The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “bear (a child)” or “give birth to” is translated in Mairasi as “go to the forest,” reflecting the traditional place of childbirth for Mairasi women. (Source: Enggavoter 2004)
In Spanish it is translated as dar a luz, literally “to give to light.” Likewise, in Portuguese (dar à luz) and Italian (dare alla luce). (Source: Mark Terwilliger)
Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 1:23:
Noongar: “After his days working inside the Temple, Zechariah went back home (lit., “fire-place”).” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Uma: “Zakharia’s work in the House of God finished, he returned to his house.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “So-then, when the days of his priesting there in the temple were completed he went back to his place.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when the time arrived for Zechariah to be replaced in his work there in the church, he went home to his town.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “When they were then finished serving in the Temple, Zekarias went-home.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “When Zacarias’ work at the Templo was finished, he went home.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
hōs eplēsthēsan hai hēmerai tēs leitourgias autou ‘when the days of his service were fulfilled,’ cf. on v. 57.
pimplēmi ‘to fill,’ of men filled with the Holy Spirit (1.15, 41, 67), with wrath (4.28), or fury (6.11), or of ships (5.7); in the passive ‘to be fulfilled,’ of prophecies that come true (21.22), of a time that has to pass before something can happen (1.57; 2.6, 21, 22), of a period of time that comes to a close (1.23).
hai hēmerai ‘the days,’ hence ‘the period,’ cf. on v. 5.
leitourgia ‘service as a priest.’
apēlthen eis ton oikon autou ‘he departed to his house,’ implying both departure from one and arrival at another place.
Translation:
The verse forms the conclusion of the narrative told in vv. 8-22.
And is often not expressly rendered, because the temporal clause sufficiently marks transition. Where that is not the case an expression meaning ‘soon afterwards’ may be used.
When his time of service had ended, or, ‘when he had finished (or, come to the end of) his term of service,’ ‘after the last day that he had to serve (or, to work as priest, or, in the temple, or, before God, cf. on v. 8).’
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.
And when the days of his service were complete: Zechariah continued working in the temple as a priest until he finished his week of work. Some other ways to translate this are:
When his time of service at the Temple was finished (New Century Version) -or-
When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over (New Living Translation (2004))
1:23b
he returned home: Zechariah and Elizabeth lived outside Jerusalem in the hill country of Judea.
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