SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 14:4

Paragraph 14:4–6

14:4a

But they remained silent: The clause they remained silent indicates that the Pharisees and experts did not answer Jesus’ question. The text does not indicate the exact reason why they did not answer. They probably realized that people would criticize them for either answer they gave. If they said that it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath, the other Jewish leaders could accuse them of not supporting the law against work on the Sabbath. If they said it was not lawful, the common people would accuse them of not caring about the suffering of sick people.

14:4b

Then: In Greek 14:4b begins with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then. This conjunction introduces Jesus’ next action after the Jewish leaders refused to answer his question. Many English versions, including the New International Version, translate the conjunction as “So.” Other versions, such as the Good News Translation, do not translate this conjunction. Here is another way to connect 14:4a and 14:4b:

When they refused to answer, Jesus touched the sick man… (New Living Translation (2004))

Translate this connection in a natural way in your language.

Jesus took hold of the man, healed him: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as took hold of the man is literally “having-taken” or “having-taken-hold.” It probably indicates that Jesus put his hands on the man in order to heal him. It does not imply that Jesus took the man to a different location. While 14:4b is part of the same sentence as 14:4a in Greek, in some languages it will be more natural to start a new sentence at 14:4b. Most English versions do that. For example:

So Jesus took hold of the man, healed him (NET Bible)
-or-
Then Jesus touched the man and healed him

sent him on his way: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sent him on his way indicates here that Jesus dismissed the man. He gave him permission to leave and go home. Be careful not to imply that Jesus harshly ordered the man to leave.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 15:1

Section 15:1–7

Jesus told a parable about a man looking for his lost sheep

In Luke 15 Jesus welcomed sinful people, and many listened to him. However, the Pharisees criticized Jesus for welcoming people like that. Then Jesus told the three parables in this chapter. Each parable tells about something that was lost and the joy of the one who found it. The things that were lost represent sinful people. They need help to be restored to God. The parables illustrate that God feels great joy when even one sinful person repents and is restored to a good relationship with him. In the Notes each parable will be described in a separate section.

The parable in this section is about a sheep that went away from its shepherd. The sheep did not know how to find the shepherd again. When the shepherd noticed that this one sheep was missing, he searched for it diligently until he found it. He then invited his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him that he had found the lost sheep. Another heading for this section is:

The Lost Sheep (God’s Word)
-or-
A shepherd was happy to find his lost sheep

There is a parallel passage for this section in Matthew 18:12–14. However, the context and some of the details are different.

Paragraph 15:1–2

15:1a–b

Now: In this context the Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now introduces a new event and a new topic. It is not a time word here. Introduce the topic in a natural way in your language.

all the tax collectors and sinners: The terms tax collectors and sinners refer to people who were known to be sinful. Many Jews refused to associate with such people. See how you translated this phrase in 7:34.

It is clear from 15:2 that tax collectors were included among those who were called “sinners.” In some languages it may be necessary to indicate this connection. For example:

tax collectors and other notorious sinners (New Living Translation (2004))

all: In this context the word all emphasizes that very many tax collectors and other sinners gathered around Jesus. It probably does not indicate that every sinner came. In some languages it may be more natural to make this clear. For example:

many tax collectors and sinners

tax collectors: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tax collectors refers to Jewish men who collected taxes from their fellow Jews for the government. Ordinary Jews despised them because:

(1) Tax collectors worked for a government that oppressed the people.

(2) Tax collectors often cheated the people by collecting more money than the law required and keeping the extra money for themselves.

If you do not have a word in your language for “tax collectors,” some other ways to describe them are:

men who collected taxes/payment for the government
-or-
men who were paid by rulers to collect money for them from people

See how you translated tax collectors in 3:12a. You may also want to include a footnote in your translation to help readers understand why most Jews hated tax collectors.

sinners: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sinners refers to people who habitually disobey God or do not do what he wants them to do. In this context sinners refers to people whom the Pharisees thought were especially sinful. The New International Version uses quote marks to indicate that the people had a reputation for being more sinful than others. Some ways to translate sinners here are:

people who ⌊habitually⌋ sin
-or-
people who do not obey God
-or-
wrongdoers

The word sinners also occurs in 5:30b.

were gathering around to listen to Jesus: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as were…gathering around means “were approaching” or “were coming near.” The people were coming nearer to Jesus so that they could listen to his teaching. Other ways to translate this are:

were…crowding in to listen to him (Revised English Bible)
-or-
were coming near Him to listen to Him (New American Standard Bible)

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 16:1

Section 16:1–13

Jesus told a parable about a dishonest manager who acted wisely

In the main part of this section, 16:1–8b, Jesus told a parable that appears only in Luke. In this parable a rich man had hired a man to manage his money and possessions for him. The manager was dishonest in his work, so the rich man said that he could not continue to be his manager. But before the manager left this work, he used his position and money to cause other people to like him. He did this so that they would help him when he no longer had an income.

The main point of this parable is that the manager knew how to use money to make things better for his own future. In this way he was a good example for Jesus’ disciples. The parable does not mean that Jesus approved of the manager’s dishonesty.

In 16:8c–16:9 Jesus commented on the parable and applied it to his disciples. In 16:10–13 he gave other teachings about the proper use of wealth.

Other possible headings for this section are:

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager (New International Version)
-or-
The dishonest man who was in charge of a rich man’s wealth

Paragraph 16:1–2

16:1a

Jesus also said: In Greek, this verse begins with a phrase that is literally “and he said also.” The word also indicates that Jesus was continuing to tell parables. In some languages it may be helpful to indicate explicitly that Jesus’ next words were a parable. For example:

Jesus told ⌊a story⌋
-or-
Jesus also told ⌊a parable⌋

His disciples: In the previous chapter Jesus told three parables to the Pharisees and scribes. In this chapter he addressed a parable particularly to his disciples. In some languages it may be more natural to indicate in some way that Jesus was now speaking to a different group. For example:

Then Jesus also told ⌊a parable⌋ to his disciples. He said

disciples: For help in translating the word disciples, see the note at 9:14b.

16:1b

There was a rich man: This clause introduces one of the characters in the story. Use a natural way in your language to introduce such a character.

16:1c

manager: The manager was a skilled servant who managed the rich man’s money and property. The story makes it clear that he was an employee, not a slave. Other ways to translate this word are:

employee who was in charge ⌊of his wealth⌋
-or-
servant who managed his property (Good News Translation)
-or-
manager to take care of his business (New Century Version)

16:1d

was accused of wasting his possessions: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was accused is a passive verb. It implies here that another person spoke to the rich man and told him that his manager was not taking good care of his possessions. In some languages it may be necessary to use an active verb and provide a subject. If that is true in your language, you should provide a general subject. For example:

⌊Someone⌋ ⌊went to him and⌋ accused the manager of wasting the rich man’s possessions.

wasting his possessions: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wasting his possessions means here that the manager was misusing the rich man’s money and property. Apparently he was spending it for his own enjoyment. In 16:8 Jesus said explicitly that the manager was being dishonest. Some other ways to translate this expression are:

cheating him (New Century Version)
-or-
wasting his employer’s money (New Living Translation (2004))

his possessions: In your translation, make sure that it is clear that the pronoun his refers to the rich man.

General Comment on 16:1b–d

There is a lot of information in 16:1b–d. In some languages it may be helpful to divide it into two or more sentences. For example:

A rich man once had a manager to take care of his business. But he was told that his manager was wasting money. (Contemporary English Version)

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 17:2

17:2

This verse emphasizes how terrible it is for someone to cause a little one to sin. Even an awful death like drowning is better than the punishment that such a person will receive.

17:2a

It would be better for him: The clause It would be better introduces a comparison. The comparison is between two terrible punishments:

(a) drowning in the sea with a millstone tied around the neck (17:2b);

(b) ⌊the punishment for⌋ causing a little one to sin (17:1b).

Jesus was saying that the punishment for causing a little one to sin is worse than drowning. A person should prefer to drown rather than to cause a little one to sin. Languages compare such situations in various ways. For example:

2bIf people tied a big stone around the neck of a person who did that and threw him in the ocean ⌊so that he drowned⌋, 2athat would be a little punishment. 2cBut if he causes one of these little ones to sin, ⌊God⌋ will give him a really big punishment.
-or-

2cThe person who causes a little one to sin ⌊will be punished⌋ 2ain a way that will be worse than 2bif a millstone were tied around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

Use a natural way to express the comparison in your language.

17:2b

to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea: This part of the verse describes how a person might be punished. People might tie a millstone around the person’s neck and then throw the person into the sea. Some English versions mention the sea first. For example:

to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck (New International Version)

But in some languages it may be more natural to mention these actions in the order they happen. For example:

if a large millstone were tied around his neck and he were thrown into the sea (Good News Translation)

You should use a natural order in your language.

millstone hung…thrown: The verbs hung and thrown are passive. In some languages it may be more natural to use active verbs and supply a general subject like “people” or “someone.” For example:

if ⌊people⌋ tied a large stone around his neck and threw him into the sea

to be thrown into the sea: If someone is thrown into deep water with a millstone tied around his neck, he will sink and die by drowning. In some languages it may be necessary to make this implied information explicit. For example:

thrown into the sea ⌊to drown/die⌋

the sea: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sea refers to a large, wide body of water. The water can be either salty or fresh. This word can also be used in contrast to land. The phrase the sea does not refer here to any particular sea.

In some areas people may not be familiar with large seas. If that is true in your language, you can translate it with a more familiar term. For example:

into a lake/river

a millstone: A millstone is a large, heavy stone. People used stones like this to grind grain to make flour.

Sometimes a person rotated the stone. At other times an animal turned the stone.

Some other ways to translate the word millstone are:

large stone
-or-
very heavy stone

17:2c

than to cause one of these little ones to stumble: This verse implies that God will severely punish a person who causes little ones to sin. The punishment will be far worse than if someone had killed him by drowning him. In some languages it may be necessary to make some of this information explicit. For example:

than to endure the way that ⌊God⌋ would punish him for causing one of these little ones to sin

cause…to stumble: Translate cause…to stumble in a similar way as you translated “stumbling blocks” in 17:1a.

these little ones: The phrase little ones often refers to children. In this context Jesus used the phrase figuratively to refer to people who are innocent or weak in some way. They need protection and help. The word these refers to people who were listening to Jesus and probably to others like them. Some ways to translate this are:

one of these childlike people
-or-
an innocent/vulnerable person ⌊like⌋ these

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 17:34

Paragraph 17:34–37

For 17:34–35 see also Matthew 24:40–41. These verses indicate that some people who live and work close to one another will be separated at the time when Jesus returns.

17:34a

I tell you: The pronoun you is plural here. Jesus often used the words I tell you to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. It indicates that the statement was important and that people should listen carefully to it. Some other ways to show this emphasis are:

let me tell you this
-or-
listen carefully to this:
-or-
I assure you

If you have another way in your language to emphasize a statement or to alert people to listen with special attention, consider using it here.

on that night: Here Jesus was referring back to what he said in 17:30 about the Son of Man being revealed (when he returns and everyone will see him). In some languages it may be better to use a different phrase to refer back to it. For example:

At that time ⌊when I return⌋
-or-
When ⌊I, the Son of Man, return⌋

two people will be in one bed: The Greek text does not say whether these two people are men or women, children or adults. A husband and wife, or two children, or any other two people might be in one bed. So use an expression for be in one bed that does not have sexual connotations. For example:

two ⌊family members⌋ will be ⌊sleeping⌋ in/on one bed

Jesus was not referring to any specific two people. He was saying that similar separations will happen all over the world when he returns.

17:34b

one will be taken and the other left: The verbs will be taken and left are passive. Here are some ways to translate these actions:

• Use passive verbs. For example:

one ⌊person⌋ will be taken and the other ⌊person⌋ will be left.

• Use active verbs and supply a subject. The subject may be either God or Jesus, since the clause refers to the time of Jesus’ coming. For example:

⌊God⌋ will take one ⌊of them⌋ and leave the other ⌊one⌋.
-or-

⌊I⌋ will take one person and leave the other person.

There are two ways to interpret the words One will be taken and the other left:

(1) The people who are taken will go to safety with Jesus. The people who are left will be punished. For example:

one will be taken away; the other will be left behind (Good News Translation)

(2) The people who are taken will go away to be punished. The people who are left will not endure that punishment. For example:

destruction will take one

It is recommended that you attempt to leave this ambiguous, as most English versions do. The point is that the righteous and wicked will suddenly be separated.

However, if you must decide between the interpretations, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Most Bible scholars follow this interpretation. It fits the context of Noah and Lot, who were taken away to be safe while the other people were punished.

taken and…left: Note that the words taken and left refer to two opposite actions. In some languages it may be natural to use a conjunction that implies contrast. For example:

God will take one but will leave the other.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 18:29

18:29a

Truly I tell you: Jesus also used this phrase at 18:17. Here the phrase emphasizes what Jesus was about to say to the disciples in 18:29b–30b. Other ways to translate it are:

I assure you that… (Good News Translation)
-or-
I can promise you that…
-or-
I can guarantee this truth: (God’s Word)

For more suggestions, see the notes on 18:17a.

Jesus replied: In the Greek text, this clause occurs before the words “Truly I tell you.” Place it where it is most natural in your language.

18:29b–30a

no one who has left…will fail to receive: The phrase no one who has left…will fail to receive is an emphatic way to say “anyone who has left…will certainly receive.” For example:

Anyone who gave up his home, wife, brothers, parents, or children…will certainly receive many times as much in this life… (God’s Word)

18:29b–c

has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God: Here Jesus implied that sometimes his disciples must leave their homes and families in order to serve God and his kingdom. In this context, leaving family members probably implies being away from them for a long time. Jesus’ disciples did this when they left their families to travel with Jesus. Sometimes people may also have to leave their family members in order to become people in God’s kingdom. This is especially true when family members oppose Jesus.

Some other ways to translate this are:

has left behind their homes or wives or brothers or parents or children in order to serve God as his king
-or-
has given up his home, wife, brothers, parents, or children to submit to God as his king

home: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as home can refer to any house. It can also refer to the family members who live in a person’s house.

brothers or parents or children: The word brothers includes all siblings, older and younger, male and female. The word parents refers to both mother and father. The word children refers to a person’s sons and daughters. Use appropriate kinship terms in your language.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 19:18

19:18–19

These two verses are similar to 19:16–17. In some languages it may be natural to translate these verses as a separate paragraph, as in the New Century Version.

19:18a

The second servant came and said: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as The second servant is literally “the second.” It refers to the next of the ten servants who came and spoke to his master the king. You can translate this part of the verse in a similar way as you translated 19:16a.

19:18b

Master: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Master also occurred in 19:16b. See the note there for translation suggestions.

your mina has made five minas: The meaning of this clause is the same as 19:16b, except that the amount is different. The second servant had used his master’s money to earn five times as much. See the notes at 19:16b for translation suggestions.

General Comment on 19:18a–b

In some languages it may be more natural to use indirect speech for this verse. For example:

The next servant also reported a good gain—five times the original amount. (New Living Translation (1996))

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 20:2

20:2a–b

“Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”: The Berean Standard Bible places the words they said in the middle of what the chief priests, scribes, and elders said to Jesus. This is good English style. However, in some languages, it may be necessary to place these words at the beginning of 20:2a. For example:

and they said to him, “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things and who gave you this authority?”

Tell us.…by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?: Here the Jewish leaders challenged Jesus’ authority. The Greek text uses two questions to translate this challenge. In some languages it may be natural to express one or both of the questions as a command. For example:

Tell us what authority You have to do these things and who gave You the authority.

The Greek text connects the questions with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and. However, many English versions translate this conjunction as “or.” In some languages it may be more natural to have no conjunction. For example:

What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority? (Contemporary English Version)

Use a natural way in your language to express this challenge to Jesus’ authority.

20:2a

they said: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they said is literally “and they spoke, saying to him.” In the Greek text this phrase occurs at the beginning of the verse. See the note on 20:2a–b above and place this phrase where it is natural in your language.

In this context the leaders were challenging Jesus, so it may be natural to use a more specific verb. For example:

They demanded (New Living Translation (2004))

by what authority are You doing these things: In Greek the clause by what authority are You doing these things is identical to the question in Mark 11:28a.

The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by what authority means “by what right.” It questions the type of authority Jesus had. Did he claim to be the Messiah, a prophet, or to have some other type of authority? Some other ways to translate this are:

Tell us, what gives you the right…? (God’s Word)
-or-
Tell us where your authority to do all that…is from!

doing these things: The phrase doing these things has a general meaning. It refers to everything that Jesus had been doing and teaching since he arrived in Jerusalem. In some languages it may be helpful to include a footnote to explain the meaning more specifically. For example:

“These things” could refer to everything that Jesus had been doing and teaching since he arrived in Jerusalem. These things included accepting the praise of the crowd as he entered the city, making people stop selling things in the temple, and teaching people in the temple.

20:2b

and who gave You this authority?: This question is similar to the question in 20:2a, but it is more specific. The leaders demanded that Jesus tell who had given him the right to do what he was doing. The leaders themselves did not actually believe that anyone had given Jesus such a right. Another way to translate the demand is:

Who sent you ⌊to do these things⌋?

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.