manure

The Greek in Luke 13:8 that is translated as “manure” or “fertilizer” in English is translated in Uma as “fat land” (source: Uma Back Translation) and in Yakan as “for making fat the soil” (source: Yakan Back Translation).

complete verse (Luke 13:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 13:8:

  • Noongar: “But the worker said, ‘Boss, let the tree grow another year. I will put manure in the ground and dig around the tree.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “‘The person who looked after the garden said: ‘Let it grow just this one more year, Nobleman. I will weed it, and I will haul fertile [lit., fat] land from outside for it.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But the caretaker of the ground answered, he said, ‘Wait a while Sir, let me dig-up the soil and put fertilizer there this year. (fertilizer – lit. for making fat the soil)” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However, that one who was taking care of the plants said, ‘Let’s not, we two, just yet, uncle, chop it down. Let’s just leave it for another year. I will clean around it and I will sprinkle some fertilizer on it.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘But that caretaker said, ‘Sir, let’s please bear-with-it for even one more year only so that meanwhile I will cultivate its base and fertilize-it.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The manager/tender replied, saying, ‘If possible/acceptable, please don’t chop it down this year, for I will just pile-up-soil-around its base and then put fertilizer (lit. what-causes-plants -to-grow-strong). Maybe if like that is done, it will fruit.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

master (Japanese honorifics)

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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 to do this is through the usage of appropriate suffix title referred to as keishō (敬称) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017 by using the formal title –sama. This is distinct from nominal titles such as “master.” This is evident from the forms such as go-shujin-sama (ご主人様) “master” or “lord” which is the combination of the nominal title shujin “master” with the honorific prefix go- and the suffix title –sama.

In some cases, it can also be used as go-shujin (ご主人), i.e. with the honorific prefix go- but without the suffix title –sama. You can find that in Genesis 23:6, 23:11, 23:15, 24:51, 39:8, 39:9, 44:8, 44:9; 1 Samuel 25:17; and 2 Kings 2:16 and 4:26.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also lords (Japanese honorifics).

Translation commentary on Luke 13:8

Exegesis:

kurie ‘sir,’ cf. on 1.6.

aphes autēn kai touto to etos ‘leave it also this year,’ i.e. ‘this one year more.’

heōs hotou skapsō peri autēn kai balō kopria lit. ‘until I have dug around it and put on manure.’ As the subjunctives skapsō and balō show the clause has final meaning, and denotes the gardener’s plans concerning the fig tree. For skaptō cf. on 6.48.

koprion ‘dung,’ ‘manure.’

Translation:

Let it alone; in this context one may say, “don’t touch it” (Phillips), ‘allow it to go on growing, or, to stand here.’

Sir, or, ‘master,’ or an equivalent term commonly used by a servant or slave when addressing his employer or master, or by a labourer towards the owner of the garden he takes care of. Cf. on “Lord” in 1.6 sub (a).

Till I dig …, or, “while I dig…” (New English Bible); or, to bring out the propositive force of the clause, ‘then (or, in the meanwhile) I will dig…,’ ‘let me first dig…’ (Willibrord).

Dig about it and put on manure may be quite foreign to local agricultural methods. If so, one may consider a generic rendering like, ‘give it the best care I can.’ Dig about it may require an object, ‘dig-up/break-up the ground at its base’ (Tae’), ‘hoe the soil around it’ (Bahasa Indonesia 1968). Put on manure. One may describe the material, ‘put faeces of cattle (or, dirt of animals) on it’ (Tae,’ Kituba), ‘fill its foot with rotten-earth (i.e. compost)’ (Tzeltal), or the function, ‘make the soil more fertile,’ ‘give-to (it) its food’ (Pohnpeian).

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 13:8

13:8a

In the Greek text this verse part connects to the previous verse part with a conjunction that many English versions translate as “and.” The Berean Standard Bible does not translate it. But since it introduces the gardener’s suggestion of doing something different from what his master had said, you may wish to translate it as “But.”

Sir: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Sir literally means “master” or “lord.” It was the normal, respectful way for a servant to address his master. You should use a natural term of address that has this function in your language.

the man replied: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the man replied is literally “he replied.” Refer to the servant in the way that is natural in your language.

In Greek the words “he replied” occur before the word “Sir.” The Berean Standard Bible has placed this phrase in the middle of what the gardener was saying. Place it where it is natural in your language.

leave it alone again this year: The gardener was asking the owner to let the fig tree live for one more year. He wanted to give it another opportunity to bear fruit. It is clear from the following context that the gardener did not want the tree to be left literally alone or ignored. Other ways to translate this request are:

let the tree have one more year to produce fruit (New Century Version)
-or-
let it stand for one more year (God’s Word)
-or-
give it one more chance. Leave it another year (New Living Translation (2004))

Be sure to translate this request in a way that shows proper respect in your language. It may be necessary to use a polite word such as “please” or to use a different form of the verb so that it does not sound as if the servant is giving orders to his master. For example:

please let it stay in the garden this next year also
-or-
perhaps it would be good if we(dual) allowed the tree one more year

13:8b

until I dig around it: The gardener was saying that he would care for the fig tree in a special way. He would loosen the soil around the base of the tree, probably using a hoe or similar tool. Other ways to translate this are:

Let me dig up the dirt around it (New Century Version)
-or-
I will hoe/cultivate the soil at its base
-or-
I will loosen/soften the ground around it

13:8c

and fertilize it: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fertilize it is literally “put-on dung/manure.” The gardener planned to put manure on the ground around the tree to improve the soil quality. This would help the tree to grow better and bear fruit. Some ways to translate this idea are:

• Describe the material used. For example:

put manure/compost/fertilizer

• Describe the function. For example:

make the soil better

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