offering / sacrifice (Luang)

The Greek terms that are translated uniformly as “sacrifice” or “offering” in English have the option of various terms in Luang with different shades of meaning.

For Acts 24:17, himima-rere’a (“holding two hands out”). “The focus of this term is on the gift being given by a person of lower position to a person of higher position.”

For Acts 21:26, hniurliwtu-nwali odawa (“pour out sweat [and] turn into sweaty smell”). “The focus is on the personal cost of the sacrifice.”

For Gen. 22:2-8 and Gen. 22:13, hopopa-hegeuru (“peace sign”). “The focus is on the animal or object being sacrificed, as in the story of the sacrifice of Isaac. This term was used throughout that whole chapter. This term is also used in verses that speak of Jesus as the sacrifice for our sins.”

For Acts 15:29, hoi-tani (“serve with right hand – serve with left”). “This term is used in referring to sacrifices or worship offered to idols or pagan gods.”

Source: Kathy Taber in Notes on Translation 1/1999, p. 9-16.

See also sacrifice.

complete verse (Acts 24:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 24:17:

  • Uma: “‘For several years, I have not gone to Yerusalem. But just recently I went to Yerusalem taking helping money to my Yahudi relatives, and taking my offering / sacrifice to the Lord God.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘So-then, after several years had passed since I left Awrusalam, I returned there bringing money to give to the people of my tribe and to sacrifice to God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The reason I went up to Jerusalem because it had been a few years that I had not visited there, I went there so that I could deliver some money which was to help my companion Jews, and so that I also might make an offering to God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘There have been how-many years since-I-left Jerusalem, so I went there to go give money to use-in-helping my fellow Jews who were-in-need and also to go butcher what would be offered to God in the Temple.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, after the passing of a few years from my previous going to Jerusalem, I went there again, taking money to aid my fellow Jews there. Another of my purposes was to give a thank-offering to God.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 24:17

The introductory clause, after being away from Jerusalem for several years, relates the paragraph back to what has already been mentioned, namely, Paul’s visit to Jerusalem to worship (v. 11). This makes this first clause an important linking device.

Once again there is a long involved Greek sentence, as verses 17-21 are one sentence in Greek. For the English reader the literal Greek expression “after several years … I came” is unclear; what Paul means is after being away from Jerusalem for several years, I went there.

To take some money is doubtless a reference to the collection that Paul gathered from the churches of Macedonia, Achaia, Galatia, and Asia for the Christians in Jerusalem. On this collection see Romans 15.25 ff.; 1 Corinthians 16.1-4; 2 Corinthians 8.1. Most translators render this either as “alms” (see Revised Standard Version) or as “charitable gifts” (New English Bible, Phillips [Phillips]; see An American Translation* “charitable donations”). Take some money should probably be rendered as “take some money as a gift” and to my own people should not be a reference simply to Paul’s own family or kinsmen; rather, it is a reference to “some Jewish people.” It would not be a reference to the Jewish people as a whole.

To offer sacrifices may also be understood in the sense of “to give offerings,” but in light of what Paul in fact did do, to do sacrifices seems more in keeping with the context. To offer sacrifices is, in many languages, simply “to cause animals to be killed as gifts to God” or “to give slain animals to God.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 24:17

Paragraph 24:17–21

24:17a–b

Here Paul began speaking again to his defense (24:10–13). Languages have various ways to show that a topic is resumed. If possible, show that the earlier topic is resumed in a natural way. For example:

Now (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Then

After several years, then: This phrase in Greek is literally “after many years.” The context implies that Paul did not visit Jerusalem during this period of time. So the Berean Standard Bible and some English versions add a phrase like After several years. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

after some years (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
After being away from Jerusalem for several years (Good News Translation)

I returned to Jerusalem: This clause in Greek is literally I returned. But the context clearly implies to Jerusalem. The context does not imply Caesarea, where Paul actually was when he spoke this. So the Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions add a phrase like to Jerusalem.

to bring alms to my people: The phrase my people refers to Jews in general. Paul actually brought gifts of money for Jews who believed in Jesus, but purposely does not explain the difference here. Translate literally without explaining the difference in your translation.

Use a word for a group of people with a common language and culture. Also, Paul brought the gifts, not the people. For example:

to bring gifts to ⌊people of⌋ my nation/tribe
-or-
to bring gifts to ⌊people of⌋ my own people group

to present offerings: The word offerings probably refers to the offering of 21:26 here. This would include sacrificing a male and female lamb, a male sheep and giving various food and drink offerings (Numbers 6:14–15). In 24:18–19, Paul refers to the events of 21:26–30. He also connects 24:18–19 with a connecting phrase that connects to the word offerings. Your translation should not refer only to animal sacrifices.

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