SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013 – Page 75

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 17:35

17:35a

Two women will be grinding grain together: This clause refers to grinding grain to make flour. Women placed grain on one flat millstone and placed another flat millstone on top of the grain. They rotated the top stone on the lower stone. This crushed the grain into flour. This was a normal activity for women to do. See the note on “millstone” in 17:2b. Here is another way to translate this:

There will be two women grinding grain together (NET Bible)

If people do not know about grinding grain in your area, you may want to use a more general phrase. For example:

Two women will be preparing food together

grain: The grain was probably wheat, or perhaps barley.

17:35b

one will be taken and the other left: This clause is basically the same as 17:34b. The difference is that the people here are women instead of two married people (or men). Be sure to use the proper forms in your language for referring back to women.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 18:30

18:30a

will fail to receive: See the note on 18:29b–30a for translation suggestions.

many times more: The phrase many times more implies a comparison. Jesus compared the reward the disciples will receive to what they left behind. The phrase indicates that what they will receive was far more valuable and greater than what they gave up to follow him. In some languages it may be necessary to make the comparison more explicit. For example:

many times as much ⌊as he left⌋
-or-
very much more ⌊than he gave up⌋

in this age: The phrase in this age is literally “in this time.” It refers to the present time while people are living on earth. Other ways to say it are:

in this life (New Century Version)
-or-
in this present life (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

18:30b

and in the age to come, eternal life: The phrase in the age to come refers to the time after a person has finished living on earth. The phrase eternal life was also used in 18:18, where the ruler asked Jesus what he should do to receive it. Here Jesus assured the disciples that people who left what they had for the sake of God’s kingdom will receive eternal life. After they die, they will live forever with God.

This is the final clause of a long sentence. In some languages it may be best to repeat the subject and verb of the clause. For example:

And in the future world they will have eternal life. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
And in the age that is coming, they will have life forever. (New Century Version)
-or-
They will also live forever with God after they die.

General Comments on 18:29–30

In these verses Jesus spoke about the people who left home and family for him. He used third person forms: “he, she, the one(s), anyone/everyone.” Peter and the other disciples were some of the people whom Jesus was talking about. So in some languages it may be more natural to use “you(plur)” in these verses. For example:

Jesus said to the disciples, “I tell you(plur) the truth, none of you(plur) who have left home, wives, brothers, parents, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come you(plur) will receive eternal life.”

In some languages it may be more natural to use more than one sentence. For example:

Jesus said to the disciples, “I tell you(plur) the truth, some of you(plur) have left your homes. Some have left wives, brothers, parents, or children. Anyone who has done this for the sake of the kingdom of God will certainly receive many times as much in this age. Then in the age to come you(plur) will receive eternal life.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 19:19

19:19

And to this one he said, ‘You shall have authority over five cities’: The statement that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And to this one he said, ‘You shall have authority over five cities’ is literally “And he said also to this one, ‘And you, be over five cities.” This statement implies that the master spoke similarly to the second servant as he spoke to the first servant. It implies that the master approved of him also and rewarded him. Some ways to make this clear are:

And he ⌊rewarded⌋ him also, saying, “As for you, you will rule over five cities.”
-or-
“Well done!” the king said. “You will be governor over five cities.” (New Living Translation (2004))

In some languages it may be more natural to translate the meaning without a direct quote. For example:

⌊His master rewarded him by⌋ making him the ruler over five cities.

Refer back to the notes on 19:17 for more translation suggestions.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 20:3

20:3

“I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me…”: The Berean Standard Bible places the words Jesus replied in the middle of what Jesus said. This is good English style. However, in some languages, it may be necessary to place these words at the beginning of 20:3. For example:

He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me…” (New International Version)

I will also ask you a question…Tell Me: It was common among Jews to answer one question by asking another question. The phrase Tell Me introduces the question that Jesus intended to ask the leaders. In some languages it may be more natural to include this phrase with the question in 20:4 or to leave it implied. See the General Comment on 20:3–4 at the end of 20:4.

I…also: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I…also implies, “⌊Just as you asked me a question,⌋ I too, will ask you a question.”

you: The pronoun you refers to the three groups of leaders who came to Jesus in 20:1.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 20:35

20:35a–b

But those who are considered worthy: The phrase those who are considered worthy contrasts with the “sons/people of this age” in 20:34. Express the contrast in a natural way in your language. Another way to do this is:

As for those who are considered worthy

This phrase applies in general to anyone and everyone who is considered worthy. Some other ways to translate it are:

Anyone who is considered worthy
-or-
If a person is considered worthy

Since this verse tells what such people will not do, the Contemporary English Version has:

no one who is worthy (Contemporary English Version)

Translate the phrase in a natural way in your language.

those who are considered worthy: The phrase those who are considered worthy refers here to people whom God regards as worthy to live in the coming age. They are the people who were righteous during their life on earth.

The verb are considered worthy is passive. Some ways to translate it are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

those who are regarded as worthy (NET Bible)

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

those whom God considers worthy

• Focus on the meaning worthy and leave the meaning considered implied. For example:

those who will be worthy (New Century Version)

Translate the meaning in a natural way in your language.

to share in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to share means “to experience, attain.” This is a general meaning that can be translated in different ways in various contexts. The word gets its specific meaning from the context where it occurs. Some ways to translate it here are:

worthy to share in that age and in the resurrection from the dead (NET Bible)
-or-
worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead

In some languages the meaning to share in is implied in the context and does not need to be translated explicitly. For example:

worthy to rise from death and live in the age to come (Good News Translation)
-or-
worthy to come back to life and live in the next world (God’s Word)

in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead: In this context the phrases the age to come and the resurrection from the dead have a similar meaning. The phrase the age refers to the future time that the Sadducees called “in the resurrection” at 20:33. People will rise from the dead and live in the new age. That new age is sometimes identified as heaven.

In some languages it may be helpful to reverse the order of the phrases the age to come and the resurrection from the dead. For example:

worthy to be made alive again from the dead and to live in heaven
-or-
worthy of being raised from the dead and living in heaven

the age to come: The phrase the age to come is in contrast to “this age,” or this present world, mentioned in 20:34. The same Greek word for age is used in both 20:34 and 20:35. Use a natural way in your language to make the contrast clear.

20:35c

will neither marry nor be given in marriage: The people, both men and women, whom God causes to live again, will not marry. No one in that age will get married, and no one will continue to be the husband or wife of the person they were married to on this earth. See how you translated the similar phrase “marry and are given in marriage” in 20:34. Some ways to translate this phrase are:

will not then marry (Good News Translation)
-or-
do not marry (New Jerusalem Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 21:20

Paragraph 21:20–24

In this paragraph Jesus began a new topic. In 21:12–19 he had talked about the persecution that his disciples would endure before the end. In this paragraph Jesus talked about the future time when an army would attack the city of Jerusalem and destroy it. Jesus warned his disciples to escape when they saw armies gathering around Jerusalem.

21:20

In 21:7 the disciples had asked Jesus what sign would indicate that the temple (in Jerusalem) would soon be destroyed. Here in 21:20 Jesus answered that question by talking about the whole city of Jerusalem being destroyed.

In some languages it may be helpful to begin a new quotation here. For example:

Jesus also said
-or-
Then Jesus told them

You should connect this verse with what Jesus said previously in a way that is natural in your language.

21:20a

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies: In this clause Jesus indicated that his disciples will see enemy soldiers gathering around the city of Jerusalem. These soldiers will surround the city to attack it.

The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as surrounded is passive. In some languages it may be helpful to translate the clause without using a passive verb. For example:

When you see that armies/soldiers are surrounding Jerusalem
-or-
When you see armies all around Jerusalem (New Century Version)
-or-
When you see armies camped around Jerusalem (God’s Word)

21:20b

In Greek 21:20b begins with a conjunction that some English versions translate as “then.” It emphasizes the logical connection between 21:20a and 21:20b. Here is another way to translate this:

20aWhen you see…20bthen you will know (Good News Translation)

This conjunction introduces what Jesus wanted his disciples to realize as a result of enemy armies surrounding Jerusalem. In some languages a conjunction is not needed. Connect the clauses in a way that is natural in your language.

you will know that her desolation is near: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you will know is a command. Jesus used it to tell his disciples what they should realize when enemy soldiers gather around Jerusalem. They must understand that these armies will soon destroy the city. Some other ways to translate the clause are:

realize that the time is near for it to be destroyed (God’s Word)
-or-
then you must realise that it will soon be laid desolate (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
then know that its desolation has come near (NET Bible)

her desolation is near: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as her desolation is near means that Jerusalem will soon be completely destroyed. Many people will be killed, and the other people will leave the city. Then it will be deserted. Other ways to translate this meaning are:

• Use a passive clause. For example:

the city will soon be completely destroyed

• Use an active clause. A subject like “they” can refer back to the armies surrounding Jerusalem in 21:20a. For example:

they will soon destroy the city and it will be deserted/abandoned
-or-
they are about to utterly destroy the city so that no one will be left there

Translate this meaning in a natural way in your language.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 22:14

Section 22:14–23

Jesus gave his disciples bread and wine with a special meaning

In this section Jesus ate his last meal with his twelve disciples before he died. During this Passover meal, Jesus told them about the new covenant that he was making with them. He took bread and gave thanks to God. Then he divided the bread into pieces and gave it to his disciples to share. He said to them, “This is my body, given for you.” After the main meal, he gave his disciples a cup of wine to drink from. He said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” When Jesus said these things, he indicated that he would sacrifice himself by dying as a substitute for his disciples to save them from slavery to sin. By doing this, he would fulfill the real meaning of Passover. As God saved the people of Israel who put the blood of the Passover lamb on their doors, he will save the people who trust in Jesus’ sacrifice for them.

Jesus told his disciples to continue to remember him by taking bread and wine as his body and blood given for them. This thanksgiving service is now called the Eucharist, from the Greek word that means “thanksgiving.” It is also called the Lord’s Supper and Holy Communion.

Some other examples of headings for this section are:

The Lord’s Supper (NET Bible)
-or-
Jesus established the Thanksgiving/Eucharist celebration
-or-
Jesus sacrifices his body and blood to save his disciples
-or-
Jesus makes a new covenant with his disciples

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 26:26–30, Mark 14:22–26, and 1 Corinthians 11:23–25.

Paragraph 22:14–16

22:14a

When the hour had come: The clause When the hour had come refers to the time of day when people ate the Passover meal. It was the custom of the Jews to eat it at night. They usually began the meal immediately after sunset. In Jewish thinking, this was the beginning of a new day. Some other ways to translate the clause are:

Then at the proper time (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
When it was time to eat the Passover meal (God’s Word)

22:14b

Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles: In Greek this clause is more literally “he reclined and the apostles with him.” The Greek clause puts more focus on Jesus. Other ways to translate this focus are:

Jesus took his place at the table and the apostles joined him (NET Bible)
-or-
he sat down to eat, and the apostles ⌊sat down⌋ with him
-or-
he took his seat at table with the apostles (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

reclined at the table: The verb reclined implies that Jesus and the apostles lay on couches or cushions beside a low table. This was common in that culture for formal meals. The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the phrase at the table, which is not in the Greek text, to make the context clear.

If reclining on couches would seem strange in your culture, you may:

• Use the normal position for eating in your culture. For example:

sat at table (Revised Standard Version)

• Use a general expression that does not specify a particular position. For example:

took his place at the table (Good News Translation)

The verb reclined also occurred in 11:37. See how you translated it there.

His apostles: The phrase His apostles is literally “the apostles.” It refers to the twelve disciples whom Jesus chose as his closest followers, as mentioned in 6:13. You should translate the word here as you did there.

For more information and translation suggestions, see the notes at 17:5. See also apostle in the Glossary.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 22:46

22:46a

Why are you sleeping?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus rebuked his disciples for sleeping after he told them to pray in 22:40. In 22:31 Jesus had told them that Satan wanted to tempt them. It was not right for them to sleep at that time when they needed to pray. In 22:46b Jesus again told them to pray.

Some ways to translate this rebuke are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Why are you asleep? (Contemporary English Version)

• As a statement. For example:

It is not good that you are sleeping ⌊now⌋.

In some languages it may not be clear why Jesus rebuked his disciples. If that is true in your language, it may be necessary to include implied information here. For example:

Is it good that you are sleeping ⌊in this time of temptation⌋?
-or-
Why are you sleeping? ⌊You should be praying.⌋

He asked: In the Greek text, this clause occurs at the beginning of this verse. It is more literally, “and he said to them.” The Berean Standard Bible has placed the clause after the rhetorical question. Place it where it is natural in your language. If you translate the question as a statement, use an appropriate verb of speech in your language.

The context implies that Jesus woke the disciples. The disciples may have awakened when Jesus returned, or Jesus may have awakened them by the question or in another way. In some languages it may be necessary to include implied information that shows that the disciples awakened and heard the question. For example:

⌊awakened them and⌋ said

22:46b

Get up and pray: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Get up may refer here to waking from sleep or to getting up from the ground. The disciples had been lying on the ground asleep.

The commands Get up and pray indicate that Jesus wanted them to rise from sleeping on the ground and pray. Jewish men often prayed standing up. Some ways to translate these commands are:

Rise and pray (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Wake up and pray (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Stand up and pray

pray so that you will not enter into temptation: Here Jesus repeated the command that he gave his disciples in 22:40. See the notes at 22:40b for translation suggestions.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013