Translation commentary on Luke 10:3

Exegesis:

hupagete ‘go,’ ‘be on your way,’ cf. on 8.42b.

idou apostellō humas hōs arnas en mesō lukōn ‘look, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.’ For idou cf. on 1.20. apostellō takes up apesteilen of v. 1.

arēn ‘lamb’ as a symbol of helplessness.

lukos ‘wolf’ as a symbol of menacing danger.

Translation:

Go your way, or, “set forth” (The Four Gospels – a New Translation), ‘(now) go to where I told you.’

As lambs in the midst of wolves, or, ‘as a lamb goes amongst wolves.’ Lamb, usually, ‘young sheep,’ or ‘child of sheep.’ Terms for species of ‘sheep’ and ‘goat’ may overlap. Wolf, an animal of depredation, fiercer than a fox. Local equivalents used as, ‘hyena’ (Yao), ‘wild dog’ (Shona; similarly Pohnpeian, lit. ‘dog-of uninhabited-place’), ‘very fierce dog’ (Tboli), ‘fierce coyote’ (Central Mazahua), ‘tiger’ (Sranan Tongo, Batak Toba), ‘leopard’ (Kele), ‘jaguar’ (Tzeltal). Some descriptive renderings are, ‘wild animal that has teeth, or, that kills’ (Ekari, Huixtec), ‘fierce wild animal’ (Huehuetla Tepehua).

Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 10:3

10:3

Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves: This statement indicates that Jesus was sending his disciples to places where some of the people would oppose them.

10:3a

Go!: If the command Go! sounds too abrupt, you may wish to use a more gentle expression. For example:

Be on your way… (Revised English Bible)
-or-

⌊It’s time to⌋ go ⌊now⌋ (Translator’s Reference Translation)

In the Greek text, the next clause begins with a word that many English versions translate as “behold.” The Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions do not translate this word. The word is used here to introduce something surprising or unexpected. Some other ways to translate this word are:

Go now, but listen! (New Century Version)
-or-
Now go, but remember (Contemporary English Version)

In some languages there are special expressions or verb prefixes that have this meaning. If you have something like this in your language, you may be able to use it here.

In some languages it may be more natural to translate “behold” in a different place in the verse. For example:

Go! I am sending you. But remember, you will be like lambs that are among wolves.

I am sending you out: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as am sending…out is literally “send.” The word “apostle” is a different form of the same Greek word. There is no need to translate the word out unless it is natural in your language. For example:

am sending you (Contemporary English Version)

10:3b

like lambs among wolves: This is a simile. It compares the disciples to lambs in an area where there are wolves. The disciples were going to towns where some people would strongly oppose them and want to harm them.

The disciples were similar to lambs because they would be helpless and unable to defend themselves. Their opponents were similar to wolves because they were dangerous and vicious.

If the point of the comparison is not clear, it may be necessary to make some of the implied meaning explicit. For example:

⌊you will face danger⌋ like lambs among wolves
-or-
like ⌊helpless⌋ lambs in an area where there are ⌊dangerous⌋ wolves

lambs: The word lambs refers here to young sheep. In areas where people are not familiar with lambs, you may:

• Use a more general expression, with or without the implied point of similarity. For example:

a young animal ⌊that cannot defend itself⌋

• Use a term for another young animal that people in your culture consider to be helpless. Choose an animal that is as similar to a lamb as possible.

Translate this in the way that is most natural in your language.

wolves: The term wolves describes animals that are like wild dogs. They often attack and eat smaller animals such as lambs. If you do not have wolves in your area, you may:

• Use a general expression for a dangerous animal. For example:

a fierce/wild animal

• Use a term in your culture for a similar fierce animal or predator. For example:

wild dogs

Translate this in the way that is most natural in your language.

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