Translation commentary on Luke 12:41

Exegesis:

kurie ‘lord,’ cf. on 1.6.

pros hēmas ‘with reference to us,’ emphatic by position.

ē kai pros pantas ‘or with reference to all as well.’ kai implies that the parable applies to the disciples in any case.

Translation:

Are you telling this parable for us, or, ‘that you tell this parable is it aiming at us’ (Javanese), ‘is this parable intended for (or, aimed at) us’ (Bahasa Indonesia, Balinese), ‘were you thinking of us when you told this parable’ (Sranan Tongo). For parable see 8.4. To bring out the emphasis on for us one may say ‘only/especially for us.’

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 12:41

Paragraph 12:41–46

12:41

Lord: In Greek, the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as translates as Lord had a range of meaning, depending on the context. In this context, it is used as a polite title that expresses great respect. Some other ways to translate Lord are:

Chief
-or-
Master
-or-

⌊Honored⌋ Sir

In some languages it may be necessary to add a word like “my” before such a term of address. For example:

⌊my⌋ Chief/Master

See how you translated “Lord” in 9:54b. See Lord, Context 3, in the Glossary.

said Peter: The Berean Standard Bible has placed the phrase said Peter after the start of what Peter said. In the Greek text, this phrase is at the beginning of the verse, before the quotation. Place it wherever it is natural in your language.

are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well: In 12:22 Jesus had started addressing the disciples, but the crowd was probably still listening. So here Peter wanted to know if Jesus intended to apply what he had just taught only to the disciples. He wondered if the parable applied also to all the other people. Other ways to say this are:

do you intend this parable specially for us or is it for everyone (Revised English Bible)
-or-
…is this parable meant ⌊just/only⌋ for us(excl) or does it apply to everyone

this parable: In this context the phrase this parable means “the parable that you have just told us.” Peter may have been referring to all that Jesus taught about being ready for his return in 12:35–40.

parable: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as translates as parable refers here to a story that illustrated what Jesus had just taught. See how you translated this word in 12:16a.

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