hungry

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated in English as “hungry” is translated in Noongar as koborl-wirt or “without stomach” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang) and in the Kölsch translation (publ. 2017) it is often translated as nix zo Käue han or “have nothing to chew on” (note that zo Käue han or “something to chew on” is also used for “eat” — see Mark 6:37). (Source: Jost Zetzsche)

See also famished.

complete verse (Luke 1:53)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 1:53:

  • Noongar: “He has filled the hungry people, giving them good things, but the rich people, he sent them away, their hands empty.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “Hungry people he makes full with good food. He makes rich people go out with just their bodies.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “He satisfies with good those in need and he sends away the rich without anything (lit. they don’t carry anything).” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “He gives to the people who call on him for help what they need, but those people who think that they do not need the help of God, he does not help.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “He moreover gives the unfortunate/pitiful-ones good-things until they are satisfied, but as for the rich, he causes-them -to-go-away empty-handed (lit. shaved/stripped-clean).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “As for the hungry ones, he caused them to be filled/satisfied with good things. But as for those who are rich, he sent them away with nothing at all.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 1:53

1:53a

He has filled the hungry with good things: The clause He has filled the hungry with good things means “God has given hungry people so much good food to eat that they are satisfied.”

This clause has both a literal and a figurative meaning. Literally, the word hungry refers to people who do not have enough food to eat and so are physically hungry. Figuratively, it refers to people who have a great desire for God and spiritual blessings.

Some languages may have a clause or idiom for filled the hungry that has this literal meaning and also implies this figurative meaning. If this is true in your language, you may be able to use it here. However, be careful that it does not imply a wrong figurative meaning.

Some other ways to translate the clause are:

He has satisfied the hungry with good things (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
He fed hungry people with good food. (God’s Word)

good things: In this context, good things refers to food. But the good things also represent all the things that people desire and need (both physical and spiritual things).

1:53b

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but is the same one that was used in 1:52b. As in 1:52b, it connects two ways in which God showed his power. God showed his power when he filled the hungry people with good things (1:53a) and when he sent the rich people away empty (1:53b). These two actions contrast with each other, so the conjunction but is natural in English. Connect these parts of the verse in a natural way in your language. In some languages a conjunction may not be needed.

has sent the rich away empty: This phrase indicates that God sent the rich people away without giving them anything. As in 1:53a, this clause has both a literal meaning and a figurative meaning. It implies that God does not satisfy the arrogant with spiritual blessings.

Some languages may have a clause or idiom for sent the rich away empty that has this literal meaning and also implies this figurative meaning. If this is true in your language, you may be able to use it here. However, be careful that it does not imply a wrong figurative meaning.

Some other ways to translate this are:

He sent rich people away with nothing. (God’s Word)
-or-
He did not give the ⌊arrogant⌋ rich people anything, but sent them away.

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