Translation commentary on Luke 10:35

Exegesis:

epi tēn aurion ‘on the next day.’

aurion adv. ‘tomorrow,’ here with article hē, and substantive hēmera understood, ‘the day of tomorrow,’ ‘the next day.’

ekbalōn … duo dēnaria ‘after taking out two denarii.’ ekballō is used here without the usual note of violence, cf. Plummer. For dēnarion cf. on 7.41.

edōken … tō pandochei ‘he gave (them) to the innkeeper’ (pandocheus ‡).

epimelēthēti autou ‘look after him,’ effective imperative, i.e. not meant as an order for only once but for a period of time.

ho ti an prosdapanēsēs egō … apodōsō soi ‘whatever you spend in addition … I will repay you.’ egō is emphatic. prosdapanaō.

en tō epanerchesthai me ‘at my returning,’ i.e. ‘when I come back to your place.’ epanerchomai also 19.15.

Translation:

And the next day, cf. on 9.37.

Took out, or, ‘took from his pocket/purse/wallet.’

Two denarii. Generic renderings are, ‘(a sum of) money,’ ‘two silver coins,’ ‘two pieces of silver, or money’; local equivalents chosen are, “two dollars” (An American Translation), “ten shillings” (Phillips), ‘two guilders’ (Batak Toba), ‘two half guilders’ (Tae’ 1933). Some versions in Muslim countries have used d(j)inar, an adaptation of the Arabic transliteration dīnār. This, however, is not advisable in at least some of the languages, since the term came to refer there to a gold coin worth up to a sovereign.

Innkeeper, or, ‘master of the inn,’ ‘the one who owns/runs the inn.’ Where professional innkeeping is unknown the situation may require explanation.

Whatever more you spend, or, ‘when you spend more,’ ‘whatever you add to (it)’ (Trukese), or with some further specification, ‘when you lose more on him’ (Sranan Tongo), ‘if he (or, the care of him) costs you more (than this),’ ‘if you spend what goes beyond this money, or, more than I have already given you’ (cf. Shona 1966, Tzeltal); or as a co-ordinated sentence, ‘perhaps this (money) is not enough; then….’

Repay you may require an object, ‘repay you that (sum/amount),’ ‘pay you your loss, or, what is lacking,’ ‘exchange it for you’ (Tboli).

When I come back, or, ‘when I pass here again,’ “on my way back” (New English Bible).

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 10:35

10:35a

The next day: In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit that the Samaritan and the other man stayed at the inn that night:

⌊They slept at the inn that night, and⌋ when morning came

he took out two denarii: This clause implies that the Samaritan took two silver coins called denarii from the place where he carried his money. In some languages it may be necessary to say from where the Samaritan took these two coins. For example:

he took two silver coins ⌊out of his money bag⌋

two denarii: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as two denarii uses the plural form of the word “denarius.” A denarius was a Roman silver coin that was worth the pay for a full day’s work for an ordinary worker.

When translating this phrase you can:

• Transliterate the Greek word denarius, as the Berean Standard Bible and other versions do. For example:

two denarii (Revised Standard Version)

• Transliterate the Greek word denarius and add a descriptive phrase. For example:

two denarii coins

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

two silver coins (Good News Translation)
-or-
two pieces of money

• Use a generic phrase. For example:

some money

Whichever option you choose, it will probably be good to include a footnote. Some sample footnotes are:

Two denarii are two silver coins. This was as much money as a worker would earn in two days.
-or-
The money was called denarii in Greek. These two silver coins were worth the salary that a common laborer would earn in two days.

10:35b

gave them to the innkeeper: In this context the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gave refers to handing over a payment, not to giving a gift. If that is not clear, it may be necessary to use a different expression. For example:

handed them to the innkeeper
-or-
paid them in advance to the innkeeper

innkeeper: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as innkeeper refers to the man who took care of the guesthouse. He was the “manager” of the inn and may also have been the owner.

10:35c

This part of the verse implies that the Samaritan was about to leave the inn to continue his journey. He gave instructions to the innkeeper about caring for the man until he returned. In some languages, it may be necessary to begin 10:35c by mentioning the Samaritan’s intention to leave. For example:

⌊I must leave now.⌋ Look after him…

In other languages, this information may occur at the beginning of 10:35d. See 10:35c and 10:35d in the Display for examples.

Take care of him: In this context the Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Take care of him means, “Take care of ⌊this injured man⌋.” The same verb occurs in 10:34c.

In some languages, it may be necessary to begin this request with a polite word such as “please.”

he said: In some languages it may be helpful to say explicitly “the Samaritan said.”

In Greek, the words he said occur before the clause “Take care of him.” You should place he said where it is most natural in your language.

10:35d

and on my return: The Samaritan was going either to Jerusalem or to Jericho. Apparently he planned to come back later on this same road.

10:35e

I will repay you for any additional expense: The Samaritan did not know whether the innkeeper would have to spend more than two silver coins to take care of the injured man. In some languages it may be best to make this clear by using an “if” clause. For example:

If you spend more money on him, I will pay it back to you. (New Century Version)

I will repay you: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I will repay you means “I will pay you back.” The Samaritan was willing to pay whatever it cost the innkeeper to take care of the other man.

any additional expense: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as any additional expense refers to costs in addition to the two silver coins that he had already paid.

General Comment on 10:35d–e

In some languages it may be necessary to reorder 10:35d–e to put the events in chronological order. For example:

35eYou may need to spend more than this. If so, 35dwhen I return 35eI will pay you the difference/extra.
-or-

35eIf the cost is more than this, I will pay you the rest 35dwhen/after I come back.

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