The name that is transliterated as “Elizabeth” or “Elisabeth” in English means “God of the oath,” “God is her oath,” a worshiper of God,” “my God has sworn.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
The Greek, Latin and Hebrew that are translated as “(become) pregnant” in English is rendered as “got belly” (Sranan Tongo and Kituba) as “having two bodies” (Indonesian), as “be-of-womb” (Sinhala), as “heavy” (Balinese), and as “in-a-fortunate-state” (Batak Toba). (Source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
In Kafa it is translated as “having two lives” (source: Loren Bliese), in Southern Birifor as tara pʊɔ or “having stomach,” in Kamba as “be-heavy” (source for this and above: Andy Warren-Rothlin), in the Swabian 2007 translation by Rudolf Paul as kommt en andere Omständ, lit. “be in different circumstances,” and in Newari as “have in the womb” (source: Newari Back Translation).
In Mairasi it is translated as “have a soul [ghost].” (Source: Enggavoter, 2004)
Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 1:24:
Noongar: “Later, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and stayed inside the house for five months.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Uma: “Not long from there, Elisabet really did get pregnant. For the length of five months Elisabet did not appear from inside her house, and she said,” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Not long after, Elisabet his wife was pregnant and for five months Elisabet did not go outside.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And it wasn’t very long after that, that his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. And for five months after that Elizabeth did not go outside of the house.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “It wasn’t long and his wife Elizabet became-pregnant, and she confined-herself in their house for five months.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “It truly wasn’t long till Elisabet who was his wife conceived. Well, for the space of five months Elisabet was only in the house.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.
Here, nozoite (除いて) or “remove” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
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®).
meta … tautas tas hēmeras ‘after these days’ does not refer to the ‘days’ of v. 23, but to all that is told in vv. 8-23. Hence “sometime afterwards” (Bible de Jérusalem, La Sainte Bible: Nouvelle version Segond révisée).
sunelaben ‘became pregnant.’
sullambanō ‘to seize’ or, ‘to conceive,’ ‘to become pregnant,’ in the latter meaning only in Luke.
mēnas pente ‘during five months,’ accusative of extent, answering the question ‘how long.’
legousa ‘saying,’ connecting what she said with the fact that she kept herself hidden. But this connexion is far from obvious. Some see in what follows the reason for Elizabeth hiding herself (cf. Williams, Nieuwe Vertaling) but most translators leave the connexion undefined.
Translation:
After these days, or, ‘some time later.’ When rendering day(s) one must consider at least the following six basic components, (1) a period of light between the rising and setting of the sun, as e.g. in 21.37; (2) the daylight, as e.g. in 9.12; (3) a period of 24 hours, including the night, as e.g. in 13.14; (4) a unit for the reckoning of time, as e.g. in 2.21; (5) a certain point in time, as in 1.20, 80; and (6) a period of some duration, as in 17.24, often in the plural, as here, 1.39; 2.1, etc. Languages usually have distinctive terms for some or all of these meanings.
Conceived. In several cases conception, or pregnancy are referred to by what are originally descriptive and/or veiled expressions, such as ‘got belly’ (Sranan Tongo, similarly Kituba), ‘having two bodies’ (Bahasa Indonesia), ‘be-of-womb’ (Sinhala), ‘heavy’ (Balinese), ‘in-a-fortunate-state’ (Batak Toba). The translator must be on his guard against possible vulgar connotations in the receptor culture, but also sensitive to the style of the narrative: euphemisms equivalent to ‘in the family way’ (as used in one version) are out of place here and therefore sound slightly ridiculous.
Month. A term for a period approximately corresponding with the lunar cycle from new moon to new moon (hence one word sometimes covers ‘moon’ and ‘month’), or with one twelfth of the solar year, seems nearly always to be available. As a rule that same term can be used also in connexion with the menstrual period, but exceptionally it may be necessary to introduce a specific expression or adjustment.
She hid herself. A too literal rendering may suggest furtive doings; then renderings such as ‘she stayed in her house’ (Tboli), “she did not leave the house” (Good News Translation), “she withdrew herself from view” (The Four Gospels – a New Translation), will be useful models.
Sayings, or, ‘and said’; or, at the head of the next sentence, ‘She said’ (Kituba), or, ‘Meanwhile she said.’
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.
After these days: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as After these days refers to the time after Zechariah returned home from his priestly service. It introduces the fact that Elizabeth became pregnant. It is not clear how much time passed after Zechariah returned home. It is also not clear when Elizabeth went into seclusion. You should translate After these days in this context with a general expression. For example:
After some time (NET Bible)
became pregnant: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as became pregnant means that Elizabeth conceived a child. Use an expression that is appropriate for public reading.
1:24b
remained in seclusion: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as remained in seclusion means that Elizabeth “hid herself” in her house. This implies that she lived a very quiet, private life. She did not go out in public during this time. Your translation should not imply that she was hiding because she had done something wrong.
Some other ways to translate remained in seclusion are:
didn’t go out in public (God’s Word) -or-
did not leave the house (Good News Translation)
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