Translation commentary on Luke 11:52

Exegesis:

ērate tēn kleida tēs gnēseōs ‘you have taken away the key to knowledge.’ airō means here ‘to take away from its proper place, so that it cannot be used’ (cf. 8.12). The phrase kleis tēs gnōseōs is best understood metaphorically as the key that opens the way to the understanding of Scripture which is the way of salvation (cf. gnōsis sōtērias ‘knowledge of salvation,’ 1.77). The experts in the law have a wrong interpretation of the Old Testament and this makes it impossible for them to find salvation. kleis.

autoi ouk eisēlthate ‘(consequently) you have not gone in yourselves,’ scil. into the knowledge of salvation. This metaphorical use of eiserchomai (cf. also 22.40, 46, Mt. 25.21) is a Hebraism. The asyndeton indicates that this clause, and also the next one, are the result of the taking away of the key.

tous eiserchomenous ekōlusate ‘those who wanted to enter you have stopped.’ The participle tous eiserchomenous is best understood as conative. For kōluō cf. on 6.29.

Translation:

The key of knowledge, preferably, “the key to (the door of) knowledge” (The Four Gospels – a New Translation, An American Translation), “the key that opens the door to the house of knowledge” (Good News Translation). The function of key may have to be described, e.g. ‘unlocker’ (East Nyanja, Yao), ‘means to open,’ ‘what opens the way to,’ and knowledge, or, ‘house of knowledge’ may have to be explained, e.g. ‘the place where people can acquire knowledge, or, can learn to understand the Scriptures.’

Hindered, or, “kept out” (An American Translation), ‘stopped’ (Shona 1963), ‘did not allow’ (Tzeltal).

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 11:52

11:52a

Woe: This word is the same word as in 11:43a.

to you experts in the law!: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as experts in the law is the same word as in 10:25a and 11:45a. See expert in the law in the Glossary.

11:52b

For: The conjunction For introduces a third reason why God would punish the experts in the law.

you have taken away the key to knowledge: This is a metaphor. It compares knowledge to a house whose door is locked. This door can only be opened by a certain key. That key represents the way to knowing God.

The Jewish religious leaders had taken this key away from the people, that is, they had prevented the people from knowing God.

Some ways to translate this metaphor are:

• Keep the metaphor and explain that the function of the key is to unlock or open the door. For example:

You have kept the key that opens the door to the house of knowledge (Good News Translation)
-or-
You have taken away the key to learning about God. (New Century Version)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

You have removed what is like a key that opens the way for people to learn about God

• If the image of a key is unknown in your area, you may change the metaphor slightly. For example:

You have shut the door that leads to knowing God.
-or-
You have blocked the way for people to know God.

• Translate the direct meaning. For example:

You have hindered/prevented people from knowing God.

Translate this metaphor in a way that is natural in your language.

knowledge: The word knowledge refers to knowing God. In particular, it refers to knowing how God saves people. For example:

knowledge about God (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
learning about God (New Century Version)

11:52c

You yourselves have not entered: Jesus here continued the metaphor of 11:52b. He said that the experts in the religious law had not entered through the door that led to knowing God. By this he meant that they themselves had never come to know God truly.

If you have dropped the figure of “entering,” you may translate this clause as:

You yourselves have never truly known God.

You yourselves: In the Greek, the word You is emphatic. English versions show this emphasis with the translation You yourselves. You should try to show this emphasis in your translation.

11:52d

you have hindered those who were entering: In 11:52d the metaphor continues. Jesus said that the law experts had hindered the people who were trying to enter the door that led to knowing God. In other words, they were making it harder for other people to know God.

hindered: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hindered also means to “prevent” or “stop.”

those who were entering: The verb phrase those who were entering indicates that people “wanted to get in,” or they were “trying to get in.” For example:

those who wanted to enter (God’s Word)

If you have dropped the figure of “entering,” you may translate this clause as:

those who truly wanted to know him

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