SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013 – Page 91

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 6:24

Paragraph 6:24–26

This paragraph contains four “woes.” Each woe is a general statement against those who are satisfied with their life here and do not seek God. Each “woe” contrasts with an earlier “blessed.” For example, 6:20b says:

Blessed are you who are poor

and 6:24a says:

But woe to you who are rich

As in the statements about being blessed, Jesus addressed the people as “you(plur).” He was making general statements. He did not mean that everyone was rich, well fed, or laughing. Use a form that is natural in your language for general statements that are true. For example:

Woe to you(sing) who
-or-
Woe to him
-or-
Woe to they/people who
-or-
Woe to those who

If possible, use the same pronoun as the one you used for the statement about being blessed.

6:24a–b

Verse 6:24a–b contrasts with 6:20b–c. The contrast is as follows: Those who are poor are “blessed” because they are part of God’s kingdom. Those who are rich are in trouble because they are not part of God’s kingdom.

Try to make this clear in your translation by using terms or expressions that correspond to the terms you used in 6:20.

6:24a

But: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But marks the contrast between the four blessings in 6:20–23 and the four woes in 6:24–26.

woe to you: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as woe describes a state or situation of intense distress. It expresses a sense of God’s coming judgment. Therefore, it is a warning and a call to people to change the way they are living. These “woes” state the distress that these people can expect in the future.

You may have a natural way to express this in your language. It may be a single word (or short expression) that communicates sadness, grief, or sorrow. Words like “woe” or “alas” in English do this. Some other ways you could translate this phrase are:

how horrible it will be for those (God’s Word)
-or-
But you…are in for trouble (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
What sorrows await you (New Living Translation (1996))

These “woes” are not a curse formula. They are not asking God to curse these people.

who are rich: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rich refers to people who have wealth. They usually have everything they need and even much more than they need. The word rich may also refer to people who have great privilege and status. People who are rich may be arrogant and depend on their wealth rather than God.

6:24b

for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason why the rich are in trouble. They are in trouble because they have already received comfort in this life.

you have already received your comfort: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you have already received is literally “you are receiving in full.” Jesus meant that rich people receive on this earth all the ease and pleasure that they will ever get. God will not give them anything more to comfort them beyond what they get in this life. This implies that they will not experience the eternal blessings of the kingdom of God. Some other ways to translate this are:

you are receiving your comfort in full (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
you are receiving ⌊in this life⌋ all the comfort you will ⌊ever⌋ receive
-or-
because you have had your easy life (New Century Version)

comfort: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as comfort is literally “encouragement.” The rich already have the help or encouragement they need in this world. This is what they are getting in return for adopting worldly values. However, when they face God’s judgment, there will be no help for them. They have not made God’s values a part of their life.

Another way to translate this is:

easy life (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
happiness (New Living Translation (2004))

© 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 7:7

7:7a

That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to You: In this context the Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as That is why introduces a conclusion. The basis of this conclusion is that the officer thought that he was not worthy to be with Jesus. He did not think that he was worthy to come to Jesus himself (so he sent other people). He had already said that he was not worthy for Jesus to come to his house.

Some ways to connect 7:7a to 7:6e are:

And I am certainly not worthy to come to you. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
…neither do I consider myself worthy to come to you in person. (Good News Translation)

7:7b–c

But: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But indicates contrast. Instead of coming to the officer’s house (7:6d–e), Jesus could just heal the servant from a distance by commanding it to happen. Connect 7:7b to what comes before it in a way that is natural in your language. It may be helpful to make the contrast more explicit. For example:

⌊So do not come⌋ but instead, just say the word ⌊from here⌋ and my servant will be healed.
-or-
Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. (New Living Translation (2004))

just say the word: The phrase just say the word means, “You only have to command my servant to be well.” The officer realized that Jesus did not have to be present at his house in order to heal the servant. Jesus could heal him from a distance with a spoken word. It may be helpful to make explicit what kind of word this was. For example, you could say:

Speak/say the word(s) of healing and he will be well.
-or-
Command my slave to be healed and he will be well.

In some languages it may be natural to use direct speech. For example:

Speak the words, “Be healed.”

Notice that in this example, the plural form of “words” is used.

Other ways to translate this are:

Just give the order (Good News Translation)
-or-
But you only need to command it (New Century Version)

and my servant will be healed: In Greek the clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and my servant will be healed is literally “let/may my servant be healed.” The verb form is often used as a command. However, in this context, the officer was expressing that he was confident that Jesus’ word/command alone would heal his servant. Some other ways to translate the two clauses are:

Instead, say the word, and my servant must be healed. (NET Bible)
-or-
…let my boy be cured by your giving the word. (New Jerusalem Bible)

This is a passive clause. In some languages it may be more natural to express it without using a passive form. For example:

Just command it to happen, and then my servant will get well.
-or-
But only speak the word, and that will heal my servant.

my servant: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as my servant here is not the same word as the one translated as servant in 7:2a. This word can mean “child,” but here it means “slave.” Use an appropriate word in your language.

General Comment on 7:7b–c

In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of the clauses of 7:7b–c. For example:

7c
⌊Please⌋ heal my slave 7bjust by giving the command ⌊from here⌋.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 7:39

Paragraph 7:39

7:39a

When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as saw this is literally “seeing.” It refers to seeing what the woman did for Jesus in 7:38.

he said to himself: The phrase he said to himself refers to what the Pharisee thought. He did not speak his thoughts aloud. In many languages it may be more natural to translate this as:

he thought
-or-
he said in his head/mind/heart

7:39b–e

If this man were a prophet, He would know…she is a sinner: The thoughts that the Pharisee had in 7:39b–d imply that before the woman came, he thought that Jesus might be a prophet. However, after Jesus allowed the woman to touch him in 7:38, the Pharisee thought that Jesus could not really be a prophet. The Pharisee thought this because of certain ideas that he had about prophets:

(1) He believed that God would reveal to a prophet what the prophet needed to know. As a prophet, Jesus would know that the woman was immoral.

(2) He believed that a prophet would never let an immoral woman touch him because that would cause him to be ritually “unclean.”

So the Pharisee believed that Jesus must not know anything about this woman. That caused the Pharisee to wrongly conclude that Jesus was not a prophet.

Another way to translate this is:

This man must not be a prophet because a prophet would know about this woman who is touching him. He would know what kind of woman she is. A prophet would know that she is a sinner. ⌊A prophet would never let such a woman touch him, but this man has allowed it.⌋

7:39b

If this man were a prophet: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this man is literally “this (one).” It probably expresses disrespect for Jesus. The whole clause indicates serious doubt that Jesus was a prophet. Here is another way to express this doubt:

If this man really were a prophet (Good News Translation)

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. Some ways to translate this are:

a spokesman for God
-or-
a man 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 people to stop sinning and to obey God.

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

See also the note on “prophet” at 1:70 and prophet in the Glossary.

7:39c-d

He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching him: The phrase know who this is and what kind of woman is touching him refers to knowing personal information about the woman, such as her name and where she lived. It does not imply that Jesus could not see the woman.

The phrases who this is and what kind of woman is touching him mean the same thing. The Pharisee is using repetition for emphasis. Another way to translate this is:

who this woman is who is touching him (Good News Translation)

what kind of woman is touching Him: The Pharisee assumed that Jesus did not know that this woman had a bad reputation as an immoral person.

touching Him: The phrase touching Him refers specifically to the woman’s actions of kissing Jesus’ feet and anointing them with perfumed oil. Be sure that the expression you use here does not imply any inappropriate action. In some languages you may need to use a more specific expression. For example:

anointing him

7:39e

for she is a sinner: There are two ways to interpret the Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for:

(1) It means that. It introduces something that Jesus would have known if he were a prophet. For example:

that she is a sinner (NET Bible)

(New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, NET Bible, Revised English Bible)

(2) It means for or because. It connects with the implied information that a Rabbi would not let a sinful woman touch him: “⌊And he would not let her touch him⌋ because she is a sinner.” For example:

for she is a sinner (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, King James Version; probably God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

sinner: The word sinner refers to someone who habitually offends God. The ways a person may offend God include doing and thinking things that God does not approve. A person may also offend God by his attitudes and by not doing what God wants him to do. Some ways to translate sinner are:

person who sins
-or-
someone who does not obey God
-or-
wrongdoer

In this context the Pharisee used the word sinner to imply that the woman had committed sexual sins. You may be able to translate it in a similar way as you translated “sinful” in 7:37. See the note on “a sinful woman from that town” in 7:37a.

General Comment on 7:39c–e

The Pharisee thought that Jesus should have known:

(a) who the woman was;

(b) what kind of woman she was;

These facts are quite similar and there are various ways to combine them. For example:

…he would know who this woman is who is touching him; he would know what kind of sinful life she lives! (Good News Translation)
-or-
…he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner! (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
…he would know that the woman touching him is a sinner! (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 8:21

8:21a

But: This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “and.” Jesus’ reply was not what anyone expected, so the Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions (Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible) translate this conjunction as But. Other versions do not use a conjunction here (New International Version, Good News Translation). Connect this verse to 8:20 in a way that is natural in your language.

He replied: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He replied is literally “He replying said to them.” This probably indicates that his reply was given to the messenger or messengers in 8:20a and for all the people in the crowd who were listening to him. Some ways to translate this are:

• introduce Jesus’ answer in a general way. For example:

Jesus said
-or-
But he said in answer (New Jerusalem Bible)

• Make it clear that “them” refers to more than just the messenger or messengers. For example:

Jesus said to them all (Good News Translation)

8:21b

My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out: Here Jesus used the phrase My mother and brothers in a figurative way. His statement means that people who listen to God’s word and obey it are like blood relatives to him. He considers them as his family. He did not imply here that all people who obey God’s word are literally from his physical family. You may want to make this clear in your translation. For example:

Those who hear the word and put it into practice are just like a mother and brothers to me.
-or-

The people that I call/consider my mother and my brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.

the word of God: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the word of God means God’s message, the message that comes/came from God. Translate this in a way that can include not only the written Scriptures, but also Jesus’ teaching.

carry it out: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as carry it out is literally “doing.” It means “obey it” or “do what it says.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 8:53

8:53a

And: This verse in Greek begins with a conjunction that is often translated as “and” in English, as in the Berean Standard Bible. It introduces the way that the mourners responded to what Jesus said in 8:52c. When Jesus said that the child was not dead, they did not believe him. Instead, they laughed at him. Since there is a contrast between what Jesus said and how the mourners responded, you could also use a conjunction that indicates a contrast. For example:

But (New Living Translation (2004))

Connect this verse to 8:52 in a way that is natural in your language.

they: The word they refers to the mourners to whom Jesus had just spoken.

laughed at Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as laughed at means “to mock” or “to laugh at with scorn.” The mourners treated Jesus as if he were a fool because they were sure that the girl was dead.

The form of this Greek verb indicates that the people repeatedly mocked Jesus. They probably said several different things as they laughed at him. Some languages have verb forms that distinguish between actions that happen once and actions that are repeated. If that is true in your language, use a form here that indicates that the action was repeated. The form here may indicate that the people started and then continued. For example:

began laughing at him (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
began making fun of him (NET Bible)

8:53b

knowing that she was dead: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as knowing that she was dead gives the reason why the mourners mocked Jesus. Other ways to translate this are:

for they knew that she was dead
-or-
because they were certain that she had died

General Comment on 8:53a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to give the reason before the result. If that is true in your language, you may want to reverse the order of the parts of this verse. For example:

53bThey knew that she was dead, 53aso they laughed at him.
-or-

53bSince they were sure that she had died, 53athey began laughing at him.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 9:29

9:29a

the appearance of His face changed: The phrase the appearance of His face changed means that Jesus’ face looked different in some way. The context implies that it began to shine with heavenly glory. Choose a word or phrase that can be used of a good change.

9:29b

His clothes became radiantly white: Jesus’ clothes became white and shining. The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as radiantly white is literally “white, gleaming like lightning.” This means “flashing white” or “dazzling white.” It is not necessary to refer to lightning in your translation. For example:

shining white (New Century Version)

In some languages it may be more natural to express this phrase with two separate terms. For example:

extremely white and shining

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 9:61

Paragraph 9:61–62

9:61a

Still another said: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Still another is literally “and also another.” Here it refers to the third person in a series.

I will follow You: The statement I will follow You is identical to the first clause of 9:57b. It indicates that this man wanted to become a regular disciple of Jesus.

Lord: The title Lord also occurs in 9:54b. See Lord, Context 3, in the Glossary.

9:61b

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here introduces a request that interferes or contrasts with the man’s desire to follow Jesus. Introduce it in a natural way in your language.

first let me bid farewell to my family: This statement is a request. The man asked Jesus’ permission to go home and say goodbye to his family before he became Jesus’ disciple. This could have involved a lot of time spent in feasting and visiting.

my family: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as my family is literally “the ones in my house.” It refers to all of the man’s relatives who were living in his household. It can also include other relatives in the same area, even if they were not living in the same house. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

my relatives
-or-
our(excl) household

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 10:31

10:31a–33a

Each of these three verses introduces one of three people who had the opportunity to help the man who had been beaten. Introduce each of these people in a natural way in your language.

10:31a

Now: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now introduces the next event in the story. The word Now is not a time word here.

This verse introduces the first man who came along the road and saw the beaten man. The story does not say how much time had passed before the priest came. If you need to supply a time word or phrase in your language, use a general expression. For example:

Later
-or-
As he was lying there like that

by chance: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by chance means “by chance” or “coincidentally.” The priest did not know about the other man, but by chance or coincidence he was traveling on the same road.

a priest: A Jewish priest was a man who offered sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. He also performed other religious rituals for them. Some ways to translate priest are:

sacrificer
-or-
man/person who sacrifices to God
-or-
man who represents people to God

Avoid using a term that refers only to a fetish priest or to an ordained leader of a local Christian church.

See priest in the Glossary.

was going down: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was going down was also used in 10:30a. Consider whether it is natural in your language to translate it the same way in both verses.

the same road: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the same road is literally “that road.” It refers to the road on which the man was traveling in 10:30a. However, the word road is not used in that verse. Refer to the road in this verse in a natural way in your language. Consider if you may need to mention the road also in 10:30a.

10:31b

but when he saw him: In some languages it may be necessary to say explicitly that he refers to the priest. Or it may be necessary to supply some further information about him. For example:

when ⌊the priest⌋ saw the man ⌊lying there⌋

he passed by on the other side: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he passed by on the other side indicates that the priest walked past the man on the opposite side of the road. He stayed as far as possible from the man as he passed him. He did not stop to help the man. Jesus did not say why the priest did not help him, and you should not supply such information.

In some languages an expression such as “other/opposite side of the road” may not be natural. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

he passed by the man, keeping/veering away from him, and went on
-or-
he went around him and continued on his way (God’s Word)

Search

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2013