if they let down the nets at this time. His words to Jesus imply this.

Master: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Master is a word that shows respect. People used this word to address a person who had high position or status. It showed that Simon respected Jesus.

The word Master is similar in meaning to “Lord” at 5:8c. But when someone used the word “Lord,” as Simon did later in 5:8c, he was showing greater respect. Your language may have more than one word to show respect. Use the word that shows lesser respect here. Use the word that shows greater respect in 5:8c.

(See the note on “Lord” at 5:8c, where Simon changed the word that he used to address Jesus.)

Simon replied: Jesus had given Simon a command. Usually a person responds to a command by doing the action. However, Simon responded by protesting to Jesus. Use the most natural way in your language to introduce this protest. For example:

Simon responded
-or-
Simon protested

we have worked hard: The phrase we have worked hard refers to working hard at fishing. Simon and the other fishermen had fished throughout the night. In your language, you may need to say that “fishing” was the work that they had done. For example:

we worked hard…trying to catch fish (New Century Version)
-or-
we have labored at our fishing
-or-
we fished as well/hard as we could

all night: The best time to fish in this lake was at night. This conversation was taking place during the day. Simon and his companions had been fishing during the previous night.

If necessary, use a footnote to provide background information. For example, you could say:

Fishermen on Lake Galilee knew from experience that they would catch more fish at night than during the daytime.

5:5b

without catching anything: The fishermen did not catch anything during the previous night. Therefore they believed that it would be useless to fish during the day. If your readers do not understand this, you may need to make this explicit. For example:

We have caught nothing during the night, ⌊so it is certainly not likely that we will catch anything now⌋.

5:5c

But: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But here indicates a contrast with what was implied in 5:5b. Simon did not believe that putting his net into the water one more time would help him to catch anything. But he was willing to try it because Jesus had asked him.

Use a conjunction in your language that naturally introduces a contrast. For example:

nevertheless (King James Version)
-or-
However

because You say so: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because You say so is literally “at Your word” (as in the Revised Standard Version).

Some other ways to say this are:

I will do as You say (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
because you say/command it

I will let down the nets: Simon Peter was in charge of the boat. But he did not let down the nets all by himself. So it may be necessary to translate this as:

I will cause the nets to be let down.
-or-
I will have the men let down the nets
-or-
We(excl) will throw/cast the nets into the water

The text implies here that Simon Peter would first move the boat into deeper water. If your readers think that Simon Peter would let down the nets where he was, you may make this explicit. For example:

because you say so, I will ⌊move the boat out into deeper water⌋ and let down the nets

General Comment on 5:5c

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of the two clauses in 5:5c. For example:

But I will let down the nets because you say so.

In other languages, it may be necessary to use a different conjunction. For example:

You said to lower the nets, so I will.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 5:37

5:37–38

Jesus’ second parable/illustration teaches the same thing as the first. In this illustration, he compared his teaching to new wine. The traditions were like old animal skins that people used to make containers for storing wine. The Berean Standard Bible calls these containers “wineskins.” If a person put new wine into old wineskins, the skins would burst. Jesus’ new way was too different to fit into the old traditions of the Jewish people.

5:37a

And: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And introduces another parable/illustration. Jesus gave this illustration to show again that he was teaching new things that did not fit the old traditions. Here are several possible ways to introduce this illustration:

• Connect this illustration to the first one by indicating that it was something further that Jesus said. For example:

⌊Jesus also said,⌋ “Here is a similar example…”

• Use a connector that indicates that this illustration is similar to the one in 5:36. For example:

Likewise
-or-
In a similar way
-or-
Also (New Century Version)

no one: As in 5:36, the word no one introduces a general statement that is true of everyone. See the note at 5:36b.

pours: In the context, the word pours refers to putting wine into a container in order to store it there. People put the wine into wineskins.

new wine into old wineskins: When new wine ferments, it produces gas. This builds up pressure and causes the wineskin to stretch or expand. New wine would be put into new skins because these could stretch. Old wineskins would have been stretched once before. They would no longer be able to stretch any further.

new wine: The term wine describes an alcoholic drink. It is made from the juice of a fruit called grapes. When grape juice ferments, it becomes wine. The phrase new wine refers to wine that has been pressed recently from grapes and is not yet fermented (or is just beginning to ferment).

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 new wine are:

• Use a general term for an alcoholic drink that is just beginning to ferment.

• Use a specific term for new wine that can also be used to refer to alcoholic drinks in general. For example:

new millet beer
-or-
new palm wine
-or-
something like new palm wine

• Use a descriptive phrase for new wine. For example:

fermenting fruit juice
-or-
fermenting grape juice
-or-
grape juice that is beginning to ferment

wineskins: The Jews used animal skins to make containers for storing their wine. (The most common animal skin they used was goat.)

Since wineskins are not common in many areas of the world, in many languages, you may need to use a descriptive phrase. For example:

wine containers made of goat skin

In some cultures people do not use animal skins to store wine. They may not understand the reason why people did not put new wine in old skins. If that is true in your culture, consider explaining this in a footnote. For example:

Wineskins were made out of whole goat hides that had the neck and feet openings tied shut. New wineskins were able to expand as the wine fermented. Old wineskins had already been stretched and were no longer able to stretch further.

5:37b

If he does: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as If he does was also used in 5:36c. It introduces the consequences of doing what 5:37b indicated that no one normally does. Use a natural connector in your language for this context.

the new wine will burst the skins: The verb will burst means “will break.” It is implied that as the wine ferments, it releases a gas. This gas puts pressure on the skins, with the result that they burst. The skins were fastened shut so that there was no way for the gas to escape.

Some other ways to translate this are:

The new wine would swell and burst the old skins. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
when the new wine bubbles, the old container will break

5:37c

the wine will spill: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the wine will spill means “the wine will come pouring out.” The first undesirable result of putting new wine into old wineskins is that the new wine will be wasted.

and the wineskins will be ruined: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ruined also means “destroyed” (as in the Revised Standard Version). This is the second undesirable result.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 6:30

6:30a

Give to everyone who asks you: The phrase Give to everyone who asks you is a command to be generous and give to people who ask you for something. Being generous is a specific way to show love. Another way to translate this is:

⌊If/when⌋ someone asks you ⌊for something⌋, give ⌊it to him⌋.

If your language prefers direct speech, you could say something like:

If someone says to you, “Please give me that,” give it to him.

6:30b

if anyone takes what is yours: The Greek for the word takes is the same as in 6:29c. The person may have stolen this item, or he may have asked a judge (in court) to make you give it to him. Another way to translate this is:

when someone takes something that is yours (New Century Version)

6:30c

do not demand it back: The phrase do not demand it back means “do not ask him to give it back to you.” Some other ways to translate this are:

don’t insist on getting it back (God’s Word)
-or-
do not ask for your possessions back (NET Bible)

If your language prefers direct speech, you could say something like:

…do not say to him, “Give back my thing(s) to me!”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 7:13

Paragraph 7:13–15

7:13a

the Lord:
The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord means “master” or “one who has authority over others.” In this context the Lord is a title for Jesus. Some other ways to translate this are:

the Master
-or-
the Chief

This is the first time that Luke referred to Jesus as Lord in this context. In some languages it may be necessary to make clear that the word Lord here refers to Jesus. For example:

the Lord Jesus
-or-
Jesus, the Master

In other languages it may be necessary to indicate whose Lord is referred to. If that is true in your language, if you use the pronoun “our,” it should be the inclusive form, if your language uses that form. For example:

our(incl) Lord

See Lord, Context 2, in the Glossary.

He had compassion on her: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He had compassion on her means “he felt compassion for her.” It implies that Jesus felt pity for her and that he wanted to help her. You may have an idiom for this in your language. Some ways to translate it are:

his heart went out to her (New International Version)
-or-
he felt sorry for her (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
he felt sad/concerned for her
-or-
his heart was filled with pity for her (Good News Translation)

7:13b

Do not weep: Here Jesus told the woman not to weep because he did not want her to feel distressed anymore. He knew that he was about to cause her son to live again. The woman was already weeping when Jesus said this. So in some languages it may be natural to translate this as:

Don’t weep any longer
-or-
Stop crying

Be sure that your translation of Do not weep expresses compassion.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 7:45

7:45a

You did not greet Me with a kiss: It was a Jewish custom to greet one another with a kiss, usually on the cheek or forehead. A kiss on the hand showed greater respect than a kiss on the cheek. If you need to specify either a kiss on the hand or on the cheek, you may specify a kiss on the cheek. That implies, “you did not even give me the customary kiss on the cheek.” However, if a kiss on the hand is more customary in your culture, you can specify that.

If men in your culture do not greet one another with a kiss, here are some options to consider:

• Make explicit the reason why Simon should have kissed Jesus:

You did not give me the customary kiss of greeting
-or-
You did not welcome/greet me warmly with a kiss

• Use a more general expression. For example:

You did not greet me with an embrace
-or-
You did not greet me warmly/lovingly
-or-
You did not give me a special/friendly greeting

In some translations it may be good to explain this custom in a footnote. For example:

In Jewish culture, a kiss was a common way for men to greet each other. The kiss was either on the cheek or hand.

7:45b

but: Again Jesus contrasted the woman’s actions with Simon’s actions.

she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived: The clause since I arrived implies “from the time I entered the house.” This is a hyperbole. Jesus used it to emphasize the woman’s actions. He did not mean that the woman began to kiss his feet at the moment he came into the house. She did not begin until he was seated to eat. He also did not mean that the woman never stopped kissing his feet for a second. She also dried his feet and anointed them.

If this hyperbole is not natural in your language, you may need to express the emphasis in a different way. For example:

during this time I have been ⌊in your house⌋, this woman has kissed my feet again and again

she has not stopped kissing My feet: Kissing someone’s feet showed more humility and respect than kissing on the hand. The woman showed great respect and gratitude toward Jesus by kissing his feet many times. Another way to say this is:

this woman has continued to kiss my feet

In some cultures the action of kissing is not known or is very unusual. In these cultures kissing a person’s feet may be inappropriate or shocking. If this is true in your culture, here are some options to consider:

• Use a descriptive phrase and indicate the meaning of the action. For example:

she has continued to touch her lips to my feet ⌊to show her respect/gratitude⌋

• Use a more general expression. For example:

she has greeted/thanked me repeatedly ⌊from her heart⌋

See how you translated this action in 7:38c, and translate in a way that refers back to that action. The way you translate it should also contrast with the way you expressed Simon’s neglect of this type of greeting.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013